NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-06-2026 11PM EST

Episode Date: January 7, 2026

NPR News: 01-06-2026 11PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shays Stevens. President Trump is taking a victory lap over the U.S. military raid in Venezuela, but as NPR's Mar-Aliason reports, Trump is less interested in talking about what's next for the South American nation. Trump says the U.S. will run Venezuela, but it's not clear exactly what that means. His Secretary of State has ruled out an Iraq-style occupation, and the U.S. seems content to leave the rest of Maduro's government in place, with no plan for Democratic elections anytime soon. The president sounds confident his voters will stick with him,

despite his breaking a campaign promise not to get involved in foreign military ventures. He told NBC News, quote, Maga loves it, Maga loves what I'm doing, Maga loves everything I do, maga is me, Maga loves everything I do, unquote. He told Republican House members that this year they should run on private health insurance accounts, lower gas prices, and a ban on transgender athletes. but he didn't mention Venezuela. Mara Liason, NPR News, the White House. President Trump is urging major oil companies to make big investments in Venezuela.

Experts say it would cause billions to increase oil production there, as NPR's Camilla Dominovsky reports. Getting Venezuela's oil out of the ground is not simple. Kevin Book is with Clearview energy partners. It's not just a geologic problem or an engineering problem, but a math problem. Would companies make back the money they put in? Is the country stable enough to invest? And thanks to an oversupply of oil, global crude prices are comparatively low right now.

So these investments might not be profitable at all without subsidies. On the other hand, there is a lot of oil in Venezuela, making it a good opportunity for future growth. And the kind of crude that is abundant there, heavy crude, would be welcomed by the U.S. refineries that have specialized equipment perfect for handling it. Camila Dominovsky, NPR News. Some 35 countries have agreed to a multinational military force to ensure peace in Ukraine. once the war there ends. As NPR's Eleanor Beersley reports, it's not clear if Russia will really join peace negotiations. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Kierre Starmer, who are leading this coalition of the willing, say their nations will put boots on the ground

in Ukraine when the fighting ends. Martin Kinsei, head of the German Marshall Fund in Paris, says Europeans don't believe Russia is ready to end its nearly four-year offensive. However, it doesn't mean that you should not want. work now on the potential security guarantees for whatever comes next. There will be an end to this war at some point. Konsei says he does not believe the Trump administration wants to walk away from Ukraine either. It is important for the U.S. administration to remain in the game in Ukraine. Because he says that gives the U.S. leverage over many other issues in Europe. Eleanor Beardsley in Pierre News, Paris.

Moly Street stocks closed higher. The Dow ate at 484 points. This is NPR. The Department of Homeland Security is preparing for immigration raids in Minneapolis. DHS officials not authorized to discuss the matter told the Associated Press that up to 2,000 federal agents and officers are expected to be deployed to the area. The report comes amid allegations of widespread fraud at child care facilities owned and operated by Somalis. The founders of a nonprofit called Feeding Our Future were convicted in 2025 of masterminding a fraud scheme involving Somali Americans. An unexpected turn in the trial of a former Yuvalde School District Police Officer for trial neglect. Details from Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies. Testimony has been halted in the trial of Adrian Gonzalez,

the police officer accused of not taking action to stop to delay or distract the mass shooter who killed 19 students and two teachers at Rob Elementary in 2022. Stephanie Hale, who was a teacher at Rob, testified that she saw the gunman on the south side of the school the same area where Gonzalez was. This testimony had not surfaced in earlier interviews, prompting an immediate objection from defense attorneys who claimed this was a violation of prosecution's disclosure requirement. Judge Sid Harrell will hear motion arguments on Wednesday which could lead to a mistrial. Victims' families are upset that this could hurt the case against Gonzales. I'm David Martin Davies in San Antonio. U.S. futures are flat and after-hours trading on Wall Street.

On Asia-Pacific market, shares are mixed up a fraction in Shanghai. This is NPR News.