NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-04-2026 7PM EST

Episode Date: January 5, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. Nicholas Maduro is expected to appear in federal court in New York tomorrow for arraignment on a four-count indictment, charging him with leading a 25-year narco-terrorism conspiracy. He's being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Dozens of Venezuelans celebrated outside that building when he arrived last night. Today, it was the site of a protest. Steve Kassimbaum has more.

Protesters chanted anti-war slogans as they paraded outside the facility. Some, including Carla Reyes, called for the immediate release of Maduro. We're standing here for the self-determination and the sovereignty of all people all over Latin America. And today, it's Venezuela. Tomorrow may be someone else. Nearby, a few Venezuelans expressed hope for the future of their homeland. 39-year-old Cynthia Davila came to the U.S. eight years ago. I am feeling very good. As for those protesting Maduro's capture.

This is ridiculous, because these people, you'll see the face, it's not the Venezuelan people. Protest organizers said they'll keep up their actions as long as the intervention in Venezuela continues. For NPR news, I'm Steve Kastenbaum in Brooklyn. President Trump today threatened Venezuela's interim leader, Delsey Rodriguez, telling the Atlantic that if she doesn't do what's right, she's going to, quote, pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro. Rodriguez, a Maduro loyalist, has strongly condemned Trump's actions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the U.S. won't govern Venezuela, but it will press

for changes through enforcing an oil quarantine that was already in place on sanctioned tankers. Denmark's defending its authority over Greenland after President Trump and the wife of a Trump advisor renewed calls for the U.S. to annex the territory. And peers Lydia Kalitri has more. President Trump told the Atlantic Sunday that Greenland could be subject to future U.S. intervention, saying, quote, we need it for defense. On Saturday, Katie Miller, wife of Trump's deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, posted a picture of the American flag covering Greenland on social media, with the caption, soon. Danish Prime Minister Meda Fredrickson said in a statement that the U.S. has no right to annex territories of Denmark and told the U.S. to stop the threats about taking over Greenland. Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in annexing Greenland from Denmark for its strategic location in the Arctic.

Lydia Kulitri, NPR News. Britain and France carried out an airstrike in central Syria last night on an underground facility where ISIS has allegedly stored weapons and explosives. The British Defense Ministry says it's working to stamp out a resurgent of the militant group. Despite its defeat in Syria in 2019, ISIS sleeper cells still carry out deadly attacks in Syria and Iraq. Britain and France are part of a U.S.-led coalition fighting ISIS. This is NPR News. In California, forecasters are warning that more storms are on the way as crews cleared mud from key highways after downpours and high tides caused flooding.

That prompted road closures and rescues of people trapped in cars. Up to three inches of rain is possible in the northern part of the state through tomorrow night. Near the San Francisco Bay Area, waters are slowly receding after roads were flooded during heavy rain. coincided with record-breaking king tides. The National Weather Service has issued floodwatches and warnings along with winter storm warnings for part of the state. Where does a hungry deer go in the dead of winter to enjoy a hearty meal? Everyday dozens of white-tailed deer in Maine

head over to Brownville's Food Pantry for Deer. And as NPR's Ava Pookatch reports, thousands of fans are watching online. Richard McMahon has been running Brownville's food pantry for deer along with his son and grandson for 17 years. He says he grew up eating venison, and now he wants to give back. Most of our winters in Maine are quite severe, and they need all the help they can get. And we kind of provide that by giving them food and a safe place to hang out.

At first, the McMahon's paid about $5,000 out of pocket each year to cover the supplies. Almost 10 years ago, they started live streaming the deer online. Now, donations cover their operating costs. The family works with local biologists to make sure what they're feeding the deer is good for them to eat. Ava Pugatch, NPR News. And I'm Janine Hurst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.