NPR News: 01-15-2026 9PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – January 15, 2026, 9PM EST

Host: Ryland Barton
Date: January 15, 2026
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers concise updates on major national and international stories. Key issues include President Trump's threat to invoke the Insurrection Act amidst immigration protests, changes in FBI leadership, offshore wind energy developments in New York, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi’s democratic vision for Iran, the effects of decreased US HIV aid in Uganda, and an honor for Muhammad Ali in his hometown.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Trump Threatens to Invoke the Insurrection Act

[00:16–01:19]

• President Trump has threatened to use the Insurrection Act to deploy federal troops if state officials don't quell what he calls "professional agitators and insurrectionists."

• The law is rarely used; last enacted during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, which led to tragic incidents including US Marines mistakenly opening fire on a home.

• Context: Recent protests erupted after an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Macklin Good in Minneapolis.

• Protest Dynamics: Community members are increasing demonstrations against surging immigration enforcement in the Twin Cities—blowing whistles, yelling, filming ICE officers.

• Law Enforcement Response: ICE is using tear gas, pepper balls, and flashbangs to disperse crowds.

  “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, [00:32]

2. New FBI Deputy Director Appointed

[01:19–02:10]

• Christopher Rea named as new Deputy Director, replacing Dan Bongino.

• Rea is a career FBI agent, unlike Bongino, who is returning to conservative podcasting.

• Rea started as a special agent in Texas, held national security positions, and was most recently Assistant Director of the New York Field Office.

• Rea joins Andrew Bailey, former Missouri Attorney General, as fellow co-deputy director.

  “He replaces Dan Bongino, who had a brief but tumultuous tenure at the bureau before leaving to return to hosting his conservative podcast. Unlike Bongino, Rea is a career FBI agent...”
  — Ryan Lucas, [01:34]

3. Offshore Wind Project in New York Moves Forward

[02:10–03:08]

• The Empire Project, New York City's first offshore wind energy source, is allowed to proceed after a court ruling—despite federal efforts to halt it over security concerns.

• The project is expected to deliver enough power for 500,000 homes by next year.

• Governor Kathy Hochul expresses frustration at legal roadblocks:

  “I’m sick and tired of having to go to court time and time and time again to stop these decisions. They’re designed to do nothing other than hurt workers, hurts our state, hurt our economy and hurt our energy future.”
  — Gov. Kathy Hochul, [02:46]

• A separate wind project, Sunrise, is still on hold pending litigation.

4. Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi Outlines Vision for Iran

[03:08–03:34]

• Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi shared a vision for a democratic Iran via social media.
• Key points: ending Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, addressing drug trafficking, and recognizing Israel.
• His speech was in English, leading experts to suggest it was aimed more at US leadership than at the Iranian public.

5. Reduction in Orphans from HIV/AIDS in Uganda Threatened by Aid Cuts

[03:34–04:33]

• Research finds US-funded HIV medication dramatically reduced orphanhood in southern Uganda—from 21% in the early 1990s to 6% in 2022.

• Concern: Cuts to US foreign aid by the Trump administration threaten continued progress.

• Dr. David Serata, McCary University researcher, emphasizes the scale of impact:

  “I’m about 70 years now in public health. I’ve never seen the program intervention that has had this huge impact.”
  — David Serata, [04:10]

6. Muhammad Ali Commemorative Stamp Unveiled

[04:33–04:56]

• Postal officials revealed a commemorative stamp honoring Muhammad Ali in Louisville, Kentucky. Sportscaster Bob Costas hosted; Ali’s widow Lonnie addressed the event.
• Highlights Ali’s legacy in poetry, sports, and philanthropy.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Meg Anderson on Insurrection Act Threat:
  “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.” [00:32]

• Gov. Kathy Hochul on Offshore Wind Legal Battles:
  “I’m sick and tired of having to go to court time and time and time again to stop these decisions. They're designed to do nothing other than hurt workers, hurts our state, hurt our economy and hurt our energy future.” [02:46]

