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Top Headlines Today
President Trump is considering the use of the Insurrection Act in Minnesota to quell protests in Minneapolis. The unrest follows an incident where federal immigration officers shot a Venezuelan immigrant in the leg in the city’s north side. Up to 3,000 federal officers are currently stationed or en route to the area, according to NPR’s Meg Anderson reports.
Protesters (R) are confronted by an ICE supporter during a demonstration outside the Bishop Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, Minn., on Jan.15, 2026. Hundreds more federal agents were heading to Minneapolis, the U.S. Homeland Security chief said on Jan. 11, brushing aside demands by the Midwestern city’s Democratic leaders to leave after an immigration officer fatally shot a woman protester.
Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images
- 🎧 ICE’s presence continues to face strong opposition as local residents follow officers while filming and making noise, which Meg Anderson describes as constitutionally protected peaceful acts. However, ICE has responded with tear gas, flash bangs, and pepper balls over the past five days, causing fear among residents, including an asylum seeker identified as A, who feels uncertain about her family’s future. Read more.
In Washington, D.C., Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with President Trump, presenting him with her Nobel Peace Prize. Machado is advocating to remain a key player in Venezuela’s future following the U.S. military’s capture of Nicolás Maduro. Despite Machado’s efforts, Trump is supporting Venezuela’s acting president.
- 🎧 Trump’s decision not to back Machado for president has surprised many, given her substantial support shown in polls by Bloomberg and The Economist. NPR’s Carrie Kahn reports that Machado’s meeting coincided with acting President Delcy Rodríguez’s State of the Nation speech, emphasizing the need for Venezuela to restore diplomatic ties with the U.S. Read more.
President Trump introduced a new health care plan called the “Great Healthcare Plan,” which aims to reform drug prices, health insurance, price transparency, and fraud protections. The White House has released a fact sheet detailing the framework.
- 🎧 NPR’s Selena Simmons-Duffin highlights that the plan’s policies are not new, but a collection of established Republican health ideas. The fact sheet omits any mention of repealing Obamacare, but suggests allowing federal dollars for plans lacking comprehensive coverage, potentially weakening Healthcare.gov. Read more.
Life Advice
Individuals fearing sleeplessness might suffer from “sleep anxiety,” which can disrupt sleep entirely if untreated. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is a proven solution, and practices from the therapy can be beneficial even outside a formal program. For those experiencing sleep stress, these tips might help:
- 💤 Maintain a consistent wake-up time to signal your body when it’s time to sleep.
- 💤 Establish a routine to transition from day to night activities to help wind down.
- 💤 Designate “worry time” during the day to address stressors, allowing for relaxation before bed.
For more insights on overcoming insomnia-related anxiety, listen to this episode of NPR’s Life Kit. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on love, money, relationships, and more.
Weekend Picks
Sandro Rosta as Caleb Mir and Zoë Steiner as Tarima Sadal in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
John Medland/Paramount+
Explore what NPR is watching, reading, and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Movies: Kristen Stewart’s directorial debut adapts Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir, The Chronology of Water, exploring themes of abuse and memory. Hear Stewart discuss it with Steve Inskeep.
📺 TV: Eric Deggans finds Star Trek: Starfleet Academy promising, though not yet on par with classic Trek series like those of Captain Kirk.
📚 Books: New releases from authors like George Saunders and Julian Barnes are among the promising titles of the year. Check out what’s new this month.
🎵 Music: Discover new albums from Dry Cleaning and Jenny On Holiday, as well as a musical playlist to set the weekend’s tone.
❓ Quiz: Test your knowledge with a quiz—can you score higher than 7 out of 10?
3 Things to Know Before You Go
Tom Sinclair today, smiling while he holds a large cauliflower.
Tom Sinclair
- At age 6, Tom Sinclair wandered from his family’s campsite on Lake Superior, only to be found by a stranger whose actions he credits for saving his life. Now 66, Sinclair treasures a newspaper clipping about his rescue. Read more.
- A new national database tracks how settlement funds are spent by governments, including the District of Columbia’s $80 million from opioid settlements. (via WAMU)
- Jodie Foster, fluent in French since childhood, stars in A Private Life, a film primarily in French, and hopes to participate in more French cinema. Read more.
This newsletter was edited by Yvonne Dennis.
