NPR News: 01-05-2026 2PM EST

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NPR News Now 4 min 4 speakers 5 chapters transcribed 1 month ago

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What charges did Nicolás Maduro and his wife face in their U.S. court appearance?

Lakshmi Singh 0:01

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Sangh. Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife made their first appearance in US federal court today. They each pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges against them. Here's NPR's Ryan Lucas.

Ryan Lucas 0:17

Nicolas Maduro faces narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and weapons charges. His wife, Celia Flores, faces three of those same counts. At a hearing in federal court in Manhattan, both Maduro and Flores entered pleas of not guilty. During the proceedings, Maduro introduced himself as the president of Venezuela and a prisoner of war. The first court appearance comes two days after a US military operation captured the couple in the heart of Venezuela's capital, Caracas, and took them to New York to face trial.

Why did Minnesota Governor Tim Walz drop his reelection campaign and focus on childcare fraud investigations?

Ryan Lucas 0:49

US prosecutors allege Maduro presided over a large scale drug trafficking operation, working hand in hand with drug cartels to ship tons of cocaine to the United States. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

Lakshmi Singh 1:02

Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz is dropping his reelection campaign for a third term. The Democratic Party's twenty twenty four vice presidential nominee said today he needs to focus his energy on investigating alleged fraud in the state's child care programs rather than fighting battles with Republicans he accuses of politicizing the allegations at the expense of Minnesotans.

Unknown 1:24

We've got conspiracy theorists right wing YouTubers breaking into our daycares, demanding access to our children. We've got the President of the United States demonizing our Somali neighbours and wrongfully confiscating funds that Minnesotans rely on.

Lakshmi Singh 1:42

Late last month, a right wing media influencer posted a video that went viral to expose what he described as evidence of fraud at Somali American run daycare facilities in Minnesota. The Trump administration froze federal funding of childcare centers across the country. Secretary of Defense Pete Hexeth is taking administrative action against Democratic Senator Mark Kelly.

How is Senator Mark Kelly responding to accusations of sedition and rank reduction by the Pentagon?

Lakshmi Singh 2:06

NPR Squill Lawrence reports Kelly has long been critical of President Trump.

Quill Lawrence 2:10

Senator Kelly served twenty five years as a navy pilot and retired with full military benefits, so he's still subject to military code. Secretary Hegseth claims that Kelly's statements, including a message telling troops not to follow illegal orders, amount to sedition. Hegseth says on social media that he's initiated a formal forty five day process to reduce Kelly's rank and retirement pay. Senator Kelly replied in a statement that he earned his rank in combat and as an astronaut, and that Hegseth and the Trump administration are trying to stifle free speech and dissent among retired military officers. Kelly called that outrageous and unamerican. Quill Lawrence NPR News.

Lakshmi Singh 2:52

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is now up more than eight hundred points or one point six percent. It's NPR news.

Which NFL teams fired their head coaches on Black Monday and what does the playoff picture look like?

Lakshmi Singh 3:01

It's that time of year at the end of the regular season in pro football that touches off what's known across the NFL as Black Monday. The Arizona Cardinals, the Cleveland Browns, and the Las Vegas Raiders have joined the Atlanta Falcons in firing their head coaches. Meanwhile, fourteen teams are now getting ready for the playoffs. The Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks. Are the top seeds on either side of the bracket? NPR's Becky Sullivan has a preview.

Becky Sullivan 3:26

It's a wide open postseason this year. Some playoff regulars will be watching from the couch. In the AFC, there's no Patrick Mahomes, no Joe Burrow, no Lamar Jackson.

What are the biggest tech and AI highlights coming out of CES 2026 in Las Vegas?

Becky Sullivan 3:35

Instead, the Denver Broncos and second-year quarterback Bo Nicks have the first round bye. And the New England Patriots are the two-seed after an MVP quality season from their young quarterback Drake May. Practically every playoff team this year has some flaw, including the Patriots, who played only three games this season against winning teams and lost two of them. The NFC's top seed, the Seattle Seahawks, have a dominant defense, but under center is Sam Darnold, who last year wilted in his only career playoff appearance. So although the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills aren't top seeds this year, they're still among the favorites to win the Super Bowl.