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Highlights of the Day
President Trump is considering using the Insurrection Act in Minnesota to address protests in Minneapolis. This follows an incident where immigration officers shot an immigrant man in the leg, leading to unrest. Meg Anderson of NPR reports that around 3,000 federal immigration officers are being deployed in the Twin Cities.
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
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Octavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images
- 🎧 Strong opposition to the presence of ICE remains as community members trail immigration agents in their vehicles. NPR’s Anderson highlights that observers filming and making noise are peaceful forms of resistance that are constitutionally protected. Yet, ICE has reacted forcefully over the past five days with tear gas, flash bangs, and pepper balls to disperse crowds. Some community members, including an asylum seeker known only as A., are too afraid to leave their homes, feeling uncertain about their future.
Venezuelan opposition leader MarĂa Corina Machado visited Washington, D.C., to meet with Trump for the first time and presented him with her Nobel Peace Prize. She seeks to remain an influential figure in Venezuela following the U.S. operation that led to Nicolás Maduro’s capture. However, Trump has sidelined Machado, throwing support behind Venezuela’s acting president.
- 🎧 In a surprising move, Trump declared he did not support Machado for president due to her lack of support or respect in her country. According to recent polls from Bloomberg and The Economist, she possesses significant backing, with many believing her party won the disputed 2024 presidential election. NPR’s Carrie Kahn remarks that the timing of Machado’s meeting was notable as acting President Delcy RodrĂguez delivered a State of the Nation speech. Despite facing a powerful military, Venezuela must resume diplomatic relations with the U.S., she stated.
Trump recently unveiled a framework for new health care legislation, termed the “Great Healthcare Plan.” The White House released a fact sheet summarizing the plan which outlines four key areas: drug price reforms, health insurance reforms, cost transparency in health care, and fraud protections.
- 🎧 NPR’s Selena Simmons-Duffin notes that the plan’s policies are not innovative, mainly a collection of established Republican health policy ideas. The proposal omits any mention of repealing Obamacare but seems intent on allowing the use of federal dollars for plans lacking comprehensive coverage. The plan could diminish Healthcare.gov’s influence as its plans, though expensive, offer essential benefits and non-discriminatory coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Life Advice
Individuals fearing sleeplessness can suffer from “sleep anxiety,” which, if untreated, may hinder sleep. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is highly effective in addressing this anxiety. Even without formal CBT-I, those grappling with sleep stress or occasional sleepless nights can benefit from these CBT-I techniques:
- đź’¤ Wake up at the same time daily to help regulate your body’s sleep cycle.
- đź’¤ Designate a time to transition from daytime to nighttime activities to facilitate winding down for sleep.
- đź’¤ Schedule “worry time” during the day to address stressors, allowing for a more relaxed bedtime.
For more tips on managing insomnia anxiety, listen to this episode of NPR’s Life Kit. Subscribe to the Life Kit newsletter for expert advice on various topics.
Weekend Picks
Sandro Rosta as Caleb Mir and Zoë Steiner as Tarima Sadal in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.
John Medland/Paramount+
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John Medland/Paramount+
Discover what NPR is watching, reading, and listening to this weekend:
🍿 Movies: Kristen Stewart makes her feature-length directorial debut with The Chronology of Water, based on Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir. Hear Stewart’s conversation with Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep about the film.
đź“ş TV: NPR’s Eric Deggans views Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as promising but yet to measure up to Trek series legends like Captain Kirk or Mr. Spock.
đź“š Books: The new year features exciting releases from George Saunders, Julian Barnes, Jennette McCurdy, and more. Explore this month’s publishing highlights.
🎵 Music: From Dry Cleaning’s Secret Love to Jenny On Holiday’s Quicksand Heart, see the new music released today. Plus, enjoy a musical playlist to kickstart your weekend.
âť“ Quiz: I scored a seven out of 10. Think you can do better? Test yourself here!
3 Things Before You Go
Tom Sinclair today, smiling while he holds a large cauliflower.
Tom Sinclair
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Tom Sinclair
- As a child, Tom Sinclair got lost near Lake Superior but was found by a stranger who ignored search party advice. Now 66, Sinclair still cherishes the newspaper clipping of his rescue and credits the man with saving his life.
- A new national database helps track how state and local governments allocate settlement funds, including the District of Columbia’s share of over $80 million in opioid settlement money. (via WAMU)
- Jodie Foster, fluent in French since childhood, stars in A Private Life, her first major role in the language. She hopes to pursue more French films in the future.
This newsletter was edited by Yvonne Dennis.
