Trump Threatens to Invoke Insurrection Act, and Grocery Prices Keep Going Up

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Headlines – "Trump Threatens to Invoke Insurrection Act, and Grocery Prices Keep Going Up"

Host: Tracie Mumford, The New York Times
Date: January 16, 2026

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Main Theme

This episode focuses on the latest developments in American politics, chiefly President Trump's threats to invoke the Insurrection Act amid protests in Minnesota, and ongoing discussion about rising grocery prices under his administration. The episode also covers new questions about the administration’s immigration crackdown, an unexpected Nobel Peace Prize gesture, and privacy concerns related to Google’s AI rollout in Gmail.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President Trump's Threat to Invoke the Insurrection Act

[00:35–03:14]

• President Trump publicly threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act on Truth Social to address protests in Minnesota.
• The Act gives the president broad authority, under certain conditions, to deploy federal troops in American cities—a rare action not seen since 1992 during the LA riots post-Rodney King verdict.
• Trump frames his threat as a warning to Democrats, suggesting they are "egging on" protests.
• The deployment of 3,000 federal agents in Minneapolis has led to clashes and reports of aggressive actions by agents, raising safety concerns from local and state officials.

Notable Quotes:

• President Trump:

  "I will say if I feel it's important to invoke the Insurrection act, which I have the right to do, that's a different thing, because then I have the right to do pretty much what I want to do." [01:27]

• Tracie Mumford:

  "The Insurrection act hasn't been invoked by a US president since 1992, when troops were deployed in LA in response to riots..." [01:55]

• Political Analyst:

  "Look, that's only a question. Frankly, the president can answer. But the Insurrection act is a tool at the president's disposal. As you know, it has been used sparingly..." [00:54]

2. Immigration Crackdown and Judicial Pushback

[03:14–06:30]

• A federal judge rebuked the Trump administration for attempting to deport international college students protesting against the war in Gaza—calling such actions authoritarian and in violation of free speech.
• Case spotlight: Ani Lopez Baloza, a 19-year-old college student, was mistakenly deported to Honduras despite a court order permitting her to stay pending her case. Her family has since reported intimidation from immigration officials.

Notable Quotes:

• Judge William Young (via Tracie Mumford):

  "...the deportation threats were an effort to, quote, twist the laws and pick off prominent activists to intimidate others." [04:03]

• Deported student, Ani Lopez Baloza:

  "I accept their apologies, and I hope that based on this apology, I'm able to return back to my studies and also to be home with my parents." [05:06]

3. Unusual Nobel Peace Prize Exchange

[06:10–07:26]

• Maria Corina Machado, Venezuelan opposition leader and 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, presented her prize to President Trump to acknowledge his role in ousting Nicolás Maduro—though the official Nobel Institute stated this gesture held no official significance.
• The move was widely seen as symbolic, with Trump previously lamenting he hadn't won the award himself.

Notable Quotes:

• Tracie Mumford:

  "It's not immediately clear what, if anything, she got out of her meeting with Trump yesterday." [06:55]

• Nobel Institute (via Tracie Mumford):

  "...the award does not work like that, clarifying that it can't be shared, transferred or revoked, saying that its decision is, quote, final and stands for all time." [07:04]

4. Fact-Checking Trump on Grocery Prices

[07:26–09:04]

• President Trump claims his administration has reduced grocery prices.
• Data contradicts this: grocery prices have risen over 2% in the last year, with some foods like coffee up nearly 20% and ground beef at a record high.
• Factors include rising fuel costs, extreme weather, Trump’s own tariffs, and immigration policies leading to labor shortages on farms.

Notable Quotes:

• President Trump:

  "Our economy is unbelievable and I'm bringing down the prices. Remember this, I did cause the high." [07:26]

• Tracie Mumford:

  "Prices recently, as affordability has become the topic in American politics, President Trump has repeatedly claimed that grocery prices are falling... but new government data shows that prices are actually rising overall." [07:33]

5. Privacy Trade-Offs with Google’s AI in Gmail

[09:04–10:55]

• Gmail now integrates more AI features, including automatic to-do lists and the ability to search messages using natural language.
• These tools require giving Google’s AI access to the full inbox, raising privacy concerns.
• Most new features are or will be enabled by default; users can opt out in settings.

