NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-13-2026 12PM EST

Episode Date: January 13, 2026

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Live from NPR news, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Supreme Court is diving back into the culture wars today, hearing arguments that test laws which ban transgender girls and women from participating in publicly funded school sports. NPR's Nina Totenberg explains why trans participation in sports has become the newest flashpoint in both politics and law. Transgender participation in sports is extremely rare, but the rhetoric around the issue has, proved very helpful for President Trump in his most recent presidential campaign, which

aired an anti-trans ad 15,000 times putting many Democrats on the defensive. Indeed, more than half the states have enacted laws banning transgender participation in sports. NPR's Nita Totenberg reporting. Inflation held steady last month. Rising rents and grocery prices more than offset a drop in the price of gasoline. NPR Scott Horsley reports on the as cost of living figures from the Labor Department. Consumer prices in December were up 2.7% from a year ago, matching the annual increase of the previous month. Prices rose 3 tenths of a percent between November and December, led by rising costs for housing, food, and energy. Gasoline prices have fallen over the last year, but the cost of electricity and natural gas is way up.

Stubbered inflation is likely to make the Federal Reserve cautious about additional cuts to interest rates, despite pressure from President Trump. On Sunday, Fed Chairman, Jerome Powell said the Justice Department had launched an investigation of the central bank and suggested that's part of the administration's long-running pressure campaign to exert more control over interest rates. Scott Horsley, MPR News, Washington. The death toll from protests across Iran surpasses 2,000 according to the U.S.-based human rights activist news agency. The non-government group relies on supporters in Iran cross-checking information. The latest mass protests against the government began more than two weeks ago,

as yet no military movement from President Trump, who has repeatedly threatened action against Iran if the Islamic Republic's security forces used deadly force on protesters. Russia has unleashed another round of attacks on Ukraine, costing more lives, and taking out power and heat. NPR's Joanne Gis has more. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said

Russia had launched 300 strike drones and more than two dozen missiles overnight. In the northeastern city of Harkiv, Russian forces hit a postal terminal, killing four employees and also struck a children's medical center. Much of the capital, Kiev, as well as the southern city of Odessa, do not have electricity. Ukrainian energy supplier detect said one of its thermal power plants has been attacked eight times since October.

Writing on social media, Zelensky said he hopes Ukraine's allies will speed up aid already promised to the country. Joanna Kikisis, NPR News, Kiev. You're listening to NPR News. U.S. climate pollution increased last year, according to a new estimate. NPR's Jeff Brady, reports a country emitted more greenhouse gases, mostly from buildings and power plants. The research firm Rhodium Group estimates U.S. greenhouse gas emissions increased 2.4% last year. Ben King with rodeum says higher natural gas prices encouraged power plants to burn more polluting coal. And in buildings, Americans turned up the heat.

We've had in 2025 generally colder winters across the country. That's leading to more use of natural gas and fuel oil for heating in the building sector. King says climate pollution from transportation was flat, even though people traveled more. That's because there are more electric vehicles and hybrids on the road. Trump policies to boost fossil fuels and herd renewable energy had a little effect on the estimates. Those policy changes could show up in future years. Jeff Brady and Pierre News. Webb, one of Hong Kong's most prominent activist investors, has died, according to his online platform.

He died at the age of 60, five years after he was diagnosed with cancer. He launched his platform website.com, Web with 2Bs, nearly 30 years ago, providing data for investors and journalists. Webb was a vocal advocate of more corporate transparency and accountability for unlawful or unethical practices. Last year, Webb, who was born in London, was appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire for his work. You're listening to NPR News.