NPR News: 01-15-2026 4PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: January 15, 2026, 4PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Date: January 15, 2026
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This brief NPR News Now episode delivers the latest headlines from around the U.S. and abroad. Major themes include intensifying immigration protests in Minnesota, new U.S. sanctions on Iran, charges against a prominent actor, changes in school milk policy, and notable economic updates.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immigration Protests and Federal Response in Minnesota

Segment: [00:17]–[01:38]

• Escalating Tensions:
  • Protests erupted in north Minneapolis after an ICE agent shot and wounded a Venezuelan immigrant accused of resisting arrest.
  • Community unrest has been growing since an ICE officer fatally shot another immigrant, Renee Macklin Goode, the previous week.
• Federal Response:
  • President Trump threatened to invoke the rarely used Insurrection Act to deploy federal troops if Minnesota officials don’t control the protests.
  • "The president said he would institute the act if state officials don't, quote, stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the patriots of ICE." — Meg Anderson [00:50]
• Agencies' Conduct:
  • ICE has responded with more agents and aggressive crowd control tactics, including tear gas, pepper balls, and flashbangs.
  • The last invocation of the Insurrection Act was during the 1992 LA riots, which led to deadly misunderstandings.

2. New U.S. Sanctions on Iran

Segment: [01:38]–[02:25]

• Targeted Sanctions:
  • The Treasury Department announced new sanctions on 18 individuals and entities tied to Iran, specifically targeting mechanisms for sanction evasion.
  • Quoting Treasury Secretary Scott Besant: "Today's sanctions target 18 individuals and entities that the regime uses to evade sanctions on Iranian oil and divert proceeds from its energy sales away from...the Iranian people." — Danielle Kurtzleben [02:00]
• Broader Context:
  • The move comes amid a violent crackdown on Iranian protesters, whose movement began after the collapse of the national currency but has shifted into general opposition to Iran's authoritarian leadership.

3. Charges Against Actor Timothy Busfield

Segment: [02:25]–[02:53]

• Legal Proceedings:
  • Actor Timothy Busfield, known for roles in "The West Wing" and "Thirtysomething," is held in New Mexico on charges of criminal sexual contact and child abuse.
  • "The defendant is currently charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor child under 13 and one count of child abuse." — District Attorney Sam Bregman [02:40]
  • Busfield, who turned himself in, denies the allegations. A detention hearing is pending.

4. International Space Station Crew Returns Early

Segment: [02:53]–[03:49]

• Four astronauts returned from the ISS more than a month early due to a serious crew medical issue, as announced by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
• SpaceX managed the splashdown off California's coast.

5. Whole Milk Returns to U.S. Schools

Segment: [03:49]–[04:32]

• Policy Change:
  • President Trump signed a bill reversing Obama-era limitations, now allowing whole, 2%, 1% fat, skim, and lactose-free milk options in schools participating in the National School Lunch Program.
• Rationale & Reactions:
  • This reflects new U.S. dietary guidelines that accept higher-fat dairy products amid ongoing debates about the health impacts of saturated fat in milk.
  • “Concerns about whole milk have largely centered on its saturated fat content and higher amount of calories. However, some nutrition researchers have pushed back on the recommendation in recent years, saying it’s not clear from the evidence that the saturated fat in dairy is all that bad for you.” — Will Stone [04:14]
  • The dairy industry has welcomed the move.

6. Economic Update

Segment: [04:32]–[04:57]

• Labor Market:
  • Unemployment claims fell to 198,000 last week—9,000 less than the previous week.
• Stock Market:
  • The Dow closed up by 292 points at 49,442, a gain of more than half a percent.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The president said he would institute the [Insurrection] act if state officials don't, quote, stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the patriots of ICE.”
  — Meg Anderson [00:50]
• “Today’s sanctions target 18 individuals and entities that the regime uses to evade sanctions on Iranian oil and divert proceeds from its energy sales away from...the Iranian people.”
  — Danielle Kurtzleben, quoting Treasury Secretary Scott Besant [02:00]
• “The defendant is currently charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor child under 13 and one count of child abuse.”
  — Sam Bregman, Bernalillo County DA [02:40]
• “Concerns about whole milk have largely centered on its saturated fat content and higher amount of calories. However, some nutrition researchers ... say it’s not clear from the evidence that the saturated fat in dairy is all that bad for you.”
  — Will Stone [04:14]

