NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-03-2026 10AM EST

Episode Date: January 3, 2026

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Live from M.P. in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump is praising the U.S. military operation in Venezuela overnight. President Trump speaking to Fox News this morning as he prepares to brief reporters at Marlago in the next hour. That was unbelievable what they did there, and this is something that, gee, I don't know, it's amazing. And to have a few injuries, but no death on our side is really amazing. President Trump speaking to Fox News this morning as he prepares to brief reporters at Mar-Lago in the next hour. Congress has yet to return to Capitol Hill from its holiday break, but is already reacting to President Trump's announcement that the U.S. carried out airstrikes in Venezuela overnight and captured leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife. NPR's Barbara Sprunt reports. Senate Intelligence Chair Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, said Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, told him this morning that Venezuela President Nicholas Maduro is in U.S. custody. Fellow GOP Senator Mike Lee of Utah said Rubio told him he anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in custody.

Meanwhile, congressional Democrats have been blasting the attack, calling it an illegal strike on Venezuela. New Jersey Senator Andy Kim said the strike sends a, quote, horrible and disturbing signal to other powerful leaders across the globe that targeting a head of state is an acceptable policy for the U.S. government. Barbara Sprint and PR News, Washington. The U.S. Attorney General says Maduro and his wife have been indicted in New York and will face trial in P.R.'s Carrie Johnson. Attorney General Pam Bondi says Nicolaas Maduro and his wife will, quote, face the full wrath of American justice on American soil. Bondi says they've been indicted in the Southern District of New York.

She says the charges against Maduro include narco-terrorism conspiracy, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. The Attorney General says the U.S. military conducted an overnight operation to capture the alleged narco traffickers. Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee says he spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio after Lee raised questions about a constitutional basis for the U.S. to act without explicit authorization from Congress. Kerry Johnson, NPR News, Washington. To Europe now for reaction there from reporter Terry Schultz. EU foreign policy chief Kayakales says she's spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and is monitoring the situation in Venezuela closely with the safety of EU citizens present there as her top priority.

In a social media post, Kallas notes the EU has maintained that Venezuelan leader Maduro lacks legitimacy after July 2024 elections widely viewed as flawed. At the same time, without mentioning the U.S. actions specifically, Kala says, under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the U.N. Charter must be respected. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz, in Brussels. This is NPR News. The FBI says it disrupted a planned attack inspired by the Islamic State Group. Agents in North Carolina have arrested 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant, who had allegedly pledged loyalty to the group.

He is charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Authorities say he share plans with an undercover FBI employee and plans. employee to use knives and hammers to carry out New Year's Eve attacks. Prediction market apps are expected to surge this year ahead of midterm elections. And Piers Bobby Allen reports the Biden administration tried to shut down election betting, but Trump officials are welcoming the services. Billions of dollars and bets are happening every week on Kauci and Polly Market. It's mostly sports, but politics is a growing category.

The apps are regulated by the Commodity Future Trading Commission after arguing they are not gambling, but a futures contract. Carl Lockhart is a law professor who studies prediction markets at DePaul University. He says the apps are gambling under a different name. It's a combination of technology being addictive and then on top of that, you know, these apps and the actual game of gambling being addictive, right? So you basically have this sort of addiction squared situation. Election watchers say the apps invite rich backers and foreign actors to pour money into an

election bet to change opinions, perceptions, or even how people vote. Bobby Allen and PR News. Recapping our top story, President Trump. set to brief reporters later this morning at about an hour on the situation in Venezuela and a social media post early today. Trump said that U.S. forces carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela overnight and captured President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. I'm Jail Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington. Listen to this podcast sponsor-free on Amazon Music with a prime membership or any podcast app

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