NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-04-2026 8AM EST

Episode Date: January 4, 2026

NPR News: 01-04-2026 8AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jail Snyder. Defense Secretary Pete Hagsath is describing what the next week will look like in Venezuela, following the U.S. military intervention that led to the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro. It's going to look like American strength. It's going to look like options for President Trump. It's going to look like protecting American interests and ensuring their advanced, stopping drugs. We're going to get American companies in there. We're going to get investment there. These oil depots have been operating at 20% capacity. That's going to change.

And we're going to stop the flood of people in the United States. HECS spoke to CBS News during Saturday's press conference at Mara Lago. President Trump said that the U.S. will now run Venezuela until there can be a transition of power. He did not provide specifics. Members of Congress are reacting to Trump's assertion that the U.S. will run Venezuela. From member station W.H.Y. in Wilmington, Sarah Mueller has more. Congressional Democrats say Trump officials never revealed they sought regime change in Venezuela during recent briefings on Capitol Hill. Delaware Representative Sarah McBride says she wants answers when Congress is back in session next week.

This is a shoot first, ask questions, and gain authority later approach by this administration. So I'm very concerned about what the future has in store. But Pennsylvania Senator Republican Dave McCormick cheered the military operations. operation, calling Maduro an illegitimate dictator. For NPR news, I'm Sarah Mueller in Wilmington. President Trump says American companies will take over Venezuela's oil reserves in the city of Houston, known as the energy capital of the world, is home to many of those firms. Houston Public Media's Natalie Weber has more on the implications for the industry in Texas and beyond. After the U.S. seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, American officials sent it to the Texas coast.

south of Houston. The city also serves as the headquarters for Chevron, the only American oil producers still operating in Venezuela. Francisco Manaldi is the director of the Latin America Energy Program at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. He says many oil firms direct their Latin American operations from the city. Houston is going to be the center of a lot of the potential activity of investment in Venezuela. It has a long history. of connection to Venezuela. In a statement, Chevron said it continues to, quote, operate in full compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.

For NPR News, I'm Nudley Weber in Houston. Venezuela's Nicholas Maduro is in New York City. He arrived there last night and is being held at the Federal Detention Center in Brooklyn after he and his wife were taken into custody by the U.S. military. He is to appear in Manhattan Federal Court tomorrow. From Washington, this is in Indiana. NPR news. In southwestern Switzerland today,

hundreds of mourners attended a church service this morning where a bishop said condolences have poured in from around the world for the victims of that bar fire at a Swiss resort that killed 40 people. The service was followed by a march to the side of the fire. Officials say that sparklers on champagne bottles got too close to the ceiling during a New Year's celebration. Swiss police say they have now identified 24 people who died in the blaze,

and authorities have opened an investigation into the managers of the resort. Prosecutors say they are suspected of crimes, including homicide by negligence. Kenyans are mourning the loss of one of the country's most iconic animals, an elephant who authorities say

died yesterday. Michael Koloki has more. The bull elephant named Craig had gained both local and global popularity for being one of Africa's last supertaskers, a term that refers to male elephants with tasks that weigh over 100 pounds each. Conservationists say that Craig, who was 54 years old, died of natural causes in the country's Ambocelli National Park, which is located south of the capital Nairobi and is a popular destination for tourists from around the world,

including the United States. Elephant task poaching has posed a challenge to both wildlife conservationists and the authorities here in Kenya. Craig's survival for several decades has been upheld by the government as a symbol of efforts undertaken to curb the crime. For NPR News, I'm Michael Koloki in Nairobi. And I'm Jail Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.