Notable Quotes:

• Tracie Mumford (on AI-generated to-do lists):

  "...which he found very useful. He didn't love the tools intended to help speed up writing email replies." [09:37]

• Privacy expert (paraphrased via Tracie Mumford):

  "...should be a reminder to people that nothing in your email is 100% private." [10:28]

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Notable Quotes in Context

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|--------------------|-------| | 01:27 | President Trump | "If I feel it's important to invoke the Insurrection act... then I have the right to do pretty much what I want to do." | | 04:03 | Judge William Young| "...an effort to twist the laws and pick off prominent activists to intimidate others." | | 05:06 | Ani Lopez Baloza | "I accept their apologies, and I hope that based on this apology, I'm able to return back to my studies..." | | 07:26 | President Trump | "Our economy is unbelievable and I'm bringing down the prices. Remember this, I did cause the high." | | 10:28 | Privacy expert | "...nothing in your email is 100% private. Google or whatever platform you use, has access to it." |

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Additional Segments (Condensed)

• News Quiz:
  • Full-fat milk returns to US school lunch programs, easing a previous Obama-era ban. [11:33]
  • Stan Kroenke becomes the largest private US landowner and owns the LA Rams, Arsenal FC, and more. [12:35]
  • BTS is returning from hiatus for a world tour after members completed mandatory military service. [13:20]

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Tone and Style

The episode is presented in The New York Times' trademark factual, calm, and analytical tone. The host, Tracie Mumford, provides context and clarity, balancing urgent reporting with dry wit and occasional irony, especially regarding political theater and administration claims.

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Summary Utility

This summary covers the episode's major developments: Trump’s Insurrection Act threat, the state of US protests and immigration policy, a symbolic Nobel Peace Prize gesture, the debate over grocery costs, and evolving digital privacy. For listeners, this gives a thorough account of the latest headlines and expert perspectives discussed, without needing to hear the full episode.

Transcript

[Andy]

Hi, this is Andy. I've been a New York Times subscriber for years and years, and I'm trying to get my teenagers interested in reading it. If they were to have their own logins and we could share articles, I think that would help get them interested. It would also then allow us to discuss over the dinner table or wherever. Thank you very much, Andy. We heard you introducing the New York Times Family subscription. One subscription, up to four separate logins for anyone in your life. Find out [e-mail] family.

[Tracie Mumford]

From the New York Times, it's the headlines. I'm Tracie Mumford. Today's Friday, January 16th. Here's what we're covering. President Trump threatened invoking the Insurrection act today. In Truth Socials. I'm wondering what his tipping point is like. What would it take for him to invoke the Insurrection Act?

[Political Analyst]

Look, that's only a question. Frankly, the president can answer. But the Insurrection act is a tool at the president's disposal. As you know, it has been used sparingly, but it has been used by previous presidents in American history.

[Tracie Mumford]

President Trump's social media post threatening to invoke the Insurrection act in response to protests in Minnesota has set off a flurry of questions of can he? Will he? And what would it mean? The act gives the president broad authority under some conditions to send troops into US Cities.

[President Trump]

I will say if I feel it's important to invoke the Insurrection act, which I have the right to do, that's a different thing, because then I have the right to do pretty much what I want to do.

[Tracie Mumford]

But President Trump has brought it up multiple times this term, including just last week in the Oval Office in an interview with Times reporters. This time, the White House is framing it as a warning to Democrats, who the administration has accused of egging on the protests. The Insurrection act hasn't been invoked by a US president since 1992, when troops were deployed in LA in response to riots that broke out after several white police officers were acquitted in the beating of an unarmed black man, Rodney King. In the last week, since an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, thousands of people have been out in the streets in Minneapolis protesting the killing and the immigration crackdown agents are carrying out there.

[President Trump]

Stay off federal property or you will be arrested.

[Tracie Mumford]

At times, protesters have clashed with federal agents. There are now about 3,000 of them deployed there. Local and state officials have said that deployment is creating an unsafe situation, with agents shoving people, smashing car windows and pulling drivers out of their vehicles.

