NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-08-2026 9AM EST

Episode Date: January 8, 2026

NPR News: 01-08-2026 9AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. Fresh demonstrations are set for this morning in Minneapolis after an ICE agent shot and killed a woman yesterday. Protests erupted after that killing. Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noam says the woman was striking the ice agent with her car and that the ice agent fired in self-defense. NPR has reviewed multiple videos of the scene. In the videos reviewed, the officer does not.

not appear to be hit and can be seen walking after he fired the shots. Meanwhile, Illinois Democratic Congresswoman Robin Kelly says she will introduce articles of impeachment against Secretary Nome, alleging Nome has compromised public safety. The House is expected to vote today to restore subsidies for people paying for their health insurance premiums under the Affordable Care Act. The House plan extends these subsidies for three years, but the plan is unlikely to pass the Senate. Sam Greenglass reports a bipartisan Senate deal is gaining support. For weeks, House Republican leadership refused to allow a vote on the subsidies. So four swing district Republicans joined with Democrats to force a vote using a maneuver called a discharge petition.

A procedural vote yesterday attracted support from nine Republicans. Boosters of the subsidies have hoped that success in the House would recharge bipartisan negotiations in the Senate. Here's Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio. So we're in the red zone, but that does not mean a touchdown. It could mean a 95-yard fumble. The emerging Senate deal would extend the subsidies for two years and allow people in the second year to opt for funds in a health savings account instead of a subsidy that goes to the insurer.

Sam Gringlass, NPR News, Washington. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called a special session of the Florida State Legislature in April. He wants Florida lawmakers to redraw the state's congressional map. From member station WUSF, Douglas Seoul reports. President Donald Trump has been putting pressure on conservative-led states to redraw maps to add Republicans to Congress. DeSantis says he wants Florida to wait for a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a Louisiana case that could change how race factors into the process. I have a very high degree of confidence that at least one or two of those districts on our current map are going to be implicated by this Supreme Court decision.

But Florida's House leadership wants a number of. new map during the state's regular session, which starts next week. Republicans currently have 20 of 28 House seats. Democrats say the effort only boost Republicans ahead of the midterms. For NPR News, I'm Douglas Sol in Tallahassee. Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro says he is seeking re-election. Using his favorite phrase with an epithet, Shapiro says he's gotten things done. Shapiro is also considered a potential Democratic presidential contender for 2028. This is NPR. The White House is expected to share more information today about President Trump's planned ballroom. There's a regularly scheduled meeting today of the National Capital

Planning Commission. They're one of the panels that is supposed to review construction on federal land before ground is broken. Trump didn't wait for that. He tore down the east wing of the White House last fall. He's now increased his original cost estimate. It's currently at 300 million million dollars. The men's soccer tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations, is underway in Morocco. 24 nations began the competition. One fan is getting attention. He's a supporter of Congo's national team. He appears at matches dressed as a Congolese independence hero who was assassinated decades ago. NPR's Jewel Bright explains. 26-year-old Michael Uncuka Ubelo Dinger has gone viral since the start of the Africa Cup of Nations

for posing at matches as a statue of Patrice Lumumba, Congo's assassinated nationalist hero. Ubolodinga told reporters that Lumumba gave the Congolese people liberty and freedom to express themselves, and he was at the tournament to give strength and support to fellow Congolese. Lumumba is wildly held as the nationalist who helped end Belgian colonial rule in Congo, but he was killed within a year of Congo's independence. Congo was knocked out of the tournament on Tuesday, but many say Umbudinga's act will be remembered as one of the most remarkable moments of the games. Jewel Bright, NPR News, Lagos. And I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News, from Washington.