NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-03-2026 2PM EST

Episode Date: January 3, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Rahm. President Trump is defending his decision to have the U.S. run Venezuela, after a U.S. military operation overnight, remove President Maduro from power. Trump says it's in the U.S. interest to surround itself with good neighbors. Trump said Americans will take over the country, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegeseth. U.S. oil companies will operate Venezuela's oil reserves, and the military. will provide security.

We'll make the people of Venezuela rich, independent, and safe. And it will also make the many, many people from Venezuela that are living in the United States extremely happy. They suffered. They suffered. So much was taken from them. They're not going to suffer anymore. In Florida, Venezuelans began gathering before sunrise today to celebrate the U.S. military action

and the arrest of Madura. South Florida is home to the nation. largest population of Venezuelans. NPR's Greg Allen has more. Hundreds of Venezuelans and Venezuelan Americans are hugging, chanting, and singing at El Arapazzo Restaurant in Dural, a Miami suburb. Many said they have spoken to the relatives of Venezuela

about the news that Maduro and his wife were arrested and flown out of the country. Michelle Guerra is hoping that with Maduro's ouster, democracy may return to Venezuela. We know for a fact that a lot of people want to go back. The issue is, do we have a safe environment to be able to grow, to be able to just prosper as human beings in what this world is nowadays. In a city where some 40% of residents have roots in Venezuela, people are excited that after 26 years,

political change appears to be underway. Greg Allen, NPR News, Derao, Florida. U.S. Attorney General Pambandhi says Maduro and his wife will face criminal charges. They've been indicted in the Southern District of New York. The charges include conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and weapons possession. Bondi says they will face the full wrath of American justice on American soil. NPR's Carrie Khan has been monitoring events in Venezuela from Rio de Janeiro.

Reports started flooding social media with videos of multiple explosions throughout the city, and I spoke right away with a reporter Vanessa Silva, and she actually lives right in front of the military airport La Carlota in Caracas. She says there were several fires on the runway, but they were put out quickly, but she could hear airplanes continuing to circle around the Caracas guys for hours. NPR's Kerry Khan. Iran's supreme leader made his first comments today on the week-long protest against the government. Ayatollah Ali Khomeini 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 the Islamic Republic would not yield to the enemy. This is NPR News. The investigation continues into the deadly fire at a Swiss ski resort in the early hours of New Year's Day. At least 40 people were killed and more than 100 were injured. Officials say it appears that sparkling candles on top of champagne bottles were carried too close to the ceiling. Hollywood had a lackluster year at North American box offices, but NPR's Bob Mandela reports, the global picture is brighter.

U.S. moviegoers proved hard to pry away from their TV sets in 2025, but international audiences seemed happy to return to cinemas. This world goes much deeper than you imagine. Avatar Fire and Ash, and the car racing movie F1, which each did quite well in the U.S., did twice as well in other countries, and almost all Hollywood blockbusters did at least half of their business overseas. So where North American box office increased just over 1%, international numbers rose 16% to 24,4%. $4.6 billion. That includes the year's biggest box office smash, the Chinese animated fantasy Naysha, too. The global totals were up substantially from 2024. They still trail pre-pandemic records by about 20 percent. Bob Mandello, NPR News. Health officials in South Carolina are reporting nine more confirmed cases of the measles. In a county that has the lowest school

vaccination rate of any county in the state, the total number in South Carolina, is 185, the health department says the outbreak is affecting children at a greater ratio than current outbreaks in other states. I'm Nora Rahm. NPR News in Washington.