NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-02-2026 4PM EST

Episode Date: January 2, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Venezuelan government says it is open to serious talks with the Trump administration. Days after the U.S.'s campaign against alleged drug trafficking vessels at sea reach Venezuela's shore with a purported CIA strike on a dock. John Otis reports President Nicolas Maduro, who has long been critical of the U.S. government says Venezuela is ready to cooperate with the U.S. on drugs and oil. In recent months, the U.S. has sent warships to the Caribbean Sea, blown up alleged drug trafficking boats from Venezuela, and has tried to block Venezuelan tankers from exporting oil. All this is part of a campaign by the Trump administration to remove Maduro from power.

But in an interview broadcast on Venezuelan state TV, Maduro called for a fresh start. He said the two countries should engage in, quote, serious talks about fighting drug trafficking and said U.S. companies could return to Venezuela to produce oil. Here in Venezuela, you have a brother country of the United States, Maduro said. Here you have a government that is a friend. For NPR news, I'm John Otis. Investigators believe they have found the cause of the New Year's Party fire at a Swiss Alps resort bar, Sparklers.

Top prosecutor Beatrice P.U. As heard through an interpreter on France 24. Everything leads us to believe that the fire began. from candles or sparklers that were put on champagne bottles and all of this was placed too closely to the roof, or the ceiling, rather. And that's when there was a flashover that took place in this establishment. Local authorities confirmed at least 40 people died. More than 100 were injured.

An hours after the community suffered heavy losses, mourners gathered four New Year's Day religious services, a gathering posted online here by Mirror Now. Hope Leo and other religious leaders sent prayers as vigils were held at a makeshift memorial as well, where people continue to leave flowers. Representatives for federal employees filed a complaint against the administration to restore insurance coverage of gender-affirming care. And Pierre Siddu Lutkin has the latest. The Human Rights Campaign filed a discrimination. complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It follows an announcement that starting in January 26, quote, chemical and surgical modification of an individual sex traits through medical interventions

would no longer be covered by federal employees' health insurance. That means neither the employee nor their covered family members on their health plans would be able to get coverage for gender affirming care. That's NPR's Sydney Bluckin reporting. The Dow's closed up more than 300 points. This is NPR News. Actor and producer Angelina Jolie visited the Rafa border today on the Egyptian side of the crossing with the Gaza Strip. Egyptian officials say Jolie visited a hospital to speak with Palestinian patients and met with the Red Crescent

as she seeks to raise support for humanitarian aid teams displaced by war. In a statement, Jolie says the ceasefire in Gaza must hold and access must be sustained. The reality on the ground is that emergency supplies are slow to arrive inside Gaza, including shelter materials as tent cities are gripped by wintry conditions. President Trump is purchasing marble for the new White House ballroom. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports Trump spent about an hour at a South Florida tile store shopping for marble and onyx. President Trump took a slight detour on his way to his Palm Beach Golf Club to visit

Arkstone and Tile in Lake Worth, Florida. The president is building a 90,000. square foot ballroom in place of the east wing, which was torn down last year. The White House said Trump is purchasing the stone at his own expense. Trump is well known for his fondness for marble. He replaced tile in the Lincoln bathroom with marble. On a trip to the Middle East, he described marble in the Cutter Palace as perfecto and very hard to buy. Last month, Trump even suggested he was considering marble armrest for renovations at the Kennedy Center. Franco or Donias. NPR News, Lake Worth, Florida.

The Dow closed up, 319 points to end the day at 48,382. This is NPR News.