NPR News: 01-16-2026 1PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now — 01-16-2026, 1PM EST

Overview

This episode delivers a concise update on major global and domestic news as of January 16, 2026. The broadcast focuses on US political actions regarding Greenland, healthcare policy shifts, unrest in Iran, continued international involvement in Ukraine, legal developments in a high-profile murder case, and the passing of a key leader in the Pacific Northwest fruit industry.

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Key News Stories & Insights

1. US-Greenland Tensions and Tariff Threats

• [00:14–00:33] President Trump considers imposing tariffs on countries that do not support US efforts to assert control over Greenland, citing national security concerns.
  • Quote:

    “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security... So I may do that.”
    —President Trump [00:27]

  • Bipartisan Congressional members met with Danish and Greenlandic officials, affirming Greenland as “an ally, not an asset.”
  • European countries have dispatched troops to Greenland amid rising tensions.

2. US Healthcare Policy and Medicaid

• [00:34–01:59] President Trump announced a new $50 billion rural health program amid criticism for cuts to Medicaid, but did not include any measures to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
• Obamacare and Marketplace Concerns:
  • New plans may convert current financial aid for Obamacare enrollees into more flexible cash assistance, usable for non-ACA-compliant insurance.
  • Expert Analysis:

    “What it seems like is this idea of turning the financial assistance that’s available for Obamacare enrollees into essentially cash that they might be able to use to buy health insurance that is not compliant with the Affordable Care Act.”
    —Cynthia Cox, KFF [01:27]

  • Experts warn this could raise ACA marketplace premiums and weaken the insurance market.

3. Iran Protests and US Response

• [02:00–02:27]
  • Iranian cleric Ayatollah Ahmed al Khatami, during a Friday sermon, called for death sentences for all detained protesters.
  • President Trump has warned that further deaths among protestors could prompt US military action.

4. UK-Ukraine Relations and Russia’s Attacks

• [02:27–03:08]
  • UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lamy visited Kyiv, announcing $27 million in aid to help repair Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
  • Ukrainian officials report relentless attacks by Russia on all the nation’s power stations, leaving hundreds of thousands without heat or electricity during extreme winter conditions.
  • Germany, France, and Italy urge renewed direct talks with Moscow, but the UK opposes negotiation at this stage.

5. Charlie Kirk Case Update

• [03:09–03:33]
  • Tyler Robinson, accused in the killing of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, is back in court as his attorneys seek to remove the current prosecutors over conflict-of-interest concerns.
  • Prosecutors plan to pursue the death penalty.

6. Remembering BJ Thirlby, "Cherry King"

• [03:51–04:36]
  • BJ Thirlby, leader of the Washington State Fruit Commission, passed at 60. He was instrumental in expanding the global market for US Pacific Northwest cherries, generating nearly a billion dollars annually.
  • Memorable Testimonial:

    “It made him an amazing psychological and emotional support for growers who deal with really volatile highs and lows in their work life.”
    —John Devaney, Washington State Tree Fruit Association President [04:15]

7. Market Update

• [04:36–04:53]
  • The Dow Jones is up 2 points to 49,444.
  • S&P up slightly; Nasdaq down slightly to 23,529.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• President Trump on Tariffs and Greenland:

  “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland because we need Greenland for national security security. So I may do that.” [00:27]

• Cynthia Cox on Obamacare Market Impact:

  “What it seems like is this idea of turning the financial assistance that’s available for Obamacare enrollees into essentially cash…” [01:27]

• John Devaney on BJ Thirlby’s Leadership:

  “It made him an amazing psychological and emotional support for growers who deal with really volatile highs and lows in their work life.” [04:15]

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Timestamps: Segment Highlights

• [00:14] — Start of news, Greenland tariffs discussion
• [01:13] — Rural health program & Obamacare policy insight
• [02:00] — Iran protest developments and international responses
• [02:27] — UK announced new aid to Ukraine, Russia’s attacks highlighted
• [03:09] — Charlie Kirk murder case courtroom update
• [03:51] — Remembrance of BJ Thirlby, “Cherry King”
• [04:36] — Wall Street market updates

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This five-minute newscast provides crisp, high-level coverage of pressing global affairs, US policy, notable deaths, and market changes, reflecting NPR’s signature straightforward news style.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Lie. From NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump is mentioning tariffs as he says he may punish countries that do not support US Control of Greenland, a semi autonomous territory of Denmark.

