NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-08-2026 11AM EST

Episode Date: January 8, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. Protesters have gathered today in Minneapolis for fresh demonstrations against yesterday's fatal shooting of a city woman by an ICE officer. The protesters want the immigration agency to leave Minneapolis. Ice out now! Ice out now! Homeland Security Secretary Christy Knoem has defended the ICE agent. She says the driver who was killed, Renee Nicole Good,

struck him with her car. NPR has reviewed multiple videos of the scene. The officer does not appear to be hit and can be seen walking after he fired the deadly shots. Minneapolis public schools are closed today and tomorrow for safety. President Trump tells the New York Times the United States could run Venezuela for years. In an interview, he says, quote, only time will tell. Trump adds that his administration is in constant contact with Venezuela's new acting president, Delci Rodriguez. She gave a national address last night about energy and economic issues, and Pierre's Kerry Khan reports.

Surrounded by ministers, Rodriguez forcefully spoke of what she says is now a stain on the relations between the U.S. and Venezuela, but then quickly added that it was not unusual or irregular to continue to trade with the United States. And we will not surrender to any kind of aggression, she said, then continue. that our hands are extended to all countries of the world for all types of relations, including energy cooperation. Rodriguez did not directly address comments made by U.S. officials, including Vice President Vance, who told Fox News, that the U.S. now controls Venezuela's energy resources. Kerry Kahn, NPR News, Bogota, Colombia.

President Trump is also continuing to demand control of Greenland. He says the U.S. should acquire the world's largest island because of national security issues. Greenland is already controlled by Denmark, a NATO ally. Experts say that Washington is likely interested in Greenland's rich mineral resources. NPR's Windsor Johnston explains. Greenland holds large deposits of rare earth and critical minerals, materials used in everything from smartphones to fighter jets. Alexandra to Hoop Schaefer is with the German Marshall Fund. She says the U.S. sees those resources as part of a broader strategy to reduce dependence on China.

Our region has really become one of the hottest spots on this planet for great power rivalies. It's a NATO issue, it's a catastrophic issue, but it's very much a global security issue. She says that growing rivalry is why Washington is eyeing Greenland, not just for its rare earth minerals, but as a key front in the broader global security landscape. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. NASA says it is considering bringing a crew of four home early from the International Space Station. That's due to a medical issue with one of the crew members. Central Florida public media's Brendan Byrne has more.

The agency describes the issue as a medical concern with a crew member aboard the orbiting lab. NASA did not share details about the issue or which crew member was affected. The agency described their condition as stable. The medical concern canceled a planned spacewalk today, and now NASA says it's exploring the possibility of bringing the crew home early. That would cut short the crew 11 mission, which launched the station back in August. Crews typically spend six to eight months living and working on the station. The crew consists of two NASA astronauts, a Japanese astronaut, and a Russian cosmonaut. For NPR News, I'm Brendan Byrne in Orlando.

In Juneau, Alaska, record-breaking snowfall has collapsed roofs and led local leaders to declare an emergency. From member station KT.O.O. Alex Solomon has more. Juno City and tribal governments issued the disaster declaration Tuesday, requesting help from the state to clear more than four feet of snow that started falling just after Christmas. The city's emergency programs manager, Ryan O'Shaughnessy, says one of his main concerns is that the snow could collapse the roofs of public buildings, like schools, water treatment plants, and the hospital. In many cases, we are approaching the design snowload of those facilities. Some roofs across town have already caved in, and several boats have sunk in Juno's harbors.

For NPR News, I'm Alex Solomon in Juneau. On Wall Street, the Dow is up more than 230 points. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.