NPR News: 01-12-2026 8PM EST
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Former Treasury secretaries, economists, and central bankers are warning that the Justice Department's investigation of the Federal Reserve could backfire. NPR's Scott Horsley reports they say it could bring higher inflation and a weaker economy.
The group is speaking out after word the Justice Department served subpoenas on the Fed last week, seeking information about its costly headquarters renovation and Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's testimony about it. Powell says the probe is part of a long-running pressure campaign by the Trump administration designed to intimidate the central bank and force it to adopt much lower interest rates. The bipartisan group of economic officials warns that's how monetary policy is typically made in much less developed countries with weak institutions. They argue such tactics have no place in the United States, where the rule of law is a great source of strength and economic success. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
President Trump says he's inclined to keep ExxonMobil out of Venezuela after its top executive was skeptical about investing in the country after the toppling of former President Nicolás Maduro. ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods called the country uninvestable. Trump says he didn't like Exxon's response and that, quote, they're playing too cute. President Trump says he may talk with Elon Musk about restoring Internet to Iran, where the authorities have cut off Internet access as they crack down on massive anti-government protests. NPR's John Ruich has more.
Among other things, Elon Musk is founder and owner of the aerospace company SpaceX, which runs Starlink. It has a constellation of thousands of satellites orbiting Earth that provide high-speed satellite internet in areas where traditional broadband doesn't exist. The protests in Iran began in late December over the collapse of the country's currency. The demonstrations have spread and grown, but the government has been cracking down. According to rights groups, there have been thousands of arrests and hundreds of people killed in recent days. The authorities have also shut down the Internet, although there are reports that some people are able to access it using Starlink. John Rewich, NPR News.
A high-profile trial that could shape the future of abortion access in Missouri is now underway. St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Fenton reports.
In 2024, Missouri voters approved an amendment enshrining abortion rights in the state's constitution. But while a judge has put some previous abortion restrictions on hold, others remain on the books. The lawsuit by Planned Parenthood seeks to fully overturn the state's abortion ban, as well as several Missouri laws providers say restrict access. The state's attorneys argue those laws are necessary to keep patients safe. State officials say fewer than 150 abortions took place in the state's clinics in 2025, despite the constitutional change. It's likely the fight won't end with this lawsuit. Republican lawmakers in the state have voted to put another abortion ban on the November ballot. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Fenton in St.
Louis.
Wall Street edged up to more records today. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. A college sports regulator has rejected nearly $15 million in sponsorships for players since it started evaluating them over the summer. That's more than 10% of the value of the name-image likeness deals it has reviewed. The College Sports Commission sent a reminder memo to athletic directors last week, citing serious concerns about contracts being offered to student athletes. Sudan's military-led government has returned to the capital. A turning point came last year after nearly three years of civil war, as NPR's Emmanuel Akinwotu reports.
The rapid support forces, formerly allies with the Sunnis army, captured Khartoum when the war erupted in April 2023. After a brutal occupation of the city, where the RSF were widely accused of widespread looting, torture and sexual violence, the army recaptured the capital last March.
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