NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-14-2026 2AM EST

Episode Date: January 14, 2026

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This message comes from Databricks, the data and AI company. Are your AI agents working? Most aren't reliable for business. You need AI that's accurate. Agent Bricks, AI agents grounded in your data and built for your goals. Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump says he's concerned about reports on the rising number of protesters killed in Iran. NPR's Tamara Keith reports he's telling protesters to keep going,

that help is on the way. In an interview that aired on CBS news, anchor Tony DeCopal asked Trump about reports that Iran may begin hanging protesters this week. We will take very strong action. If they do such a thing, we will take very strong action. And this strong action you're talking about, what's the endgame? The end game is to win. I like winning. Asked how he defines winning, Trump mentioned Venezuela, military actions from his first term that took out terrorist leaders, and the strong strikes on Iran's nuclear program. It's still not clear precisely what Trump's objectives are in Iran, but he did say he wants to make Iran great again. Tamara Keith, NPR News. The death toll in Iran is reportedly rising. The U.S.-based human rights activist news agency says a number of deaths

from the protests now tops 2,500 and nearly 17,000 have been delayed. As the Trump administration escalates its immigration crackdown in Minnesota. A group of veteran federal prosecutors there has resigned. Matt Seppick is with Minnesota Public Radio. He explains why. Top Justice Department officials have been pushing the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office to investigate Becca Good. She is the widow of Renee Mackland Good, the woman killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross last week. The investigation allegedly centers around any possible ties to activist groups she may have. That, of course, is protected First Amendment activity. The Trump administration maintains that the agent was acting in self-defense when he shot and killed Mackland Good,

but video evidence contradicts claims that she presented a threat. Several, a status hearing is set for Wednesday and a lawsuit aimed at halting or limiting the surge of immigration officers in Minnesota. It was filed by the state and the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Federal Trade Commission suing an artificial intelligence search engine, it accuses of engaging in rampant consumer deception. And Pierce Bobby Allen reports on allegations the company tricked people into signing up for monthly memberships. The company is called Just Answer.

It runs hundreds of sites like Askwomen'shealth.com, Ask a Lawyer.com, and Perl.com. FTC investigators say people would find them by clicking an online ad, which would instruct them to sign up to get human help with their questions. That's when hundreds of thousands of people got allegedly locked into monthly fees up to nearly $80 a month. It's a tactic known as dark patterns when consumers are tricked into recurring fees that are difficult to cancel. In a statement, a just-answered spokesman said the company's disappointed with the suit, saying its pricing models are clear and simple.

The investigation was started under former FTC Chair Lena Khan and continued in the Trump administration. Bobby Allen, MPR News. Rescuers in Thailand are searching for survivors of a train accident, a construction crane fell on a moving passenger train in northeastern Thailand. The train derailed and caught fire. Officials say at least 19 people were killed, scores wounded. Thailand's transport ministers says there were 195 people on board the train. The leaders of two key U.S. allies, South Korea and Japan, held a summit in one of Japan's ancient capitals, despite long simmering historical tensions. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports that two neighbors have recently discovered how much they have in common. The summit's venue is the

city of Nara. It's both a symbol of Japan and Korea's shared historical roots and Prime Minister Sinai Takaichi's hometown. Japan is in a tense standoff with China over Takkeichi's remarks about Japan's possible involvement in a potential conflict over Taiwan. South Korean President E.J. Myeong just held a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping last week. He said ties with both South Korea's neighbors are equally important. But Seoul is remaining neutral in the dispute between Beijing and Tokyo. Ian Takeichi pledged close coordination on other shared challenges, including economic security and the North Korean nuclear issue. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul. Japanese shares again leading Asian stock markets. Tokyo's benchmarked NICA up more than 1.4% in Wednesday trading

following a pullback on Wall Street. The S&P 500 fell two-tenths of a percent from its all-time high on Tuesday. The Dow Jones dropped 398 points from its own record. I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News. This message comes from Wise, the app for international people using money around the globe. You can send, spend, and receive in up to 40 currencies with only a few simple taps. Be smart, get Wise. Download the Wise app today or visit wise.com. T's and Cs apply.