NPR News: 01-16-2026 9AM EST

Summary

---

NPR News Now – January 16, 2026, 9AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman
Duration: 5 minutes

---

Overview

This NPR News Now episode provides a rapid update on the top U.S. and global headlines as of the morning of January 16, 2026. Key topics include the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota, political developments in Venezuela, the impact of global instability on U.S. gas prices, a policy shift allowing whole milk in schools, and a measles outbreak in South Carolina.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Immigration Crackdown in Minnesota

[00:13–01:31]

• Deployment of Agents: Over 3,000 federal immigration officers are being sent to Minneapolis and St. Paul to crack down on immigrants (Korva Coleman).
• Escalating Tactics: Local residents report increasingly violent actions by federal agents.
• Firsthand Account: Destiny Jackson describes her family's harrowing experience with tear gas during a protest, which endangered her six-month-old child.
  • Quote:
    • Destiny Jackson [00:52]:

      "Having to keep my baby like mouth to mouth and people like pouring milk all over my other kids, I thought I was dying honestly."

• Legal Challenge: The ACLU is suing the Trump administration, alleging violations of basic human rights.

2. Venezuela – Political and Foreign Relations

[01:31–02:15]

• Opposition Engagement: Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado met President Trump and presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize medal.
• Defiant Speech: Acting President Delsey Rodriguez denounces the U.S. military’s recent actions against Venezuela and vows to defend her country’s sovereignty while navigating domestic and international pressures.
  • Quote:
    • Delsey Rodriguez (as reported by Kerry Kahn) [01:57]:

      "If she has to go to Washington, she will go on her own terms. I will do so standing tall, not being dragged, never crawling."

• Analysis: Rodriguez faces the challenge of balancing the demands of hardliners in her government with diplomatic engagement.

3. Gas Prices and Global Instability

[02:15–03:11]

• Current Prices: U.S. average gas price is around $2.85/gallon, expected to stay below $3 for the year.
• Volatility: Rapid fluctuations are driven by international tensions, especially in oil-producing countries like Iran.
  • Industry Perspective:
    • Matt McClain (petroleum expert) [02:45]:

      "Just last week when the president said help is on the way, that sent oil prices up 4% over the course of a 24 hour period. Now today, prices are back down 4%. So we're back where we started. But the key of the matter is we are always monitoring those things."

4. Energy Costs & Big Tech

[03:11–03:31]

• Proposal: Northeastern governors and the Trump administration are collaborating on an emergency power auction, aimed at shifting energy costs away from consumers.
• Tech Industry Impact: Large tech companies—particularly those operating AI data centers—are being encouraged to bid to help relieve public energy costs.

5. Whole Milk Returns to School Lunches

[03:31–04:31]

• Policy Change: President Trump signs a bill reversing Obama-era restrictions on whole milk in schools, reflecting new U.S. dietary guidelines endorsing higher-fat dairy.
  • Milk Options: Children now have access to whole, 2%, 1%, skim, and lactose-free milks.
  • Industry & Research Response: The dairy industry praises the decision, while some nutrition researchers question long-standing concerns about saturated fat from milk.
  • Quote:
    • Will Stone (NPR) [04:06]:

      "Kids will be able to drink all kinds of milk whole, 2% and 1% fat skim milk, as well as lactose free options."

6. South Carolina Measles Outbreak

[04:31–04:53]

• Health Alert: 124 new measles cases reported in South Carolina, bringing the season total to over 400. The northwest region is most affected.

