NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-04-2026 5PM EST

Episode Date: January 4, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro and his wife will make their first court appearance in New York tomorrow. Impairs Carrie Johnson reports they face multiple felony charges. The grand jury indictment against Maduro accuses him of narco-trafficking, conspiracy to import cocaine into the U.S., and possession of machine guns and other destructive devices. Prosecutors initially secured an indictment of Maduro back in 2020, but they added new charges and new defendants, including Maduro's wife. The Trump administration has not produced a memo or other details about the legal rationale for their capture,

but Secretary of State Marco Rubio casts it as a law enforcement operation to arrest people facing American criminal charges. Rubio says military personnel helped protect the federal agents who executed the arrest, and he says the operation was too uncertain to notify Congress in advance. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington. Meanwhile, Venezuela's interim president is quickly consolidating her power. Reporter John Otis has more. Delci Rodriguez, who had been Maduro's vice president, was sworn in to replace him Saturday. Since then, Rodriguez has secured backing from key members of Maduro's authoritarian regime,

which remains largely in place. Among them is Defense Minister Vladimir Padino Lopez, who in this speech on Sunday, offered Rodriguez his full support. But in an ominous sign for the Trump administration, which claims Venezuela's government will be a U.S. ally, Rodriguez has fiercely criticized the United States and is demanding that Maduro beat return to Venezuela. For NPR News, I'm John Otis. Congress is ending its holiday break, dealing with the news of the U.S. strikes in Venezuela. As MPIR's Barbara Sprunt reports, this comes after months of growing concerns among some members of Congress

about the Trump administration's deadly strikes on alleged drugboats in the Caribbean. Top congressional Republicans praised President Trump, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune calling the strikes an important first step in bringing the Venezuelan president to justice. He added that he looks forward to briefings from the administration when Congress returns this week. Fellow Republican Don Bacon of Nebraska said the operation will be positive for Venezuelans, but he's concerned Russia and China will use it to justify actions against Ukraine and Taiwan. Meanwhile, congressional Democrats have blasted the operation, questioning whether it was even legal without congressional approval. Barbara Sprint and

Peer News, Washington. Tomorrow starts the first full trading week on Wall Street of the new year. The three major indices all rose by double digit percentages last year, and analysts are predicting another good year this year. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. In Switzerland, hundreds marched in silence to honor the victims of the New Year's Eve fire at a bar in the Swiss Alps. They killed at least 40 people and injured more than 100 others. mourners attended mass, then the crowd stood in silence, some weeping, and then applauded as flowers were placed at a makeshift memorial. A criminal investigation of the bar managers is underway. Authorities believe sparkling candles atop

Champagne bottles were carried too close to the ceiling, igniting the fire. Switzerland's president has declared a national day of mourning for this Friday. Avatar Fire and Ash continues to lead the box office as Hollywood heads into what it hopes will be a bright 2026. And Pierre's Bob Mondello 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 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 seven, and 28 years later, the Bone Temple, all before Easter. Bob Mandello, NPR News. And I'm Janine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.