Summary4 min read

NPR News Now – January 10, 2026, 1PM EST

Host: Dwahilisai Kowtao (NPR)
Episode Theme:
A concise update on global and national news, covering the ongoing protests in Iran, police protests in Minneapolis, economic news, international naval exercises, and the NFL playoffs.

Iran Protests Intensify Amid Communication Blackout

[00:32 – 01:40]
- Host Dwahilisai Kowtao introduces the segment; correspondent Jackie Northam reports from NPR.
- Protests in Iran have entered their second week, with significant government crackdown.
- Internet and phone lines remain cut, signaling government attempts to control information.
- Iranian Attorney General labels protesters “enemies of God,” a charge that carries the death penalty.
- Demonstrations are among the largest since the current wave began:
  
  "They chanted death to the dictator, meaning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and some mosques were set on fire." (Jackie Northam, 00:55)
- Human rights groups report dozens of civilian deaths and hundreds more detained.
- Context: Ongoing economic struggles and a recent, damaging Israeli attack on Iran’s military and intelligence leadership have weakened the regime.
- International angle:
  - President Trump warns: "The US will hit hard if Iran kills protesters."
  - Ayatollah Khamenei responds, telling Trump to focus on problems in the US.
- Memorable moment:
  
  “These protests come at a time when the regime is particularly vulnerable.” (Jackie Northam, 01:08)

Minneapolis Police Protest After Fatal Shooting

[01:40 – 02:17]
- 29 people arrested overnight during protests responding to the ICE killing of Renee Good.
- Sparked by video footage showing Good’s final moments.
- Ron Elving, NPR’s Senior Contributor, analyzes conflicting accounts:
  
  "So millions have seen the video of Renee Good trying to get away from Officer Jonathan Ross, but the president said Good ran the officer over. There is no tape that shows that, but there are angles that suggest she may have grazed him." (Ron Elving, 01:59)
- Highlights the ambiguity in available evidence and the complexities of police use-of-force cases.
- Federal government excludes Minnesota officials from the investigation.
- Notable quote:
  
  "...it is possible to imagine an officer under these circumstances believing he's about to be struck." (Ron Elving, 02:14)

Economic and Market Update

[02:17 – 03:15]
- Scott Horsley, NPR, reports a disappointing December jobs report: only 50,000 jobs added.
- 2025 saw a significant decline in job growth compared to 2024—down over 70%.
- Political news: The ouster of Venezuela’s president gives a boost to oil company stocks, especially Chevron (up nearly 4%).
- Retail gasoline prices drop; U.S. stock markets positive for the week:
  - S&P 500: up 1.6%
  - Nasdaq: up 1.9%
  - Dow Jones: up 2.3%
- Key line:
  
  "Investors mostly shrugged off the report from the Labor Department showing US employers added just 50,000 jobs in December." (Scott Horsley, 02:36)

CDC Flu Season Update

[03:15 – 03:23]
- Federal officials report over 15 million flu cases in what’s described as a “moderately severe” flu season.
- Source: CDC

South African Naval Drills with China, Russia, and Iran

[03:23 – 04:19]
- South Africa hosts week-long naval exercises involving China, Russia, and Iran off Cape Town.
- South African officials stress: this is not a BRICS operation but for "safety and stability of shipping routes."
- U.S. response: President Trump criticizes BRICS nations, threatens a 10% tariff, calls BRICS policies “anti-American.”
- Contextual note: The drills highlight geopolitical alignments and tensions.

Sports: NFL Playoffs and College Football

[04:19 – 05:00]
- NFL Playoffs:
  - Wild card round opens with Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers, followed by the Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers rivalry.
  - Bears-Packers game’s TV coverage is limited to local markets; broader audiences need streaming services like Amazon Prime Video.
  - NFL playoffs continue for two more weekends; Super Bowl scheduled for February 8th.
  - "Despite the expected intensity of the game, it’s only being broadcast over the air in Chicago, Milwaukee, and Green Bay." (Chuck Kornbach, 04:34)
- College Football:
  - Indiana advances to its first national championship after defeating Oregon 56–22 in the Peach Bowl.

