Today's Top Stories from NBC News

MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026

In today's newsletter: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell pushes back after the Justice Department threatens to criminally indict him. Trump considers what action to take in Iran as the protester death toll grows. And the Golden Globes kick off award season amid major changes for Hollywood.

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▼ The Lead

Federal Reserve hit with DOJ subpoenas in criminal probe over Chair Jerome Powell testimony

(Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said that the Justice Department subpoenaed the central bank last week with the threat of a criminal indictment, the latest move in a yearlong pressure campaign from the Trump administration.

Powell said the threatened indictment related to his testimony before the Senate in June about the renovation of Federal Reserve office buildings. The subpoenas were just the latest way for the administration to exert control over the Fed, he added.

"The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President," the chair said.

Since before the start of his second term, President Donald Trump has demanded lower interest rates and has routinely attacked Powell and the central bank's other top officials, especially amid the affordability crisis.

In an interview last night with NBC News, Trump denied having any knowledge of the DOJ's investigation.

"I don't know anything about it, but he's certainly not very good at the Fed, and he's not very good at building buildings," the president said of Powell.

Read the full story here.

More politics news:

Business leaders affiliated with AI companies and family members of people accused of federal crimes were among those who made big donations to MAGA Inc.

The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery replaced a photo of Trump and reportedly a caption that accompanied it — erasing mentions of his two impeachments and the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for the federal government to allow state agencies to help investigate the fatal ICE shooting, citing a "deep mistrust" of federal agencies in Minnesota.

Trump threatened GOP senators who voted for the war powers resolution, which would limit military action in Venezuela, in "angry" phone calls, sources said.

Trump has been weighing a range of options against Iran amid the country's increasingly aggressive crackdown on protesters that human rights groups say has killed more than 500 people.

According to three U.S. officials, the president has been presented with preliminary plans ranging from possible strikes to other options that would not entail military action. No final decision has been made, the officials said.

Trump said he's receiving hourly reports on violence against protesters and that a meeting with Iran's leadership was in the works after officials "called to negotiate" over the weekend.

"We may have to act because of what's happening before the meeting," Trump added.

Asked in an interview with NBC News last night if a U.S. response could happen in the coming days, the president said, "It could happen."

Read the full story here.

Warner Bros. Discovery wins big at 2026 Golden Globes

Awards season is back: The biggest stars gathered at the Beverly Hilton last night for the 83rd Annual Golden Globes, hosted by Nikki Glaser.

Netflix's "Adolescence" and Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" dominated the evening, racking up four awards each. Timothée Chalamet took home his first trophy for "Marty Supreme," while Amy Poehler won the first-ever podcast award. It was also a "Golden" night for the hit "KPop Demon Hunters," which snagged two Globes.

While politics weren't overtly present during the show, there was an undercurrent of major changes happening in the industry. The company that had the biggest night — Warner Bros. Discovery — is at the heart of a fight over the future of Hollywood.

Here's a look at all the key takeaways and top moments.

The NFL will officially crown a new Super Bowl winner this season

The defending champion Philadelphia Eagles were eliminated from the playoffs yesterday in a 23-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The Eagles' season-long offensive issue proved to be costly in the defeat — quarterback Jalen Hurts struggled to throw the ball downfield and the team finished with only 307 total yards.

While Philadelphia managed to win 11 games this season, there were concerns from the fan base over the direction of the offense under new coordinator Kevin Patullo. The team finished 19th in the NFL in points per game, 24th in yards per game and 22nd in yards per play.

Even Hurts had alluded to frustrations.

More on the NFL playoffs:

The Buffalo Bills knocked off the Jacksonville Jaguars thanks to Josh Allen leading a nine-play, 66-yard drive in the game's final minutes.

For the first time since 2018, the Patriots won a playoff game with their 16-3 victory over the Chargers.

▼ Read All About It

A suspect was arrested after a historic Mississippi synagogue was heavily damaged by fire in what authorities called an act of arson.

Two men were killed in an avalanche in central Washington while snowmobiling, according to the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office.

Figure skater Maxim Naumov made the U.S. Olympic team, a year after his parents were killed in a plane crash at Reagan National.

As cases of bacterial meningitis rise, doctors worry fewer teens will get vaccinated.

▼ Staff Pick

'Heated Rivalry' is steamy. The fan edits are steamier.

It's the gay hockey show that's taking the internet by storm, and has everyone losing their cool. And while the show was uber-popular to begin with, viral fan edits on TikTok have launched the HBO Max and Crave series into the pop culture zeitgeist.

We talked to some fan editors about the power of a great video, and how Hollywood studios are noticing. Lionsgate hired their own fleet of fan editors to connect with younger audiences and leverage the power of fandoms. Hoping your social media is filled with "Heated Rivalry" edits now. Happy scrolling!

— Natalie Bennett, Top Story with Tom Llamas producer

▼ NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

January is also about taking better care of yourself. We refreshed our guide to the best dry brushes and highlighted strong beauty deals from Ulta's Love Your Skin sale. Plus, New Balance sneaker and apparel discounts make it easier to ease back into everyday routines feeling comfortable and put together.