Up First (NPR) — January 6, 2026

Episode: Maduro Pleads Not Guilty, Congress On Venezuela, Vaccine Schedule Overhaul
Hosts: Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep
Key Topics: Maduro’s trial and U.S. intervention in Venezuela, Congressional response, Overhaul of children’s vaccine recommendations

Overview

This episode of NPR's Up First dives into three major ongoing stories:

1. Nicolas Maduro's Not Guilty Plea – Former Venezuelan President Maduro appears in a New York court, claiming he was “kidnapped” by the U.S. and facing drug trafficking charges.
2. Congressional Reaction to Venezuela Operation – Lawmakers spar over classified briefings about the operation and the president’s decision to bypass Congress.
3. Children’s Vaccine Schedule Overhaul – U.S. health officials announce a dramatic cutback in routine childhood vaccine recommendations, igniting concern and confusion.

1. Maduro's Court Appearance and Defense

[02:03–05:37]

Key Points

• First Public Appearance: Nicolas Maduro and his wife plead not guilty in a federal court in New York after their capture by U.S. Special Forces in Venezuela last week.
• Courtroom Atmosphere: An unusually charged atmosphere with Maduro making direct eye contact with reporters, wishing them a happy New Year.
• Wife Injured: Maduro’s wife entered with visible injuries from their capture (“swollen eye and her forehead was bandaged”), requesting medical attention.
• Heckling Incident: A heckler interrupted proceedings, yelling at Maduro, “he would pay for what he's done to Venezuelans,” to which Maduro replied, “he's a man of God and... a prisoner of war kidnapped by the American military” ([03:20]).
• Protest Outside: Protests divided between anti-U.S. intervention groups and Venezuelans celebrating Maduro’s detention.

Notable Quotes / Moments

• Jasmine Garner (NPR):

  “Before he sat down, he made eye contact with reporters and wished us a happy New Year in English. I don't think anyone saw that coming.” ([02:31])

• Maduro (in court):

  "I'm a man of God... a prisoner of war kidnapped by the American military." ([03:22])

• Protester (Izzy McCabe):

  “This is a ploy to capture oil and foreign resources of a country… make us poor, steal our resources.” ([03:57])

• Protester (Maria Sul, Venezuela):

  “You think Russia and China are in Venezuela for fun? How many years have they been stealing Venezuelan oil and gold?... How many years has Cuba been living off of us?" ([04:28])

Legal Strategy & Next Steps

• Maduro’s attorney, Barry Pollack (noted for defending Julian Assange), intends to challenge the legality of Maduro’s capture (“head of a sovereign state”).
• The next court hearing is scheduled for March 17.
• Both Madruos are being held in New York City.

2. Congressional Briefing: Executive Power and Oversight

[05:38–09:15]

Key Points

• Lack of Congressional Notification: President Trump classified the operation as a "law enforcement operation" and did not notify Congress in advance, angering some lawmakers.
• Divided Response:
  • Republicans: Called the briefing "thorough" and supported the administration’s actions.
  • Democrats: Expressed concerns, feeling the White House’s plans for post-arrest Venezuela were "vague and unsatisfying."
• Concerns About Precedent: Senator Chuck Schumer highlights fears of similar actions in other countries and the pitfalls of “regime change and so-called nation building.”

Notable Quotes

• Chuck Schumer (Senate Minority Leader):

  “I did not receive any assurances that we would not try to do the same thing in other countries. When the United States engages in this kind of regime change and so-called nation building, it always ends up hurting the United States. I left the briefing feeling that it would again.” ([06:43])

• Gregory Meeks (Ranking Dem., Foreign Affairs):

  “It seems at every turn, Donald Trump is trying to figure out how he avoids Congress, and unfortunately, Congress allows him to do it.” ([07:58])

• Mike Johnson (House Speaker):

  “The president used his authority under the law… I’m just going to insist to you that those [Article 1 powers] have not been traversed in any way by what happened here.” ([08:27])

Upcoming Developments

• GOP lawmakers scheduled to meet with the president, expected to publicly rally behind the administration.
• An all-member Congressional briefing on Venezuela to follow.

3. Dramatic Changes to Childhood Vaccine Recommendations

[09:24–12:58]

Key Points

• What Changed: Routine vaccine recommendations for U.S. children reduced from 17 diseases to 11.
  • Vaccines still recommended for all: Measles, polio, chickenpox, HPV.
  • Vaccines now only for high-risk or after physician consult: Rotavirus, meningitis, hepatitis A and B, flu.
• Why the Change:
  • No new scientific data.
  • Initiated by President Trump’s directive to “align the US Vaccine schedule with those in peer developed countries” (e.g., Germany, Japan, Australia), especially referencing Denmark’s minimalist schedule.
• Lack of Transparency:
  • No public comment.
  • Vaccine makers and CDC advisory committee not involved.
• Expert Criticism: Medical experts warn that rolling back recommendations, especially during a “pretty severe flu year,” is “tone deaf.”

Notable Quotes

• Dr. Sean O’Leary (American Academy of Pediatrics):

  “The flu vaccine this year actually is working very well to protect children. So to back off on a flu recommendation in the midst of a pretty severe flu year seems to me to be pretty tone deaf.” ([10:27])

• Dr. Jesse Goodman (Former FDA official, on using Denmark’s schedule as a model):

  “Most well-off Western countries are recommending these vaccines for their citizens. And it really is Denmark that's an outlier.” ([11:50])

• Ping Huang (NPR):

  “Some clinicians may be thinking there's more paperwork involved. And a lot of doctors’ offices historically don't stock vaccines that require these extra consultations.” ([12:44])

Implications for Parents

• Vaccines remain free and technically available, but may require advocacy and navigating potentially more complicated process.
• Possible reduced access as some offices may not stock lower-demand vaccines.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Maduro's Not Guilty Plea & Courtroom Drama: [02:03–05:37]
• Congressional Briefing & Executive Power Debate: [05:38–09:15]
• Child Vaccine Schedule Overhaul: [09:24–12:58]

Memorable Moments

• Maduro’s unexpected New Year greeting to reporters ([02:31]).
• Fiery protest quotes reflecting deep divides about U.S. policy towards Venezuela ([03:57], [04:28]).
• Chuck Schumer’s direct concern about setting a precedent for similar foreign operations ([06:43]).

Tone and Style

The hosts and reporters conveyed urgency and attention to the gravity of each segment, alternately serious (on legal, political, and health matters) and humanizing (describing courtroom and protest scenes, parental confusion around vaccines).

This summary provides a comprehensive guide to the episode’s news content, highlighting pivotal moments, direct quotations, and timestamped reference points for deeper listening or further research.