---

Notable Quotes

• Destiny Jackson on the effect of tear gas:

  "Having to keep my baby like mouth to mouth and people like pouring milk all over my other kids, I thought I was dying honestly."
  (00:52)

• Delsey Rodriguez, acting Venezuelan president (reported by Kerry Kahn):

  "I will do so standing tall, not being dragged, never crawling."
  (01:57)

• Matt McClain, petroleum expert, on oil price volatility:

  "Just last week when the president said help is on the way, that sent oil prices up 4% over the course of a 24 hour period. Now today, prices are back down 4%. So we're back where we started."
  (02:45)

---

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Immigration Crackdown in Minnesota: 00:13–01:31
• Venezuela Political Update: 01:31–02:15
• Gas Prices & Global Tensions: 02:15–03:11
• Energy Costs & Big Tech: 03:11–03:31
• Whole Milk Returns to Schools: 03:31–04:31
• South Carolina Measles Outbreak: 04:31–04:53

---

Tone

The episode maintains NPR’s signature factual and composed delivery, balancing urgent news with measured analysis. Testimonies and official statements add immediacy and authenticity, especially in high-impact segments such as the Minnesota crackdown and the Venezuelan political response.

---

Transcript

[Carvana Announcer]

This message comes from Carvana, who makes car selling easy. Enter your license plate or vin, get a real offer in minutes and have your car picked up from your door. Sell your car the easy way with Carvana. Pickup fee may apply.

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. More than 3,000 federal immigration agents are in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, or they'll be there soon. President Trump is using them to crack down on immigrants and stop and detain people. Minnesota residents say the agent's tactics are increasingly violent. Destiny Jackson and her family were driving home from their son's basketball game in Minneapolis when they were caught in a protest. She says ICE agents fired tear gas nearby that set off her van's airbags. Jackson and six children were inside. She says the tear gas was so bad her six month old baby stopped breathing.

[Destiny Jackson]

Having to keep my baby like mouth to mouth and people like pouring milk all over my other kids, I thought I was dying honestly.

[Korva Coleman]

She says bystanders got them out. The ACLU is suing the Trump administration to stop the deployment of federal forces to Minnesota. The group alleges the Trump administration is ignoring basic human rights to force its tactics against Minnesota residents. Venezuela's opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado, met President Trump yesterday. She gave him her Nobel Peace prize medal. Separately, NPR's Kerry Kahn reports. Acting Venezuelan President Delsey Rodriguez has given a major speech.

[Kerry Kahn]

Rodriguez exhibited flashes of defiance in her short speech to lawmakers calling the US Military attack on Venezuela a stain on our relations. Rodriguez has the tough task now of not upsetting hardliners in her government while avoiding antagonizing President Trump. She told lawmakers Venezuela can't fear diplomacy, but also added, if she has to go to Washington, she will will go on her own terms. I will do so standing tall, not being dragged, never crawling, she said. Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro.

[Korva Coleman]

Gas prices are low right now in the U.S. but global instability could change that. As NPR's Windsor Johnston reports, Analysts are watching international flashpoints that can send oil prices surging over.

[Windsor Johnston]

Right now, drivers are paying around $2.85 on average for a gallon of regular. Analysts expect prices to stay below $3 through the rest of the year. But petroleum expert Matt McClain says those forecasts can shift fast when global tensions rise.

[Matt McClain]

Just last week when the president said help is on the way, that sent oil prices up 4% over the course of a 24 hour period. Now today, prices are back down 4%. So we're back where we started. But the key of the matter is we are always monitoring those things.

[Windsor Johnston]

McClain says conflicts involving oil producing countries like Iran are being watched especially closely. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

This is npr. A group of governors from northeastern states and the Trump administration are trying to shift the cost of energy away from consumers. They're asking the biggest electrical power grid operator to hold an emergency auction for power. They want big tech companies who use a lot of power for AI data centers to bid. The goal is to help cut energy prices for consumers. School children now have the option to drink whole milk. President Trump signed a bill this week that overturns limits installed during the Obama administration. NPR's Will Stone has more.

[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 high, 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 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.

[Korva Coleman]

Health officials in South Carolina say that there are 124 new cases of measles in that state. More than 400 cases have been reported this season. That's as of Tuesday. Most of the measles cases are concentrated in the northwest part of South Carolina. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, in Washington.

[NPR NewsNow Announcer]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR NewsNow +@ +npr.org. that's +npr.org.