[Political Analyst]

Plans to pull out of Minnesota. No plans to pull out of Minnesota.

[Tracie Mumford]

When asked about the situation and Trump's threat to use the Insurrection Act, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said they had been talking about it, but she said it would be up to Trump to decide what's next.

[Political Analyst]

Oh, I think that the president has that opportunity in the future. It's his constitutional right, and it's up to him if he wants to utilize it.

[Tracie Mumford]

Likely to do it?

[Political Analyst]

I don't know.

[Tracie Mumford]

Now, two other developments on the administration's immigration crackdown. A federal judge in Boston issued a new rebuke to the administration over its efforts to deport college students who demonstrated against Israel. Judge William Young, a Reagan appointee, called President Trump an authoritarian and said the administration had violated free speech protections when it tried to deport international students who'd been protesting over the war in Gaza. The administration said it had the authority to do so under an obscure legal provision claiming the students were a threat to American foreign policy. But in court yesterday, the judge said the deportation threats were an effort to, quote, twist the laws and. And pick off prominent activists to intimidate others. The judge said that next week he plans to issue a final order restricting the administration from deporting members of two academic groups that brought the case. And he said that going forward, the government will have to show that any deportations are not retaliation. And what's your reaction to that stunning admission? I accept their apologies, and I hope that based on this apology, I'm able to return back to my studies and also to be home with my parents. The Trump administration has made a rare admission. It said it made a mistake when it deported a college student who was trying to fly home for Thanksgiving. 19 year old Ani Lopez Baloza, who was brought from Honduras to the US when she was seven, was on her way to visit family in Texas when immigration agents detained her at the airport. In Boston the next day, a judge signed an order saying she could not be removed from the U.S. while her case was pending. But the day after that, she was put on a flight to Honduras, one of multiple times that the administration has ignored court orders and pushed forward with deportations. In court this week, a judge said he would try and find a solution so that she can return to the US and get back to school. Though the government hasn't dropped its case against her since she was deported, her family has faced intimidation from immigration authorities. Her parents said that last month, agents appeared outside their home in Texas in three unmarked cars. One agent rushed at her father, but he fled into the house and locked the door. At the White House yesterday, I presented the President of the United States the medal ahead. Nobel Peace Prize. Maria Carino Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, gave her award to President Trump. She's been trying to curry favor with him since he ousted Nicholas Maduro, but he has not backed her efforts to lead Venezuela, saying she's a very nice woman, but she doesn't have the respect needed to be president. It's not immediately clear what, if anything, she got out of her meeting with Trump yesterday. Afterward, the White House posted an image on social media showing Trump holding up an ornate framed plaque with the gold prize in the middle of it and an inscription recognizing his quote, principled and decisive action to secure a free Venezuela. Machado's highly unusual gesture came after Trump has spent months saying that he should have won the award. In a recent statement, the Nobel Institute made clear that the award does not work like that, clarifying that it can't be shared, transferred or revoked, saying that its decision is, quote, final and stands for all time. Despite that a few Nobel prizes, which are 18 karat gold, have been sold in the past. A few years ago, James Watson, who helped discover the structure of DNA, sold his for over $4 million. And more recently, a Russian journalist who won the peace prize auctioned the award off for over $100 million to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees. And last update on the Trump administration, a quick fact check.

[President Trump]

Our economy is unbelievable and I'm bringing down the prices. Remember this, I did cause the high.

[Tracie Mumford]

Prices recently, as affordability has become the topic in American politics, President Trump has repeatedly claimed that grocery prices are falling. Under his administration, grocery prices are starting.

[President Trump]

To go rapidly down.

