NPR News: 01-21-2026 2PM EST

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NPR News Now 5 min 6 speakers 2 chapters transcribed 2 months ago
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

Scott Detrow 0:01
NPR's podcast Trump's Terms is your source for same-day updates on big news about the Trump administration. Short, focused episodes, one topic at a time, about five minutes or so. We carry out reporting from across all of NPR's coverage, so you are always getting the biggest, most urgent stories. Listen to Trump's Terms on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Nora Rahm 0:24
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm.

What updates were shared about President Trump's speech at the World Economic Forum?

Nora Rahm 0:28
President Trump spoke today to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He insisted the U.S. must acquire Greenland, despite repeated statements by officials in Greenland and Denmark that the island is not for sale.
Donald Trump 0:41
All we're asking for is to get Greenland, including right title and ownership, because you need the ownership to defend it. You can't defend it on a lease. Number one, legally, it's not defensible that way, totally. And number two, psychologically, who the hell wants to defend a license agreement or a lease? which is a large piece of ice in the middle of the ocean.
Nora Rahm 1:11
Trump said he would not use force to obtain the territory, but called for immediate negotiations. He also urged Denmark and the rest of NATO to stand aside. The Supreme Court heard arguments today testing the limits of the president's power to fire a member of the Federal Reserve's governing board. NPR's Scott Horsley reports the case comes as President Trump has been waging a pressure campaign for the central bank to lower interest rates.
Scott Horsley 1:37
The Trump administration says the president was within his rights to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook over allegations she made false statements on mortgage applications, even though Cook denies any wrongdoing. During oral arguments, Cook's lawyer Paul Clement said when it comes to the central bank, lawmakers deliberately put limits on the president's firing power, to insulate the Fed from political pressure. Congress, political animals one and all, knew better than anyone that the short-term temptations to lower interest rates and have easy money was a disaster in the long term, but was going to be irresistible. Trump has insisted interest rates should be much lower, but Cook and other Fed policymakers are expected to hold rates steady when they meet next week.
Scott Horsley 2:17
Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
Nora Rahm 2:19
A controversial lawyer with close ties to President Trump is now out as the top federal prosecutor in eastern Virginia. NPR's Carrie Johnson reports Lindsey Halligan left the U.S. attorney job after a long legal battle.
Carrie Johnson 2:33
This week, Judge David Novak accused Halligan of, quote, masquerading as the U.S. attorney for weeks after another federal judge disqualified her from the post. Halligan had no prior experience as a prosecutor and had worked as a personal lawyer to the president. Her effort to prosecute Trump foes Jim Comey and Letitia James ended in failure after court ruled she was improperly installed in the job. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Halligan's departure is a significant loss for the Justice Department, but that she will continue to serve the president. The federal courts in eastern Virginia are seeking applicants to serve as the interim U.S. attorney. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.
Nora Rahm 3:14
On Wall Street, the Dow is up 310 points. The S&P 500 is up 35. This is NPR News in Washington. State television in Iran today released the government's official death toll from the crackdown on anti-government protests. It says 3,117 people were killed. The Human Rights Activist News Agency says it's verified 4,560 deaths, with thousands more under review. The American Heart Association says deaths from heart disease in the U.S. have declined, but heart disease remains the top cause of death. NPR's Alison Aubrey reports.
Dr. Stacey Rosen 3:54
Heart disease and stroke account for more than a quarter of all deaths in the U.S., with a death occurring about every 34 seconds. Cardiologist Dr. Stacey Rosen of the American Heart Association says the downward trend marks the end of a pandemic-related anomaly.
The good news is encouraging to see. Unfortunately, though, the prevalence of risk factors for heart disease and stroke continue to rise.

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