NPR News: 01-11-2026 11PM EST

Summary

---

NPR News Now — January 11, 2026, 11PM EST

Host: Dale Willman
Duration: ~5 minutes
Main Theme:
This episode delivers concise updates on international diplomatic tensions, European defense shifts, nationwide U.S. protests over immigration policy, Olympic team selections, and the latest box office rankings.

---

1. Iran Protests & U.S. Response

[00:19–01:24]

• Escalation in Iran: President Trump revealed Iran has proposed negotiations after his threat of military action following reports of protester deaths in Iran.
  • Trump said, “we may still take action first,” even as talks with Iranian officials are ongoing and the protest death toll reportedly exceeds 540.
• Background on Iranian Protests:
  • Willem Marx reports on how the late December protests began among Tehran shopkeepers reacting to economic hardship and currency collapse.
  • Protests have spread nationwide with deaths “climbing sharply” and “thousands detained in the clashes between these demonstrators and security forces.”
  • The movement has evolved: “Protesters are not just demanding economic relief anymore. Many are chanting anti government slogans.”
• Memorable Moment:
  • Widespread nature of the protests emphasized, highlighting both the scale of dissent and the authorities’ response.

---

2. EU Push for Independent Security Framework

[01:24–02:18]

• EU’s Defensive Stance:
  • The EU’s top defense official, Andreas Kubelius, urges the bloc to establish its own Security Council due to uncertainty in U.S.-European relations.
  • Terry Schultz reports:
    • Kubelius references the “new US Security strategy, which de emphasizes the transatlantic relationship,” Trump’s intervention in Venezuela, and intentions regarding Greenland as signs of shifting U.S. priorities.
  • Quote [01:50]:
    • Andreas Kubelius: “The times of Pax Americana is over. We need to be defence ready inside NATO, but with much less American presence in Europe.”
  • Proposal includes rotating membership and possibly including the UK.
  • Quote [02:06]:
    • Andreas Kubelius: “I believe it’s now an urgent task to turn this idea into reality.”
  • First step: “increase support for Ukraine.”

---

3. U.S. Immigration Protests Nationwide

[02:18–03:15]

• Scale of Demonstrations:
  • “At least 1,000 events” nationwide as part of “Ice out for Good Weekend of Action” demanding accountability in immigration enforcement.
  • Major activity in Minneapolis, Philadelphia, D.C. (outside ICE headquarters and the White House); Philadelphia saw “about 500 demonstrators.”
  • All events remained peaceful; “no arrests.”
• Official Response:
  • DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin defended the agency’s stance:
    • Quote [03:08]:
      • “The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly, not rioting, assault and destruction… [we’re] taking measures to protect public safety and its officers.”
  • Tone: Government cautious but affirming protest rights.

---

4. U.S. Olympic Freeski & Snowboard Team Announcements

[03:15–04:22]

• Team Selections in Aspen:
  • Three new team members named after four days of U.S. Grand Prix competition.
  • Hunter Hess (Oregon) secures spot after 2nd in men’s freeski halfpipe.
  • Jake Cantor (Colorado) qualifies with 1st in men’s snowboard slopestyle.
  • Svea Irving (Colorado) joins women’s halfpipe freeski team; all are first-time Olympians.
• Athlete Perspective:
  • Quote [03:54]:
    • Olympic Athlete: “The Olympics is a dream for all of us in action sports. Being able to go and represent my country and be on the biggest stage in front of everyone and show what we’re all capable of means the world to me.”
  • Full team not yet finalized.

---

5. Box Office Report

[04:22–04:58]

• Avatar: Fire and Ash remains number one for the fourth week, earning $21.3M, with $342M domestic and $888M worldwide.
• New Releases:
  • Primate debuts at $11.3M (2nd place).
  • The Housemaid close behind with $11.2M.
  • Zootopia earns $10.1M.

---

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Andreas Kubelius on EU Defense [01:50]:

  “The times of Pax Americana is over. We need to be defence ready inside NATO, but with much less American presence in Europe.”

• Andreas Kubelius on EU Security Council [02:06]:

  “I believe it’s now an urgent task to turn this idea into reality.”

• DHS Spokesperson on Protests [03:08]:

  “The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly, not rioting, assault and destruction.”

• Olympic Athlete on Making the Team [03:54]:

  “The Olympics is a dream for all of us in action sports… means the world to me.”