• Dr. David Serata on HIV Aid Impact:
  “I’m about 70 years now in public health. I’ve never seen the program intervention that has had this huge impact.” [04:10]

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Important Timestamps

• Threat to invoke Insurrection Act: [00:16–01:19]
• FBI leadership change: [01:19–02:10]
• Empire Wind Project ruling: [02:10–03:08]
• Reza Pahlavi’s Iran proposal: [03:08–03:34]
• Uganda HIV aid results and concern: [03:49–04:33]
• Muhammad Ali stamp event: [04:33–04:56]

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Tone: The episode maintains NPR’s straightforward, factual, and tightly packed delivery, providing a succinct yet thorough overview of the day’s top stories.

Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump is threatening to invoke the rarely used insurrection act. As NPR's Meg Anderson reports, the centuries old law would give the president sweeping powers to deploy federal troops against civil.

[Meg Anderson]

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. 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 good last week in Minneapolis.

[Ryland Barton]

Molly.

[Meg Anderson]

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, 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.

[Ryland Barton]

The FBI has a new deputy director to replace Dan Bongino, who recently stepped down. Career special agent Christopher Rea will step in as the new number two official at the bureau.

[Ryan Lucas]

In a post on social media media, Christopher Reyes says he received a call from FBI Director Kash Patel to serve as co deputy director, and Reyes says he's honored and grateful for the opportunity. He replaces Dan Bongino, who had a brief but tumultuous tenure at the bureau before leaving to return to hosting his conservative podcast. Unlike Bongino, Rea is a career FBI agent who has worked his way up through the bureau's ranks. He began as a special agent in Texas, later holding senior national security jobs at headquarters. Most recently, he served as the assistant director of the New York Field Office. Rea will serve alongside fellow co deputy Director Andrew Bailey, a former attorney general for Missouri. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Ryland Barton]

The Trump administration's effort to stop offshore wind in New York is foiled for now. Rosemary Mizdairi of member station WNYC reports.

[Rosemary Mizdairi]

A court is allowing construction to continue on the Empire Project. Last month, the Fed stopped work for a second time, citing undisclosed security concerns. The project underwent more than a decade of reviews, including by the Department of Defense. The Empire Project is scheduled to deliver New York City's first offshore wind energy next year, enough power for 500,000 homes. Kathy Hochul is the state's governor.

[Kathy Hochul]

I'm sick and tired of having to go to court time and time and time again to stop these decisions. They're designed to do nothing other than hurt workers, hurts our states, hurt our economy and hurt our energy future.

[Rosemary Mizdairi]

The state's other wind project, Sunrise, has a pending case to resume work. For NPR News, I'm Rosemary Masderi.

[Ryland Barton]

In New York City, stocks steadied on Wall street today, breaking a two day losing streak. This is NPR News. Exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has outlined his vision for a democratic Iran on social media. His includes ending a pursuit of nuclear weapons, confronting drug trafficking and recognizing Israel. His proposals were expressed in English and not Farsi. Experts say they seem more aimed at impressing President Trump than resonating with Iranians. The rollout of HIV medication in Uganda through US Funded programs led to a massive reduction in the number of orphans, according to new research. But as NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports, the progress is threatened by aid cuts.

[Jonathan Lambert]

In the early 1990s, roughly 21% of kids in southern Uganda had lost at least one parent, largely because of AIDS. In 2004, life saving HIV drugs became increasingly available because of US funding. By 2022, just 6% of kids had lost a parent. David Serata is a researcher at McCary University. He co authored the study.

[David Serata]

I'm about 70 years now in public health. I've never seen the program intervention that has had this huge impact.

[Jonathan Lambert]

The Trump administration's cuts to foreign aid disrupted care for many. Serata worries that ongoing changes to foreign aid could mean that more kids start losing their parents to hiv. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

Postal officials unveiled a commemorative stamp of boxing legend Muhammad Ali in his hometown of Louisville today. Sportscaster Bob Costas hosted the event. Ali's widow Lonnie spoke about the stamp's significance. Muhammad Ali was for his brash poetry and philanthropy. I'm Ryland Barton. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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