NPR News: 01-05-2026 10AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – 01-05-2026 10AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman
Date: January 5, 2026
Run Time: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This concise NPR News Now broadcast reports on several major national and international news developments, market updates, and current weather alerts. Key stories include Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ending his reelection bid, the U.S. capture of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, mixed reactions among Venezuelan Americans, economic updates following the capture, changes at the U.S. Mint, and severe weather conditions across the West and Southern Plains.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Ends Reelection Campaign

• [00:13] Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) announced the end of his reelection campaign, referencing ongoing investigations into state child care fraud.
  • Walz stated he could have won another term but was unable to give his full attention amidst the scrutiny.
  • Notably, Walz was Kamala Harris’s running mate in her previous presidential campaign.

2. Venezuelan Leader Nicolas Maduro Captured

• [00:27] Deposed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife were brought to a New York City federal courthouse by U.S. troops to face drug charges.
  • This military operation has found some Republican support.

3. Congressional Oversight and Criticism

• [01:02] CT Rep. Jim Himes raises constitutional concerns regarding unilateral executive action:
  • Jim Himes Quote:

    "Clearly, Congress needs to do something that it has not done because it's been under the control of the president's acolytes for the last year or so, which is to assert itself, to say we are the legitimate representatives of the people. And you're now talking about using those people on foreign adventures that would have made Teddy Roosevelt blush..."
    — Jim Himes, 01:02

  • Calls for Congress to reclaim its role in foreign military action oversight.

4. Venezuelan-American Community in Houston Reacts

• [01:39] Houston, home to a large Venezuelan population, sees mixed response:
  • Celebration:
    • Dozens gather in Houston to celebrate, with emotional reactions.
      • Hector Machuca Quote:

        "It's a lot of emotions, you know, altogether like happiness, but at the same time a little worry and we're a little nervous."
        — Hector Machuca, 01:48

  • Protest/Opposition:
    • Some residents oppose U.S. intervention.
      • Caleb Kurowski Quote:

        "I think we already can see the results of US Interventions across the world, and we don't think that Venezuela will end up any different."
        — Caleb Kurowski, 02:05

  • Local political leaders remain divided on the operation.

5. Economic and Oil Market Update

• [02:16] Despite Venezuela news, global oil markets and the Dow Jones saw little turbulence:
  • Oil prices remain below $60/barrel; U.S. gas prices falling.
  • Scott Horsley details how Venezuela’s weakened production reduces market impact and U.S. companies would face high hurdles reviving its oil sector.
  • Average U.S. regular gas: $2.81/gallon, down 25 cents from one year ago.

6. U.S. Mint’s 250th Anniversary Coin Release

• [03:08] New coins marking the U.S. semiquincentennial debut today.
  • However, the Trump administration blocks the release of coins celebrating women’s and civil rights.
  • A $1 coin featuring sitting President Trump is under consideration—a break from precedent.

7. Weather: Bay Area Flooding and Plains Fire Risk

• Northern California:
  • [03:43] Storm surge, king tides, and continued rain keep the Bay Area at elevated flood risk.
    • Lanie Hendricks Quote:

      "While the rain is tapering off, we still have moderate to high tides in the forecast again for tomorrow, so we may not necessarily be in the clear on flooding."
      — Lanie Hendricks, 04:07

  • National Weather Service issues statewide flood watches.
• Southern Plains:
  • [04:29] Red flag fire warnings remain in effect for the Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, with conditions ripe for wildfire outbreaks (strong winds, low humidity, dry grass).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jim Himes, on congressional authority:

  "...you're now talking about using those people on foreign adventures that would have made Teddy Roosevelt blush." (01:09)

• Hector Machuca, on Maduro's capture:

  "It's a lot of emotions, you know, altogether like happiness, but at the same time a little worry and we're a little nervous." (01:48)

• Caleb Kurowski, reflecting on U.S. interventions:

  "We already can see the results of US Interventions across the world, and we don't think that Venezuela will end up any different." (02:05)

• Lanie Hendricks, Bay Area flood caution:

  "...we still have moderate to high tides in the forecast again for tomorrow, so we may not necessarily be in the clear on flooding." (04:07)

