NPR News: 01-13-2026 3PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now — January 13, 2026, 3PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh (NPR News Anchor)
Duration: ~5 minutes

---

Episode Overview

This tightly packed NPR News segment covers the latest national news, including upheaval in Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s office, economic updates impacting Federal Reserve decisions, Congressional tensions over the Epstein inquiry subpoenas, a major nurses’ strike in New York City, controversial changes to pediatric flu shot recommendations, and the passing of an influential Hong Kong investor.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minnesota U.S. Attorney’s Office Resignations

[00:25–01:30]

• Multiple top prosecutors, including Joe Thompson (noted for social services fraud cases), have resigned from Minnesota's U.S. Attorney’s office.
• The Justice Department is under pressure to investigate the widow of Renee Macklin Goode, killed by an ICE agent.
• Disagreement between the DOJ and local law enforcement: The DOJ declined to include the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in the case, prompting objections from Thompson.
• Concerns among attorneys that immigration enforcement has diverted resources from fraud prosecutions.

2. Economic Update: Inflation & Interest Rates

[01:30–01:51]

• December’s Consumer Price Index shows prices up 2.7% year-on-year, matching November’s number.

• Ongoing debate within the Federal Reserve about whether to further cut interest rates (potential fourth cut in a row).

• President Trump, speaking in Detroit, alludes to previous resistance to lowering interest rates, suggesting it held back economic rallies.

  “If you announce great numbers, they raise interest rates to try and kill it. So you can never really have the kind of rally you should have.”
  — President Trump, [01:45]

• Former Fed Chairs are uniting to defend current Chair Jerome Powell after threats of a federal investigation, with Trump's clash with Powell a focal point.

3. Congressional Subpoenas for Bill & Hillary Clinton in Epstein Inquiry

[01:51–03:07]

• The House Oversight Committee (led by Rep. James Comer, R-KY) plans to hold Bill Clinton—and potentially Hillary Clinton—in contempt for not responding to subpoenas related to the Epstein case.

  “Again, no one's accusing the Clintons of any wrongdoing. We just have questions. And I find it odd not only they didn't show up, but that the Democrats on the committee who are so concerned about getting to the bottom of the Epstein investigation, didn't even bother to.”
  — House Republican (Reporter paraphrasing), [02:36]

• The Clintons’ response: They call the subpoenas “legally invalid and designed to embarrass political rivals,” asserting the need to defend principles.

  “Every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles and its people.”
  — Letter from the Clintons, [02:49]

4. Stock Market Update

[03:07–03:26]

• Major indices sharply lower; Dow Jones down over 400 points, S&P down 26 points.

5. New York City Nurses' Strike

[03:27–03:53]

• Thousands of NYC nurses strike for a second day, seeking higher pay and more job protections at three major hospital systems.
• The strike coincides with peak flu season, heightening tensions and health concerns.

6. New Federal Guidance on Pediatric Flu Shots

[03:53–04:41]

• The Trump administration now recommends parents consult doctors individually about flu shots rather than routinely vaccinating all children.

• Medical experts warn this could lead to lower vaccination rates amid a severe flu season (at least 288 children died last season; 9 so far this season).

  “Many doctors worry that the new recommendation will result in fewer kids getting a flu shot, more kids catching the flu, ending up in a hospital or even dying… The decision is especially alarming right now when the nation is in the midst of one of the worst flu seasons in years.”
  — Rob Stein, NPR Health Correspondent, [04:09]

7. Death of David Webb, Hong Kong Activist Investor

[04:41–05:04]

• David Webb, figurehead for investor rights and transparency in Hong Kong, has died at 65 after a battle with cancer.
• Founded “website.com” (with two B's) to provide investment data and analysis.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on the Fed’s impact on economic rallies:
  “If you announce great numbers, they raise interest rates to try and kill it. So you can never really have the kind of rally you should have.” ([01:45])

• House Oversight Committee on the Clintons’ noncompliance:
  “We just have questions. And I find it odd...that the Democrats on the committee who are so concerned about getting to the bottom of the Epstein investigation, didn't even bother to.” ([02:36])

• The Clintons’ rebuke of the subpoenas:
  “Every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles and its people.” ([02:49])

• Rob Stein on pediatric flu vaccination changes:
  “Many doctors worry that the new recommendation will result in fewer kids getting a flu shot, more kids catching the flu, ending up in a hospital or even dying.” ([04:09])

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Minnesota U.S. Attorney resignations and DOJ pressure: [00:25–01:30]
• Inflation data, Fed rate cut debate, Trump speech: [01:30–01:51]
• Trump/Fed Chair Powell tensions: [01:51–02:29]
• House subpoenas for Clintons in Epstein case: [02:29–03:07]
• Stock market update: [03:07–03:26]
• NYC nurses’ strike: [03:27–03:53]
• New pediatric flu shot recommendations: [03:53–04:41]
• David Webb’s death: [04:41–05:04]

---

Tone and Style

• Matter-of-fact, journalistic delivery—focused on rapid dissemination of major headlines with succinct context.
• Occasional direct quotes highlight emotional or political stakes.
• Analysis is brisk, with the priority on accountability, transparency, and public impact.

