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.