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Minnesota ICE, Iran Protests, DOJ Subpoenas Federal Reserve Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

Tension is mounting in Minneapolis as the Trump administration sends hundreds of additional federal agents into Minnesota and anger grows over last week's ICE shooting that killed 37 year old Renee Good.
Deadly protests in Iran intensify as President Trump warns the U.S. could strike the regime if the crackdown continues.
And the Justice Department subpoenas the Federal Reserve, prompting Chair Jerome Powell to accuse President Trump of trying to pressure the central bank over interest rates.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Daniel Burke, Kate Bartlett, Pallavi Gogoi, Mohamad ElBardicy, and HJ Mai.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Simon-Laslo Janssen. Our technical director is Carleigh Strange.
(0:00) Introduction
(03:10) Federal Agents Sent to Minnesota
(06:53) Iran Protests
(10:34) DOJ Subpoenas Federal Reserve
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Why More Liberals Are Buying Guns Jan 11, 2026

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Since President Trump’s second inauguration, more liberals, people of color and LGBTQ folks say they are buying guns and getting training. This is the latest in a trend that researchers, gun clubs and trainers say they’ve been watching for years. No longer do firearm buyers fit the old stereo-type of being white, rural and Republican. Today on The Sunday Story, NPR’s Frank Langfitt shares his reporting on the changing face of American gun ownership.
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Minneapolis Protests ICE Shooting; Protests in Iran; States Preparing for Midterms Jan 10, 2026

Show notes

Protests continue in Minneapolis after ICE agents kill a local woman, Renee Good, with more protests planned this weekend. Plus, Iranians have been taking to the streets in cities across the country, protesting against the government there. We'll look at what's behind the protests as well as the government's response. Also, the U.S. federal government might want to get involved with upcoming elections in several ways. We'll look at what this might mean for the midterm elections, and how states are preparing.
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Minneapolis Protests, Immigration Enforcement Shootings, Running Venezuela Jan 09, 2026

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Protesters in Minneapolis return to the streets as federal agents take over the investigation into the killing of a Minnesota woman by an ICE agent, while Portland officials condemn another immigration-related shooting.
A review of immigration related shootings under President Trump shows a rising pattern of violence as federal agents carry out increasingly aggressive and public operations in U.S. cities.
And President Trump signals the U.S. could run Venezuela “much longer” than expected, as oil executives head to the White House to discuss America’s expanded oversight of the country’s future.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Gigi Douban, Rebekah Metzler, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Milton Guevara and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Zo van Ginhoven. Our technical director is Stacey Abbott.

Our Executive Producer is Jay Shaylor.
(0:00) Introduction
(01:54) Minneapolis Protests
(05:29) Immigration Enforcement Shootings
(09:04) Running Venezuela
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Minnesota ICE Shooting, Venezuela Oil Tanker Pursuit, RFK Jr's New Dietary Guidelines Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

Minnesota state law enforcement officials are working with the FBI to investigate the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officer.
U.S. forces boarded a tanker carrying sanctioned oil after a two-week chase across the Atlantic, as the Trump administration expands plans to take control of Venezuela’s oil sales indefinitely.
And Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new dietary guidelines flip decades of advice, elevating meat and dairy and alarming many public health researchers.
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Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebekah Metzler, Kelsey Snell, Kate Bartlett, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from David Greenburg. Our technical director is Stacey Abbott.

And our deputy Executive Producer is Kelley Dickens.

(0:00) Introduction
(01:54) Minnesota ICE Shooting
(05:48) Venezuela Oil Tanker Pursuit
(09:35) RFK Jr's New Dietary Guidelines
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Next Steps In Venezuela, GOP 2026 Roadmap, Greenland and Europe Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

President Trump talks about next steps for Venezuela, calling for U.S. companies to help rebuild the economy even as much of the existing power structure remains in place.
Facing tough midterm elections in 2026, Trump tells House Republicans he’s struggling to understand voters and leans into culture-war issues rather than cost-of-living concerns.
And European leaders rally around Greenland, pushing back on Trump’s renewed claims that the United States needs the territory for national security.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Rebekah Metzler, Kelsey Snell, Kate Bartlett, Mohamad ElBardicy, and Alice Woelfle.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

Our Supervising Producer is Michael Lipkin.

(0:00) Introduction
(01:59) Next Steps In Venezuela
(05:47) GOP 2026 Roadmap
(09:32) Greenland and Europe
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Maduro Pleads Not Guilty, Congress On Venezuela, Vaccine Schedule Overhaul Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

Ousted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife plead not guilty in New York, after a U.S. military operation brought them out of Venezuela and into a federal courtroom.
Lawmakers are divided after a classified congressional briefing on Venezuela, with Republicans insisting the president acted within the law and Democrats asking what comes next.
And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scales back routine childhood vaccine recommendations at President Trump’s direction, some pediatricians warn it could leave more kids vulnerable.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Kelsey Snell, Gigi Douban, Jane Greenhalgh, Mohamad ElBardicy, and HJ Mai.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Stacy Abbott. And our technical director is Neisha Heinis.

Our Supervising Senior Producer is Vince Pearson.
(0:00) Introduction
(1:57) Maduro Pleads Not Guilty
(05:32) Congress on Venezuela
(09:18) Vaccine Schedule Overhaul
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U.S. In Venezuela, Future Of Venezuela, Maduro In NYC Court Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

President Trump says the United States will run Venezuela after U.S. forces seized Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas.
Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodriguez shifts from defiance to calls for cooperation as the White House ramps up pressure and threatens further action.
And Nicolás Maduro is set to appear in a New York courtroom, facing drug trafficking, weapons, and narco-terrorism charges that could test the reach of U.S. law overseas.
Want more analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.

Today’s episode of Up First was edited by Andrew Sussman, Tara Neill, Krishnadev Calamur, Mohamad ElBardicy, and HJ Mai.

It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas.

We get engineering support from Neisha Heinis. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

(0:00) Introduction
(01:54) U.S. In Venezuela
(05:49) Future Of Venezuela
(09:46) Maduro In NYC Court
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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is in New York City, faces narcoterrorism charges Jan 04, 2026

Show notes

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is in a federal prison in Brooklyn, New York, awaiting trial on charges of narcoterrorism, cocaine-importation conspiracy and weapons charges. The operation to capture Maduro happened in the middle of the night as U.S. troops enjoyed the element of surprise. The U.S. says Maduro is not the legitimate president of Venezuela and accuse him of being the leader of a violent drug cartel.
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The U.S. strikes Venezuela, captures President Maduro Jan 03, 2026

Show notes

The U.S. bombed the Venezuelan capital Caracas and other areas of the country, and captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. President Donald Trump said Maduro is being flown to the U.S. and Attorney General Pam Bondi says he will be indicted in the Southern District of New York. The events come after months of escalating U.S. pressure, sending troops and warships to the Carribean.
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