NPR News Now – 7AM EST, January 18, 2026
Host: Windsor Johnston
Episode Theme: Breaking national and international news updates, focusing on U.S. immigration enforcement, international trade tensions, a major trade agreement, a measles outbreak, and significant winter weather across the Eastern U.S.
Main Stories & Key Points
1. Minnesota National Guard on Standby Over ICE Activity
[00:20 – 01:23]
- Context: Governor Tim Walz puts the Minnesota National Guard on standby in response to unrest over increased federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis.
- ICE Funding: ICE is now the highest-funded federal law enforcement agency.
- President Trump’s "big beautiful bill" granted ICE an additional $75 billion last summer.
- Lauren Brooke Isen (Brennan Center):
"It's larger than the annual budget of all other federal law enforcement agencies combined." [00:54]
- Issues Raised:
- Large proportion of funds go to detention; less to oversight and due process.
- Recent killing of Renee Macklin Goode by an ICE officer in Minneapolis spurs Democratic calls for reform.
- Congress reviewing new immigration spending for 2026.
2. US-EU Tensions Over Greenland and New Tariffs
[01:23 – 02:20]
- Setting: Emergency EU meeting in Brussels regarding President Trump’s announced tariffs (10% on February 1st) tied to U.S. efforts to "take over GRE" (Greenland).
- European Reaction:
- President Macron (France):
"[Trump's] threats were unacceptable and had no place in the discussions over Greenland." [01:45]
- Europeans vow a "unified and coordinated manner" to defend sovereignty.
- Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission President): Expressed full solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.
- Danish Foreign Minister: Expressed surprise at American threat, citing planned U.S.-Danish military exercises intended for Arctic security.
- President Macron (France):
3. Major EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement
[02:20 – 03:15]
- Details:
- Largest trade agreement ever negotiated by the EU.
- Parties: European Union and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay).
- Aimed at slashing tariffs and improving goods access between the 31 participating countries—a market worth over $125 billion annually.
- Additional Aspects:
- Partnership on trade, investment, and political cooperation.
- Approval Process:
- Needs ratification from the European Parliament and all 27 EU countries' parliaments.
- Some countries, including France and Poland, have rejected due to concerns for domestic farmers.
- Mercosur countries’ legislatures must also approve.
- Quote (Terri Schultz):
"Some, including France and Poland, have already reject the agreement due to concerns largely about the impact on their own farmers." [02:55]
4. Measles Outbreak Spreading Across States
[03:15 – 04:22]
- States Involved: South Carolina (epicenter), Washington, North Carolina.
- Case Numbers:
- South Carolina: 558 confirmed cases.
- Washington: 3 unvaccinated children infected by visiting family.
- North Carolina: 6 cases linked to the outbreak.
- Severity & Risks:
- Described as the largest current U.S. outbreak.
- Unvaccinated individuals are at significant risk.
- Expert Quote (Maria Godoy):
"A single person with measles can infect up to 18 other unvaccinated people on average." [03:56] "Doctors warn that the outbreak... is likely to get worse before it gets better." [04:10]
5. Winter Weather Blasts Midwest and East Coast
[04:22 – 04:58]
- Conditions: Significant snow, subfreezing wind chills, possible snowfall as far south as Tallahassee, Florida, and Central Georgia.
- Impact: Sudden snow squalls and "whiteout" conditions in Northeastern Ohio.
- National Weather Service: Expects colder-than-normal conditions through early in the week.
- Memorable Detail:
"More snow was possible today in Tallahassee and central Georgia." [04:50]
Notable Quotes
-
Lauren Brooke Isen (Brennan Center):
"It's larger than the annual budget of all other federal law enforcement agencies combined." [00:54]
-
President Macron (via Hugh Schofield, BBC):
"[Trump's] threats were unacceptable and had no place in the discussions over Greenland." [01:45]
-
Maria Godoy (NPR Health Reporter):
"A single person with measles can infect up to 18 other unvaccinated people on average." [03:56]
-
Terri Schultz (on EU-Mercosur deal):
"...already reject the agreement due to concerns largely about the impact on their own farmers." [02:55]
Timestamps of Important Segments
- [00:20] – National Guard on standby in Minnesota over ICE policy
- [00:54] – Size of ICE budget compared with other agencies
- [01:23] – EU responds to Trump's tariffs and Greenland threat
- [02:33] – Historic EU-Mercosur trade agreement
- [03:34] – Measles outbreak updates across multiple states
- [04:22] – Winter storms and rare snow in the South
Episode Takeaways
- Immigration enforcement and funding are at a boiling point in Minnesota after recent violence and huge increases in ICE resources.
- Tensions between the U.S. and Europe are escalating over both tariffs and plans regarding Greenland, with European leaders vowing unity and pushback.
- The largest ever EU trade deal faces ratification hurdles, especially due to concerns from European farmers.
- The U.S.'s biggest measles outbreak is spreading, with health officials urging vaccination.
- An intense winter front is affecting a broad swath of the U.S., with unusual snow forecasts deep into the South.
For more hourly news updates, listen to NPR News Now.
