NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-03-2026 9AM EST

Episode Date: January 3, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump says the U.S. captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro as part of a major military operation overnight that rocked the country's capital, Caracas. NPR's Greg Myrie reports on Trump's announcement early this morning, saying Maduro has been taken out of the country. The U.S. launched the operation in the middle of the night, with explosions ringing out in the capital, Caracas, and helicopters crisscrossing the sky. A couple hours later, President Trump took to truth social and wrote, quote, The United States has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicholas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country. The president did not provide additional details.

It was not immediately clear who would now be running Venezuela. The U.S. action follows months of a military buildup in the region and repeated threats by Trump. against Maduro. Greg Myrie, NPR News, Washington. NPR's Kerry Kahn is keeping track of events in Venezuela from her base in 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 Carlotta, in Caracas. She says, Caracas is in a valley, and so she said you could hear explosions echoing throughout there. And 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. Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling on allies in Europe and on Capitol Hill to defend the military operation to oust Maduro. Rubio has long argued that Maduro was not a legitimate leader and is under indictment in the U.S. on drug charges. MPR. Michelle Kellerman reports on some of the reaction Rubio is getting. The EU's top diplomat, Kayakala, says she spoke to Rubio and agrees that. that Maduro lacks legitimacy. She says the European Union supports a peaceful transition that follows the principles of international law and the U.N. charter. Russia's foreign ministry

issued a statement calling the U.S. operation an act of armed aggression that must be condemned. Hamas weighed in, too, condemning what it calls the abduction of President Maduro and his wife. And Iran blasted the U.S. for, quote, a blatant violation of Venezuela's sovereignty. This comes just a day after President Trump warned Iranians that the U.S. is, quote, locked and loaded if they kill peaceful protesters in Iran, Michelle Kellerman and PR News Tel Aviv. Iran's Supreme Leader vowing not to yield to President Trump. Speaking on state television today, Ayatollah Ali Hamenei said rioters must be put in their place. Hamine's remarks are his first since demonstrations over Iran's economy flared up across the country last weekend.

Rights groups say at least 10 people have been killed. This is NPR News. More than 100 firefighters worked to put out a huge five-alarm fire in Denver last night. The fire broke out near the Glendale area at an apartment building under construction. Pictures posted on social media by Denver's fire department show flames tearing through the building as thick smoke rises into the sky. The fire caused significant power outages. Brazil has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV. That's according to the World Health Organization.

Organization, NPR's Gabriella Emmanuel 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 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. The U.S. military action in Venezuela, the top story today.

President Trump says the U.S. carried out a large-scale strike on targets in Venezuela, capturing leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife in flying them out of the country. Attorney General Pam Bondi says Maduro, will face trial in New York, where he was indicted on narco-terrorism and other charges. President Trump is expected to give more details when he meets with reporters at Mara Lago later this morning. I'm Jail Snyder. This is NPR News.