NPR News: 01-16-2026 12AM EST
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
This week on NPR's ThruLine, why America might not exist without the mosquito.
She deserves to have her nice proboscis between Washington and Jefferson on Mount Rushmore.
Listen for stories from across 250 years of American history on America in Pursuit. Every Tuesday in the ThruLine feed, on the NPR app, or wherever you get podcasts.
Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder.
What recent events have heightened tensions in Minneapolis?
Tensions remain high in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Macklin Good last week, and frustrations boiled over Wednesday night after a Venezuelan immigrant was shot in the left leg by a federal agent who said he was under attack. NPR's Jasmine Garst is in Minneapolis.
The mood is very tense. Homeland Security says there are more than 2,000 ICE agents on the ground and more on the way. A lot of people out here are terrified of retaliation for protesting and don't want to give their full names. Right now, the streets are fairly empty. A lot of stores have their doors locked. And on every street corner, there are one or two people, citizens, just standing, monitoring for ICE agents.
Right. President Trump is threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy the military to quell the protests. Meanwhile, the administration ramping up pressure on cities to cooperate with immigration authorities. NPR's Joel Rose reports it raises questions about what the government can demand from local law enforcement.
President Trump is threatening to cut off significant funding from cities and states that limit their cooperation with immigration authorities. This is not the first time the Trump administration has made a threat like this. The president signed an executive order nearly a year ago directing the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to make a list of sanctuary cities and withhold money from them. But courts have consistently sided against the administration in almost every case, saying the federal government cannot use federal funding to coerce state and local governments into cooperating with immigration enforcement. Democratic leaders say they are not intimidated and plan to fight any cuts in court.
Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington. A group of Democratic senators calling for the U.S. Postal Service to reverse changes that have led to some parts of the country not getting mail postmarked on the same day it sent.
How is the Trump administration influencing local law enforcement cooperation?
NPR's Hansi Lowong reports that changes make sending mail-in ballots and other important documents with deadlines more complicated.
The date that's stamped on envelopes is sometimes used to determine whether mail-in ballot gets counted. But as part of the U.S. Postal Service's reorganization, USPS has cut back how often it picks up mail in certain areas more than 50 miles from one of its regional processing centers. That means some first-class mail may not get postmarked until the day after it's collected. In a letter to the Postmaster General, Senators Alex Padilla and Jeff Merkley, plus a dozen other Senate Democrats, say they're concerned this change could lead to more voters getting their mail-in ballots rejected. To make sure a letter gets a postmark on the same day you mail it, USPS recommends asking for one at a post office.
Election officials say a last-minute voter can also consider turning in their ballot in person, like at an election office. Anzi Luong, NPR News.
And you're listening to NPR News. Pakistan says it has signed up to Trump family's cryptocurrency firm for cross-border payments. Omkar Kandikar reports that the country's information ministry says it has signed an agreement with a firm connected to World Liberty Financial, which is the main crypto business of the Trump family.
Pakistan said the deal with World Liberty affiliate company SC Financial Technologies will help them use their USD1 stablecoin for digital payments and cross-border remittances. Reuters reports, the deal makes Pakistan the first sovereign state to publicly announce a deal with World Liberty, which was co-founded by Trump and his sons. The announcement came during the deal signing in Pakistan by the firm's co-founder-in-chief, Zach Witkoff.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:28
2
What recent events have heightened tensions in Minneapolis?
0:28–2:29
3
How is the Trump administration influencing local law enforcement cooperation?
2:29–4:38
4
What changes are being made to the Postal Service and how do they affect voters?
4:38–5:26