Nobel Participation Trophy

1.16.26

Happy Friday and welcome to today’s edition of Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Today’s breakdown includes what really happened with the Renee Good shooting, Trump threatening more tariffs, the ACA subsidies expiring thanks to Republicans, and Trump accepting the Nobel Peace Prize as a participation trophy!

Let’s break it down.

Released Reports Detail Final Moments of Renee Nicole Good After ICE Shooting…..Newly released police, fire, and 911 records detail the chaotic moments after Renee Nicole Good was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis on Jan. 7—an incident that has sparked nationwide protests amid President Trump’s expanded immigration crackdown. Reports show Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, was still alive when first responders arrived and received CPR and emergency treatment before dying at the hospital. Video footage and eyewitness accounts contradict claims by Trump administration officials that the officer acted in clear self-defense, showing Good attempting to drive away as shots were fired into her vehicle. Homeland Security officials say the shooting is under review, while the FBI is leading the investigation. The officer who fired the shots walked away from the scene unassisted.

Common Sense Takeaway: Renee Nicole Good was alive when ICE shot her, received CPR, and still died in the hospital. Video and records contradict the administration’s “self-defense” story. Shocker: unchecked federal enforcement puts citizens in danger and shields officers from accountability when they should be held criminally liable.

Trump Threatens Tariffs to Force Support for U.S. Control of Greenland….President Donald Trump said he may impose tariffs on countries that refuse to back his push for the United States to take control of Greenland, framing the move as a national security necessity. The president did not specify which countries could be targeted, even as Denmark, Greenland, and U.S. allies have firmly rejected the idea. Trump has escalated rhetoric in recent weeks, refusing to rule out military action and floating options ranging from diplomatic pressure to a potential $700 billion purchase. Danish and Greenlandic officials are firmly opposed to this pland and say no agreement is imminent, despite ongoing talks.

Common Sense Takeaway: Trump is threatening tariffs and even hinting at military action to grab Greenland. This is another temper tantrum with global consequences, making the U.S. look unpredictable and untrustworthy to allies. The truth about Greenland is simple: he wants to take over other countries and ultimately be a dictator.

Senate Talks Collapse on Extending Affordable Care Act Subsidies…..Bipartisan Senate negotiations to revive expired Affordable Care Act tax credits have stalled, leaving millions facing higher health care costs as open enrollment ends. Democrats are unified behind a House-passed, three-year extension, but President Trump has threatened a veto and Republicans largely oppose restoring the funds. Talks broke down over GOP demands to tie any extension to abortion restrictions and Trump’s push to divert ACA funding into health savings accounts. With the Senate out on recess and no agreement in sight, the enhanced subsidies remain expired—a stalemate that Democrats say is already costing Americans thousands more for coverage.

Common Sense Takeaway: Millions are paying more for coverage because Senate Republicans tied ACA relief to abortion politics and Trump’s funding schemes. Democrats passed a three-year extension in the House—the votes exist, but Trump won out over the American people again.

Trump Accepts Nobel Peace Prize Medal—Without Winning the Prize….President Donald Trump did not win the Nobel Peace Prize—but he now has one of its gold medals. María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader who won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, presented her medal to Trump during a private White House meeting, crediting him for the U.S. military operation that removed Nicolás Maduro from power. The gesture is symbolic and does not make Trump a Nobel laureate; the Nobel Committee has made clear the prize cannot be transferred. Still, Trump enthusiastically accepted the medal, calling it a “wonderful gesture,” even as critics note that past presidents would have declined such an offer. The episode is a strange reminder of Trump’s long-running fixation on the Nobel.

Common Sense Takeaway: This is a global embarrassment. Remember when we had a president who actually won the Nobel Peace Prize? The toddler basically cried and begged for a particpation trophy until he got it. Machado is smart to appease him because ultimately it will help her and Venezuela, but it doesn’t make it any less humiliating for us.

That’s it for today. Thanks for reading Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Check back on Monday for more.