NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-04-2026 11PM EST

Episode Date: January 5, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro will make his first appearance in U.S. federal court on Monday at noon eastern time. That's just two days after his capture by U.S. forces this weekend. NPR's Joe Hernandez reports. In the early stages of the case against him, Maduro will be advised of his right to an attorney, his right to remain silent, and the charges against him, according to former federal prosecutor Adam Fells. Fells, who worked on the case against El Chapo Guzman, says a judge will also decide whether to release Maduro or confine him before trial, and that defendants in narcotics cases involving guns are often kept behind bars while their cases unfold. There's a very high presumption of detention that I don't imagine that a defense attorney would be able to overcome and may not even try to overcome.

Maduro faces charges, including narco-terrorism and cocaine trafficking. Joe Hernandez, NPR news. Ever since the U.S. attacked Venezuela Saturday morning and captured President Maduro, the people in Venezuela are watching what's happening next, and they're also wondering about their future. Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies reports. In the small Venezuelan town of Caripido, eight hours from Caracas, Marianne Garcia says she hasn't been able to sleep since the attack.

She was at a street party when suddenly the music was turned off and everyone was told to go home. and she's been in shock ever since. Garcia said her family in Caracas tell her they're safe, but one of her neighbors is in the Venezuelan National Guard, and he was killed. Garcia said she's watched a Venezuelan economy collapse. Food is expensive when you can find it. Health care isn't available.

Poverty is widespread. She said, I'm not going to forgive this government. Garcia said her country needs help, and if President Trump wants Venezuela's oil, then that might be a good thing. For NPR News, I'm David Martin Davies in San Antonio. Authorities in Nigeria say at least 40 people were killed in an attack on a market in the north of that country this weekend. A number of other people are missing following that attack.

Michael Kolokie has more on our story. Police say gunmen attacked a market in Demo Village, located in the country's Niger state, looting food items and burning down market stalls. They say several people were also abducted, and that efforts are underway to rescue them. Demo Village, where the attack occurred, is just a few miles away from a school where more than 300 children and staff were kidnapped last November and later released. Niger is one of several states in Nigeria that have witnessed a spate of armed attacks and abductions

over the past several months. The federal government has said it is trying to secure the country, with social commentators calling for more to be done to improve law and order. For NPR News, I'm Michael Kaloki in Nairobi. And you're listening to NPR News. As much as three inches of rain are expected through Monday night and parts of northern California where a flood watch remains in place. Much of the state is still struggling after on and off rain since Christmas.

Crews have been clearing mud from some key highways that were hit earlier by flooding in mudslides, and in areas around San Francisco, waters are dropping after roadways were flooded by heavy rains and a king tide. Avatar Fire and Ash continues to lead the box office as Hollywood heads into what it hopes will be a bright 2026. NPR's Bob Mandelo has more. One weekend in, ticket revenue is up 20% over last year thanks to holiday sequels, Avatar 3 and Zootopia 2. A single weekend doesn't mean much,

but theater owners have reason to be optimistic. The next few months, usually a slow period on the release calendar, will bring two high-profile sci-fi epics, Mercy about an AI justice system run amok, and Project Hail Mary, which sends Ryan Gosling into space. I met an alien. He's kind of growing on me. At least he's not growing in me, you know, which was a concern for a little while. There'll be an animated sports epic called Goat and Pixar's hoppers about a human consciousness hopping into an animal's body. This is like Avatar.

This is nothing like Avatar. Also two major horror sequels, Scream 7 and 28 years later, the Bone Temple, all before Easter. Bob Mandello, NPR News. BTS is back. The smash K-pop group says it will have a new album release on March 20th. BTS has been on hiatus for almost four years, says the band members serve their mandatory military service in South Korea. The new album will be their first since 2022's anthology proof. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.