NPR News Now — January 13, 2026, 2PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Length: 5 minutes
Episode Purpose:
To deliver succinct updates on key national and international news. This episode covers major developments in transgender rights in sports, Iranian protests, Federal Reserve independence controversy, IVF statistics, and the passing of Scott Adams.

Main Theme

A concise briefing on current headlines: Supreme Court hearings on transgender athlete bans, unrest and international reaction to protests in Iran, JPMorgan CEO’s stance on the Federal Reserve, IVF trends among unmarried women, and the death of “Dilbert” creator Scott Adams.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Supreme Court & Transgender Athlete Bans

[00:02–01:20]

• Issue: The U.S. Supreme Court—dominated by a conservative majority—appears poised to uphold state bans that prevent transgender athletes from competing in girls’ or women’s sports.
• Cases Discussed:
  • An Idaho college student was blocked from the Boise State University women’s track team.
  • West Virginia’s law bars a 15-year-old transgender athlete from girls’ sports.
• Legal & Social Context:
  • 27 states have enacted similar laws.
  • Opponents: Call it blatant discrimination and unconstitutional.
  • Proponents: Argue these measures “ensure fairness in athletic competition.”

2. Iran Protests and International Response

[01:20–02:05]

• Trump’s Response: Posted on social media encouraging Iranian protests:

  “Keep protesting, take over your institutions. Help is on its way.” — Former President Trump [00:47]

• International Reaction:
  • UK, Germany, and Italy have summoned Iranian ambassadors.
  • British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper:
    • Condemned Iran’s “horrendous and brutal killing of protesters.”
    • Called this “the worst repression of public protests in Iran for at least 13 years.” — Yvette Cooper [01:35]
    • Urged Iran to “immediately change course.”
• On the Ground in Tehran:
  • Heavily armed troops, burned-out buildings, concerns of potential U.S. attack.
  • Protests stem from anger over Iran’s ailing economy.

3. Federal Reserve, Trump Administration, and JPMorgan CEO

[02:05–02:57]

• Federal Reserve Under Pressure:
  • Trump administration has opened a criminal probe into the Fed; pressured for lower interest rates.
  • JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon:
    • Defended the Fed’s independence and Jerome Powell’s leadership.
    • Quote [02:43]:

      “Everyone we know believes in Fed independence. So do we. And anything that chips away at that is probably not a great idea.”

    • Warned political interference could cause inflation and higher interest rates.

4. Rise in IVF Among Unmarried Women

[02:57–04:08]

• Data: U.S. government statistics reveal a 250% rise over the past 30 years in unmarried women over 40 having children via in vitro fertilization.
• Personal Story: Laura Terry, Tennessee:
  • Quote [03:25]:

    “For my 39th birthday, I bought a vial of donor sperm, which is a kind of odd birthday gift by yourself, I suppose.”

  • Chose IVF, had two daughters on first attempt.
  • Challenges: Many women need multiple attempts; each cycle up to $30,000—cost is prohibitive for many.
  • Quote on motherhood [04:02]:

    “I love the blocky box.” — Laura Terry, describing joy shared with her children.

5. Scott Adams, "Dilbert" Creator, Dies

[04:08–04:38]

• Scott Adams: Passed away at 68 after cancer diagnosis.
• Career Highlights:
  • “Dilbert” satirized corporate America, appeared in 2,000+ newspapers.
  • Also in books, a video game, and an animated show in the late ’90s.
• Controversy:
  • Dropped by his distributor and many newspapers in 2023 after a racist tirade on his YouTube channel.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Yvette Cooper, UK Foreign Secretary:

  “Her government condemns the horrendous and brutal killing of Iranian protesters and we demand that the Iranian authorities respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of their citizens.” [01:23]

• Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan CEO:

  “Everyone we know believes in Fed independence.” [02:43]

• Laura Terry, on IVF motherhood:

  “For my 39th birthday, I bought a vial of donor sperm, which is a kind of odd birthday gift by yourself, I suppose.” [03:25]

Segment Timestamps

| Topic | Time | |-----------------------------------------|-----------| | Supreme Court & Transgender Athletes | 00:02–01:20| | Iran Protests & Trump/UK Response | 01:20–02:05| | Federal Reserve & Jamie Dimon | 02:05–02:57| | IVF Trends | 02:57–04:08| | Scott Adams Obituary | 04:08–04:38|

Listening Experience

NPR’s tone is factual and brisk, with human moments added through direct quotations. The focus is on delivering news with minimal embellishment, keeping listeners swiftly informed on evolving stories.