NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-03-2026 6PM EST

Episode Date: January 3, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. A large U.S. military force involving some 150 aircraft carried out the swift operation in Venezuela that seized President Nicholas Maduro and his wife. MPIRS. Greg Myrie reports the U.S. troops entered and left Venezuela in just a few hours. General Dan Kane, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said President Trump gave the order for the operation shortly before 11 p.m. Friday. The U.S. then launched bombers, fighter jets, surveillance planes, and drones. These aircraft helped protect the Special Operations Forces flying in helicopters to President Maduro's compound in the capital Caracas. The helicopters came under fire and one was hit but was still able to fly.

Within two and a half hours, the forces had captured Maduro and his wife and were taking them to a U.S. warship in the Caribbean. Maduro now faces drug trafficking charges in the U.S. U.S. Greg Myrie, NPR News, Washington. Video footage on CNN appears to show Maduro arriving at a military base in New York tonight. China says it's warning its citizens not to travel to Venezuela and says it's closely monitoring the situation in that country where China was the biggest buyer of Venezuelan oil. And peers, Emily Fang, has more.

Although Venezuela contributed just a tiny fraction of the oil China imports for the South American nation, China, China was its primary customer, ferrying sanctioned oil from Venezuela to small refineries on China's east coast on what analysts to term a shadow fleet of ships left unregistered or with their trackers off in order to evade sanctions. Over the last few weeks, Beijing has been outspoken against U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean. And on Saturday, China's foreign ministries that the U.S. seizure of Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife were, quote, hegemonic acts and strongly condemned the attack as a violation of international law. Emily Fang and Peer News. Demonstrations in Maryland today as residents and lawmakers rallied against the U.S. military operation. Scott Massione from

Member Station WIPR has more. After the Trump administration's surprise attack in Venezuela, protesters converged on Baltimore City Hall. Rachel Vakera, Baltimore's Party for Socialism and Liberation, helped organize the protest. There is no shortage of needs that the people in the U.S. face. We want these taxpayer dollars to meet people's needs, ultimately, and not destroy other countries on behalf of, in this case, oil executives. Maryland U.S. Representative Johnny O'Shefsky, who serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee, says he's deeply concerned by President Trump's comments that the United States will run Venezuela. Oshowski says he and other members of the committee are pushing for a briefing from the White House.

For NPR News, I'm Scott Mascione in Baltimore. You're listening to NPR. News from Washington. The first female jockey in the Kentucky Derby has died. Diane Crump was 77. She was the first woman to ride professionally in a horse race in 1969, and a year later, she became the first female jockey in the derby. Her daughter tells the Associated Press she died Thursday night in Winchester, Virginia,

after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Trump won 228 races before retiring in 1990. She was among several women to successfully fight to be granted a jockey license. The head of the racetrack at Church Hill Down says Crump will be forever respected and remembered. With the new year comes lots of ideas for what will be in and out, especially for food. Predictions for the trendy new food and flavors to watch in 2026 include cabbage, black current, and cinnamon rolls. NPR's Netta Ulibe has more. The predictions come from chefs, industry analysts, and influence.

influencers, and they range from flavors like guava and black sesame to fiber maxing, more fiber in everything. On TikTok, an influencer named Casey Carter responded to a Whole Foods list of 2026 predictions. They say vinegars will be all the rage, as well as beef tallow. But I wonder what cardiologists have to say about that. Other food predictions for 2026 from other industry leaders include more creative tiramisus, with flavors like banana or peanut butter and jelly, and and celery in desserts. Netta Ulibe, NPR News. And I'm Janine Hurst,

and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.