NPR News: 01-13-2026 10AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now — 10AM EST, January 13, 2026

Host: Korva Coleman
Episode Theme:
This NPR News Now update delivers the key news stories of the morning, focusing on changes to protected immigration status, economic indicators, US policy reactions to unrest overseas, a pivotal Supreme Court case, a hate crime in Mississippi, cancer survival and care disparities, and a major infrastructure issue in El Paso, Texas.

---

1. White House Ends Temporary Protected Status for Somalis

[00:15]

• The Trump administration is ending the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis living in the US.
• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem: Some Somalis will have to leave by March 17.
• The action comes as thousands of federal agents have been sent to Minnesota, home to many Somali and Somali American communities.

---

2. Economic Update: Inflation Holds Steady

[00:51] — Scott Horsley

• December consumer prices rose 2.7% compared to a year ago, the same as November.
• Gasoline prices fell, but grocery and utility prices climbed.
• Quote:

  "Consumer prices in December were up 2.7% from a year ago. That's the same annual increase we saw in November. So inflation's not getting worse, but it's not getting better either."
  — Scott Horsley [00:51]

• Core inflation (excluding food and energy) also flat at 2.6%.
• The Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady at the next meeting after three consecutive rate cuts, balancing inflation concerns against a softening job market.

---

3. US to Impose Tariffs on Iranian Goods

[01:33]

• President Trump will institute a 25% tariff on all goods from Iran.
• The move responds to alleged Iranian attacks on anti-government protesters; human rights groups report at least 600 deaths.
• Global context:

  "Last June in the 12 Day War, Israel assassinated Iran's top, perhaps a couple dozen senior Revolutionary Guard commanders. The country was also humiliated by the US War, and their most important regional proxies like Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas, have been destroyed. Their ally in Caracas, Venezuela, Maduro, was just captured."
  — Karim Sajapur, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace [01:55]

---

4. Supreme Court Hears Transgender Athlete Case

[02:14] — Nina Totenberg

• The Supreme Court is weighing if states can bar transgender students from public school sports.
• West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey defends the state law:

  "Men are bigger, faster and stronger than women, and competitive athletics are incredibly important to our society and to the growth of young women. And we believe that that space in this instance should be reserved for biological girls."
  — John McCuskey [02:35]

• John Birch, Alliance Defending Freedom, broadens the argument:

  "This question is actually bigger than sports, and it's about whether those who support the gender ideology movement are going to be allowed to continue harming children, women and adults."
  — John Birch [02:58]

---

5. Mississippi Synagogue Arson

[03:11]

• The FBI reports that Steven Spencer Pittman confessed to setting fire at a synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi.
• He is hospitalized for burns; charged with arson.
• The synagogue’s library was specifically targeted, and the building suffered significant damage.

---

6. Cancer Survival and Care Disparities

[03:51] — Yuki Noguchi

• Five-year cancer survival rates are now at 70%, a dramatic rise from around 50% in the 1970s (American Cancer Society).
• Innovative treatments make even advanced cancers (like lung and melanoma) more survivable.
• But diagnoses are also increasing; 2.1 million new US cases anticipated this year.
• Equity in treatment remains a problem:
  • Native Americans have the highest mortality rates for many cancers.
  • Economic and emotional hardships endure after medical care concludes.

  "Patients also find financial, emotional and caregiving burdens do not ease after treatment."
  — Yuki Noguchi [03:51]

---

7. El Paso Water Crisis

[04:32]

• Up to 100,000 residents in El Paso, Texas, are still without water after a weekend water main break.
• Boil water alerts remain in effect in some areas; several schools are closed.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Scott Horsley on inflation:

  "Inflation's not getting worse, but it's not getting better either." [00:51]

• Karim Sajapur on Iran’s weakened regional position:

  "Their most important regional proxies like Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas, have been destroyed. Their ally in Caracas, Venezuela, Maduro, was just captured." [01:55]

• John McCuskey on the sports ban:

  "We believe that that space in this instance should be reserved for biological girls." [02:35]

• John Birch on broader societal stakes:

  "This question is actually bigger than sports... whether those who support the gender ideology movement are going to be allowed to continue harming children, women and adults." [02:58]

• Yuki Noguchi on cancer care:

  "Patients also find financial, emotional and caregiving burdens do not ease after treatment." [03:51]

---

Key Timestamps for Segments

• [00:15] — Somali TPS ended
• [00:51] — Inflation and Federal Reserve
• [01:33] — Iran tariffs and regional context
• [02:14] — Supreme Court transgender athlete case
• [03:11] — Mississippi synagogue arson
• [03:51] — Cancer survival and disparities
• [04:32] — El Paso water crisis

---

This summary provides a complete snapshot of the morning’s top national and international headlines as delivered by NPR News Now.

