NPR News Now — 01-07-2026, 4PM EST

A concise five-minute segment delivering the latest breaking headlines and key developments across U.S. politics, global affairs, the economy, and culture.

Episode Overview

This afternoon's episode covers:

• President Trump’s response to a deadly ICE shooting in Minnesota
• The administration’s new three-step plan for Venezuela
• U.S. job market updates and a major entertainment industry acquisition battle
• Florida’s legislative move to redistrict congressional districts
• Continuing struggles in LA wildfire recovery
• Lionel Messi’s post-retirement aspirations

1. Deadly ICE Shooting in Minneapolis

[00:18 - 01:32]

• President Trump publicly defended an ICE officer involved in shooting and killing a Minnesota woman in her car—blaming the "radical left" for the incident.
  • "ICE agents are, quote, just trying to do the job of making America safe." —President Trump [Reported by Ryland Barton, 00:24]
• Minnesota Governor Tim Walz countered, saying he'd warned someone could be hurt by the aggressive immigration crackdown.
• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed ICE officers killed the woman; NPR’s Meg Anderson reported from the scene.
• Witness reports from south Minneapolis:
  • Crowd gathered amid a tense atmosphere after the shooting; the victim’s car stayed at the scene for hours.
  • Resident Quote: "We don't want like this happening in our neighborhood to our neighbors." —Ren Klinefelter [01:22]

2. U.S. Government Plan for Venezuela

[01:32 - 02:22]

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled a three-step U.S. plan for Venezuela:
  1. Stabilization: Quarantine and sell off sanctioned Venezuelan oil, distributing profits for the Venezuelan people's benefit.
     • "Not only will that generate revenue...but it also gives us an amount of leverage and influence and control over how this process may set." —Marco Rubio [01:57]
  2. Recovery: Opening markets and national reconciliation.
  3. Transition: Details not provided.
• Briefed U.S. senators on the plan earlier in the day. [Reported by Jackie Northam]

3. U.S. Job Market & Economic Updates

[02:22 - 03:11]

• Labor Department: Fewer job openings in November suggest a cautious labor market where employees are reluctant to leave jobs.
  • "There has been relatively little churn in the labor market for months now, as most people who have jobs are reluctant to give them up." —Scott Horsley [02:32]
• Market Activity:
  • Warner Brothers' board recommends shareholders accept Netflix's $72 billion offer for its streaming/studio business over Paramount's $78 billion hostile takeover attempt.
  • Crude oil prices are down.
  • At last check: Dow -1%; S&P500 -0.3%.

4. Florida’s Redistricting Push

[03:11 - 03:58]

• Governor Ron DeSantis calls for a special session in April to redraw U.S. congressional districts, favoring Republicans.
  • Waiting for a Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act, which could impact voting discrimination protections.
  • Move aligns with President Trump's request to Republican-led states to secure House control.

5. Wildfire Recovery in Los Angeles

[03:58 - 04:34]

• A year after catastrophic wildfires destroyed or damaged 17,000+ structures in LA, many survivors remain in limbo, citing confusing jurisdiction and possible FEMA budget cuts.
• Andrew King (Survivor):
  • "The way that politics has gotten into our recovery has really started to hurt people on the ground, and I wish it wasn't that way. Disaster is nonpartisan. Everyone believes that the government should step in and help. I wish that would happen sooner." [04:12]
  • Despite ongoing insurance issues, King proceeds with rebuilding.

6. Lionel Messi’s Future Plans

[04:34 - 04:58]

• Lionel Messi (Pasadena-based soccer legend) shares he would rather become a club owner than a coach after his playing days.
• Recently signed a three-year extension with Inter Miami that includes a future minority ownership stake.

Notable Quotes

• President Trump: "ICE agents are, quote, just trying to do the job of making America safe." [00:24]
• Ren Klinefelter (Minneapolis resident): "We don't want like this happening in our neighborhood to our neighbors." [01:22]
• Marco Rubio: "It also gives us an amount of leverage and influence and control over how this process may set." [01:57]
• Scott Horsley (on jobs report): "There has been relatively little churn in the labor market for months now, as most people who have jobs are reluctant to give them up." [02:32]
• Andrew King (LA wildfire survivor): "Disaster is nonpartisan. Everyone believes that the government should step in and help. I wish that would happen sooner." [04:12]

For listeners: In just five content-packed minutes, the episode delivers essential national and global updates, highlighting today’s events with direct attributions and on-the-ground reports.