NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-02-2026 11AM EST

Episode Date: January 2, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Investigators are learning more about the deadly fire that ripped through a bar at a popular ski resort in the Swiss Alps during New Year's Eve celebrations. The local prosecutor says initial report suggests the blaze was ignited by sparklers that were attached to champagne bottles. Terry Schultz reports at least 40 people died in the fire and more than 100 others were injured. Eyewitness accounts and photos from the scene suggest the ceiling in the bar in Cronmontana, Switzerland, caught fire from lit sparklers being held high by those celebrating the new year. Outside the site of the tragedy, flowers and candles have been left in memory of the victims, many of whom are believed to have been young people.

Investigators say the extent of the burns suffered by victims will slow the identification process. That's Terry Schultz reporting. President Trump has warned Iran's authorities against killing peaceful protest. saying Washington will come to their rescue. In a post on social media, Trump wrote, We are locked and loaded. MPR's Franco Ordonez reports. President Trump vowed to step in if Iran uses lethal force on demonstrators as economic protests continue. In an early morning social media posts, Trump wrote that if Iran kills peaceful protesters, then, quote, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go. The comments mark a sharp

escalation by the president toward Iran. Clashes between police and protesters have turned deadly over the past week. Iran warned that any U.S. intervention would be crossing a red line and be met with a response. Franco, Ordonez, NPR News, Palm Beach. The president of Venezuela says he's open to an agreement with the U.S. to fight drug trafficking. Nicholas Maduro says he's willing to discuss U.S. investment in the Venezuelan oil industry. The comments came the same. day the Trump administration announced strikes on several alleged drug smuggling boats. Social Security field offices across the country lost 9% of their staff in the past year. MPR's Ashley Lopez says that's according to a new report from the Strategic Organizing Center. Researchers compiled data from

unions representing Social Security field office workers nationwide. These are local employees that provide direct services like help with identity cards, benefits applications, and benefits verification among other community-specific needs. Thousands of workers who provide those services have left the agency amid the Trump administration's push to reduce the size of the federal workforce. The report found that there are nearly 4,000 beneficiaries for every Social Security field office worker. In eight states, there are 5,000 beneficiaries for each worker.

The report also found that some congressional districts lost as much as a fifth of their local social security workforce. Ashley Lopez and PR News. On Wall Street, the Dowell was up. up 54 points. This is NPR News. Americans may get to enjoy Italian pasta in the United States after all. The U.S. Department of Commerce had threatened to slap heavy duties on Italian pasta brands that the pasta makers warned exports to the U.S. would be unviable.

But now the Trump administration has relented. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports from Rome. The row over Italian pasta became a diplomatic. matter. In the Italian Foreign Ministry, a special task force was set up to address the issue. The U.S. Department of Commerce had accused 13 Italian pasturans of dumping practices when a company sells goods abroad at a cheaper price than in its domestic market. They threatened a penalty of almost 92%. Now, though, the U.S. has sharply lowered the proposed duties following a preliminary review. The Commerce Department says Italian exporters have addressed.

many of the concerns raised in an initial assessment. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News. A new U.S. travel ban is making it harder for many Palestinians to get visas. The State Department says it will now reject visa applications from people using travel documents issued or endorsed by the Palestinian Authority. There are some exceptions, including valid visas issued before 2026 and certain diplomats and athletes. Liberal Jewish groups in the U.S. are calling on the Trump administration to reverse the move, saying it undermines diplomacy and weakens the Palestinian Authority. I'm Windsor Johnston,

and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.