
Plus, your Friday news quiz.
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Dan Barry
Dan I'm Dan Barry and I'm a longtime reporter with the New York Times. I've been here for 30 years and I've seen a lot of things change. I was here before there was a website. But one thing hasn't changed at all, and that's the mission of the New York Times, to follow the facts wherever they lead. And if that means publishing something a government or a leader or a celebrity doesn't want aired, that's not our concern. If you believe in the importance of fact driven reporting, you can support it by becoming a New York Times subscriber.
Traci Mumford
From the New York Times, it's the headlines. I'm Traci Mumford. Today's Friday, January 9th. Here's what we're covering.
New York Times Reporter
Earlier this afternoon, two people were shot and injured by federal agents in the.
Traci Mumford
Hazelwood neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. Yesterday, Border Patrol agents fired on a man and a woman during a traffic stop just a day after an ICE officer fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis. A Homeland Security spokeswoman said the agent in Portland fired after the driver tried to run them over. The department made the same claim in Minneapolis, though video analysis by the Times appeared to contradict that. In Portland, the spokeswoman said Border Patrol was targeting an undocumented immigrant who was a member of the Trende Aragua gang.
New York Times Reporter
There was a time when we could take them at their word. That time is long past.
Traci Mumford
Portland's mayor called it a sign that federal immigration efforts are out of control and demanded that ICE halt all operations in the city until a full investigation takes place.
New York Times Reporter
Portland is not a training ground for militarized agents. We stand with Minneapolis. We stand with Chicago. We stand with la.
Traci Mumford
The Portland police chief said his officers only learned about the shooting when the injured man called 911. He had driven off and paramedics reached the victims more than two miles from where the traffic stop happened. On emergency radio broadcasts, an EMT said that the woman in the car had a chest wound. The police chief said when his officers did get to the scene, the federal agents involved in the shooting were no longer there. Meanwhile, the Times has learned that several weeks ago, officials at at ICE headquarters sent out a stark warning to its agents across the country. In an email, they were told about an increase in protests and threats against officers. And the email said that they should be, quote, prepared to take appropriate and decisive action should you be faced with an imminent threat. It was signed by the head of enforcement and removal operations, who wrote, I have full faith and confidence that each of you possess the training and knowledge to, to exercise the appropriate response. Do you see any checks on your power on the world stage? Is there anything that could stop you if you wanted to?
Donald Trump
Yeah, there's one thing. My own morality, my own mind. It's the only thing that can stop. And that's very good.
Traci Mumford
In an interview with the Times this week, President Trump laid out the most blunt articulation yet of his worldview, saying that he is the only check on his power as commander in chief when it comes to foreign affairs. He said, quote, I don't need international law.
Donald Trump
We have to keep parts of the world safe that we feel responsible for. NATO is not feared by Russia or China at all, not even a little bit. We're tremendously feared because of the fact that I built the military. If I didn't rebuild, the military would be just like them.
Traci Mumford
Trump asserted that he has complete freedom to use military, economic or political power to secure American dominance around the world, brushing aside things like treaties. On topic after topic, while sitting down with Times reporters, Trump made clear that in his mind, previous presidents had been too cautious to use American force to its full potential. And he also made clear that he intentionally uses his reputation for unpredictability, as well as his willingness to quickly resort to military action as a way of coercing other countries.
Political Analyst
Meanwhile, make no mistake, bombing another nation's capital and removing their president is an act of war, plain and simple. No provision in the Constitution provides such power to the presidency.
Traci Mumford
The Senate delivered a rare bipartisan rebuke of Trump yesterday, with 52 lawmakers voting to advance a measure that would curb the president's use of force in Venezuela. Trump launched the US's recent actions there with no consultation or authorization by Congress. And Senator Rand Paul suggested that part of what convinced a handful of Republicans to join with Democrats in the vote was Trump saying this week that the US could be involved in Venezuela for years. The stage is now set for another vote next week that would force Trump to get congressional approval for continued operations in Venezuela, though the resolution will almost certainly fail in the House. In a post on social media, Trump lashed out at the five Republicans who voted to assert congressional authority over his war powers, calling it stupidity and urging voters to push them out of office. In Iran, nationwide protests against the country's authoritarian government escalated last night. Crowds gathered in Tehran and other major cities, setting cars and government buildings on fire. For weeks, unrest has been building in the country as people have taken to the streets in anger over a range of issues. The biggest one, Iran's failing economy. Last month, alone, inflation was over 40%. The government has tried to quell the protests with a range of measures. They recently announced a plan to give most citizens a monthly payment of about $7, roughly enough to buy two pizzas in Tehran. And yesterday, the country's Internet was shut down after Iran's security services said they would take tough measures against demonstrators. Reached by phone, more than a dozen witnesses told the Times the protests still continued, with large crowds forming in cities around the country. They said the crowds were diverse. Men, women, young, old. Some chanted death to the dictator and Iranians. Raise your voice. Shout out for your rights. Human rights groups say that in recent days, death. Dozens of people have been killed in clashes with government forces. And finally, you can bet on anything. Super bowl winners, crypto prices, even Taylor Swift's engagement. The betting site Polymarket has become an Internet and financial phenomenon. Elections, inflation, celebrity breakouts, aliens. If people care about it, there is a market. Roughly $20 billion went through the platform last year, with people gambling on things you didn't even know it was possible to bet on. Now, the site has sparked a truly bizarre situation that has the Internet debating what does it mean to really invade a country? On polymarket, a bunch of people had bet that the US Would invade Venezuela. So when US Forces swept in and seized the country's leader, Nicholas Maduro, they thought they were about to collect their winnings. But polymarket has added a note to the page for that particular bet saying the US Mission was a snatch and extract job and that technically doesn't count as an invasion. Users didn't love that. With one posting, everyone is calling it an invasion. The company declined to comment when the Times reached out and the government agency which regulates polymarket, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, didn't respond. At present, people are still pouring money into other bets on the site, like if the US Will acquire Greenland. Those are the headlines. If you'd like to play the Friday News quiz, it is just after these credits. This show is made by Will Jarvis, Jan Stewart and me, Tracy Mumford. Original theme by Dan Powell. Special thanks to Isabella Anderson, Larissa Anderson, Zoe Murphy and Paula Schuman. Now time for the quiz. We've got a few questions for you about stories the Times has been covering. Buckle up. Does the US Intend to buy Greenland?
