NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-01-2026 11PM EST

Episode Date: January 2, 2026

NPR News: 01-01-2026 11PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. It's been five years since mobs attacked the U.S. Capitol, but fallout from the riots continues. This week, House Republicans released the transcript of their closed-door meeting with former special counsel, Jack Smith. NPR's Katie Riddle has more. Jack Smith led two investigations into President Trump, one over Trump's attempt to cast doubt on the 2020 election results, which led to the January 6th. storming of the Capitol. The second was over Trump's handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. The Department of Justice dropped both these cases once Trump was elected again in 2024. And many Republicans have continued to put forth a counter-narrative

around the events of January 6th. But in his recently released testimony, Smith stood by his findings. President Trump was, by a large measure, the most culpable and most responsible person in this conspiracy. Smith resigned as former President Biden's tenure was coming to a close. Katie O'R. News. The U.S. Postal Service is warning voters and taxpayers that postmarks will not necessarily reflect the day that letters and parcels are first mailed. As NPR's Windsor-Johnston reports, the new system could affect whether bills, ballots, and tax returns are considered on time. USPS says the official date stamped on mail reflects when it's processed by a sorting machine, not when the Postal Service first receives it.

That means letters and payments could be postmarked a day or more after they're sent, depending on pickup and sorting schedules. For decades, the postmark has served as proof that something was mailed on time, especially for bills, legal documents, tax filings, and mail-in ballots. Postal officials say the new language is intended to improve public understanding of postmarks, but critics mourn it could create problems, leading to late fees, missed deadlines and confusion, especially in communities that rely heavily on traditional mail. Windsor Johnston, NPR News. President Trump's expanded travel ban took effect today.

As NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports from Tel Aviv, many Palestinians will no longer be able to get a U.S. visa. The State Department says it will reject visas for anyone using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority. There are some narrow exceptions, according to a fact sheet posted online, valid visas issued before 2006 will remain valid, and some Palestinian diplomats and athletes may be exempted. Liberal Jewish organizations in the U.S. have been urging the Trump administration to reverse a move that they say will delegitimize the Palestinian Authority and undermine diplomacy. The U.S. blocked the Palestinian Authority president from attending the U.N. General Assembly last year.

Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Tel Aviv. This is NPR. A New Year's Eve celebration turned deadly in the Swiss Alps where a ski resort fire killed at least 40 people and injured 115 others. Authorities say it is still too early to speculate on a cause of the blaze in Cronz, Montana, situated about 40 miles north of Matterhorn.

At least seven people, including a 21-year-old paramilitary volunteer, have been killed in the latest unrest in Iran. The deaths are the first fatalities during protests triggered by a troubled economy and currency and stability. The protests have slowed in Tehran while spreading into rural provinces. And they're being called the largest since 2022 when a police killing triggered nationwide demonstrations. The state of Colorado is now providing additional paid leave for families whose infants spend time in the NATO intensive care unit. From Colorado Public Radio, Benton, has details. paid family leave program already allows workers to take up to 12 weeks of workoff to care for a new baby or for a serious family health or personal issue and receive most of their pay during that time. Now families whose babies need to spend time in neonatal intensive care can apply for an additional 12 weeks of paid leave. Beckers say this acknowledges the extra strain families are under when caring for newborns with significant health problems. Illinois also

allows extra leave for a NICU parents, but unlike Colorado, it doesn't have to be paid leave. For NPR News, I'm Ben to Brooklyn. On Asian market, shares are mostly lower at the sour. This is NPR News.