NPR News: 01-13-2026 1PM EST
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh.
What are the latest inflation trends according to the Labor Department?
Inflation's holding firm, according to the Labor Department's report on the Consumer Price Index. In December, consumer prices were up 2.7 percent from the previous year, same as November's year-over-year increase. Inflation's higher than what the Federal Reserve would like, but it remains steady, and that'll weigh on Fed policymakers. when they meet later this month to decide whether to cut the key interest rate for a fourth straight time. On his way to deliver an economic speech in Detroit, President Trump weighed in this morning with a verbal jab at Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
The inflation numbers just came out and we have very low inflation. So that would give too late Powell the chance to give us a nice, beautiful, big rate cut, which would be great.
As the Fed prepares to hold again another policy meeting, Trump's clash with Powell over the central bank's previous resistance to lower interest rates remains at the forefront. This week, former Fed chairs who served during Republican and Democratic administrations united to defend Powell against threats of a federal criminal investigation. The Trump Organization has launched the development of two more real estate projects in Saudi Arabia, adding to its growing list of projects in the Gulf. NPR's Aya Batrawi reports that President's son, Eric Trump, launched the projects.
The Trump Organization this week launched a golf course, hotel, and residential community on the outskirts of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. It will be built within a sprawling new development owned by Saudi Arabia's Sovereign Wealth Fund, which is run by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Sadman. The company also announced a new Trump Plaza in Jeddah, the second to be built in the Saudi coastal city. The Saudi company developing these projects, Dar Global, says the new projects are worth $10 billion. The Trump organization also has multi-billion dollar real estate projects under development with Dar Global in Qatar, Oman, and the UAE. The projects reflect a rapid expansion of the family-run business and other financial dealings in the Gulf following President Trump's first term in office.
Aya Batraoui, NPR News, Dubai.
Faith leaders in Minnesota have taken a lead in resisting the federal government's massive immigration enforcement operation. NPR's Jason DeRose has more from Minneapolis.
The multi-faith organization Isaiah has worked for decades in Minnesota to bring together people of faith and help them translate their beliefs into concrete actions. Co-executive director Janae Bates Imari says Isaiah once again began mustering the faithful after the killing of Renee Macklin Good last week.
It is a sin for any person, especially a person of faith, to watch what is happening and to stay in silence.
Isaiah helped lead faith communities' response to the murder of George Floyd and worked with Minnesota politicians to pass progressive legislation, including paid family and medical leave. Jason DeRose, NPR News, Minneapolis.
U.S.
How is President Trump's relationship with the Federal Reserve impacting economic policy?
stocks are trading lower this hour. The Dow is down 367 points. This is NPR News. Today is the deadline the White House has given the Smithsonian Institution to submit materials about current and upcoming exhibitions for review. As NPR's Anastasios Yulkas tells us, the White House plans to scrutinize the Smithsonian's galleries, events, and shows to determine whether they express, quote, improper ideology.
In a letter posted online in December, the White House said that today is the deadline for eight Smithsonian museums to submit thousands of documents for review to comply with an executive order issued by President Trump last March. The museums under current review include the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The White House says that federal funds for the Smithsonian's $1 billion budget depend on the institution fulfilling these terms. The Smithsonian declined to comment to NPR. According to the Smithsonian's charter, all of its museums and research centers are meant to be run independently of the federal government.
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