NPR News: 01-16-2026 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 President Trump's recent comments on tariffs and Greenland?
President Trump is mentioning tariffs as he says he may punish countries that do not support U.S. control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
I may put a tariff on countries if they don't go along with Greenland because we need Greenland for national security. So I may do that.
A bipartisan group of congressional members met with Danish and Greenlandic officials today to express that Greenland is an ally, not an asset. Meanwhile, with sovereignty on the line, several European countries have dispatched troops to Greenland. At the White House today, President Trump held a rural health care roundtable as he faces midterm election year criticism for his cuts to Medicaid. He announced a $50 billion rural health program. Healthcare priorities President Trump has outlined this week do not include a repeal of the Affordable Care Act, but as NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin tells us, one key idea could seriously weaken the health insurance marketplaces.
A fact sheet about Trump's health care plan says it would, quote, execute the president's vision to send money directly to the American people. Cynthia Cox of the nonpartisan health research organization KFF says the details are sparse.
What it seems like is this idea of turning the financial assistance that's available for Obamacare enrollees into essentially cash that they might be able to use to buy health insurance that is not compliant with the Affordable Care Act.
She says that could cause ACA marketplace premiums to skyrocket and weaken the markets. The White House hopes that lawmakers will turn these ideas into a bill, but did not set a specific timeline. Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.
During Friday prayers in Iran, Ayatollah Ahmed Khatami says all detained protesters should be put to death. His sermon was carried on state radio. President Trump has warned the deaths of anti-government protests in the Islamic Republic could lead to U.S. military action. The United Kingdom's deputy prime minister has arrived in Ukraine. The visit was not previously announced and timed. with the anniversary of what the U.K. calls a 100-year partnership with the country. Here's NPR's Lauren Frayer.
During Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy's visit to the capital, Kiev, the U.K. government announced another $27 million in funds to repair Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The Ukrainian energy minister says Russia has attacked every single one of the country's power stations in a strategy Ukrainian officials call weaponizing winter. Russian attacks have left hundreds of thousands without heat or lights during one of the coldest Ukrainian winters in years, with temperatures around zero Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, Germany, France and Italy have called for a resumption of direct talks with Moscow over Ukraine, but the U.K. says it opposes that. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London. From Washington, this is NPR News.
Charlie Kirk's accused killer is due back in court today.
How is the U.S. addressing rural health care challenges?
Attorneys for 22-year-old Tyler Robinson are asking the judge to disqualify the case's prosecutors, citing conflict of interest concerns. Prosecutors have said they plan to seek the death penalty. Kirk, a conservative influencer close to the Trump family, was gunned down during a college event in Utah last September. A key advocate of the Northwest U.S. tree fruit industry has died. B.J. Thirlby's work is recognized around the globe. Northwest Public Broadcasting's Anna King has this remembrance.
B.J. Thirlby ran the Washington State Fruit Commission, where he earned the title this year as the Cherry King. He expanded marketing to nearly 30 different countries.
What impact could Trump's health care plan have on the Affordable Care Act?
John Devaney is the president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association. He remembers Thurlby's booming laugh and positive outlook even when hail and rain destroyed cherries. It made him an amazing psychological and emotional support for growers who deal with really volatile highs and lows in their work life. Thanks to his work, cherries can earn Washington, Oregon, and Idaho farmers nearly a billion dollars a season.
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