NPR News Now: 01-14-2026 12AM EST

Host: Giles Snyder, NPR News Anchor
Aired: January 14, 2026

Episode Overview

This five-minute news update from NPR covers key national and international stories from January 14, 2026. Topics include President Trump's stance on Iran, the U.S. push to control Greenland, fallout from an ICE-involved shooting in Minnesota, New York’s proposed restrictions on immigration enforcement, the death of civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin, the American Federation of Teachers’ split from X (formerly Twitter), and a Grammy Awards update.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.-Iran Tensions & Detroit Visit

• (00:13) President Trump addressed reporters before flying to Detroit, expressing little concern over Iranian threats of retaliation if the U.S. intervenes in ongoing protests in Iran.
  • He referenced prior actions against Iran:

    "Iran said that the last time I blew him up with the nuclear capability, which they don't have any longer. So Iran said that the last time they better behave." — President Trump (00:30)

• Trump encouraged Iranian protesters during his Detroit Economic Club speech, promising unspecified "help is on its way."
• Protest Update: Human Rights Activist News Agency estimates over 2,500 deaths and 17,000 detentions amid the unrest.

2. Greenland Geopolitics

• (01:22) NPR’s Franco Ordonez reported on the U.S. administration's renewed push to control Greenland, now framed as a national security concern due to Russian and Chinese activity.
  • Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio scheduled to meet with Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers.
  • Greenland’s prime minister affirmed the territory’s desire to remain with Denmark, signaling a brewing geopolitical crisis.

    "Greenland's prime minister says the island territory wants to remain with Denmark and will face a geopolitical crisis if it has to choose between the US And Denmark." — Franco Ordonez (01:51)

  • The Danish prime minister warned that "the future of NATO is at stake" in the dispute.

3. Minnesota Prosecutor Resignations & ICE Shooting Aftermath

• (02:05) At least five Minnesota prosecutors, including the state’s top federal fraud attorney, have resigned following the Trump administration's handling of the ICE-involved shooting of 37-year-old Renee Macklin.
• New York’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, in her State of the State address, proposed stricter limits on federal immigration agents’ activities within the state.

  • (02:39) Hochul intends to bar ICE agents from entering sensitive locations (schools, hospitals, houses of worship) without a valid warrant.

    • Notable statement read by anchor:

      "New York will not allow the use of state resources to assist in federal immigration raids on people who have not committed serious crimes." — NPR News Anchor quoting Kathy Hochul (02:52)

  • Hochul also backs a proposal enabling individuals to sue ICE agents in state court for injuries or property damage.

  • Republicans criticized these moves, arguing cooperation between police and ICE is essential for law enforcement.

4. Civil Rights Pioneer Claudette Colvin Dies

• (03:14) Claudette Colvin, who was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white woman in Montgomery, Alabama, months before Rosa Parks, has died at 86.
• (03:36) Debbie Elliott revisited Colvin’s legacy, playing a powerful archival clip:

  • "All I do remember is that I wasn't going to walk off the bus voluntarily." — Claudette Colvin (03:54)

• Colvin became a key plaintiff in the landmark case to desegregate public transportation.

5. Teachers Union Breaks With X Over AI Concerns

• (04:20) The American Federation of Teachers announced they will discontinue use of Elon Musk’s platform X (formerly Twitter), citing explicit and non-consensual images generated by the AI chatbot Grok.
  • AFT President Randi Weingarten explained the decision:

    "The recent proliferation of explicit and non consensual images has made the site unusable." — Randi Weingarten (via Reuters, 04:24)

6. Trevor Noah Returns as Grammy Host

• (04:42) Comedian Trevor Noah will host the Grammy Awards for the sixth year in a row, with the ceremony set for February 1 in Los Angeles.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on Iran:
  "Iran said that the last time I blew him up with the nuclear capability, which they don't have any longer." (00:30)
• Greenland’s Stand on Sovereignty:
  "Greenland's prime minister says the island territory wants to remain with Denmark and will face a geopolitical crisis if it has to choose between the US And Denmark." (01:51)
• Governor Hochul’s Pledge:
  "New York will not allow the use of state resources to assist in federal immigration raids on people who have not committed serious crimes." (02:52)
• Claudette Colvin’s Defiance (Archival 2009 Clip):
  "All I do remember is that I wasn't going to walk off the bus voluntarily." (03:54)
• AFT on Leaving X:
  "The recent proliferation of explicit and non consensual images has made the site unusable." (04:24)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:13 – President Trump’s response to Iran, Detroit Economic Club speech
• 01:22 – U.S. push for Greenland, international reactions
• 02:05 – ICE agent shooting fallout, Minnesota prosecutor resignations
• 02:39 – New York’s proposed immigration law changes
• 03:14 – Death of Claudette Colvin, civil rights remembrance
• 04:20 – AFT pulls out of X over AI issues
• 04:42 – Trevor Noah to host Grammys again

This concise episode delivers major national and international headlines with insightful quotes and context, providing listeners a rapid but comprehensive sweep of today’s most urgent news.