NPR News: 01-02-2026 6PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – 01-02-2026 6PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Date: January 2, 2026

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise roundup of the day’s most pressing global and national stories, including escalating protests and violence in Iran, an investigation into a tragic fire at a Swiss ski resort, an interrupted terrorist plot in North Carolina, a significant earthquake in Mexico, and artist cancellations at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

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Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Deadly Protests in Iran & International Tensions

[00:15–01:23]

• Summary: At least seven protesters have died amid intensifying demonstrations in Iran as economic collapse fuels unrest.
• US Response: President Trump, via Truth Social, warned that the US is “locked and loaded and ready to go if Iran kills peaceful protesters.”
  • Quote: "President Trump warns Iran that we are locked and loaded and ready to go if Iran kills peaceful protesters." — Michelle Kellerman [00:38]
• Iran’s Counter-Accusations: Iran’s National Security Council member, Ali Larijani, blamed the US and Israel for stoking the protests and stated, "the American people should know that Trump started this adventure."
  • Quote: "The American people should know that Trump started this adventure." — Ali Larijani, relayed by Michelle Kellerman [00:50]
• Context: Last year’s US bombing campaign on Iranian nuclear sites and Israeli concerns over Iran’s missile program are factors in escalating tensions.

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2. Alpine Ski Resort Fire in Switzerland

[01:23–02:21]

• Summary: Swiss authorities continue investigating a New Year’s Day blaze at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, which killed at least 40 people and injured over 100.
• Cause: Preliminary reports suggest sparklers lit inside the bar ignited the ceiling.
• Victim Identification: Efforts have been challenging due to the multinational makeup of the victims.
  • Quote: “We cannot afford to make mistakes in this area, even though we know that waiting is extremely difficult to live with.” — Colonel Pierre Antoine Langen, via Terri Schultz [01:53]
• International Response: Neighboring countries have offered to treat burn victims.

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3. Foiled Terror Attack in North Carolina

[02:21–02:58]

• Summary: The FBI arrested 18-year-old Christian Sturtevant, who allegedly planned a jihadist attack and pledged loyalty to ISIS.
• Law Enforcement Assessment: U.S. attorney Russ Ferguson praised the disruption of "a very well planned, thoughtful attack."
  • Quote: “It was a very well planned, thoughtful attack that he had planned and that was fortunately foiled... we're very, very fortunate they did not.” — Russ Ferguson [02:44]
• Investigation Details: The suspect shared attack plans with an undercover FBI employee; the investigation began with a social media link to ISIS content.

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4. Strong Earthquake Hits Southern & Central Mexico

[02:58–04:04]

• Event: A preliminary 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck near San Mar, Guerrero during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s press briefing.
• Impact: No immediate reports of damage or casualties. The quake caused seismic alarms and briefly interrupted national business.

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5. Artist Withdrawals from the Kennedy Center

[04:04–04:51]

• Summary: Composer Stephen Schwartz ("Wicked", "Pippin") canceled his Kennedy Center event, citing politicization of the venue since President Trump took over as chairman and renamed the center.
• Artist’s Statement: Schwartz said the center “no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be.”
  • Quote: “…the performing arts venue, quote, no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be.” — Stephen Schwartz, relayed by Jeff London [04:13]
• Broader Trend: Multiple artists have withdrawn in protest of recent leadership changes.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jeanine Herbst: “At least seven protesters have been killed in Iran as demonstrations grow and tensions mount over the Nation's economic collapse.” [00:15]
• Michelle Kellerman: "President Trump warns Iran that we are locked and loaded and ready to go if Iran kills peaceful protesters." [00:38]
• Terri Schultz (via Swiss official): "We cannot afford to make mistakes in this area, even though we know that waiting is extremely difficult to live with." [01:53]
• Russ Ferguson: “We’re very, very fortunate they did not [carry out the attack].” [02:54]
• Jeff London (via Stephen Schwartz): "No longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be." [04:13]

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Timestamps & Segments

• [00:15] – Iran protests & Trump’s response
• [01:23] – Swiss ski resort fire aftermath
• [02:21] – North Carolina terrorist plot disrupted
• [02:58] – Earthquake strikes Mexico
• [04:04] – Kennedy Center artist withdrawal

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This episode succinctly captures the urgency of today’s headlines, spotlighting the intersection of politics, tragedy, and culture across the globe.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

See Terms Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. At least seven protesters have been killed in Iran as demonstrations grow and tensions mount over the Nation's economic collapse. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. President Trump says the U.S. will come to the rescue of Iranian citizens unless the violence against them stops.

[Michelle Kellerman]

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump warns Iran that we are locked and loaded and ready to go if Iran kills peaceful protesters. Iran has accused the US And Israel of stoking the protests. Ali Larajani, who's on Iran's National Security Council, writes on X that the American people should know that Trump started this adventure. The Trump administration carried out a massive bombing campaign of Iran's nuclear sites last year, and Israel is now sounding the alarm about Iran's ballistic missile program, a topic Israel's prime minister raised with Trump earlier this week. The protests in Iran are about the economy and the collapsing currency. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Swiss officials continue to investigate the cause of the blaze, early New Year's Day at an Alpine ski resort that left at least 40 people dead, dead and more than 100 injured. Terry Schultz reports. Officials say it appears sparklers that were lit inside the bar set the ceiling on fire.

[Terri Schultz]

Flowers and candles are piled along the path leading to Le Constellation, the bar in Kran, Montana, where a New Year's celebration turned into a deadly tragedy. Swiss authorities say they've identified most of the dead and the injured. Judicial Police Chief Colonel Pierre Antoine Langen said the process of identification has been very difficult. It requires being extremely meticulous, he said. We cannot afford to make mistakes in this area, even though we know that waiting is extremely difficult to live with. Victims come from many different countries, including Australia, France and Italy. Some of Switzerland's neighbors have offered to take in burn victims for treatment. For NPR News, I'm Terri Schultz.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The FBI says it disrupted a New Year's Eve attack plot in North Carolina, arresting an 18 year old who allegedly pledged loyalty to ISIS. Christian Sturtevant is in custody, charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. U.S. attorney Russ Ferguson says the suspect has been planning the attack for about a year.

[Russ Ferguson]

It was a very well planned, thoughtful attack that he had planned and that was fortunately foiled. Here he was preparing for jihad and innocent people were going to die, and we're very, very fortunate they did not.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Authorities say he shared attack plans with an undercover FBI employee. The investigation began last month after authorities linked CERT to a social media account that posted content that was supportive of isis. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. A strong earthquake rattled southern and central Mexico today, interrupting President Claudia Sheinbaum's first press briefing of the new year as seismic alarms sounded. Mexico's national seismological agency says the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 and that its epicenter was near the town of San Mar in the southern state of Guerrero, near the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco. There are no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Another prominent artist has withdrawn from appearing at the Kennedy center in Washington, D.C. stephen Schwartz, the songwriter of Wicked, Pippin and Godspell, among other musicals, has pulled out from a program highlighting his music next May. Jeff London has more.

[Jeff London]

While the gala on May 16 is still on the Kennedy Center's calendar, Schwartz said in an email sent to Newsday that the performing arts venue, quote, no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be. Schwartz has a long history with the Kennedy Center. He contributed lyrics to Leonard Bernstein's Mass, which was the center's first production, sing.

[Michelle Kellerman]

God a Simple.

[Jeff London]

And his Broadway hit Pippin tried out there. Since President Donald Trump took over as chairman of the board, ousted many of its members and added his name to the center's title, many artists have withdrawn from performing there. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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