NPR News Now – January 11, 2026, 10PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Duration: 5 minutes
Date: January 12, 2026
Summary prepared for those who missed the episode or want a concise briefing on top national and international news.

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a rapid-fire rundown of major developments in politics, international relations, public safety, and election mechanics. The reporting covers escalating protests and political tension in Iran, controversial statements by President Trump about U.S. military intervention, concerns from GOP lawmakers, domestic unrest following an ICE-related shooting, European anxieties over U.S. intentions toward Greenland, a looming nurses’ strike in New York, and emerging problems in tracking mail-in ballots, particularly in Nevada.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Iran: Protests, U.S. Threats, and Political Debate

• Main Points:

  • Ongoing anti-government protests in Iran with reports of hundreds killed.
  • President Trump warns of U.S. military action if Iranian protesters are killed.
  • Claims that Iran’s government is seeking negotiations.
  • Republican lawmakers, especially Senator Rand Paul, warn against hasty intervention.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Rand Paul (00:57):
    “So when you bomb a country, then people tend to rally around their own flag. They tend to see the this is the, you know, a foreign country coming in and bombing us.”
  • Rand Paul (01:05):
    “[The US shouldn’t be] involved with every freedom movement around the world and…a president is required to talk to Congress before ordering strikes on another country.”

• Context:

  • Paul’s warnings reflect a broader push within the GOP for Congressional oversight in foreign conflicts.
  • Internal Republican debate signals divisions on U.S. approaches to global crises.

2. Aftermath of ICE Shooting in Minneapolis

• Main Points:

  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticizes Minneapolis city leaders for their response to the ICE shooting death of Renee Goode.
  • Protests erupt nationwide.
  • Debate intensifies over legality and morality of ICE agents’ duties.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Kristi Noem (01:44):
    “I think it’s a fair point to say, well, these ICE agents are being put in a horrible position because they’re asked to do things that are not legal or are unconstitutional. But here’s the thing, they’re still doing them and we are still dealing with the repercussions here in this city.”

• Further Developments:

  • Noem announces hundreds more agents will be sent to Minnesota as a federal welfare fraud investigation widens.

3. European Concerns Over U.S. Intentions Regarding Greenland

• Main Points:

  • European media abuzz about the Trump administration’s rhetoric on “owning Greenland,” a territory of Denmark and the EU.
  • European leaders worried about possible breaches of international law and alliances being tested.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Guntram Wolff, Bruegel Think Tank (02:55):
    “I think European leaders basically think that the United States is not really an ally anymore, and they also think that the United States is ready to breach international law instead of defending it.”

• Context:

  • Diplomatic tensions rise as Europe contemplates strategic reliance on the U.S. while fearing territorial ambitions.

4. NYC Nurses Threaten Major Strike

• Main Points:

  • Up to 16,000 nurses may strike if no agreement is reached with hospitals over pay, staffing, benefits, and workplace safety.
  • The strike would affect five major private hospitals.
  • Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency and urged both sides to settle.

• Implications:

  • Potential labor crisis in healthcare, with ripple effects across New York City’s hospital system.

5. Nevada Mail Ballot Tracking Woes

• Main Points:

  • Changes at the U.S. Postal Service make it harder to verify mail-in ballot postmarks, which several states rely on to count ballots arriving after Election Day.
  • Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar says innovative solutions like “putting an Apple tag on every mail ballot” are unrealistic.
  • Supreme Court could address this issue soon.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Cisco Aguilar (04:29):
    “You just put an apple tag on every mail ballot and you know where it is at all times. But again, that's not practical.”

• Takeaway:

  • Lawmakers and election officials must adapt quickly to maintain election integrity before the coming primaries.

Memorable Moments & Quotes With Timestamps

• Rand Paul on military strikes rallying nations against the U.S. (00:57)
• Kristi Noem’s candid acknowledgment of ICE agent dilemmas (01:44)
• Guntram Wolff challenging U.S.-EU trust (02:55)
• Cisco Aguilar’s tongue-in-cheek “Apple tag” solution (04:29)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:18 – Iran protests, Trump administration response, Rand Paul’s comments
• 01:25 – Minneapolis ICE shooting, Kristi Noem’s reaction, deployment of more federal agents
• 02:24 – EU alarm over U.S. statements on Greenland, expert commentary
• 03:15 – NYC nurse strike looming, Governor Hochul’s emergency declaration
• 04:05 – Nevada’s mail-in ballot tracking dilemma, solutions proposed, legal concerns

Tone: Urgent, balanced, with direct quotes offering insight into official perspectives and policy debates.

This summary offers a comprehensive guide to the episode’s core stories, preserving the voices and urgency of this edition of NPR News Now.