NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-03-2026 12PM EST

Episode Date: January 3, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. President Trump just stopped speaking from his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago, where he watched the military operation in Venezuela overnight. He says troops captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in a matter of seconds. The two are to stand trial in New York on drug conspiracy and weapons charges. Trump said, for now, the U.S. will take charge of Venezuela. We're going to run the country until such time

as we can do a safe, proper, and judicious transition. So we don't want to be involved with having somebody else get in and we have the same situation that we had for the last long period of years. He said there were some injuries among the U.S. forces but no deaths. The Trump administration had briefed congressional leaders on its operation to apprehend Maduro after it begun. Maduro and his wife are in U.S. custody and face. indictment in the U.S. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports. The Trump administration informed congressional

leadership, Republican and Democratic about the Maduro operation after the mission was underway. That's according to a person familiar with the matter who is not authorized to speak publicly. The administration told congressional leaders that the president took action under his Article 2 powers as commander-in-chief. Officials also said that the military mission was helping execute an arrest warrant against Maduro in support of a Justice Department indictment. Attorney General Pam Bondi says Maduro and his wife have been indicted in New York and will, quote, face the full wrath of American justice on American soil. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington. NPR's Aida Peralto has been monitoring the story from Mexico City and reports on Venezuelan reaction.

Videos posted on social media showed explosions across the capital, Caracas. President Trump said Maduro had been captured along with his wife. On state television, Venezuela's Vice President Desi Rodriguez said government and military officials had been killed by U.S. strikes across Venezuela. Exigimus to the government of President Donald Trump. She says we demand from the government of President Donald Trump a proof of life.

Early this morning, Venezuela's Interior Minister, Yostado Cabello, appeared flanked by police, saying the Venezuelan government will not be cowed. Adapralta, Empire News, Mexico City. This morning, President Trump posted a picture that purports to be Maduro aboard a U.S. ship.

Iran's supreme leader made his first comments today on the week-long protests against the government. Ayatollah al-Hamani said the rioters must be put in their place. At least 10 people have been killed in the demonstrations. Yesterday, President Trump warned Iran that if it kills peaceful protesters, the U.S. will come to their rescue. Hameini said today the Islamic Republic will not yield to the enemy. Officials from Iran have claimed that the U.S. and Israel have been fomenting unrest. This is NPRN. News in Washington. A federal appeals court has ruled that California's law against openly carrying weapons is unconstitutional. The ban applies to counties with more than 200,000 residents.

The three-judge panel found it violates a Supreme Court decision in 2022 that struck down laws that required a special permit to openly carry a gun in public. Supporters of the ban are expected to seek a decision by the entire appeals court. Brazil has eliminated most of the law. Brazil has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV, according to the World Health Organization. NPR's Gabriella Emanuel has more. Worldwide, the WHO has certified 19 countries and territories where almost every child is born HIV-free, even if their mothers have the virus. But Brazil is the most populous country in the Americas and the first country of more than

100 million people to achieve this milestone. Their success is in large part due to the country's universal and, and free health care. In the U.S., HIV-mother-to-child transmission rates are very low, less than 1% of kids born to HIV-positive mothers. But it has yet to receive the WHO certification. Gabriela Emmanuel and PR News. Conservationists are mourning the death of a popular elephant in a national park in Kenya. Craig was found dead this morning of natural causes. He was 54. He was one of the last super-tuskers with immense tusks that would touch the ground.

when he walked. The Kenya Wildlife Service describes Craig as calm and dignified, who would stop patiently to allow tourists to take his picture. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News, in Washington. Listen to this podcast, sponsor-free on Amazon Music with a prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now Plus at plus.npr.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org.