---

For more in-depth coverage, visit npr.org or download the NPR app.

Transcript

[Narrator]

On NPR's wildcard podcast, Heavyweight host Jonathan Goldstein talks about his early years as a writer.

[NPR News Anchor]

I was writing and no one was buying what I was selling. I just couldn't get anywhere and I just kept doing it because I felt compelled to do it, like a spider spinning a web.

[Narrator]

Listen to that wild card conversation on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[NPR News Anchor]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Several top prosecutors in the Minnesota U.S. attorney Office have resigned. They include Joe Thompson, who is best known for prosecuting social services fraud in Minnesota. The Minnesota U.S. attorney's office has been under pressure from the Justice Department to investigate the widow of Renee Macklin Goode, a 37 year old mother of three fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent last week. NPR member station Minnesota Public Radio reports that when the DOJ declined to include the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in its investigation, Thompson objected, according to a person familiar with the decision. A number of attorneys reportedly also voiced concern that immigration enforcement diverted resources away from prosecuting fraud cases in the state, inflation's holding firm. According to the Labor Department's report on the Consumer Price Index in December, consumer prices were up 2.7% from the previous year, same as November's year over year increase. That'll weigh on Fed policymakers when they meet later this month to decide whether to cut the key interest rate for a fourth straight time. In an economic speech in Detroit today, President Trump alluded to prior resistance to lowering interest rates today.

[Reporter]

If you announce great numbers, they raise interest rates to try and kill it. So you can never really have the kind of rally you should have.

[NPR News Anchor]

Trump's clash with Fed Chair Jerome Powell over the central bank's previous resistance to lowering interest rates remains at the forefront this week. Former Fed chairs who served during Republican and Democratic administrations united to defend Powell against threats of of a federal criminal investigation. The Republican led House Oversight Committee has announced plans to hold former President Bill Clinton and potentially former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress. The committee subpoenaed the Clintons for testimony related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. NPR's Sam Greenglass reports.

[Narrator]

House Oversight Chair Kentucky Republican Congressman James Comer announced his plans after President Bill Clinton did not show up for a deposition.

[Reporter]

Again, no one's accusing the Clintons of any wrongdoing. We just have questions. And I find it odd not only they didn't show up, but that the Democrats on the committee who are so concerned about getting to the bottom of the Epstein investigation, didn't even bother to.

[Narrator]

Show in a letter to the committee. The Clintons called the subpoenas legally invalid and designed to embarrass political rivals, writing that, quote, every person has to decide when they have seen or had enough and are ready to fight for this country, its principles and its people. Sam Greenglass, NPR News, Washington.

[NPR News Anchor]

U.S. stocks trading sharply lower this hour. With the Dow Jones industrial average now down more than 400 points, or more than three quarters of a percent. It's at 49,181. The S&P has lost 26 points. You're listening to NPR News. This is the last patient.

[Narrator]

Cars.

[NPR News Anchor]

Cars honk. People wave in support, as heard via the Associated Press, as thousands of New York City nurses spend a second day on the picket lines for higher pay and more job protections. The nurses are targeting three major hospital systems. The strike stretched into a second day during peak flu season, Many doctors are condemning the federal government's decision to stop recommending that children routinely get a flu shot in the middle of a bad flu season. NPR's Rob Stein has that story.

[Health Correspondent]

Instead of recommending that all kids get a flu shot every year, the Trump administration now says parents should talk to a healthcare professional to see if that's necessary. Many doctors worry that the new recommendation will result in fewer kids getting a flu shot, more kids catching the flu, ending up in a hospital or even dying. They say the decision is especially alarming right now when the nation is in the midst of one of the worst flu seasons in years. At least 288 children died from the flu last season. Most were unvaccinated, and at least nine children have died from the flu so far this season. Rob Stein, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

David Webb, who was one of Hong Kong's most prominent activist investors, has died. According to his online platform, he died at the age of 65 years after he was diagnosed with cancer. He launched his platform, website.com, web with two BS nearly 30 years ago, providing data for investors as well as journalists. This is NPR News.

[Narrator]

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