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Segment Timestamps

• Minnesota ICE Protests & Insurrection Act Threat: 00:17–01:38
• Sanctions on Iran: 01:38–02:25
• Timothy Busfield Charged: 02:25–02:53
• ISS Astronauts Return & Milk in Schools: 02:53–04:32
• Economic Updates: 04:32–04:57

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This concise news roundup highlights rapidly developing stories on immigration and federal power, international policy, high-profile criminal cases, nutrition debates, space missions, and economic signals.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. GET OUT of OUR state More protests and clashes over immigration operations in Minnesota. NPR recorded this video in north Minneapolis last night in the area where an ICE agent shot and wounded a Venezuelan immigrant accused of resisting arrest. On social media, President Trump threatened to invoke the rarely used Insurrection Act. NPR's Meg Anderson reports. The centuries old law would give the president sweeping powers to control federal troops without state consent.

[Meg Anderson]

The president said he would institute the act if state officials don't, quote, stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from from attacking the patriots of ice. The law has been invoked before. The last time was during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. During that use, the US Marines opened fire on a home during a misunderstanding between troops and police. Since an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Macklin Goode last week in Minneapolis, more ICE agents have been deployed. Community members have increased their protests of the massive surge in immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities, blowing whistles, yellow yelling and filming ICE officers. ICE has responded with aggressive tactics, using tear gas, pepper balls and flashbangs to disperse crowds. Meg Anderson, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Treasury Department has announced new sanctions against more than a dozen Iranian people and entities, with the country witnessing violent crackdowns on protesters. We have more from NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

In a video announcement, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said previous sanctions have successfully pressured Iran by slowing the economy. However, he added, these new sanctions target sanction evasion.

Today's sanctions target 18 individuals and entities that the regime uses to evade sanctions on Iranian oil and divert proceeds from its energy sales away from the rightful owners, the Iranian people.

The protests started at the end of December in response to the collapse of the country's currency, but grew to be more broadly against the country's authoritarian leadership. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The White House actor Timothy Busfield, widely known for his roles in the west wing and 30 something, is being held without bond in New Mexico on charges he abused two boys. Today, the Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, outlined charges.

[Sam Bregman]

The defendant is currently charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor child under 13 and one count of child abuse.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This week, Busfield turned himself in and made his initial court appearance yesterday. A detention hearing will be held at a later date. The Emmy Award winning actor who is married to Little House on the Prairie star Melissa Gilbert, denies the allegations. U.S. stocks have ended the day higher, with the dow closing up 292 points. You're listening to NPR News. Four astronauts from the International Space Station are back on Earth more than a month earlier than they'd planned. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says a member of the crew had a serious medical condition. SpaceX guided the capsule to splashdown off California's coast early this morning. Schoolchildren in the United States will now have the option to drink whole milk. That's after President Trump signed a bill that overturns limits that had been in place since the Obama administration. NPR's Woolstone has details.

[Will Stone]

The move affects schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program, and it reflects the recent changes to the US Dietary Guidelines, which now promote higher fat dairy products. Kids will be able to drink all kinds of milk whole, 2% and 1% fat skim milk, as well as lactose free options. The United States Department of Agriculture said in a release that it will begin to implement the changes immediately. Concerns about whole milk have largely centered on its saturated fat content and higher amount of calories. However, some nutrition research researchers have pushed back on the recommendation in recent years, saying it's not clear from the evidence that the saturated fat in dairy is all that bad for you. Trade groups representing the dairy industry have praised the decision. Will Stone, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

In the latest U.S. economic data, fewer people filed unemployment claims last week. The Labor Department reports applications fell to 198,000. That's 9,000 below the previous week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the day up 292points, more than half a percent to end the day at 49,442. This is NPR News.

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