NPR News: 01-05-2026 5PM EST
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Why did Venezuela’s ousted president plead not guilty to drug trafficking charges?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Venezuela's ousted president Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and other charges during a hearing in New York City today. Meanwhile, the country's vice president was sworn in as interim president. NPR's Kerry Kahn has more.
Delcid Rodriguez was actually sworn in as what they're calling the acting or interim president. She was sworn in by her brother, who is the longtime head of the Assembly, and here she is.
She pledged to
bring Venezuela out of these terrible times that she says is threatening the stability and peace of our country. She really has toned down her rhetoric though, since President Trump threatened her directly if she didn't come in line with US demands. And so clearly what we saw today though was the old guard is still in charge of Venezuela. There has been no big shakeup after the US attack.
What is President Trump’s proposed military action against Colombia and how did Colombian President Petro respond?
NPR's Kerry Khan reporting. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will discuss the Venezuela situation this evening with the gang of eight congressional leaders, including top members of the intelligence committees. Democrats called for the briefing after Congress was largely kept in the dark about the surprise operation. And President Trump is now threatening military action against Colombia. NPR's Franco Ordóñez has more.
President Trump told reporters Sunday that a military operation in Colombia, quote, sounded good to him.
Colombia is very sick too, run by a sick man. Who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States and he's not gonna be doing it very long.
The threat is just the latest in a running war of words between Trump and the Colombian president Gustavo Petro. Which has been escalating since the Trump administration's military campaign striking alleged drug boats in the Caribbean.
Why is the Secretary of Defense taking administrative action against Senator Mark Kelly?
Petro responded to Trump's threat in a long social media post warning that arresting a president would, quote, unleash a popular jaguar. He added that he's asked the Colombian people to defend their president from any violence against him. Franco Ordonez N PR News.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hagseth is taking administrative action against Senator Mark Kelly. NPR's quill Lawrence reports it comes after the Democrats spoke out against President Trump.
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 un American.
How did the Trump administration change the designs of the 250th‑anniversary U.S. quarters?
Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
Wall Street gained ground today, led by a mix of energy companies and banks. This is NPR News from Washington. Minnesota Governor Tim Walls has ended his reelection campaign after being dogged by reports of fraud in state run social service programs. The twenty twenty four Democratic vice presidential candidate says he has stepped up efforts to detect fraud, but the allegations consumed political discussion. Potential potential contenders to replace him as the Democratic nominee include U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. Some new coins begin circulating this week to mark the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the nation's founding. NPR's Scott Horsley reports designs of some of the coins were altered by the Trump administration.
Congress authorized the anniversary coins back in twenty twenty one, and after years of polling and focus groups, a citizens advisory committee recommended five anniversary quarter designs, including coins marking the abolition of slavery, the civil rights movement, and women's suffrage.
What record‑breaking bluefin tuna was sold at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market and why is it significant?
But when the Trump administration recently unveiled the new coins, those designs had been replaced with quarters featuring pilgrims, the Revolutionary War, and the Gettysburg Address.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
Why did Venezuela’s ousted president plead not guilty to drug trafficking charges?
0:00–0:53
2
What is President Trump’s proposed military action against Colombia and how did Colombian President Petro respond?
0:53–1:43
3
Why is the Secretary of Defense taking administrative action against Senator Mark Kelly?
1:43–2:51
4
How did the Trump administration change the designs of the 250th‑anniversary U.S. quarters?
2:51–3:50
5
What record‑breaking bluefin tuna was sold at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market and why is it significant?
3:50–4:38