NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-13-2026 1PM EST

Episode Date: January 13, 2026

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Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Inflation's holding firm, according to the Labor Department's report on the Consumer Price Index. In December, consumer prices were up 2.7% from the previous year, same as November's year-over-year increase. Inflation's higher than what the Federal Reserve would like, but it remains steady, and that'll weigh on Fed policymakers when they meet later this month to decide whether to cut the key interest rate for a fourth straight time. On his way to deliver an economic speech in Detroit, Trump weighed in this morning with a verbal jab at Fed chair, Jerome Powell. The inflation numbers just came out and we have very low inflation.

So that would give too late Powell the chance to give us a nice, beautiful, big rate cut, which would be great. As the Fed prepares to hold again another policy meeting, Trump's clash with Powell over the central bank's previous resistance to lower interest rates remains at the forefront. This week, former Fed chairs who served during Republican and Democratic and Democratic and. administrations united to defend Powell against threats of a federal criminal investigation. The Trump Organization has launched the development of two more real estate projects in Saudi Arabia, adding to its growing list of projects in the Gulf. NPR's Aibatrawi reports the president's son, Eric Trump launched the projects. The Trump Organization this week launched a Gulf course, hotel, and residential community

on the outskirts of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. It will be built within a sprawling new development owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth Fund, which is run by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Sedman. The company also announced a new Trump Plaza in Jeddah, the second to be built in the Saudi coastal city. The Saudi company developing these projects, Dar Global, says the new projects are worth $10 billion. The Trump Organization also has multi-billion dollar real estate projects under development with Dar Global in Qatar, Oman, and the UAE. The projects reflect a rapid expansion of the family-run business and other financial dealings in the Gulf following President Trump's first term in office.

A. Abelthrowe, NPR News, Dubai. Faith leaders in Minnesota have taken a lead in resisting the federal government's massive immigration enforcement operation. NPR's Jason DeRos has more from Minneapolis. The multi-faith organization Isaiah has worked for decades in Minnesota to bring together people of faith and help them translate their beliefs into concrete actions. Co-executive director Jene Bates Amari says Isaiah once again began mustering the faithful after the killing of Renee Maclin Good last week. It is a sin for any person, especially a person of faith, to watch what is happening and to stay in silence.

Isaiah helped lead faith community's response to the murder of George Floyd and worked with Minnesota politicians to pass progressive legislation, including paid family and medical leave. Jason DeRos, NPR News, Minneapolis. U.S. stocks are trading lower this hour. The Dow is down 367 points. This is NPR News. Today is the deadline the White House is given the Smithsonian Institution to submit materials about current and upcoming exhibitions for review. As NPR's Anastasias Yulkas tells us, the White House plans to scrutinize the Smithsonian's galleries, events, and shows to determine whether they express, quote, improper ideology.

In a letter posted online news, In December, the White House said that today is the deadline for eight Smithsonian museums to submit thousands of documents for review to comply with an executive order issued by President Trump last March. The museums under current review include the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The White House says that federal funds for the Smithsonian's $1 billion budget depend on the institution fulfilling these terms. The Smithsonian declined to comment to NPR. According to the Smithsonian's charter, all of its museums and research centers are meant to be run independently of the federal government.

Anastasi Azeilkus and PR News, New York. With U.S. shoppers still grappling with higher food prices, the discount grocery chain Aldi says it's expanding. It plans to open more than 180 stores this year. The Chicago area-based chain says it'll add. add new distribution centers in Florida, Arizona, Colorado. Expansion plans mean Aldi will be operating nearly 2,800 stores by next year. It's NPR News.