Dan Barry
Well, that's always been the President's intent from the very beginning.
Donald Trump
We need Greenland.
Traci Mumford
This week, the Trump administration doubled down on its plans to acquire Greenland. Obviously, Greenland should be part of the United States, even over the objections of Greenland and some of America's closest allies. So here is a quick speed round for you, testing your knowledge of the island Trump says should be part of the U.S. we've got four questions ready. First, Greenland is a semi autonomous territory of what country? The answer, Denmark. Its capital city is Nuuk. Okay. Number three, Greenland's entire population is roughly the same size as which of these US cities? San Francisco, Portland, Maine or Omaha, Nebraska. The answer, there are only about 58,000 people in Greenland. That is just a little bit less than Portland, Maine. And last question. It is a toughie because there is so little vegetation on the island. Historically, Greenlanders got a lot of their vitamin C from what the answer, whale skin, which apparently is a very rich source of the vitamin. Next up, speaking of getting your vitamins, this week health officials rolled out new dietary guidelines, including a revamped food pyramid. And Dr. Mehmet Oz, who serves in the administration, talked up some of the other updated health advice, saying it was in keeping with places that are famous for long lifespans.
Dr. Mehmet Oz
If you look at the blue zones, for example, around the world, where people live the longest was sometimes part of their diet. So there is on these dietary guidelines, but the implication is don't have it for breakfast.
Traci Mumford
What food or beverage was he talking about?
Dr. Mehmet Oz
In the best case scenario, I don't think you should drink alcohol, but it does allow people an excuse to bond and socialize. And there's probably nothing healthier than having a good time with friends in a safe way.
Traci Mumford
The new federal guidance on drinking says people should limit their alcohol consumption, though it no longer lists specific amounts. And last question for you. The sparkling acrobatics of Chicago goalie Glenn hall prevent the Red Wings from scoring this week. The NHL goalie who fundamentally changed the game of hockey died at the age of 94. Hall is virtually indestructible. Before Glenn hall came along, goalie spent almost the entire game standing up. But hall started dropping to his knees so he could spread his lower legs out on the ice and basically block the entire net. If you watch a hockey game today, almost every goalie uses that technique. Your question, what is it called? Don't worry, there are hints. There are hints. I will give you a few phrases that use the word think, the blank effect, a blank knife or float like a blank. The answer? It's called the butterfly style, which brought hall way closer to the ice. And and fun fact. I guess it's fun. He was doing this before goalies wearing masks was standard and he had the scars to prove it. Over the course of Hall's career. He estimated he got over 300 stitches from flying pucks after one shot on goal left him with a big gash and knocked out a tooth. He said he remembered a dentist telling him how lucky he was. He said he replied through swollen lips, I don't feel wucky. That is it for the news quiz. I'm going to go count my teeth. Our email is the headlinesytimes.com we will be back on Monday.
Episode Title: Border Patrol Agents Shoot 2 in Oregon, and Trump Says, ‘I Don’t Need International Law’
Host: Traci Mumford
Produced by: The New York Times
This episode of The Headlines delivers a tightly packed update on major US and global news stories, focusing primarily on a controversial Border Patrol shooting in Portland, Oregon, and President Trump’s striking comments about international law and presidential power. The episode also includes coverage of Congressional pushback against military action in Venezuela, escalating protests in Iran, and a look at the growing phenomenon of political betting markets. The tone is urgent, factual, and, at times, incredulous, reflecting the gravity and volatility of the news cycle.
Whether you’re catching up on the stateside debate over immigration enforcement, global geopolitics under President Trump, or the newest trend in betting on world events, this episode synthesizes everything you need for a well-rounded understanding of the day’s most significant headlines. The inclusion of on-the-scene details, direct quotes from interviews, and explanations of policy and political maneuvers makes it both informative and compelling.