Timestamps for Key Segments

Iran Protests: 00:32–01:40
Minneapolis Police Protest: 01:40–02:17
Economy & Markets: 02:17–03:15
CDC Flu Report: 03:15–03:23
Naval Exercises/BRICS: 03:23–04:19
NFL & Peach Bowl: 04:19–05:00

Notable Quotes

On Iran protests: “These protests come at a time when the regime is particularly vulnerable.” – Jackie Northam (01:08)
On Minneapolis police video: “There is no tape that shows that, but there are angles that suggest she may have grazed him.” – Ron Elving (02:07)
On the jobs report: “Investors mostly shrugged off the report from the Labor Department showing US employers added just 50,000 jobs in December.” – Scott Horsley (02:36)

Summary:
This episode offers a rapid overview of major events: Iran’s escalating protests and harsh government response, police protests in Minneapolis over a controversial shooting, weak U.S. job growth but rising stock markets, ongoing flu season concerns, international naval exercises involving rivals and partners off South Africa, and sports excitement with NFL playoff openers and Indiana’s college football breakthrough.

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Transcript11 lines

[00:00]
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[00:33]
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Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Dwahilisai Kowtao. In Iran, the Internet and phone lines are still cut as protests continue through a second week. Iran's attorney general is warning that anyone taking part in protests will be considered a, quote, enemy of God, a death penalty charge. NPR's Jackie Northam has the latest.
[00:56]
C
Today's protests were some of the largest since Iranians first turned out on the streets about two weeks ago. They chanted death to the dictator, meaning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and some mosques were set on fire. Human rights groups say Iranian security forces have killed dozens of civilians and detained hundreds more. These protests come at a time when the regime is particularly vulnerable. The economy is crumbling and Iran's military was weakened after Israel attacked last summer. Many senior members of the security forces and intelligence agencies were also killed in those strikes. President Trump has warned the US Will hit hard if Iran kills protesters. Khamenei told Trump to concentrate on problems in the US Instead. Jackie Northam, NPR News.
[01:40]
B
Police in Minneapolis say at least 29 people were arrested last night while protesting the ice killing of Renee Good. This follows a video that was released showing Good moments before she was fatally shot. NPR's senior contributor Ron Elving says the facts seem clear, depending on whose perspective you agree with.
[02:00]
D
So millions have seen the video of Renee Good trying to get away from Officer Jonathan Ross, but the president said Good ran the officer over. There is no tape that shows that, but there are angles that suggest she may have grazed him. And it is possible to imagine an officer under these circumstances believing he's about to be struck.
[02:18]
B
Elving notes the federal government is refusing to include Minnesota officials in their investigation. Stocks gained ground this week despite a disappointing report on the job market. NPR Scott Horsley reports. 2025 was the worst year for hiring since the beginning of the pandemic.
[02:37]
D
Investors mostly shrugged off the report from the Labor Department showing US employers added just 50,000 jobs in December. Job growth for all of last year was down more than 70% from 2024. The ouster of Venezuela's president gave a modest boost to oil company stocks. Shares of chevron, the only U.S. company operating in Venezuela, rose nearly 4%. Meanwhile, retail gasoline prices are lower now than they were a week ago. For the week, The S&P 500 index gained 1.6%, the Nasdaq climbed 1.9%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 2.3%. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
[03:15]
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Federal officials are saying that more than 15 million people have had the flu so far in what the CDC is describing as a moderately severe flu season. You're listening to NPR News from New York. South Africa is defending its right to host a week long naval exercise involving China, Russia and Iran, now under way in its waters off the coast of Cape Town. Its national defense force says the drills are to enforce the safety and stability of shipping routes in the maritime region and not a joint operation of the informal trade and security bloc called brics. President Trump has been critical of BRICS nations, a group that has to some become a major political force. Trump threatened them with additional 10% tariff earlier this year and called the BRIC policies anti American. The National Football League playoffs get underway today with the first two of what will be six games over the next three days. Chuck Kornbach reports.
[04:20]
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First up in this weekend's wild card round is the contest between the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers. Then tonight, the 104-year-old rivalry between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay packers resumes at Soldier Field in Chicago. Despite the expected intensity of the game, it's only being broadcast over the air in Chicago, Milwaukee and Green Bay. Elsewhere, viewers need a subscription to Amazon Prime Video or access to another online service that carries NFL games. The pro football playoffs continue for two more weekends leading up to the Super bowl on February 8th. For NPR News, I'm Chuck Kwernbach in Milwaukee.
[05:01]
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And Indiana is headed to its first national championship game after beating Oregon 5622 in the Peach Bowl. This is NPR News.
[05:11]
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Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR NewsNow +@ +npr.org. that's +npr.org.