NPR News Now - January 16, 2026, 2AM EST

Host: Giles Snyder

Episode Overview

This concise, five-minute news update covers the latest national and international events, including President Trump’s threat to invoke the Insurrection Act amid Minneapolis protests, new U.S. sanctions on Iran, a wide-reaching college basketball game-fixing scandal, the sentencing of South Korea’s ex-president, a landmark U.S.-Taiwan trade deal, rising college enrollment trends, and improvements in U.S. jobless claim numbers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minneapolis Protests & the Insurrection Act

• President Trump’s Threat

  • In the wake of intensified protests following ICE enforcement actions and an officer-involved shooting, President Trump is considering invoking the Insurrection Act, which would allow him to deploy federal troops without state consent.

• Historical Context

  • The Insurrection Act is rarely used; last invoked in 1992 during the LA riots.

• Escalating Tensions in Minneapolis

  • Community protests have increased after an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Macklin.
  • ICE response: aggressive crowd control tactics (tear gas, pepper balls, flashbangs).

• Quote:

  "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 (00:34)

• Memorable Detail:

  • “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.”
    — Meg Anderson (00:41-00:51)

2. U.S. Sanctions on Iran

• New Measures
  • The Treasury imposed sanctions on 18 Iranian individuals/entities to disrupt sanction evasion and hinder the regime’s handling of oil revenues.
• Context
  • The move follows violent crackdowns on Iranian protests that began over currency collapse but evolved into broader anti-government demonstrations.
• Quote:

  “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.”
  — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant, via Danielle Kurtzleben (02:08)

3. College Basketball Game-Fixing Indictments

• Scheme Unveiled
  • Fixers initially targeted professional games in China, then recruited over 39 college players across 17 Division I men’s teams in the U.S.
• Modus Operandi
  • Players bribed to underperform so that favored teams would not cover the point spread, enabling well-placed bets for the fixers.
• Quote:

  “The defendants would identify a game in which a corrupted player had a team that was favored to lose, and then they would bribe said player to deliberately underperform so that his team would lose by more than they were favored to. They would bet for them to not cover the point spread.”
  — U.S. Attorney Dave Metcalf (02:48)

4. South Korea’s Former President Sentenced

• Sentencing
  • Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol sentenced to five years for charges related to attempting to impose martial law in late 2024.
• Further Charges
  • Also faces trial for masterminding insurrection, which could carry a death sentence.

5. U.S.-Taiwan Trade Deal

• Major Investment & Tariff Changes
  • New pact involves $250 billion in Taiwanese tech and semiconductor investments in the U.S. in exchange for tariff relief.
• Broader Context
  • Follows agreements with the EU and Japan, illustrating current U.S. administration’s aggressive trade strategy.

6. U.S. College Enrollment Trends

• New High in Enrollment
  • Over 19 million Americans enrolled in college—a ten-year high—driven by gains in community college and short-term workforce training program enrollment.
• Changing Patterns
  • Declines in private four-year/master’s programs and in international graduate student numbers.
• Quote:

  “The growth at community colleges was driven by big gains in short term workforce training programs, while private four year college and master's programs saw declines. There was also a big drop in enrollment for international students in graduate programs.”
  — Alyssa Nadworny (04:17)

7. U.S. Jobless Claims Drop

• Labor Market Improvement
  • New unemployment benefit applications dropped by 9,000 in the week ending January 10, suggesting a strengthening labor market.

Segment Timestamps

| Segment Topic | Start Time | |-------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Minneapolis Protests & Insurrection Act | 00:16 | | U.S. Sanctions on Iran | 01:57 | | College Basketball Game-Fixing Scandal | 02:34 | | Ex-South Korean President Sentenced | 03:21 | | U.S.-Taiwan Trade Deal | 03:42 | | U.S. College Enrollment Trends | 04:08 | | Weekly Jobless Claims | 04:44 |

Notable Quotes

• “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 (00:34)
• “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.”
  — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant, via Danielle Kurtzleben (02:08)
• “The defendants would identify a game in which a corrupted player had a team that was favored to lose, and then they would bribe said player to deliberately underperform...”
  — U.S. Attorney Dave Metcalf (02:48)
• “The growth at community colleges was driven by big gains in short term workforce training programs, while private four year college and master's programs saw declines. There was also a big drop in enrollment for international students in graduate programs.”
  — Alyssa Nadworny (04:17)

This episode delivers a rapid yet comprehensive snapshot of breaking U.S. and global news for listeners on the go.