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- [00:01]
Podcast Host
On NPR's wildcard podcast, Heavyweight host Jonathan Goldstein talks about his early years as a writer.
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Jonathan Goldstein
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.
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Podcast Host
Listen to that wild card conversation on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.
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NPR News Anchor
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump says he's been told on good authority that executions in Iran have stopped, even as Tehran has signaled fast trials and executions ahead in its crackdown on protesters.
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President Donald Trump
We have been informed by very important sources on the other side, and they said the killing has stopped and the executions won't take place. There were supposed to be a lot of executions today and that the executions won't take place, and we're going to find out.
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NPR News Anchor
He provided few details to support the claim. It comes after he told protesting Iranians in recent days that, quote, help is on the way. But it's unclear what he meant by that. This the State Department says it will stop immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries who are deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the U.S. the countries include Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia. The suspension begins January 21st and will not apply to applicants seeking tourist or business visas. The department says it's bringing an end to the abuse of America's immigration system. There has been no court decision yet on Minnesota's request to stop President Trump's immigration crackdown. A federal judge gave the Trump administration until Monday to respond. Meanwhile, federal agents continue to pull people from cars and confront angry bystanders in the state's largest cities. NPR's Sergio Martinez Beltran has been witnessing.
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Sergio Martinez Beltran
Arrests in the city of Minneapolis. It's impossible to miss federal immigration agents. They are everywhere. The immigration enforcement operations include arresting people in the streets. NPR was able to witness multiple of those arrests today, including one at a bus stop. The arrests tend to happen pretty quick. Agents jump off their unmarked vehicles with their faces covered. They surround an individual for questions. If the person cannot prove they are in the US Legally, they are arrested. Minneapolis has been on edge since the shooting of Renee Goode last week by an ICE agent. On Tuesday, the Department of Homeland Security shared on social media an old interview where Stephen Miller, the White House's deputy chief of staff for policy, said immigration agents have federal immunity while performing their duty. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News, Minneapolis.
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NPR News Anchor
FBI agents searched a Washington Post reporter's home early today. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports. The search was part of a government investigation into a possible leak of classified information.
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Ryan Lucas
The FBI searched the home of Washington Post journalist Hannah Nson, who has been one of the newspaper's lead reporters on the Trump administration's efforts to reshape the federal workforce. In a post on social media, Attorney General Pam Bondi did not identify Nson by name, but said the FBI executed the search warrant at the home of a Washington Post reporter who was receiving classified information from a Pentagon contractor. The FBI search sparked immediate concern among First Amendment advocates. The president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Bruce Brown, called the search, quote, a tremendous escalation in the administration's intrusions into the independence of the press. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.
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NPR News Anchor
U.S. stock indexes dropped today. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Many Verizon customers are experiencing a major outage, disrupting calling and cellular services across the U.S. verizon hasn't specified the cause, but says engineering teams are working to resolve it. Impacted customers see the SOS or no signal messages. Cities like New York are warning that the outage may disrupt 911 calls, urging residents to use landlines or other carriers if possible. Israel says it is not allowing the Palestinian government and the west bank to install 4G phone service. NPR's Emily Fang reports. Much of the occupied territory has been using slower systems.
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Emily Feng
Israel's communications ministry told NPR in a statement it has not allocated frequencies for 4G networks to the Palestinian Authority, which governs much of the west bank, meaning that they will not be able to upgrade their phone service networks. The west bank has been trying to get 4G for years, but negotiations to get approval from Israel have foundered. Ever since the Hamas led attack on October 7, 2023 in Gaza, another Palestinian territory, most people only have access to an even older and slower standard, 2G. And when the winter weather turns windy and rainy, as it has been in Gaza this past week, people can lose signal entirely. Emily Feng, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
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NPR News Anchor
Luxury retailer Saks Global has filed for bankruptcy after obtaining about $1.75 billion in financing commitments. The company's top executive stepped down earlier this month as it struggled with debt it took on for its acquisition of neiman Marcus in 2024. It's facing increasing competition as customers have balked against price hikes. This is NPR News from Washington.