NPR News: 01-18-2026 11AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: 01-18-2026 11AM EST

Host: Nora Raum
Release Date: January 18, 2026
Theme: The latest news developments in U.S. domestic affairs, global diplomacy, technology, and sports.

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Main Episode Overview

This five-minute newscast covers several pressing stories: the possible deployment of U.S. troops to Minnesota under the Insurrection Act, mounting international diplomatic maneuvers concerning Greenland, anxiety over appointments to Trump’s Gaza Executive Board, a tragic Indonesian plane crash, shifting American attitudes toward generative AI in entertainment, and a historic moment at the Australian Open.

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Key Stories & Insights

1. Potential Deployment of U.S. Troops to Minnesota

• [00:13]
  Troops from Alaska’s 11th Airborne Division are on standby to deploy to Minnesota after President Trump’s threats to invoke the Insurrection Act due to ongoing protests and clashes between federal agents and civilians.
• [00:37]
  NPR’s Luke Garrett explains up to 1,500 soldiers have “prepare to deploy” orders. The Insurrection Act, rarely used, authorizes domestic military deployment.
  • Quote:
    Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell: “The Department of War is always prepared to execute the orders of the commander in chief if called upon.” [00:57]
  • Minnesota context:
    • Protests erupted after a surge of ICE raids; ICE agents have shot two people this month (one fatal).
    • Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urges residents to remain peaceful and avoid escalation, not giving “Trump an excuse to deploy the troops.”
  • Reporter: Luke Garrett, NPR News

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2. Denmark and NATO Allies Respond to U.S. Threats Over Greenland

• [01:23]
  Denmark’s Foreign Minister Larslich Rasmussen is rallying NATO support in response to President Trump’s threats to “acquire Greenland” and impose tariffs.
• [01:42]
  Terry Schultz (NPR):
  • Rasmussen calls the issue “a question of world order,” not just a Denmark-U.S. dispute.
    • Quote:
      Larslich Rasmussen: “This is a question of world order and the future of Denmark and the seven NATO allies that participated in last week’s mission to Greenland.” [01:50]
  • The seven NATO allies assert that recent deployments to Greenland were for transatlantic interests, dismissing Trump’s claim of a “very dangerous game.”
  • The group underscored continued “dialogue with Washington.”
  • Statement from European Allies:
    • Full solidarity with Denmark and Greenland. [02:24]
  • Reporter: Terry Schultz, NPR News

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3. Israeli Concerns Over Trump’s Gaza Executive Board

• [02:24]
  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convenes cabinet discussions on U.S. appointments to the new “Gaza Executive Board” for the peace process.
• [02:47]
  The BBC’s John Donnison:
  • Trump will chair the board and names are forthcoming; Israel is troubled by some lower-level appointments, claiming they conflict with Israeli policy and that Israel was not consulted.
  • Paraphrased concerns:
    • “Israeli officials have already raised concerns about the makeup of some of the board’s lower levels… Israel was not consulted about their composition.” [02:55]
  • Reporter: John Donnison, BBC

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4. Indonesian Plane Crash in Sulawesi

• [03:09]
  One body recovered after a plane with at least ten people on board crashed into a mountainous region on Sulawesi Island.
• Rescue efforts are hampered by “rugged terrain, strong winds and heavy fog.” [03:16]

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5. Public Attitudes Toward Generative AI in Entertainment

• [03:29]
  Chloe Veltman (NPR):
  • Reports on a new Hub Entertainment Research survey: ~75% of 2,500 U.S. adults say they’re familiar with AI and have used AI tools (a significant jump from last year).
  • Growing excitement for AI in entertainment discovery (recommendation tools).
  • Concerns:
    • Resistance to using AI to “dramatically alter creative content” or replace human performers.
    • Disclosure:
      • Nearly three-quarters want companies to routinely disclose their use of AI-generated content.
      • Nearly one quarter say companies must disclose if AI played a major role.
    • Quote:
      Chloe Veltman: “The survey shows excitement around the use of AI for entertainment discovery… but consumers are not thrilled with the use of AI to dramatically alter creative content or to replace human performers.” [03:59]
  • Reporter: Chloe Veltman, NPR News

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6. Australian Open Update: Venus Williams’ Historic Participation

