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

Episode Date: January 4, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. President Trump offered colorful details on the U.S. effort to capture and indict Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife. Maduro is now in New York, according to CNN video footage, to stand trial on federal charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy. As NPR's Franco, Ordonia's reports, Trump described key scenes in the mission. President Trump described in detail key moments in the U.S. prize capture of the Venezuelan leader, sharing that the U.S. operation included knocking out power in Caracas. All Venezuelan military capacities were rendered powerless as the men and women of our military working with U.S. law enforcement successfully captured Maduro in the dead of night. Trump said Venezuelan forces knew they were coming, but that the U.S. was able to

completely overwhelm the resistance. He said some U.S. service members were injured, but they no fatalities. He also said the mission ended with no U.S. equipment loss. Trump praised the military for its precision and said only the U.S. could have pulled off the complex and secretive mission. Franco, Ordonez, NPR News. In Washington, D.C., protesters gathered outside the White House. Lydia Riley lives in D.C. and she says she wants action. Well, I'm outraged and disgusted about this attack on Venezuela in kidnapping of his president and many other things that have been. And I actually voted for

Trump. But no more. I think he should be out impeached. Many countries are expressing alarm but aren't publicly criticizing President Trump. The UN Security Council will hold a meeting on Monday called for by Venezuela, Colombia, Russia, and China. Venezuela's Vice President Delsi Rodriguez held a meeting with top leaders of the government, declaring there's only one president of Venezuela still, Maduro, and she remained defiant, saying the country won't be run by the U.S. Meanwhile, residents of the Capitol are lining up to stock up on food and medicines, and Pierce Carey Khan reports.

The overall sentiment in Caracas has been one of shock after the Capitol was rocked by explosions early Saturday morning. Retired government worker Sandra Martinez, however, says Maduro had to go. It was necessary. It was necessary already, she said, and if a transition is to happen, God willing, she said she hopes it will be peaceful. Shopkeeper Carlos Barada, who is 57 years old, said he felt the shockwaves of the explosions, but now he's worried about what's next. Everyone is saying the next days will be difficult. He says he's decided to take the little

money he has stashed away and buy as much food as he can. Carrie Khan, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro. News. The judge of Milwaukee is resigning after being convicted of trying to help a man evade immigration enforcement. In December, a jury found Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstructing an official proceeding. Sarah Lear of Wisconsin Public Radio has more. Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan's legal troubles started in April when she led a man through a side door of her courtroom. That's after immigration agents showed up at the courthouse to arrest the man for being in the country illegally. The day after the felony verdict against Dugan, Wisconsin's top legislative Republicans announced they would start impeachment proceedings against her unless she resigned

immediately. In her resignation letter, Dugan indicated she is still planning to appeal her conviction, but Dugin said she is stepping down to avoid a, quote, partisan fight in the state legislature. Wisconsin's Democratic governor will appoint another judge to replace Dugan. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Lear in Milwaukee. Swiss police say two managers of the bar at an alpine ski resort, where at least 40 people died and more than 100 were injured in a fire on New Year's Eve, are now under criminal investigation on allegations of negligence. Investigators say they think sparkling candles on top of champagne bottles ignited the ceiling,

though the investigation continues. Officials say many of the victims are seriously burned in the fire that engulfed the bar's basement. I'm Janine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.