NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-05-2026 8PM EST

Episode Date: January 6, 2026

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Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. On the web at theshmit.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Rylan Barton. Officials in Venezuela rallied around the South American country's new leader who was officially sworn in as acting president today. Delci Rodriguez took over his acting president just after Nicholas Maduro. and his wife made a first appearance in a New York courthouse to face drug trafficking and other federal charges. NPR's at Kerry Kahn reports. Delci Rodriguez, Maduro's longtime vice president, was sworn in by her brother, who is the head of Venezuela's National Assembly.

She pledged to bring Venezuela out of what she called these terrible times that threatened the peace and stability of the country. Maduro son, also named Nicholas, gave an emotional pledge of support for the new leader. and we're going to have to arraiser here in Venezuela. The homeland is in good hands, Papa, and we will hug each other soon here in Venezuela, he said. The younger Maduro is also a named defendant in the indictment against his father and stepmother. A group of independent journalists say seven reporters were arrested outside the National Assembly. Terry Kahn and PR News, Bogota, Colombia.

Allies and adversaries of the U.S. used an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to voice opposition to the U.S. military opposition. operations that led to Maduro's capture. U.S. envoy Mike Walts defended the action as a justified and, quote, surgical law enforcement operation. U.S. health officials have announced a major overhaul of the childhood vaccine schedule. As NPR's Ping Huang reports, the changes will reduce the number of vaccines routinely recommended for all kids. Vaccines against polio, measles, tetanus, and pneumonia are still recommended for all children, but others that used to be, like shots for hepatitis A and B or flu and meningitis are now shifted to more limited

recommendations, such as for kids at high risk or only after consulting with a health care provider. The acting director of the CDC made the changes after a memo from President Trump last month directed officials to compare the U.S. vaccine schedule with those of peer-developed countries such as Denmark to align with them. The changes were made without formal public comment or input from vaccine makers and sidestepped the usual process of getting guidance from the CDC's vaccine advisers. Health officials say all the vaccines are still available free to anybody who wants them. Ping Huang and PR News. Minnesota Governor Tim Walls has ended his reelection campaign after being dogged by reports of fraud in state-run social service programs.

Every minute that I spend defending my own political interest would be a minute I can't spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who pray on our generosity and the cynics who want to prey on our differences. The 2024 Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate says he has stepped up efforts to detect fraud, but the allegations consumed political discussion. Potential contenders to replace him as the Democratic nominee include U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. You are listening to NPR News from Washington. A trial is underway in Texas for a former police officer who was part of the slow response to the Uvaldi school shooting in 2022.

Former officer Adrian Gonzalez is charged with failing to protect children. during the attack. After authorities waited more than an hour to confront the gunman, 19 students and two teachers were killed and 21 others were injured. His attorney says he tried to save children that day. Jury selection in the trial begins today. Research shows you don't need to do much strength training to get results, NPR's Will Stone has more. Cardiovascular health, metabolism, your brain, longevity, resistance training can help all of these. That's why exercise scientists like Stuart Phillips, who's at McMaster University, are promoting the idea of a minimum dose.

In other words, how little can you get away with and still see benefits? The message is a good one, and it doesn't really require a whole lot, and it can be lighter, it can be heavier. Philip says even just once a week, two to three sets with four or five exercises can go a long way. In fact, one study from researchers in the UK followed nearly 15,000 people for seven years. All they did was 20 minutes a week, and people typically got anywhere from 30 percent to 15. percent stronger. Will Stone, NPR News. Federal pipeline regulators have imposed their largest fine ever on the company responsible for leaking over a million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico

off the Louisiana coast in 2023. The National Transportation Safety Board found that the company, Third Coast, failed to shut down the pipeline for nearly 13 hours after Gages first hinted at a problem. I'm Rylan Barton. This is NPR News from Washington.