NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-04-2026 6AM EST

Episode Date: January 4, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro is in New York City. Maduro arrived there last night and is being held at the federal detention center in Brooklyn after he and his wife were taken into custody during this weekend's U.S. military operation. He is to appear in Manhattan Federal Court tomorrow. President Trump says Maduro and his wife are facing drug trafficking charges. The overwhelming evidence of their crimes will be present. in a court of law. And I've seen it. I've seen what we have. It's both horrible and

breathtaking that something like this could have been allowed to take place. Got a news conference at Mara Lago. Trump said this weekend that the U.S. will run Venezuela until what he said would be a safe, proper, and judicious transition, and that U.S. oil companies will effectively take over the country's oil industry. Maduro allies remain in power in Venezuela. Venezuelan court has ordered Maduro's vice president, Delci Rodriguez, to assume the role of interim president. Appearing on Venezuelan television, Rodriguez accused the U.S. of carrying out a kidnapping and demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife. She said there is only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicholas Maduro. The United Nations Security Council is

meeting Monday to discuss Maduro's removal. Congress is not yet back from its holiday break, but already reacting to the military operation of Venezuela that President Trump ordered. The NPR's Barbers Front reports there was a series of explosions and fires in Caracas. GOP Senator Mike Lee of Utah said Rubio told him he anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in custody. Meanwhile, congressional Democrats have been blasting the attack, calling it an illegal strike on Venezuela. New Jersey Senator Andy Kim said the strike sends a, quote, horrible and disturbing signal to other powerful leaders across the globe

that targeting a head of state is an acceptable policy for the U.S. government. China is calling on the U.S. to immediately release Venezuelan President Maduro and his wife earlier Chinese officials condemned the U.S. calling the military operation a blatant use of force and a hegemonic act. In Pearson, or Pact, has more. China says the U.S. is violating international law by seizing and taking the Venezuelan president and his wife out of their country. The Chinese foreign ministry calls on the U.S. to ensure the personal safety of the couple and release them. China is a longtime ally of Venezuela.

It buys the bulk of the South American country's oil despite U.S. sanctions. A Chinese government delegation was meeting the Venezuelan president hours before the U.S. airstrikes. China has warned its citizens not to travel to Venezuela. The Chinese Foreign Ministry says the U.S. needs to stop toppling the government of Venezuela and resolve issues through talks. This is NPR News. A criminal investigation has been opened against the owners of the ski resort where 40 people were killed in a deadly blaze on New Year's Eve.

Terry Schultz reports from Brussels. The French couple that owns and manages the bar in Crown Montana, Switzerland has been placed under investigation for manslaughter by negligence, causing bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence. Officials say they're looking into whether there were sufficient safety measures on the premises after victims said they were trapped inside without access to an escape route. The European Union has activated support mechanisms to help Switzerland, sending specialized burn care experts, and coordinating the evacuation of dozens of patients to other

hospitals around Europe to relieve the overwhelmed facilities in the region. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels. Wall Street, hoping for another blockbuster year, despite mounting worries about the economy and fears of an AI bubble. NPR's Maria Aspen reports tomorrow kicks off the first full week of trading for 2026. U.S. markets have rallied for three straight years as investors pin more and more hopes on the artificial intelligence frenzy. Tech companies are pouring money into AI, while investors have sent tech stocks soaring on the hopes of an eventual payoff. The major U.S. indices all rose by double-digit percentages in 2025. An analysts are largely predicting that they'll do it again this year, despite some fears that tech stocks are too hot, and that the overall economy is weakening.

Maria Aspen, NPR News. And I'm Jail Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.