NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-05-2026 1PM EST

Episode Date: January 5, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Nicolas Maduro and his wife Celia Flores are pleading not guilty. The Venezuelan president and first lady have just been arraigned in federal court in New York City two days after the couple was arrested in a U.S. military raid. They face drug trafficking weapons and other charges in the U.S. During the proceedings today, Maduro introduced himself as a president of Venezuela as well as a prisoner of war. His wife introduced herself as First Lady Venezuela. Her right eye appeared swollen and forehead was bandaged in what may be an injury sustained.

during the U.S. military operation. Outside the courthouse today, protests were held in support and opposition to the U.S. military action over the weekend. NPR's Jasmine Garz has more. Dozens of protesters gathered outside the courthouse ahead of deposed President Nicolas Maduro's indictment. Tensions escalated quickly between those who expressed outrage over the U.S. incursion in Venezuela and those who support it.

Maria Su from Venezuela was visibly emotional. I'm happy, feliz. She said, quote, I'm happy. I'm happy to see him enter court today and pay for everything. Jasmine Garst, NPR News, New York. President Trump is now threatening military action against Colombia. More from NPR's Frank Ordonez. President Trump told reporters Sunday that a military operation in Colombia, quote, sounded good to him. Columbia is very sick, too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.

And he's not going to be doing it very long. The threat is just the latest in a running war of words. between Trump and the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, which has been escalating since the Trump administration's military campaign, striking alleged drugboats in the Caribbean. Petro responded to Trump's threat in a long social media post, warning that arresting a president would, quote, unleash a popular jaguar.

He added that he's asked the Colombian people to defend their president from any violence against him. Franco, Ordonez, NPR News. A man has been arrested on charges. He broke windows at Vice President J.D. Vance's Cincinnati home. Nick Swartzel of Mervis Station WV. XU. Has details. The Secret Service says they detained the man early Monday morning. The Vance's visited Ohio last week, but we're not at the house at the time of the damage. The arrest report by Cincinnati Police shows William DeFour is charged with vandalism, criminal trespass, criminal damaging, and obstructing official business in connection with the damage. He'll be arraigned tomorrow morning. Court records showed DeFourlives nearby and faced separate vandalism charges in 2024. After that incident, he was sentenced to undergo treatment for mental health issues in relation to the charges.

For NPR News, I'm Nick Swartzel in Cincinnati. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 771 points or more than 1.5% at 49,154. From Washington, this is NPR News. Jury selection starts today in a case related to the mass school shooting in Uvaldi, Texas in 2022, a former school district police officers on trial. Texas Public Radio's Mariana Navarro reports. Adrian Gonzalez was part of the law enforcement response to the mass shooting at Rob Elementary School, which killed 19 students and two teachers.

Gonzalez faces 29 felony counts of abandoning or endangering a child for his alleged inactions during the response. He's pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The case will be heard in a Corpus Christi courtroom after Gonzalez's lawyers successfully secured a venue change away from Yuvaldi, citing concerns that a local jury could not be impartial. Former Yuvaldi School's Police Chief P. Aredondo is the only other officer to be indicted. He's awaiting a separate trial. I'm Marianne Navarro in San Antonio. Some new coins begin circulating this week to mark the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding. is in Pierre Scott Horsley. Congress authorized the anniversary coins back in 2021, and after years of polling and focus groups, a citizens' advisory committee recommended five anniversary quarter designs, including coins marking the abolition of slavery, the civil rights movement, and women's suffrage.

But when the Trump administration recently unveiled the new coins, those designs had been replaced with quarters featuring pilgrims, the Revolutionary War, and the Gettysburg Address. Donald Scorinsey, who served on the advisory committee, was disappointed. Stopped history at the Civil War. They just kind of said, okay, this series of quarters doesn't really reflect where we are 250 years later. A spokeswoman for the Mint says some of the rejected designs could be revived later.