Summary4 min read

NPR News Now — January 18, 2026, 1PM EST

Host: Nora Ram
Duration: ~5 minutes
Purpose: To provide a concise roundup of major national and international news developments.

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This episode delivers the latest headlines with a strong focus on President Trump’s domestic and foreign policy moves, the resulting civil climate in Minneapolis, reactions from the EU and NATO allies regarding U.S. positions on Greenland, as well as updates on an election in Portugal and U.S. winter weather alerts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. Troops on Standby for Minnesota Deployment

[00:15] The Pentagon has 1,500 active-duty troops in Alaska ready to deploy to Minnesota.
Context: Tensions over protests in Minneapolis concerning immigration enforcement.
President Trump: Threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act to send troops.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey strongly opposes this move, stating Minneapolis residents “will not be intimidated.”
- Quote [00:42], Jacob Frey:
  “They’re looking for an excuse. They’re trying to intimidate Minneapolis residents. But I’ll tell you, I’ve seen tens of thousands of people remain composed to line up to get groceries to people that are scared to go outside...”

2. Justice Department Investigation in Minnesota

[01:02] DOJ opens probe into Mayor Frey and Governor Tim Walz, investigating if their statements interfered with law enforcement.
Frey’s Reaction: Deems it “deeply concerning” as his duty is to represent constituents.

3. President Trump’s Affordability Messaging vs. Actions

[01:32] Report by Danielle Kurtzleben explores Trump’s economic policy messaging:
- Some policies, like rolling back tariffs, enacted unilaterally.
- Others (e.g., healthcare subsidy proposals) need Congressional approval.
- Speaker Mike Johnson gives a “tepid response” to capping credit card interest at 10%.
- GOP’s affordability message overshadowed by aggressive immigration enforcement and foreign policy moves.
- Quote [01:39], Danielle Kurtzleben:
  “Trump has been putting more energy into the affordability message since Democrats won November elections by leaning into that topic. However, his administration’s attack on Venezuela, ICE troops in Minneapolis and threats to Greenland have often overshadowed that message.”

4. European Union Response to U.S. Over Greenland

[02:12] EU holds emergency meeting in Brussels over U.S. rhetoric towards Greenland and new tariffs on Europe.
[02:32] Thousands rally in Copenhagen supporting Greenland (Denmark’s autonomous territory).
Joint Statement Issued: France, Germany, U.K., Denmark and others denounce U.S. threats over Greenland, affirming support for Denmark’s sovereignty.
- Quote [02:47], EU/NATO Statement (via Eleanor Beardsley):
  “Trump’s third threats over Greenland risk accelerating a dangerous downward spiral in relations between transatlantic and NATO allies. We stand in full solidarity with the kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland. We are ready to engage in dialogue with the US but a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

5. Israel Objects to U.S. Picks for Gaza Board

[03:10] Israel’s government objects to U.S. appointees for a new executive board in Gaza intended to replace Hamas—specifically the foreign minister of Turkey and a senior official from Qatar, both of whom Israel considers supportive of Hamas.

6. Portugal Presidential Election Update

[03:10] Voters in Portugal are choosing their next president (11 candidates).
[03:50]
- Andre Ventura of the far-right Chega Party is leading, but unlikely to win outright, indicating a likely runoff—the first in 40 years.
- The presidency, while ceremonial, holds power to dissolve parliament and veto laws.
- Concerns over possible rollback of constitutional guarantees are supporting the Socialist candidate, Antonio Jose Seguro.
- Quote [03:58], Alison Roberts:
  “With Ventura and some members of the Right of Centre governing coalition in favour of rolling back constitutional guarantees, this campaign has rung alarm bells even for many centrists.”

7. U.S. Winter Weather Alerts

[04:30] Cold spell and blizzard warnings dominate much of the U.S. Midwest and Great Lakes.
- New York City received 2 inches of snow.
- Buffalo area warning of up to 2 feet of lake-effect snow.
- Snow reaches as far south as Florida’s Panhandle.

