NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-08-2026 8AM EST

Episode Date: January 8, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Krova Coleman. Homeland Security Secretary Christy Knoem is defending an ICE agent's actions yesterday when the officer killed a woman in her car. Noem alleges the woman was committing domestic terrorism as she was shot to death. Ice agents repeatedly ordered her to get out of the car and to stop instructing law enforcement, but she refused to obey their commands. She then proceeded to weaponize her vehicle and attempted to run a law enforcement officer over. NPR has reviewed some eyewitness videos from the scene. An officer demands that the woman

get out of her SUV. Then the officer grabs the door handle. The SUV reverses, then goes forward. A different ICE agent near the front of the vehicle fires into the car, and then that agent backs away. The car drives forward and then crashes. There are protests organized for this hour in Minneapolis against ice. A video has gone viral. It alleges taxpayer fraud is happening at daycare centers in Minnesota run by Somali Americans. But other content creators are taking note. NPR's Jude Jaffe Block reports new and unproven allegations about fraud are flooding social media. The allegations made in YouTuber Nick Shirley's video that specific daycares and other health care businesses in Minnesota's Somali community are receiving public funds without delivering services haven't been proven.

But the video's wide reach, along with Democratic Governor Tim Walz's decision to abandon his run for a third term, have prompted online personalities to vow to expose supposed fraud in other states. In Ohio, some daycares have complained about harassment after other self-described social media journalists descended. The Republican governor there is urging people to report suspected fraud, but not try to investigate it themselves. Jude Jaffe Block, NPR News. American military forces are now escorting an oil tanker to the U.S. after a two-week chase. That began in the Caribbean, and it ended in the North Atlantic. As NPR's Greg Myrie reports, this is part of a U.S. crackdown on ghost ships transporting oil from Venezuela. The U.S. forces prepared to seize the Bella One oil tanker in the Caribbean in late December as it was heading to Venezuela to pick up oil.

But the tanker refused to halt. Instead, it changed course and headed out to the Atlantic with U.S. forces in pursuit. Somewhere along the way, the tanker changed its name from the Bella 1 to the Maranira and also changed its flag, from that of Guyana to Russia. U.S. troops boarded the ship Wednesday in the North Atlantic between Britain and Iceland. Now in American custody, the ship and the crew are headed to the U.S. The U.S. has seized four oil tankers linked to Venezuela since this campaign began last month. Greg Myrie, NPR News, Washington. You're listening to NPR.

Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro says he is seeking re-election. He released his announcement last hour. Using his favorite phrase with an epithet, Shapiro says he's gotten things done. Shapiro is also considered a potential Democratic presidential contender. The House is expected to vote today on whether to bring back federal subsidies for people who get health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. These lapsed at the end of last year. Some people saw their premium skyrocket. There is a separate deal on subsidies being considered in the Senate. Some schools are starting to weave artificial intelligence into the classroom. This ranges from personalized tutoring to automated lesson plans. And P.R.'s Windsor-Johnston reports on how this shift is reshaping education.

In some classrooms, artificial intelligence is already acting like a digital tutor. Sonia Tuari, an independent researcher who studies AI in education, says the biggest benefit is one-on-one learning. The true advantage of having some AI tutoring tools in a classroom, really looking at the personal learner's journey and finding gaps where children need more help. But she says AI has limits. AI cannot replace the human connection. Classic relationship between a teacher and a student is more than just information dumping. She also warns the technology is spreading unevenly, potentially widening the gap between who gets access to support and who doesn't.

Windsor Johnston, NPR News. And I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.