NPR News: 01-03-2026 2AM EST - NPR News Now

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[00:01]
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[00:18]
Dale Willman
Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. There's breaking news at this hour. There are reports tonight of multiple explosions in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. It's it's not yet known what has caused those blasts, but we're continuing to monitor this news story. Also breaking, a massive five alarm fire is underway in Denver where an entire city block is burning. Officials say an apartment complex under construction went up in flames. At least one firefighter has been injured, but there have been no other reports of injuries so far. Residents of nearby apartment buildings, meanwhile, have been evacuated because of the heat radiating off that fire. And an overnight shelter has been set up at an event center in nearby Glendale. State emergency management officials say the fire has caused significant power outages in Denver. A federal judge has ordered that the man accused of planting two pipe bombs in Washington, D.C. the night before the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot must remain in jail pending trial. NPR's Ryan Lucas has more on the criminal case against Brian Cole Jr.
[01:22]
Ryan Lucas
The 30 year old was arrested on December 4th after a nearly five year FBI investigation. Prosecutors argue that Brian Cole Jr. Is a danger to the community and that he should remain in custody as his case moves to trial. The defense team says Cole has been diagnosed with autism, that he poses no threat to the community and that he should be released now. In a ruling, Magistrate Judge Matthew Charbaugh has sided with the government and ordered that Cole remain in jail pending trial, in part because of the serious nature of Cole's alleged offense, planting two pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic national party headquarters on January 5, 2021. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.
[02:02]
Dale Willman
The FBI says it stopped a potential attack on New Year's eve in Charlotte, North Carolina. Investigators say 18 year old Christian Sturtevant was arrested after he shared plans with an undercover FBI employee to use knives and hammers to attack people at a local fast food restaurant. Special agent in Charge James Barnacle says Sturtevant was willing to sacrifice himself for the Islamic State group.
[02:26]
James Barnacle
This investigation highlights the very real threat posed by people who self radicalize online and are inspired by jihadist ideologies espoused by foreign terrorist organizations. They seek to attack soft targets with easily accessible weapons and with little to no warning.
[02:48]
Dale Willman
The FBI says Sturtevant had pledged loyalty to the Islamic State, a grandmother and her five year old grandson have died this weekend after their poorly constructed tent caught fire in a Gaza refugee camp. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, meanwhile, are enduring bitterly cold weather in those camps, in part because housing materials are scarce. Few supplies are being allowed to pass through border crossings into the enclave, causing food and material shortages. This is NPR News. Physical adaptations for walking upright on two feet may go back 7 million years on the human family tree. That's according to a new analysis of some old bones. As NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce reports, walking upright was an important shift for early human ancestors.
[03:34]
Nell Greenfield Boyce
Walking upright frees the hands and makes it possible to leave the trees and live in new places. Now a team of researchers led by Scott Williams of New York University says they found skeletal features associated with upright walking in the fossilized leg bone of a primate that lived 7 million years ago.
[03:52]
James Barnacle
This animal that otherwise looks very chimpanzee.
[03:55]
Dale Willman
Like in its overall shape, has these.
[03:57]
Ryan Lucas
Bipedal adaptations hafted on top.
[04:00]
Nell Greenfield Boyce
Their findings, described in the journal Science Advances, are sure to be controversial. The oldest widely accepted evidence of upright walking is from human relatives that lived around 3 to 4 million years ago. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.
[04:15]
Dale Willman
Kevin Jennings threw for 278 yards, including an 80 yard completion on a razzle dazzle play on the second play from scrimmage. SMU beat number 21 Arizona 2419 Friday in the Holiday Bowl. Navy, meanwhile, claimed its 11th win of the season by beating Cincinnati 35 13. The Texas State Bobcats overpowered Rice 41 10. Wake Forest was dominant as they beat Mississippi State 43 to 29 and SMU beat Wake Forest 43 to 29. Hillary Knight will make her fifth Olympic appearance this year. She helps to lead the U.S. women's hockey team next month at the Games in Italy. US Hockey released the roster for both the women's and men's teams on Friday. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.
[04:57]
Brex Advertiser
This message comes from brex. BREX is the intelligent finance platform that helps you spend smarter and move faster. With Brex, you get corporate cards with built in expense management plus a team of AI agents that handle manual finance tasks. Learn more@brex.com.

