NPR News Now – 01-13-2026, 5AM EST

Host: Dave Mattingly
Date: January 13, 2026

Episode Overview

This five-minute news update covers the latest significant national and international events, including US-Iran relations amid protests, lawsuits over immigration enforcement, major nurses’ strike in New York City, criticism of a Federal Reserve investigation, a new report on rising climate pollution in the US, and the conviction of a Navy sailor for espionage.

1. US-Iran Relations and Internet Blackouts

[00:17–01:16]

• Main Points:

  • President Trump is considering enlisting Elon Musk to restore Internet service in Iran, where the regime has shut down connectivity to curb mass protests.
  • Protests began in late December, driven by the collapse of Iran’s currency.
  • Human rights groups report hundreds killed and thousands arrested.
  • Despite the blackout, some Iranians reportedly access the Internet via Starlink satellites.

• Key Quotes:

  • “[Elon Musk] is founder and owner of the aerospace company SpaceX, which runs Starlink … providing high-speed satellite Internet in areas where traditional broadband doesn't exist.”
    —John Ruich ([00:41])
  • “Authorities have also shut down the Internet, although there are reports that some people are able to access it using Starlink.”
    —John Ruich ([01:09])

2. Legal Actions Over Immigration Enforcement

[01:16–02:09]

• Main Points:
  • Minnesota, Illinois, and the city of Chicago are suing the Trump administration over aggressive immigration enforcement.
  • Chicago claims federal agents question people about citizenship “without a reason to believe they’re in the US illegally”, citing arrests without warrants or probable cause.
  • This legal action comes after fatal and injurious shootings by immigration and border patrol agents in Minneapolis and Portland.

3. Nurses Strike in New York City

[02:09–02:52]

• Main Points:

  • Second day of a strike involving nearly 15,000 nurses across three hospital networks.
  • Nurses seek better security, wages, health benefits, and—crucially—staffing improvements.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “Understaffing is the biggest issue for me. Coming into a night with 250 people there and only two or three nurses in your area working with 14, 15 patients, you know, it's kind of impossible to see everybody and make sure everybody gets the same level of care.”
    —Brian Austin, ER nurse, New York Presbyterian ([02:19])
  • Hospital execs claim they have worked to improve staffing and call the strike “reckless.”
    —Caroline Lewis ([02:36])

4. Federal Reserve Criticism

[02:52–03:31]

• Main Points:
  • Prominent economic figures criticize the Justice Department’s investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and the cost of headquarters renovation.
  • Powell views the probe as political pressure to lower interest rates more quickly.

5. US Climate Pollution Increases

[03:31–04:15]

• Main Points:

  • The Rhodium Group estimates a 2.4% rise in US greenhouse gas emissions last year.
  • Main contributors: power plants burning more coal due to high natural gas prices; increased use of heat in buildings during a colder 2025; transportation emissions remained flat thanks to growth in EVs and hybrids.
  • Recent fossil fuel-friendly policies have not yet shown a major effect.

• Key Quotes:

  • “Generally colder winters across the country, that's leading to more use of natural gas and fuel oil for heating in the building sector.”
    —Ben King, Rhodium Group ([03:48])
  • “Climate pollution from transportation was flat even though people traveled more.”
    —Jeff Brady ([03:56])

6. Former US Navy Sailor Sentenced for Espionage

[04:15–end]

• Main Points:
  • Jin Chaowei, age 25, sentenced to over 16 years in prison for selling sensitive military information to China.
  • Information included technical and operational data; Chaowei received $12,000.
  • He served as an engineer on the USS Essex.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Elon Musk’s Starlink bridging Internet access in Iran ([00:41–01:09])
• ER nurse describing understaffing crisis ([02:19])
• Climate pollution trends and cold winters’ impact ([03:48])

Useful Timestamps

• 00:17 – U.S. offers to help restore Internet in Iran
• 01:16 – Legal challenges against immigration enforcement
• 02:09 – Details from the striking nurses on working conditions
• 03:31 – Insights on rising U.S. greenhouse gases
• 04:15 – Navy sailor sentenced for espionage

This concise newscast delivers a rapid, reliable cross-section of urgent global and national issues, presenting diverse expert commentary and frontline testimony in its coverage.