[Tracie Mumford]

Rent is down, but new government data shows that prices are actually rising. Overall. In the past 12 months, grocery prices went up more than 2%. For certain foods, that number is way higher. Coffee is up almost 20%, and ground beef prices surged to a new record high last month. There are a wide range of reasons for the uptick, like fuel costs and extreme weather and some of Trump's own policies. Tariffs have driven up the cost of aluminum for canned goods, for example, and the administration's immigration crackdown has left some farms struggling to find workers. And while the prices of some products have come down, notably eggs and milk, shoppers are still being squeezed. Low income Americans in particular are trading down to cheaper products and buying less, according to grocery executives. They say they're starting to see the same behavior in middle class consumers, too. And finally, if you use Gmail like a billion plus people worldwide do, you've likely seen AI showing up on the platform. Maybe it's offered to write some replies for you so you don't have to type out thanks, that sounds great yourself. Now Google is rolling out even more AI tools, some free, some not that it says can help people manage their overwhelming inboxes. For example, you can now find an email by typing a question like what's the name of the job recruiter I talked to last month? But of course, to make the new features work, Google's AI assistant Gemini needs access to a user's entire inbox. And that has raised questions about whether the new tools are worth the potential trade off. In privacy times, tech writer Brian Chen tested out Google's new Gmail for a week. It automatically generated a to do list for him based on his emails. Get back to the pediatrician. Fill out that preschool enrollment, which he found very useful. He didn't love the tools intended to help speed up writing email replies. One privacy and security expert he talked with said the AI rollout should be a reminder to people that nothing in Your email is 100% private. Google or whatever platform you use, has access to it. So does law enforcement with a subpoena. So the more you start relying on it, chatting with it, telling it about your life and your plans, the more it has access to. One thing to note, a lot of the AI features Brian tried out are or will be turned on for Gmail users by default. But there is a way to opt out by going into your account settings. Those are the headlines. If you'd like to play the Friday News Quiz, it is just after these credits. This show is made by Will Jarvis, Yon Stewart and me, Tracy Mumford. Original theme by Dan Powell. Special thanks to Isabella Anderson, Larissa Anderson, Zoe Murphy and Paula Schumann. Now time for the quiz. We've got a few questions for you about stories the Times has been covering. Let's see what you got. First question Under a new law, which was signed by the President this week, one item could soon be back on the menu in school cafeterias across the US Your question what food or beverage is no longer banned from federally funded school nutrition programs? If you're racking your brain, this vintage ad may help you.

[President Trump]

Makes you big, makes you strong. Pick you up all day long.

[Tracie Mumford]

Any ideas?

[President Trump]

It's all there. Good for teeth and bones and hair.

[Tracie Mumford]

It's milk.

[President Trump]

Milk is everybody good?

[Tracie Mumford]

Full fat and 2% milk were nixed from the National School Lunch program back in 2011. Under the Obama administration to help fight childhood obesity. Now milk is having a bit of a comeback. Milk consumption rose recently after years of decline, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Has vowed to end what he called the attack on whole milk, cheese and yogurt.

[Andy]

Next up for a real estate development company. We have big projects now, but we started out with little projects.

[Tracie Mumford]

The billionaire real estate mogul Stan Kroenke is now the largest private landowner in the entire United States. If you're wondering what does that take, it takes owning a total amount of land more than double the size of Delaware. He bought up almost a million acres just last month, which helped push him into the top spot. He also owns a lot of other stuff. So this is a quick game of does he own it or not?

[President Trump]

End zone throw. Touchdown Rams.

[Tracie Mumford]

The LA football team. The Rams. Yep, he moved it there from St. Louis. It's a stunning, state of the art Super Stadium. The $5 billion stadium the Rams play in. Yes, he owns that too.

[Andy]

It's a unique property.

[President Trump]

It's a one of a kind.

[Tracie Mumford]

The largest contiguous ranch in Texas. The English football club Arsenal.

[Andy]

Uh huh.

[Tracie Mumford]

He bought out a Russian billionaire to get full control. And last one, save money, live better. Walmart. Walmart. No, he does not own Walmart. But his wife is an heiress to the Walton family fortune. And the final question of the quiz this week a major pop group announced that it's coming back after a three year hiatus and launching a colossal new world tour this spring with almost 80 shows across five continents. Part of the reason for their long absence was was that some of the band members had to complete mandatory military service. Which pop group am I talking about? The hint. Another hint. Their fans refer to themselves as the Army. The answer? Bts, the super group from South Korea. Most men in the country have to serve for a time. And while there are exceptions for Olympic champions and some classical musicians, pop stars not exempt. That is it for the news quiz. You can tell us how you did@the headlinesytimes.com the show will be back on Monday.