Summary4 min read

NPR News Now – Summary

Episode: NPR News: 01-03-2026 2AM EST
Date: January 3, 2026
Host: Dale Willman

Episode Overview

This five-minute newscast brings updates on urgent breaking news in the US and globally, spanning developing stories in Venezuela and Denver, significant criminal and national security cases, global humanitarian concerns, major scientific discoveries, and the latest sports highlights.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breaking News Headlines

Multiple Explosions in Caracas, Venezuela

[00:17] Dale Willman reports on developing reports of "multiple explosions in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela."
Details are unclear, with NPR continuing to monitor.

Massive Five-Alarm Fire in Denver

[00:34] An "entire city block" in Denver is burning due to a fire in an under-construction apartment complex.
- At least one firefighter is injured; no reports of other injuries.
- Residents of nearby buildings evacuated due to extreme heat.
- An overnight shelter is open in Glendale.
- "Significant power outages" reported in Denver.
- State emergency management is responding.

2. Legal and National Security Developments

Pipe Bomb Case Linked to January 6 Investigation

[01:21] Ryan Lucas covers the court decision regarding Brian Cole Jr., accused of planting two pipe bombs in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 5, 2021.
- Federal judge ruled Cole "must remain in jail pending trial."
- Prosecution: Argues Cole is "a danger to the community."
- Defense: Notes Cole's autism diagnosis; claims he "poses no threat" and should be released.
- Judge cited "the serious nature of Cole's alleged offense" as rationale for detention.
- Quote: "The 30 year old was arrested on December 4th after a nearly five year FBI investigation." — Ryan Lucas, [01:22]

Foiled New Year’s Eve Terror Plot in Charlotte

[02:02] FBI stopped a possible attack by 18-year-old Christian Sturtevant, who allegedly planned to use knives and hammers at a local fast food venue.
- Sturtevant had communicated plans to an undercover FBI agent.
- He "pledged loyalty to the Islamic State."
- Authorities attribute his threat to online self-radicalization.
- Quote: "They seek to attack soft targets with easily accessible weapons and with little to no warning." — James Barnacle, [02:37]

3. International Humanitarian Update

Gaza Refugee Camp Tragedy

[02:47] A grandmother and her 5-year-old grandson died when their tent caught fire.
- Cause: Poorly constructed shelter in refugee conditions.
- Tens of thousands face "bitterly cold weather" and limited supplies due to border restrictions.
- Severe shortages in food and materials.

4. Science & Human Evolution

Breakthrough in Understanding Bipedalism

[03:33] Nell Greenfield Boyce reports new analysis suggesting ancestors walked upright as far back as 7 million years ago.
- Based on fossilized leg bone analysis by NYU's Scott Williams.
- Quote: "Walking upright frees the hands and makes it possible to leave the trees and live in new places." — Nell Greenfield Boyce, [03:34]
- The findings "are sure to be controversial" since previous evidence dated bipedalism to only 3–4 million years ago.

5. Sports Headlines

College Football & Hockey Updates

[04:14] SMU beat Arizona 24-19 in the Holiday Bowl, featuring a remarkable 80-yard play by QB Kevin Jennings on just the second snap.
- Navy, Texas State Bobcats, and Wake Forest also logged wins.
- Hillary Knight named to the U.S. Women’s Hockey team for her fifth Olympic appearance.
- Quote: "SMU beat number 21 Arizona 24-19 Friday in the Holiday Bowl." — Dale Willman, [04:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"There are reports tonight of multiple explosions in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela."
— Dale Willman, [00:17]
"The 30 year old was arrested on December 4th after a nearly five year FBI investigation."
— Ryan Lucas, [01:22]
"They seek to attack soft targets with easily accessible weapons and with little to no warning."
— James Barnacle, [02:37]
"Walking upright frees the hands and makes it possible to leave the trees and live in new places."
— Nell Greenfield Boyce, [03:34]
"SMU beat number 21 Arizona 24-19 Friday in the Holiday Bowl."
— Dale Willman, [04:15]

Timestamps for Major Segments

Breaking news from Venezuela & Denver: [00:17]–[01:19]
Pipe bomb federal case (Brian Cole Jr.): [01:21]–[02:02]
Charlotte terror plot uncovered (Christian Sturtevant/FBI): [02:02]–[02:47]
Gaza refugee camp fire & conditions: [02:47]–[03:33]
Ancient bipedalism discovery: [03:33]–[04:14]
Sports updates (Holiday Bowl, Olympic hockey): [04:14]–[04:56]

Summary

This episode delivers a fast-paced roundup of urgent global and national stories, highlighting serious public safety, humanitarian, and scientific developments, while also offering a quick sports digest. For listeners seeking concise and up-to-date news delivered in NPR's signature calm and authoritative tone, this is a thorough snapshot of the moment’s most pressing headlines.