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Segment Timestamps

• 00:13 – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ends reelection bid
• 00:27 – Nicolas Maduro captured, brought to NYC
• 01:02 – Rep. Jim Himes discusses congressional oversight
• 01:39 – Houston’s Venezuelan community reaction
• 02:16 – Stock markets and oil price update
• 03:08 – U.S. Mint coin release and controversy
• 03:43 – Flooding in Northern California
• 04:29 – Fire risk in the Southern Plains

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NPR delivers a rapid-fire briefing across politics, international affairs, markets, and weather, capturing the current news landscape with clear voices and diverse perspectives.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz says he is ending his bid for reelection. Walz was also the running mate of former Vice President Kamala Harris when she ran for the presidency. Walz cited investigations into fraud in his state's child care program. He says he would have won another term but cannot give the campaign his all. Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro is being held at the federal courthouse in New York City. He'll make his first court appearance later today. U.S. troops captured Maduro and his wife over the weekend and brought him to the US to face drug charges. Some Republican lawmakers have supported the military action. Connecticut Democratic Congressman Jim Himes says while Maduro has not been good for Venezuelan civilians, Congress must still assert oversight of the Trump administration.

[Jim Himes]

Clearly, Congress needs to do something that it has not done because it's been under the control of the president's acolytes for the last year or so, which is to assert itself, to say we are the legitimate representatives of the people. And you're now talking about using those people on foreign adventures that would have made Teddy Roosevelt blush. So, you know, again, we're in the minority in the House and the Senate, but it is time for this Congress to stand up and say we have a role to play here.

[Korva Coleman]

He spoke to NPR's Morning Edition. Houston is home to one of the largest communities of Venezuelan immigrants in the U.S. houston Public Media's Natalie Weber reports. There's been mixed reaction in the city.

[Natalie Weber]

Singing and waving flags, dozens of Venezuelan immigrants gathered in Houston suburbs to celebrate. Hector Machuca was among them.

[Hector Machuca]

It's a lot of emotions, you know, altogether like happiness, but at the same time a little worry and we're a little nervous.

[Natalie Weber]

However, some residents came out to oppose the operation. Caleb Kurowski is an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation, which led a protest over the weekend.

[Caleb Kurowski]

I think we already can see the results of US Interventions across the world, and we don't think that Venezuela will end up any different.

[Natalie Weber]

Reaction from Texas leaders remains split. For NPR News, I'm Natalie Weber in Houston.

[Korva Coleman]

Stocks opened higher this morning as oil markets remained subdued. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 570 points in early trading.

[Scott Horsley]

The U.S. military's capture of Venezuela's president and his wife over the weekend had little effect on global oil prices. Venezuela has large oil reserves, but its oil output has dropped sharply after years of neglect. While President Trump wants US Oil companies to revitalize the Venezuelan industry, the cost and time commitment necessary would be sizable. Crude oil prices in the US are hovering well below $60 a barrel. Retail gasoline prices in the US continue to fall. AAA says the average price of regular gas is now $2.81 a gallon. That's down about a penny from a week ago and about 25 cents less than this time last year. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The US Mint is releasing new coins into circulation today for the nation's 250th anniversary, but the Trump administration will not release the coins celebrating women's rights and civil rights. The Mint is also considering releasing a $1 coin featuring Donald Trump, even though that's never been done for a sitting president. It's still raining in Northern California. The risk of flooding continues for areas around San Francisco Bay. From member station kqed, Billy Cruz has more.

[Billy Cruz]

After historic king tides and storm surge inundated low lying places across the San Francisco region, tides are still higher than normal, according to meteorologists. There is a possibility of water up to two feet above ground level, and widespread rain across the region is only making matters worse. Lanie Hendricks is a spokesperson for Marin County. In the Bay Area, we are still.

[Lanie Hendricks]

Seeing fairly high tides looking ahead. While the rain is tapering off, we still have moderate to high tides in the forecast again for tomorrow, so we may not necessarily be in the clear on flooding.

[Billy Cruz]

The National Weather Service has issued flood watches across the state. For NPR News, I'm Billy Cruz in San Francisco.

[Korva Coleman]

Conditions are very different in the Southern Plains. The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings for the Texas Panhandle and parts of Oklahoma and New Mexico. Weather conditions are ripe for fire weather that includes powerful winds, low humidity and very dry grass. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, from Washington.

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