Transcript

[Carvana Finance Announcer]

This message comes from Carvana Finance. And buy your next vehicle with Carvana. Shop a huge selection, customize terms to fit your budget, and buy completely online. No hassle, no pressure. Get the car you love, the easy way with Carvana.

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The White House says President Trump is ending temporary protected status for Somalis who are living in the U.S. homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says some of them will have to leave the country by March 17. The abrupt decision comes as her agency has sent thousands of federal agents to operate in Minnesota. Many Somalis and Somali Americans live there. Stocks opened mixed this morning as the Labor Department reported that inflation held steady last month. NPR Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrial average slipped more than 300 points in early trading.

[Scott Horsley]

Consumer prices in December were up 2.7% from a year ago. That's the same annual increase we saw in November. So inflation's not getting worse, but it's not getting better either. Gasoline prices were down during the year, but grocery prices were up. The cost of electricity and natural gas jumped sharply, stripping out volatile food and energy prices. So called core inflation was 2.6% in December, also unchanged from the month before. The cost of living report comes two weeks before the next meeting of the Federal Reserve. Fed policymakers are expected to hold interest rates steady after cutting rates at their last three meetings. The central bank is trying to balance concerns over stubborn inflation with a softening job market. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

President Trump says he is going to impose a 25% tariff on all goods imported from Iran. This is over the Iranian regime's attacks on anti government protesters. Human rights groups say at least 600 people have been killed. Iran is struggling, according to Karim Sajapur. He is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

[Karim Sajapur]

Last June in the 12 Day War, Israel assassinated Iran's top, perhaps a couple dozen senior Revolutionary Guard commanders. The country was also humiliated by the US War, and their most important regional proxies like Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas, have been destroyed. Their ally in Caracas, Venezuela, Maduro, was just captured.

[Korva Coleman]

He spoke to NPR's Morning Edition. The U.S. supreme Court hears arguments this morning. This is on cases testing whether states may bar transgender students from participating in publicly funded school sports. NPR's Nina Totenberg reports.

[Nina Totenberg]

West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey defends the state law, contending that sports are unique.

[John McCuskey / John Birch]

Men are bigger, faster and stronger than women, and competitive athletics are incredibly important to our society and to the growth of young women. And we believe that that space in this instance should be reserved for biological girls.

[Nina Totenberg]

But not everyone agrees this case is about that limited objective. Here's John Birch, senior counsel for the conservative group Alliance Defending Freedom.

[John McCuskey / John Birch]

This question is actually bigger than sports, and it's about whether those who support the gender ideology movement are going to be allowed to continue harming children, women and adults.

[Nina Totenberg]

Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The FBI says a Mississippi man has confessed to setting a fire at the state's synagogue in Jackson. Authorities say that Steven Spencer Pittman made the admission from the hospital where he is being treated for burns. He's been charged with arson. The synagogue sustained significant damage, and the library was targeted. Health data show that cancer is more survivable than ever. Seventy percent of patients now live five years or more after their diagnoses. Still, as NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports, more people are getting cancer amid disparities in care.

[Yuki Noguchi]

Scientific breakthroughs have made even some of the most lethal and advanced diseases of lung cancer and melanoma more survivable. The five year survival rate is at a high watermark at 70%, up from about half in the 1970s, according to the annual American Cancer Society report. But cancer diagnoses are rising to an expected 2.1 million in the US this year, and access to cancer treatment continues to be inequitable. Native American populations have the highest mortality rate for many cancers. The study says patients also find financial, emotional and caregiving burdens do not ease after treatment. Yukinoguchi, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

As many as 100,000 people in El Paso, Texas, may still be without water. A water main broke over the weekend, and city officials are still working to repair it. Some parts of El Paso remain under boil water alerts. Several schools are closed or also under boil water alerts. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

[Podcast Sponsor Announcer]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to npr news newsnow +@ +npr.org that's +npr.org.