NPR News: 01-08-2026 1PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: January 8, 2026 at 1PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst (NPR)
Date: January 8, 2026

Overview

This 5-minute NPR News Now update provides listeners with the latest national headlines, focusing on ongoing protests in Minnesota after a fatal ICE shooting, legislative attempts to curtail military action in Venezuela, a dramatic U.S. seizure of an oil tanker, a church shooting in Utah, and Avelo Airlines’ decision to end deportation flights. The episode is concise, urgent, and marked by frequent updates on breaking events.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Minneapolis Protests and ICE Shooting

• Incident: Protests in Minneapolis continue after Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot by an ICE agent while in her car.
• Official Response:
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the agent, stating he "was just doing his job" and alleging Good "drove at the agent," a claim disputed by Minnesota officials.
• National Guard Activation:
  • Minnesota Governor Tim Walsh (Democrat) has issued a warning order, putting the state's National Guard on standby.
  • Quote (Kat Lonsdorf, 01:22): "I remind you a warning order is a heads up for folks and these National Guard troops are our National Guard troops."
• Federal Involvement Concerns:
  • Context of recent federalization of state National Guards by President Trump against wishes of Democratic governors, mainly to protect federal immigration interests.
  • Governor Walsh, at a press conference, addressed President Trump directly, emphasizing that "Minnesota does not need any more involvement from the federal government."
• Reporting: Kat Lonsdorf and Greg Myre contributed updates on the unfolding events.

Timestamps:

• [00:37] - Update on protests and shooting
• [01:09] - Governor’s response
• [01:22] - Context of federal vs. state control

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2. Senate Advances War Powers Resolution on Venezuela

• Legislative Update:
  • The Senate voted 52–47 to advance a resolution requiring President Trump to obtain Congressional approval before additional military action in Venezuela.
  • Five Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the measure.
• White House Response:
  • President Trump criticized GOP supporters, calling the War Powers Act "unconstitutional" on social media.
• Legislative Odds:
  • Difficult prospects in the GOP-controlled House; a presidential veto expected if it passes.
• Additional Context:
  • U.S. military forces are currently escorting an oil tanker to the U.S. as part of an anti-‘ghost ship’ campaign targeting Venezuelan oil transport.

Timestamps:

• [01:49] - Senate action and reactions
• [02:41] - Details on the oil tanker chase

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3. US Military Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Tanker

• Incident:
  • U.S. forces pursued the tanker formerly known as Bella 1 as it tried to fetch oil from Venezuela.
  • The ship changed name and flag mid-chase (from Guyana’s flag to Russia’s), but was seized in the North Atlantic between Britain and Iceland.
  • Both ship and crew are now in American custody; this is the fourth such seizure since the campaign started last month.
  • Quote (Kat Lonsdorf, 02:41): "Somewhere along the way, the tanker changed its name from the Bella 1 to the Maranera and also changed its flag from that of Guyana to Russia."

Timestamps:

• [02:41] - Details of the ship’s chase and seizure

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4. Salt Lake City Church Shooting

• Incident:
  • Gunman opened fire outside a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during a memorial service in Salt Lake City.
  • Casualties: 2 killed, 6 injured (at least 3 in critical condition), all adults.
• Investigation:
  • Police: Not a targeted attack against Mormons, but not random either.
• Quote (Jeanine Herbst, 03:25): "At least two people were killed, six others injured outside a church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."

Timestamps:

• [03:25] - Breaking news on church shooting

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5. Avelo Airlines Ends Deportation Flights

• Company Update:
  • Budget airline Avelo ends cooperation with ICE, citing lack of profitability.
• Protests and Reaction:
  • The airline had faced protests for its participation in deportation flights; the New Haven Immigrants Coalition called for a boycott.
  • Quote (Ann Watkins, 04:31): "We're really thrilled that they've decided to stop participating in human trafficking and kidnapping, detention and deportation of people of our friends, our neighbors, our colleagues, our kids, teachers."
• Flights Ending:
  • Final flights from Mesa, Arizona, scheduled to end later this month.