[C]

I may put a tariff on countries if they don't go along with Greenland because we need Greenland for national security security. So I may do that.

[B]

A bipartisan group of congressional members met with Danish and Greenlandic officials today to express that Greenland is an ally, not an asset. Meanwhile, with sovereignty on the line, several European countries have dispatched troops to Greenland. At the White House today, President Trump held a rural health care roundtable as he faces midterm election year criticism for his cuts to Medicaid. He announced a $50 billion rural health program. Healthcare priorities President Trump has outlined this week do not include include a repeal of the Affordable Care act. But as NPR's Selena Simmons Duffin tells us, one key idea could seriously weaken the health insurance marketplaces.

[D]

A fact sheet about Trump's health care plan says it would, quote, execute the president's vision to send money directly to the American people. Cynthia Cox of the nonpartisan health research organization KFF says the details are sparse.

[E]

What it seems like is this idea of turning the financial assistance that's available for Obamacare enrollees into essentially cash that they might be able to use to buy health insurance that is not compliant with the Affordable Care Act.

[D]

She says that could cause ACA marketplace premiums to skyrocket and weaken the markets. The White House hopes that lawmakers will turn these ideas into a bill, but did not set a specific timeline. So Selena. Simon Steffen, NPR News, Washington.

[B]

During Friday prayers in Iran, Ayatollah Ahmed al Khatami says all detained protesters should be put to death. His sermon was carried on state radio. President Trump has warned the deaths of anti government protests in the Islamic Republic could lead to US Military action. The United Kingdom's deputy prime minister has arrived in Ukraine. The visit was not previously announced and timed, but with the anniversary of what the UK calls a 100 year partnership with the country. Here's NPR's Lauren Frayer.

[F]

During Deputy Prime Minister David Lamy's visit to the capital Kiev, the UK government announced another $27 million in funds to repair Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The Ukrainian energy minister says Russia has attacked every single one of the country's power stations in a strategy Ukrainian officials call weaponizing winter. Russian attacks have left hundreds of thousands without heat or lights during one of the coldest Ukrainian winters, years with temperatures around zero Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, Germany, France and Italy have called for a resumption of direct talks with Moscow over Ukraine, but the UK Says it opposes that. Lauren Frayer, NPR News, London.

[B]

From Washington, this is NPR News. Charlie Kirk's accused killer is due back in court today. Attorneys for 22 year old Tyler Robinson are asking the judge to disqualify the case's prosecutors, citing conflict interest concerns. Prosecutors have said they plan to seek the death penalty. Kirk, a conservative influencer close to the Trump family, was gunned down during a college event in Utah last September. A key advocate of the northwest US Tree fruit industry has died. BJ Thirlby's work is recognized around the globe. Northwest Public Broadcasting's Anna King has this remembrance.

[G]

BJ Thirlby ran the Washington State Fruit Commission, where he earned the title this year as the Cherry King. He expanded marketing to nearly 30 different countries. John Devaney is the president of the Washington State Tree Fruit Association. He remembers Thirlby's booming laugh and positive outlook. Even when hail and rain destroyed cherries.

[H]

It made him an amazing psychological and emotional support for growers who deal with really volatile highs and lows in their work life.

[G]

Thanks to his work, cherries can earn Washington, Oregon and Idaho farmers nearly a billion dollars a season. Thirlby was 60. For NPR News, I'm Anna King.

[B]

At last check on Wall street, the dow is up slightly 2 points to 49,444. The S& P is also up a fraction, and the Nasdaq is down a fraction at $23,529. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.

[H]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.