NPR News Now – January 12, 2026, 10AM EST

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A fast-paced roundup of top U.S. and world headlines, including major developments at the Federal Reserve, U.S.-Iran relations, Minnesota immigration enforcement, Alaska’s Senate race, a Mississippi synagogue arson, international scrutiny of AI chatbot Grok, and Florida’s new disabled parking law for pregnant women.

1. Criminal Probe of the Federal Reserve

[00:00–00:55]

• NPR’s Korva Coleman introduces the lead story: The U.S. Justice Department has opened a criminal probe into the Federal Reserve’s headquarters renovation and Chairman Jerome Powell’s Senate testimony on the topic.
• Scott Horsley reports:
  • The Fed received grand jury subpoenas related to the costly renovation and Powell’s testimony.
  • Powell issued an "unusually combative video statement," arguing that these are "mere pretext" and that the criminal threat is part of "the administration's broader pressure campaign designed to force the Fed to move more quickly in lowering interest rates." ([00:24])
  • The Fed’s independence is at stake; President Trump is accused of "ignoring those guardrails."
  • Pushback is mounting from U.S. senators, who will soon vote on Trump’s nominee to replace Powell as Chairman.
  • Quote (Scott Horsley paraphrasing Powell):

    "The threat of criminal charges is part of the administration's broader pressure campaign designed to force the Fed to move more quickly in lowering interest rates." ([00:32])

  • Notable: Political interference with the Fed is emerging as a serious concern.

2. U.S.–Iran Tensions and Immigration Enforcement in Minnesota

[00:55–01:48]

• President Trump claims Iran reached out to the U.S. for negotiations after his recent military threats, though he has not ruled out taking action regardless of talks. ([00:55])
• The Trump administration plans to "surge more federal agents to Minnesota" to address "immigration issues," increasing an already sizable federal presence. ([01:08])
• Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Vry pushes back, accusing the administration of seeking political retribution, not safety:
  • Quote (Mayor Vry):

    "What's happening is full on discrimination. It's targeting Somali people in our city, targeting Latino people in Minneapolis, and looking for a problem that, to be clear, we are not seeing on our streets." ([01:31])

• The surge follows a fatal incident involving an ICE agent who shot a Minneapolis woman.

3. Alaska Senate Race: Mary Peltola Announces Candidacy

[01:48–02:57]

• Mary Peltola, the first Alaska Native elected to Congress, announces a run for U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan.
• Liz Ruskin (Alaska Public Media/NPR):
  • National Democrats see Alaska as a top opportunity to flip a Senate seat.
  • Peltola launches her campaign with a video emphasizing her Kuskokwim River roots and her slogan, "female, fish, family, freedom."
  • Quote (Mary Peltola):

    "Systemic change is the only way to bring down grocery costs, save our fisheries, lower energy prices and build new housing Alaskans can afford." ([02:28])

  • Dan Sullivan is endorsed by Trump.
  • Lisa Murkowski, Alaska's other senator and a frequent Trump critic, declines to endorse Peltola as she did previously, supporting Sullivan instead to maintain a Republican majority.

4. Synagogue Arson in Mississippi

[02:57–03:09]

• Authorities in Jackson, MS, arrest a suspect for arson at a local synagogue.
• The fire started in the synagogue library; two Torah scrolls destroyed.
• No injuries reported.

5. International Crackdown on Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot "Grok"

[03:09–03:36]

• Malaysia and Indonesia block access to Grok, Elon Musk's AI chatbot, over concerns about deepfake videos enabling non-consensual sexual content, particularly involving children and women.
• UK's media watchdog opens an investigation into Grok on similar grounds.

6. Florida Disabled Parking Law for Pregnant Women Sparks Lawsuit

[03:36–04:32]

• New Florida law grants a one-year disabled parking permit to anyone who is pregnant; nearly 10,000 temporary permits issued.
• Disability advocates take legal action, arguing the law reduces access for people with lasting disabilities.
  • Destiny Light (Permit recipient):

    "You're carrying around a whole baby like it hurts." ([03:57])

  • Testimonial:

    "Your back hurts, your legs hurt, like everything just hurts." ([04:01])

  • Olivia Keller (Plaintiff, uses a wheelchair):

    "People with disabilities are kind of an afterthought. The accommodations that we receive and are required to receive by law aren't really looked at as needs. It's looked at as a perk." ([04:12])

• The state seeks to dismiss the lawsuit.

7. Market Update

[04:32–04:39]

• The Dow is down approximately 190 points during morning trading.

Notable Quotes and Moments

• Jerome Powell’s combative video statement regarding political interference with the Fed ([00:24–00:40])
• Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Vry denouncing the immigration surge as targeting Somali and Latino communities ([01:31])
• Mary Peltola on the need for systemic change in Alaska ([02:28])
• Olivia Keller on overlooked needs of people with disabilities ([04:12])

This concise, five-minute newscast covers the latest in politics, law, international tech regulation, local crime, and social issues with direct quotes and sharp reporting—reflecting the rapid, matter-of-fact tone that is NPR’s signature.