• [04:37]
  Tennis:
  • Oga Danilovic defeated Venus Williams in the first round.
  • Williams, at 45, becomes the oldest player ever in the Australian Open women’s singles draw and is competing for the 22nd time.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell:
  “The Department of War is always prepared to execute the orders of the commander in chief if called upon.” [00:57]
• Danish Foreign Minister Larsen Rasmussen:
  “This is a question of world order and the future of Denmark and the seven NATO allies…” [01:50]
• Chloe Veltman, on AI and entertainment:
  “Consumers are not thrilled with the use of AI to dramatically alter creative content or to replace human performers.” [03:59]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:13 — U.S. military on standby for Minnesota/Trump & Insurrection Act
• 01:23 — Denmark secures NATO support after U.S. threats over Greenland
• 02:24 — Israeli cabinet mulls U.S. picks for Gaza peace board
• 03:09 — Indonesian plane crash; search and recovery ongoing
• 03:51 — Survey findings on generative AI in entertainment
• 04:37 — Venus Williams sets record at the Australian Open

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This NPR News Now episode offers a concise yet rich snapshot of major international and domestic developments, blending political tension, diplomatic maneuvering, technology skepticism, tragedy, and sports history into a brisk overview of the day's events.

Transcript

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[Nora Ramm]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. Troops from the Army's 11th Airborne Division in Alaska are preparing to deploy to Minnesota after President Trump threatened to use the Insurrection act last week. A US Official confirmed to NPR the troops are now on standby. NPR's Luke Garrett reports.

[Luke Garrett]

Up to 1500 active duty soldiers in Alaska are preparing for a possible deployment to Minnesota. The prepared to deploy orders come after Trump said Thursday he'd implement the Insurrection act unless local officials stop protesters from, quote, attacking immigration agents. The rarely used law allows for domestic military use. In Minneapolis, protesters and federal officers have clashed after US Immigration, Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents surged into the city. ICE agents have shot two people in the city this month, leaving one dead. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement to npr, quote, the Department of War is always prepared to execute the orders of the commander in chief if called upon. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry has called on city residents to remain peaceful and not give Trump an excuse to deploy the troops. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Nora Ramm]

Denmark's top diplomat is visiting his country's closest allies in a continuing effort to assess the impact threats to take over Greenland and impose tariffs. Terry Schultz reports those NATO countries which took part in a short assessment mission to Greenland last week are defending their participation.

[Terry Schultz]

Danish Foreign Minister Larslich Erasmusen is in Norway and will visit the UK And Sweden later in the week as his government continues to build support in the face of President Trump's warnings that he still intends to acquire Greenland. This is not just an issue between Denmark and the U.S. rasmussen told journalists as he departed, adding, this is a question of world order and the future of the Denmark and the seven NATO allies that participated in last week's mission to Greenland released a statement explaining the exercise was in the transatlantic interest. Trump called the temporary deployment a very dangerous game. It poses no threat to anyone, they countered, underscoring they're still interested in dialogue with Washington. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz.

[Nora Ramm]

In that statement, the eight European countries stated they stand in full solidarity with the kingdom of Denmark and and the people of Greenland. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is meeting with his cabinet to discuss President Trump's appointments to the Gaza Executive Board in the peace process. Israel is concerned about some of the members. The BBC's John Donnison has More on the story.

[John Donnison]

Donald Trump believes Gaza's future lies in the hands of his Board of Peace, of which he will be the chair. The members of the board itself are expected to be announced this week, but Israeli officials have already raised concerns about the makeup of some of the board's lower levels, saying that it contradicts Israeli policy and that Israel was not consulted about their composition.

[Nora Ramm]

The BBC's John Donison reporting. You're listening to NPR News in Washington. Authorities in Indonesia said today searchers have found the wreckage believed to be that of a plane that disappeared from radar yesterday. One body has been recovered. There were at least 10 people on board. It went down in a mountainous region on Sulawesi Island. The rugged terrain, strong winds and heavy fog are hampering search efforts. A new study about public attitudes towards the use of generative AI in entertainment reveals growing comfort with the technology. But NPR's Chloe Veltman reports consumer acceptance depends heavily on how and how transparently it's used.

[Chloe Veltman]

Around three quarters of the 2,500 US adults who responded to Hub Entertainment Research's 202025 survey say they feel at least somewhat familiar with AI and have used AI tools. That's up from just over half of respondents a year ago. The survey shows excitement around the use of AI for entertainment discovery, such as conversational tools that help viewers decide what to watch next. But consumers are not thrilled with the use of AI to dramatically alter creative content or to replace human performers. Nearly three quarters of those surveyed want companies to routinely disclose their use of AI generated content, and nearly quarter say companies should disclose if AI played a major role in content creation. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

In tennis, Oga Danilovic beat Venus Williams in the first round of the Australian Open, but Williams made history as the oldest player ever in the Australian Open women's singles draw. Williams is 45 and is playing at the tournament for the 22nd time. I'm Nora Raum, NPR News, in Washington.

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