NPR News: 01-11-2026 2AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – January 11, 2026, 2AM EST

Host: Dale Willman
Episode Description: The latest national and international news headlines in five minutes.

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode covers:

• Ongoing protests in Minneapolis after the police shooting of Renee Goode
• Widespread anti-government demonstrations and crackdown in Iran
• A tragic mass shooting in Clay County, Mississippi
• Rising tensions between Iran, the U.S., and Israel
• Mail ballot concerns in Nevada due to postmark changes
• Lindsey Vonn’s recent World Cup downhill skiing victory

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minneapolis Protests Over Renee Goode Shooting

[00:19]

• Thousands marched in downtown Minneapolis protesting the fatal shooting of Renee Goode by an ICE agent.
• Demonstrations remain largely peaceful, but some violence was reported—rocks and ice thrown at police.
• Mayor Jacob Frey emphasizes that violence will not be tolerated:

  “To the few that have caused damage to property and or harm to others need to be very clear. We're not going to let that happen. If you cause damage to property or put others in danger, you're going to be arrested." (Jacob Frey, 00:43)

• The vast majority of protesters are commended for peaceful action, but the city is reviewing incidents of violence.

[01:10]

• Protests are expected in cities nationwide through the weekend, highlighting a spread of unrest over police actions.

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2. Iran: Protests and International Tensions

[01:10]

• Iranian authorities intensify their crackdown on two weeks of large-scale protests, labeling demonstrators as “terrorists.”
• NPR’s Willem Marx notes this is the biggest unrest in years:

  “The current set of demonstrations...are the biggest in years and the Iranian authorities have promised to safeguard their existing system of government." (Willem Marx, 01:27)

• Social media and internet restrictions hamper information flow, but videos signal ongoing protests in Tehran and beyond.
• Reza Pahlavi, exiled son of the last Shah, calls for an expanded uprising against the theocratic government.
• President Trump weighs in on social media, signaling U.S. support for Iranian protesters:

  “The U.S. stands ready to help with Iran looking at freedom perhaps like never before.” (Willem Marx quoting Trump, 01:27)

[03:13]

• Iran warns any U.S. attack could prompt retaliation against Israel and U.S. military bases.
• Israel is on high alert, underscoring volatile regional tensions.

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3. Mass Shooting in Clay County, Mississippi

[02:09]

• Six people are dead after a shooting spree allegedly carried out by 24-year-old Dereka Moore.
• Victims include several family members; the tragedy spanned three locations.
• Moore faces numerous grave charges, including first-degree and soon capital murder; sexual assault was also attempted.
• District Attorney Scott Colomb characterized it as "the worst case he had seen in his 10 years in the field," with the death penalty being pursued.

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4. Nevada Ballot Postmark Controversy

[03:57]

• Mail-in ballot processing in Nevada (and other states) is complicated by new postal service cost-cutting leading to delayed postmarks.
• Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar quips about impractical tech solutions:

  “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.” (Cisco Aguilar, 04:21)

• The state is working to resolve the issue before the June primary; the Supreme Court may weigh in on counting ballots post-Election Day.

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5. Sports: Lindsey Vonn’s Comeback

[04:40]

• American skier Lindsey Vonn, at age 41 and after knee surgery, secured her second World Cup downhill victory this season.
• She finished with a 0.37 second lead in Austria, marking two wins in three events for her.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mayor Jacob Frey on protest violence:

  “We're not going to let that happen. If you cause damage to property or put others in danger, you're going to be arrested." (00:43)

• Willem Marx summarizing Iranian sentiment:

  “The current set of demonstrations...are the biggest in years and the Iranian authorities have promised to safeguard their existing system of government.” (01:27)

• Cisco Aguilar (humorous tech solution):

  “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.” (04:21)

• District Attorney Scott Colomb on the Mississippi shooting:

  “This was the worst case he had seen in his 10 years in the field...” (02:23)

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Segment Timestamps

• [00:19] – Minneapolis protests and Mayor Frey’s response
• [01:10] – Nationwide protests and Iran’s crackdown
• [01:27] – Updates from Tehran, U.S. and Reza Pahlavi statements
• [02:09] – Clay County, Mississippi mass shooting
• [03:13] – Iran-U.S.-Israel tensions; Trump’s statements
• [03:57] – Nevada mail ballot issues
• [04:40] – Lindsey Vonn’s second World Cup victory

