NPR News: 01-12-2026 2AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: 01-12-2026 2AM EST

Date: January 12, 2026
Duration: ~5 minutes
Host: Dale Willman
Podcast: NPR News Now

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Overview

This episode delivers the latest global and national news headlines, with a focus on escalating tensions and protests in Iran, updates on the U.S. National Portrait Gallery's depiction of former President Trump, an arson incident at a historic Jackson synagogue, the Justice Department’s move against the Federal Reserve, announcements from the U.S. Olympic figure skating team, and box office results. The reporting maintains the neutral, factual tone characteristic of NPR.

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Key Segments and Discussion Points

1. Iran Protests and U.S. Relations

[00:16–01:12]

• Escalation of Protests:
  Recent protests in Iran began in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, driven by economic stress (rising prices, currency collapse), and have spread nationwide.
• Rising Toll:
  "The death toll has climbed sharply with hundreds of protesters now believed to be dead. Thousands detained in the clashes between these demonstrators and forces." (Villain Marx, 00:52)
• Shift in Demands:
  Focus has moved from economic concerns to broader anti-government rhetoric.
• U.S. Reaction:
  President Trump says Iran is proposing negotiations following his threats of military action, yet he warns action may precede talks.

2. National Portrait Gallery Omits Trump Impeachments

[01:12–02:10]

• Gallery Update:
  A newly installed portrait of Trump omits mention of his two impeachments or other tenure controversies.

• Smithsonian Response:
  A spokesperson says the exhibition is being updated, with new labels and wall text to come.

• Context:
  Trump’s executive order in 2025 targeted “divisive race-centered ideology.” An internal review of the Smithsonian's practices was also mandated.

  “It does not say that Trump was impeach twice or share other details about his time in office.”
  (Joe Hernandez, 01:29)

3. Arson at Historic Jackson Synagogue

[02:10–03:12]

• Incident Reported:
  An arson attack damaged the Beth Israel Synagogue’s library; a suspect is in custody.
• Investigation:
  Both local authorities and the FBI are assessing if this constitutes a hate crime amidst rising U.S. antisemitic acts.
• Community Response:

  “We live in the 21st century and there's no room for anti Semitism or hate crimes against anyone.”
  (Eitan Weiss, Israeli Consul General, 02:53)

• Congregation Stance:
  Zach Schimper, president of Beth Israel Congregation, vows resilience and rebuilding; no injuries reported.

4. Federal Reserve Facing DOJ Subpoenas

[03:12–03:49]

• Federal Reserve Chair Comments:
  Jerome Powell discloses DOJ subpoenas and possible criminal charges related to his congressional testimony on Fed building renovations.
• Powell's Warning:
  He suggests the actions threaten the Fed’s independence, particularly regarding monetary policy.

5. U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team Announced

[03:49–04:26]

• Women's Singles Roster:

  • Amber Glenn (reigning national champion, three-time world title winner)
  • Isabeau Levito (bronze medalist)
  • Alyssa Liu (came out of retirement, 2025 world champion)

• Historical Hopes:
  The team aspires to capture the first U.S. gold in women’s singles since 2002 (Sarah Hughes).

• Athlete Mindset:

  “I think as long as we all stick to what we do best, then we will break that drought.”
  (Amber Glenn, 04:12)

• Olympic Events:
  Competition in singles, pairs, and ice dance begins February 6.

6. Box Office Numbers

[04:26–04:55]

• Top Performers:
  • "Fire and Ash" leads box office for the fourth straight week ($21.3M), now at $888M worldwide.
  • "Primate" ($11.3M), "The Housemaid" ($11.2M), and "Disney Zootopia" ($10.1M; $1.65B lifetime) follow.