Loading summary

Transcript13 lines

[00:01]
Capital One Advertiser
This message comes from Capital One. With the Venture X card, earn unlimited double miles, a $300 annual capital one travel credit and access to airport lounges. Capital One what's IN your wallet? Terms apply. Details@Capital1.com.
[00:18]
Dale Willman
Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. There's breaking news at this hour. There are reports tonight of multiple explosions in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. It's it's not yet known what has caused those blasts, but we're continuing to monitor this news story. Also breaking, a massive five alarm fire is underway in Denver where an entire city block is burning. Officials say an apartment complex under construction went up in flames. At least one firefighter has been injured, but there have been no other reports of injuries so far. Residents of nearby apartment buildings, meanwhile, have been evacuated because of the heat radiating off that fire. And an overnight shelter has been set up at an event center in nearby Glendale. State emergency management officials say the fire has caused significant power outages in Denver. A federal judge has ordered that the man accused of planting two pipe bombs in Washington, D.C. the night before the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot must remain in jail pending trial. NPR's Ryan Lucas has more on the criminal case against Brian Cole Jr.
[01:22]
Ryan Lucas
The 30 year old was arrested on December 4th after a nearly five year FBI investigation. Prosecutors argue that Brian Cole Jr. Is a danger to the community and that he should remain in custody as his case moves to trial. The defense team says Cole has been diagnosed with autism, that he poses no threat to the community and that he should be released now. In a ruling, Magistrate Judge Matthew Charbaugh has sided with the government and ordered that Cole remain in jail pending trial, in part because of the serious nature of Cole's alleged offense, planting two pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic national party headquarters on January 5, 2021. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.
[02:02]
Dale Willman
The FBI says it stopped a potential attack on New Year's eve in Charlotte, North Carolina. Investigators say 18 year old Christian Sturtevant was arrested after he shared plans with an undercover FBI employee to use knives and hammers to attack people at a local fast food restaurant. Special agent in Charge James Barnacle says Sturtevant was willing to sacrifice himself for the Islamic State group.
[02:26]
James Barnacle
This investigation highlights the very real threat posed by people who self radicalize online and are inspired by jihadist ideologies espoused by foreign terrorist organizations. They seek to attack soft targets with easily accessible weapons and with little to no warning.
[02:48]
Dale Willman
The FBI says Sturtevant had pledged loyalty to the Islamic State, a grandmother and her five year old grandson have died this weekend after their poorly constructed tent caught fire in a Gaza refugee camp. Tens of thousands of Palestinians, meanwhile, are enduring bitterly cold weather in those camps, in part because housing materials are scarce. Few supplies are being allowed to pass through border crossings into the enclave, causing food and material shortages. This is NPR News. Physical adaptations for walking upright on two feet may go back 7 million years on the human family tree. That's according to a new analysis of some old bones. As NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce reports, walking upright was an important shift for early human ancestors.
[03:34]
Nell Greenfield Boyce
Walking upright frees the hands and makes it possible to leave the trees and live in new places. Now a team of researchers led by Scott Williams of New York University says they found skeletal features associated with upright walking in the fossilized leg bone of a primate that lived 7 million years ago.
[03:52]
James Barnacle
This animal that otherwise looks very chimpanzee.
[03:55]
Dale Willman
Like in its overall shape, has these.
[03:57]
Ryan Lucas
Bipedal adaptations hafted on top.
[04:00]
Nell Greenfield Boyce
Their findings, described in the journal Science Advances, are sure to be controversial. The oldest widely accepted evidence of upright walking is from human relatives that lived around 3 to 4 million years ago. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.
[04:15]
Dale Willman
Kevin Jennings threw for 278 yards, including an 80 yard completion on a razzle dazzle play on the second play from scrimmage. SMU beat number 21 Arizona 2419 Friday in the Holiday Bowl. Navy, meanwhile, claimed its 11th win of the season by beating Cincinnati 35 13. The Texas State Bobcats overpowered Rice 41 10. Wake Forest was dominant as they beat Mississippi State 43 to 29 and SMU beat Wake Forest 43 to 29. Hillary Knight will make her fifth Olympic appearance this year. She helps to lead the U.S. women's hockey team next month at the Games in Italy. US Hockey released the roster for both the women's and men's teams on Friday. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.
[04:57]
Brex Advertiser
This message comes from brex. BREX is the intelligent finance platform that helps you spend smarter and move faster. With Brex, you get corporate cards with built in expense management plus a team of AI agents that handle manual finance tasks. Learn more@brex.com.