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This summary distills the critical news, voices, and developments from this NPR News Now episode, giving listeners a concise yet informative glimpse of the day's top national and international stories.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Thousands of people marched in downtown Minneapolis Saturday to protest the shooting death last Wednesday of Renee Goode at the hands of an ice agent. One participant said everyone is now living in fear. On Friday night, about 1,000 people demonstrated outside a Minneapolis hotel. While much of the protest was peaceful, some people threw rocks and ice at police. Mayor Jacob Frey says that's got to stop.

[Jacob Frey]

To the few that have caused damage to property and or harm to others need to be very clear. We're not going to let that happen. If you cause damage to property or put others in dangers, you're going to be arrested. And again, the vast majority of people have done this right. We are so deeply appreciative of them. But we have seen a few incidents last night. Those incidents are being reviewed.

[Dale Willman]

Hundreds of protests, meanwhile, are expected this weekend in cities across the country. Authorities in Iran say they intend to continue their crackdown on large scale anti government protests. As Willem Marx reports, the country's Revolutionary Guard is blaming the unrest on terrorists.

[Willem Marx]

The current set of demonstrations that have lasted two weeks are the biggest in years and the Iranian authorities have promised to safeguard their existing system of government. Meanwhile, President Trump has posted on social media that the U.S. stands ready to help with Iran looking at freedom perhaps like never before. Restrictions on Internet access limit information from inside Iran. But as night fell Saturday, recently posted videos seem to show fresh protests in parts of the capital city, Tehran and several other cities across the country. Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran who was deposed in 1979, issued one of his frequent messages urging protesters to expand their efforts so as to topple the country's theocratic leadership. For NPR News, I'm Villain Marks.

[Dale Willman]

A lone gunman killed six people in Clay County, Mississippi, Friday night. Authorities say the victims include the alleged shooter's father, uncle, brother and an unnamed 7 year old relative. NPR's Elana Weiss has more on our story.

[Elana Weiss]

The shooting spree spanned three locations. According to the Clay County Sheriff's Office. 24 year old Dereka Moore is accused of carrying out the rampage. Authorities say they believe he shot his first victims, three family members, at one home and drove to a second location where he killed the child at another home. Two brothers were also found dead, believed to be killed by Moore during his alleged crime run. He is also accused of stealing his deceased brother's truck, breaking into a home and attempting sexual battery on an unnamed person. District Attorney Scott Colomb said this was the worst case he had seen in his 10 years in the field, and his office would be seeking the death penalty against Moore. Moore is currently charged with first degree murder, but Colomb said those charges would be upgraded to capital murder. Ilana Wise, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News. This just in. Iran is warning President Trump that any U.S. attack on that country would lead to Tehran striking back against Israel. The country's parliament speaker also said US Military bases would be legitimate targets. Trump has said he would strike Iran if it kills people protesting there over the state of Iran's economy. Israel, meanwhile, is reported to be on high alert for a possible attack. Nevada's top election official says he's exploring potential new ways to identify when a ballot is mailed. As Lucia Starbuck with member station kunr reports the U.S. postal Service is advising against relying on postmarks following changes to reduce costs.

[Lucia Starbuck]

Nevada, Texas and New York are among the states that allow mail ballots to be counted for a certain period after the election, as long as they're postmarked by Election Day. But that's been thrown into flux. The Postal Service says it's now more likely that your mail will be postmarked once it reaches a processing facility about a day after it's collected. Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar says there are solutions.

[Cisco Aguilar]

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.

[Lucia Starbuck]

Aguilar said the state must find a solution before its June primary. The Supreme Court could decide this year whether states can count postmarked mail ballots that arrive after Election Day. For NPR News, I'm Lucia Starbuck in Carson City.

[Dale Willman]

American Lindsey Vonn won her second World cup downhill event of the year on Saturday. She finished with a 37 second lead in the race in Austria. That's two wins and three events for Vaughan, who had her right knee rebuilt last April. She's 41 years old. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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