---

Summary Table of Timestamps

| Segment | Start Time | |-----------------------------------|------------| | Iran Protests & U.S. Response | 00:19 | | EU Security Push | 01:24 | | U.S. Immigration Protests | 02:18 | | Olympic Team Announcements | 03:15 | | Box Office Report | 04:22 |

---

This concise news roundup spotlighted ongoing international unrest, European strategic recalibration, activism over U.S. immigration, American Olympic ambitions, and the continued dominance of blockbuster films — encapsulating key stories shaping national and global discussions tonight.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

This message comes from Intuit. TurboTax with TurboTax Expert Full Service match with a dedicated expert who will do your taxes for you from start to finish, getting you every dollar you deserve. It's that easy. Visit turbotax.com to match with an expert today.

[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump says Iran is now proposing negotiations after Trump threatened military action in response to the killing of protesters in Iran. Speaking to reporters on Air Force today, he said his administration is talking with Iranian officials, but he says he may still take action first following new reports of a climbing death toll that may have reached more than 540 people. The protests, meanwhile, are continuing. As Willem Marx tells us.

[Willem Marx]

The protests originally began in late December with shopkeepers and traders in Tehran. That's the capital's Grand Bazaar. They essentially shut their shops to protest price rises and a collapse in the country's currency. But they've since spread across the country. These protests activists reporting that the death toll has climbed sharply with hundreds of protesters now believed to be dead. Thousands detained in the clashes between these demonstrators and security forces. And protesters are not just demanding economic relief anymore. Many are chanting anti government slogans. There are reports of clashes in cities.

[Dale Willman]

As Willem Marx reporting, the European Union's top defense official says it's time for the bloc to set up its own Security Council. As Terry Schultz reports, the EU's commissioner says the uncertainty of Europe's relationship with the U.S. makes such a move more urgent.

[Terry Schultz]

EU Defense Commissioner Andreas Kubelius says Europe is under pressure, mentioning the new US Security strategy, which de emphasizes the transatlantic relationship. President Trump's intervention in Venezuela and his intention to take over Greenland.

[Andreas Kubelius]

The times of Pax Americana is over. We need to be defence ready inside NATO, but with much less American presence in Europe.

[Terry Schultz]

Kabilius is renewing earlier proposals to create a European version of the UN Security Council with rotating membership and possible participation.

[Andreas Kubelius]

Of the UK I believe it's now an urgent task to turn this idea into reality.

[Terry Schultz]

He says the first priority for the new body would be to increase support for Ukraine. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels.

[Dale Willman]

Nationwide protests and vigils over immigration actions continued across the U.S. this weekend. NPR's Chandelys Duster has more.

[Chandelys Duster]

Organizers of the Ice out for Good Weekend of Action say at least 1,000 events were planned throughout the U.S. to demand accountability over immigration actions. Across Minneapolis, large crowds marched with signs and shouted ICE out now. In Philadelphia, Police estimated about 500 demonstrators were peaceful at a march downtown. Protesters gathered in front of the White House and outside of ICE headquarters in the nation's capital, D.C. police also said there were no arrests. When asked about the protests, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told NPR in a statement, quote, The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly, not rioting, assault and destruction. She also said the agency is taking measures to protect public safety and its officers. Duster, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

And this is NPR News. Three more members of the US Olympic free ski and snowboard teams were announced in Aspen, Colorado, on Saturday night. This follows four days of competition for the U.S. grand Prix. Aspen Public Radio's Reagan Mertz has more.

[Reagan Mertz]

Last week's U.S. grand Prix was the final Olympic qualifying event in America before the Winter Olympic Games next month. Oregon halfpipe skier Hunter Hess came in second in the men's free ski halfpipe finals, which is what secured his place on the U.S. team. Colorado's own Jake Cantor placed first in the men's snowboard slope style competition, which also punched his ticket to the Olympic team.

[Olympic Athlete]

The Olympics is a dream for all of us in action sports. Being able to go and represent my country and be on the biggest stage in front of everyone and show what we're all capable of means the world to me.

[Reagan Mertz]

Another one of Colorado's own, Svea Irving, was also announced on Saturday to be on the women's half pipe freeski team. This will be all three athletes, first time competing in the Olympics. The full list of qualifying athletes has not yet been finalized. For NPR News, I'm Reagan Mertz in Aspen, Colorado.

[Dale Willman]

The latest James Cameron flick continues to rule the box office. Avatar, Fire and Ash took the top spot for the fourth week in a row. The film earned $21.3 million from North American box offices. The that brings its domestic total to $342 million and $888 million worldwide. Primate, meanwhile, was the top new release, coming in second with $11.3 million. The housemaid was close behind at 11.2 million, while Zootopia brought in $10.1 million. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

This comes from NPR sponsor Sierra. How businesses connect with customers defines their brand. Sierra is the platform for building better, more human customer experiences with AI. No stock answers, no hold music, just real solutions fast. Visit Sierra AI to learn more.