NPR News Now: 01-18-2026 6AM EST

Date: January 18, 2026
Host: Windsor Johnston
Duration: 5 minutes
Focus: Concise global and domestic headlines, including international tensions, local protests, refugee policy, space exploration, and a cultural tribute.

Episode Overview

This fast-paced NPR News Now update covers the most pressing news stories as of 6AM EST, offering listeners a snapshot of overnight developments. Major themes include fresh U.S.-EU tensions over Greenland, escalating protests in Minneapolis after a fatal police shooting, the closure of a major Afghan refugee camp, NASA’s progress toward returning to the moon, and a public memorial for Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir.

Key News Segments & Insights

1. U.S.-EU Tension Over Greenland Tariff Threats

[00:16 – 01:18]

• Background: President Trump has threatened a 10% tariff on EU countries, particularly Denmark, in retaliation for resistance to his efforts regarding Greenland.
• EU Response:
  • EU Council President Antonio Costa (paraphrased by Terry Schultz) was clear:

    “The European Union will always be very firm in defending international law wherever it may be... starting within the territory of the EU member states.” ([00:54])

  • EU is preparing a coordinated response highlighting that trade policy is handled collectively, not by individual states.
• Key Insight: The EU is presenting a united front and focusing on legal frameworks as it pushes back against U.S. pressure.

2. Minneapolis Unrest and National Guard Mobilization

[01:18 – 02:00]

• Trigger Event: Death of Renee Goode, age 37, fatally shot by an ICE agent claiming self-defense ([02:00]).
• Governor Action: Minnesota Governor Tim Walls has mobilized the National Guard, but they remain “staged and ready to respond,” not yet deployed on city streets ([01:37]).
• Guard Communication:
  • Spokesperson Major Andrea Suchia clarified the distinction, emphasizing transparency:

    Troops would wear “bright yellow reflective vests over their uniforms to help distinguish them from other agencies.” ([01:47])

• Key Insight: The state is carefully managing its response to avoid escalation while supporting law enforcement presence during protests.

3. Afghan Refugee Camp in Qatar to Close

[02:00 – 03:13]

• Camp As Saliyah Closure: The U.S. will close the Qatar camp by March 31, affecting hundreds, including those who aided American forces and families of U.S. citizens.
• State Department: Confirmed those related to U.S. citizens can apply for visas after resettlement in a third country, but no destination is secured ([02:43]).
• No Forced Returns: The U.S. government says there is “no plan to return them to Afghanistan” ([02:53]).
• Policy Shift:
  • Quill Lawrence notes:

    “Support for Afghan former allies was once bipartisan, but the Trump administration has all but shut it down and stopped processing visas for Afghans.” ([03:05])

• Key Insight: The fate of Afghan refugees relies on resettlement options, with overall U.S. support diminishing under the current administration.

4. NASA’s Artemis II Moon Mission Advances

[03:13 – 04:26]

• Milestone: NASA’s Artemis II rocket rolled out for the first time, prepping for a mission to send astronauts further than ever before — around the far side of the moon ([03:30]).
• Mission Commander Reed Wiseman expressed excitement:

  “Just flipping the moon over and seeing it from the other perspective.” ([04:01])

• Timeline: Artemis II set to launch within the next month; Artemis III aims to land humans on the moon by 2028.
• Vision for the Future: NASA administrator Jared Isaacman looks ahead:

  “I hope someday my kids are going to be watching, maybe decades into the future, the Artemis 100 mission.” ([04:11])

• Long-term Goal: These missions pave the way for Mars exploration in the 2030s.
• Key Insight: After delays, the Artemis program signals a resurgence in U.S. lunar ambitions with eyes set on even more distant goals.

5. San Francisco Memorial for Bob Weir

[04:26 – 04:55]

• Event: Thousands convened at SF Civic Center to honor Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir.
• Scene: “Deadheads” lined the streets as Weir's casket was carried through the city ([04:31]).
• Cultural Importance:
  • Windsor Johnston summarizes:

    “Weir helped shape the band’s signature sound, which became a defining part of the 1960s counterculture movement.” ([04:45])

• Key Insight: The outpouring reflects Weir’s enduring impact on music and culture.

Notable Quotes

• EU Stance:

  “The European Union will always be very firm in defending international law wherever it may be... starting within our territory.”
  — Antonio Costa, via Terry Schultz ([00:54])

• Minnesota Guard:

  “Troops are... staged and ready to respond across the city” and will wear “bright yellow reflective vests... to help distinguish them from other agencies.”
  — Major Andrea Suchia ([01:37, 01:47])

• On Afghan Allies Policy:

  “Support for Afghan former allies was once bipartisan, but the Trump administration has all but shut it down and stopped processing visas for Afghans.”
  — Quill Lawrence ([03:05])

• NASA’s Reed Wiseman:

  “Just flipping the moon over and seeing it from the other perspective.”
  — Reed Wiseman ([04:01])

• NASA’s Jared Isaacman:

  “I hope someday my kids are going to be watching, maybe decades into the future, the Artemis 100 mission.”
  — Jared Isaacman ([04:11])

Timestamps of Key Segments

• [00:16] – EU responds to Trump’s Greenland tariff threats
• [01:18] – Minneapolis unrest, National Guard mobilization
• [02:00] – Overview of Renee Goode’s death; Afghan refugee camp closure
• [03:13] – NASA Artemis II rocket rollout and future mission plans
• [04:26] – Public memorial for Bob Weir

This episode succinctly delivers major domestic and global updates, providing context and direct voices from those shaping or affected by each story.