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.

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.

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