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Notable Quotes

• On Iran’s crisis:
  “These protests activists reporting that the death toll has climbed sharply with hundreds of protesters now believed to be dead.”
  – Villain Marx, 00:52

• On the synagogue fire:
  “They did not see any competent heat sources other than human involvement at that time. They determined that this fire was arson.”
  – Charles Felton, Jackson Fire Department, 02:33

  “We live in the 21st century and there's no room for anti Semitism or hate crimes against anyone.”
  – Eitan Weiss, 02:53

• On U.S. figure skating hopes:
  “I think as long as we all stick to what we do best, then we will break that drought.”
  – Amber Glenn, 04:12

• On Fed independence:
  “Powell called the threat of criminal charges an effort to undermine the Fed's independence when it comes to setting interest rates.”
  – Dale Willman, 03:30

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Iran Protests & U.S. Response: 00:16 – 01:12
• Trump Portrait Update: 01:12 – 02:10
• Jackson Synagogue Arson: 02:10 – 03:12
• Fed DOJ Subpoena News: 03:12 – 03:49
• U.S. Olympic Skating News: 03:49 – 04:26
• Box Office Top Ten: 04:26 – 04:55

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This NPR News Now episode delivers concise coverage of critical events with clarity and sober analysis, offering listeners a snapshot of early 2026’s headline stories.

Transcript

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[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 One Sunday, he said his admin is talking with Iranian officials, but he says he may still take action first. The protests, meanwhile, are continuing.

[Villain 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 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]

That's Villain Marx with our reports. A new portrait of President Trump on display in the National Portrait gallery in Washington, D.C. no longer mentions his two impeachments. NPR's Joe Hernandez has our reports.

[Joe Hernandez]

The new photo of Trump in the National Portrait Gallery mentions his birth year when he was president and information about the photographer. It does not say that Trump was impeach twice or share other details about his time in office. A Smithsonian spokesperson said in a statement that the museum's America's President's Exhibition Gallery was undergoing an update and would include new labels and wall text. Last year, Trump signed an executive order to eliminate, quote, divisive race centered ideology from Smithsonian museums and other cultural institutions. And over the summer, the White House ordered an internal review of eight Smithsonian museums, including the National Portrait Gallery. Joe Hernandez, NPR In Jackson, Mississippi, a.

[Dale Willman]

Suspect is in custody in connection to a fire this weekend that damaged the historic Beth Israel Synagogue in Jackson. The arrest comes as the US Continues to see a rise in anti Semitic acts. Mississippi Public Broadcasting Shamira Mohammad reports the.

[Shamira Mohammad]

Fire originated in the synagogue's library Saturday. According to Charles Felton, the chief of fire investigation with the Jackson Fire Department.

[Charles Felton]

They did not see any competent heat sources other than human involvement at that time. They determined that this fire was arson.

[Shamira Mohammad]

Felton says a suspect has been arrested and charged. Local authorities and the FBI are investigating the potential of this being a hate crime. Eitan Weiss is Israeli Consul General of the Southeastern United States.

[Eitan Weiss]

We live in the 21st century and there's no room for anti Semitism or hate crimes against anyone.

[Shamira Mohammad]

Zach Schimper, president of the Beth Israel Congregation, says his community is devastated but ready to rebuild. No injuries occ heard in relation to the fire. For NPR News, I'm Shamir Mohamed in Jackson, Mississippi.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says the Department of Justice has served the central bank with subpoenas. In a statement released Sunday, he also said the department is threatening the bank with a criminal indictment over Powell's testimony about the Fed's building renovations. Powell called the threat of criminal charges an effort to undermine the Fed's independence when it comes to setting interest rates. Figure skating national championships ended this weekend with a big reveal. The names of the 16 members of the U.S. olympic team were made public. And as NPR's Rachel Treisman reports, the women's field is packed with medal contenders.

[Rachel Treisman]

The US Is sending three women to compete in Milan, reigning national champion Amber Glenn, who just won her third straight world title, bronze medalist Isabeau Levito and Alyssa Liu, who came out of her teenage retirement to win the 2025 World Championships. The trio carries the U.S. hopes of winning its first women's singles gold since Sarah Hughes in 2002. Here's Glenn.

[Amber Glenn]

I think as long as we all stick to what we do best, then we will break that drought.

[Rachel Treisman]

Olympic singles, pairs and ice dance events start when the Games kick off on February 6th. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Treisman in St. Louis.

[Dale Willman]

Fire and ash continues to dominate at the box office, taking first place for the fourth straight week with $21.3 million in sales at North American theaters. Its worldwide total has now reached 888 million. Horror film Primate was in second with 11.3 million, while the Housemaid was close behind with 11.2 million. Disney Zootopia was fourth with $10.1 million. It has grossed $1.65 billion worldwide. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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