Notable Quotes / Memorable Moments

Jacob Frey (Minneapolis Mayor) [00:42]:
“They’re looking for an excuse. They’re trying to intimidate Minneapolis residents. But I’ll tell you, I’ve seen tens of thousands of people remain composed...”
Danielle Kurtzleben (NPR) [01:39]:
“Trump has been putting more energy into the affordability message since Democrats won November elections by leaning into that topic. However, his administration’s attack on Venezuela, ICE troops in Minneapolis and threats to Greenland have often overshadowed that message.”
EU/NATO Joint Statement via Eleanor Beardsley [02:47]:
“Trump’s third threats over Greenland risk accelerating a dangerous downward spiral in relations between transatlantic and NATO allies. We stand in full solidarity with the kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland…”
Alison Roberts (NPR, Lisbon) [03:58]:
“With Ventura and some members of the Right of Centre governing coalition in favour of rolling back constitutional guarantees, this campaign has rung alarm bells even for many centrists.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|-------------| | U.S. Troops Standby & Minneapolis Protests | 00:15–01:02 | | DOJ Investigation of MN Officials | 01:02–01:32 | | Trump’s Economic Policies & Messaging | 01:32–02:12 | | EU/NATO Response on Greenland, Copenhagen Rally | 02:12–03:10 | | Israel Objection to Gaza Board | 03:10–03:20 | | Portugal Election Update | 03:20–04:30 | | U.S. Blizzard & Winter Warnings | 04:30–04:55 |

Summary:
This five-minute news update captures the tense political, diplomatic, and climatic landscape of January 18, 2026. From domestic civil unrest and presidential maneuvering, to concerns among global allies and severe winter weather, the episode offers a snapshot of a world in flux, framed by direct testimony from officials and incisive, succinct reporting.

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Transcript11 lines

[00:01]
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ram. A U.S. official confirms to NPR as many as 1500 active duty troops in Alaska are on standby for possible deployment to Minnesota. President Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection act and send troops to the state to deal with protests in Minneapolis over immigration enforcement. Mayor Jacob Fry told ABC's this Week his city will not be intimidated.
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They're looking for an excuse. They're trying to intimidate Minneapolis residents. But I'll tell you, I've seen tens of thousands of people remain composed to line up to get groceries to people that are scared to go outside, to make sure that people have a walk to their car on their way back home from work.
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The Justice Department has opened an investigation into Frye and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on whether their public statements have interfered with law enforcement. Frey calls this deeply concerning that as mayor, he has the responsibility to speak on behalf of his constituents. As President Trump's approval rating hovers slightly above 40%, he's been working to communicate to voters his plans to make life more affordable. Implementation is another matter. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports.
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Some of Trump's ideas he has been able to enact himself, like pulling back tariffs he himself instituted on some foods and beverages. Some he would need Congress to pass, like the outline of a health care plan he pitched, which would give Affordable Care act subsidy money directly to consumers. Speaker Mike Johnson has given a tepid response to another new Trump idea to cap credit card interest rates at 10%. Trump has been putting more energy into the affordability message since Democrats won November elections by leaning into that topic. However, his administration's attack on Venezuela, ICE troops in Minneapolis and threats to Greenland have often overshadowed that message. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.
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Members of the European Union held an emergency meeting in Brussels today. They're increasingly alarmed over President Trump's heightened rhetoric about taking Greenland and and imposing new tariffs on European allies. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports.
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Thousands gathered in Copenhagen this weekend to show solidarity with Greenland, an autonomous territory of EU and NATO member Denmark. On Sunday, European and NATO members issued a joint statement. France, Germany, the U.K. denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden say Trump's third threats over Greenland risk accelerating a dangerous downward spiral in relations between transatlantic and NATO allies. We stand in full solidarity with the kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland. They said, we are ready to engage in dialogue with the US But a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.
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You're listening to NPR News. In Washington, Israel is objecting to two of the people President Trump has named to a new executive board to oversee the governing of Gaza to replace Hamas. They are the foreign minister of Turkey and a senior official from Qatar. Israel sees those two countries as supporting Hamas. Today in Portugal, voters are choosing a new president for the next five years. There are 11 candidates. As many as five are seen as having a chance to being one of two who could advance to a likely second round. Alison Roberts reports from Lisbon.
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Andre Ventura of the far right Chega Party has led the polls for most of the campaign, but he's not expected to get the 50% needed to avoid a run off that would be the first to take place in 40 years. Portugal's presidency is a largely ceremonial role, but wields key powers, including the ability to dissolve parliament and veto some legislation. With Ventura and some members of the Right of Centre governing coalition in favour of rolling back constitutional guarantees, this campaign has rung alarm bells even for many centrists. That's shored up support for the Socialist candidate, Antonio Jose Seguro, who now looks better placed to go through to a second round. For NPR News, I'm Alison Roberts in Lisbon.
[04:30]
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It's cold throughout much of the US this weekend. There are blizzard warnings in the Midwest and winter storm warnings around the Great Lakes. The New York metro area had about 2 inches of snow yesterday. The Buffalo area is bracing for lake effect snow with as much as 2ft of snow in some isolated areas. The snow reached as far south as the Florida Panhandle this morning. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.
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