Timestamps:

• [04:11] - Avelo’s announcement and protester reaction

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6. Markets Update

• Current Indices:
  • Dow: +319 points
  • NASDAQ: –117 points
  • S&P 500: +2 points

Timestamps:

• [04:52] - Financial markets update

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Notable Quotes and Moments

• State-Federal Tension over National Guard

  • Governor Walsh, via Kat Lonsdorf: "These National Guard troops are our National Guard troops." [01:22]

• War Powers Debate

  • Jeanine Herbst: "On social media, Trump slammed Republicans who voted for it, calling it a War Powers act unconstitutional." [01:49]

• Tanker Seizure Tactics

  • Kat Lonsdorf: "The tanker changed its name from the Bella 1 to the Maranera and also changed its flag from that of Guyana to Russia." [02:41]

• Community Reaction to Deportation Flights

  • Ann Watkins: "We're really thrilled that they've decided to stop participating in human trafficking and kidnapping, detention and deportation of people of our friends, our neighbors, our colleagues, our kids, teachers." [04:31]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:37] Minneapolis protests & ICE shooting update
• [01:09] National Guard standby order explained
• [01:49] Senate Venezuela War Powers resolution
• [02:41] U.S. military’s oil tanker seizure
• [03:25] Salt Lake City church shooting
• [04:11] Avelo Airlines ends ICE flights
• [04:52] Markets update

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This episode offered a rapid yet thorough rundown of breaking national news. The tone remained objective and urgent, with direct reporting and clear attributions, keeping listeners informed of the latest developments across the U.S.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst in Minnesota.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

Eyes out now.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Eyes out now. Protests continue in Minneapolis for another day after 37 year old Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent while in her car yesterday. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem today again defended the ICE agent, saying he was just doing his job. Yesterday, she said Good drove at the agent, which local and state officials dispute. Meanwhile, Minnesota Governor Tim Walsh has issued an order to prepare the state's national guard for deployment. NPR's Kat Lonsdorf has more.

[Greg Myre]

Governor Walsh, a Democrat, issued a warning order from Minnesota's National Guard, putting them on standby for a possible deployment. At a press conference in Minneapolis following the shooting, Walsh stressed that the troops remain under state control.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

I remind you a warning order is a heads up for folks and these National Guard troops are our National Guard troops.

[Greg Myre]

In recent months, President Trump has federalized several other states National Guard troops, often against the wishes of Democratic governors, and deployed them to protect federal immigration officials and property. Walsh spoke to Trump directly in the press conference, saying Minnesota does not need any more involvement from the federal government. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The Senate today voted to advance a resolution requiring the Trump administration to secure congressional approval before taking further military action in Venezuela. The measure needed just a simple majority and cleared the chamber by a vote of 52 to 47. With five Republicans joining Democrats to advance the measure, it's a procedural step to start debate on a final passage, though a final vote hasn't yet been scheduled. On social media, Trump slammed Republicans who voted for it, calling it a War Powers act unconstitutional. Now the bill would face a steep climb in the GOP controlled House and a likely veto from President Trump. Meanwhile, American military forces are now escorting an oil tanker to the U.S. after a two week chase. This is part of a U.S. crackdown on ghost ships transporting oil from Venezuela. NPR's Greg Myre The U.S. forces prepared.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

To seize the Bella 1 oil tanker in the Caribbean in late December as it was heading to Venezuela to pick up oil, but the tanker refused to halt. Instead, it changed course and headed out to the Atlantic with US Forces in pursuit. Somewhere along the way, the tanker changed its name from the Bella 1 to the Maranera and also changed its flag from that of Guyana to Russia. US Troops boarded the ship Wednesday in the North Atlantic between Britain and Iceland. Now in American custody, the ship and the crew are headed to the U.S. the U.S. has seized four oil tankers linked to Venezuela since this campaign began last month. Greg Myre, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And you're listening to NPR News. In Utah, authorities continue to search for the gunman who opened fire outside a church in Salt Lake City last night while mourners were attending a memorial service inside. At least two people were killed, six others injured outside a church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Police say all of the victims were adults, and at least three are in critical condition. Police say they don't think it was a targeted attack against Mormons, but they also don't think that the shooting was random. Budget airline Avelo says it's ending its agreement with U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement to carry out deportation flights. As Chris Polanski with Connecticut Public Radio reports, the flights sparked protests against the carrier.

[Chris Polanski]

In a statement, Avelo said its agreement with the Department of Homeland Security simply wasn't profitable enough to continue. The airline has been the target of protests since the deportation flights came to light last year. Ann Watkins is a member of the New Haven Immigrants Coalition, which called for a boycott of the airline.

[Shopify Sponsor]

We're really thrilled that they've decided to.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Stop participating in human trafficking and kidnapping, detention and deportation of people of our.

[Greg Myre]

Friends, our neighbors, our colleagues, our kids, teachers.

[Chris Polanski]

Avello says the flights out of Mesa, Arizona, will end later this month. For NPR News, I'm Chris Polanski in Hartford, Connecticut.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Wall Street's trading in mixed territory at this hour. The dow is up 319 points. The NASDAQ is down 117. The S&P 500 is up 2. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

[Chris Polanski]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app, by subscribing to NPR news [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.