NPR News Now: January 10, 2026, 1AM EST

Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode delivers updates on major national and international stories, including investigations into ICE shootings, the spread of AI-generated misinformation, a significant measles outbreak in South Carolina, a tour by the U.S. Education Secretary promoting civics, a rare shark attack in the Virgin Islands, and notable college football results.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Minnesota and Portland ICE Shooting Investigations

• [00:16–01:06]
  • Local prosecutors in Minnesota are launching independent investigations into the fatal shooting of Renee Goode by ICE agents.
  • Public asked to contribute evidence.
  • Unusual federal response: The Trump administration is publicly weighing in before the investigation concludes.
    • Martin Casti:

      "What's not normal here is the way the federal officials have been publicly passing judgment on a case that's still being investigated."
      [00:39]

    • Vice President posted a bodycam-like video of Goode prior to the shooting, using it as evidence to justify the officer’s actions, though interpretations differ.
    • Simultaneous ICE-involved shootings in Portland spark protests.

2. Proliferation of AI-Generated Fake News

• [01:06–02:10]
  • AI-generated content is circulating widely after major news events.
    • Example: After the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, fake videos of celebrations (which never happened) went viral.
    • Following the Minneapolis shooting, fake images of the agent involved spread on social media. Users of X asked Grok, an AI chatbot, to generate speculative images.
      • Jeff Brumfield:

        “Grok produced an AI image that was purely speculative. Nevertheless, it spread like wildfire.”
        [01:36]

    • Expert insight:
      • Darren Linville, Clemson University:

        "When news breaks, people want more content. And so I think the people that create this kind of AI slop are going to create more of it to fuel that beast."
        [01:52]

      • As demand for immediate news continues, AI fakes are likely to persist.

3. Measles Outbreak in South Carolina

• [02:10–03:06]
  • South Carolina surpasses 300 cases, the highest of any state with an active outbreak.
  • Outbreak still centered in a county bordering North Carolina but now reaching Greenville.
  • Scale of exposure is hard to determine.
    • Dr. Linda Bell, State Epidemiologist:

      "There are likely hundreds of people exposed to measles who have no idea they should be in quarantine, and... tracking down exposure sources has become more difficult."
      [02:46]

4. Education Secretary's Tour Promoting Civics

• [03:06–04:11]
  • U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visits Elmira, NY (home of Mark Twain) on a national tour marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
  • The "History Rocks Trail to Independence" tour aims to boost teaching of history and civics.
    • Linda McMahon:

      "Not only kids but a lot of adults don't know the three branches of government. They can't answer the questions that are part of a citizenship test."
      [03:49]

  • Partnership includes notable groups like Turning Point USA.

5. Other Notable News Briefs

• [04:11–04:55]
  • Rare Shark Attack in Virgin Islands:
    • 56-year-old Arlene Lillis of Minnesota killed near St. Croix, the second such incident in 10 years.
  • College Football—Indiana Hoosiers Headed to Playoff Finals:
    • Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza throws five touchdowns as Indiana overwhelms Oregon 56-22.
    • Indiana set to face Miami in the finals on January 19th after Miami beat Mississippi.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Martin Casti on federal overreach in the ICE case:

  "What's not normal here is the way the federal officials have been publicly passing judgment on a case that's still being investigated." [00:39]

• Jeff Brumfield on AI-generated misinformation:

  “Grok produced an AI image that was purely speculative. Nevertheless, it spread like wildfire.” [01:36]

• Darren Linville on the nature of AI news fakes:

  "When news breaks, people want more content... the people that create this kind of AI slop are going to create more of it to fuel that beast." [01:52]

• Dr. Linda Bell on the measles outbreak:

  "...hundreds of people exposed to measles who have no idea they should be in quarantine..." [02:46]

• Linda McMahon on civics knowledge gaps:

  "...A lot of adults don't know the three branches of government. They can't answer the questions that are part of a citizenship test." [03:49]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:16] – Minnesota ICE shooting and federal reaction
• [01:06] – AI-generated fake news after high-profile events
• [02:10] – Measles outbreak in South Carolina
• [03:06] – Education Secretary's civics tour
• [04:11] – Shark attack in Virgin Islands; college football update

This episode provides a concise yet thorough roundup of the latest developments in justice, public health, media literacy, education, and sports—emphasizing trends in official accountability, the challenges of digital misinformation, and persistent civic gaps in the U.S. audience.