NPR News: 01-19-2026 11AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: 01-19-2026 11AM EST

Host: Kristen Wright (NPR)
Date: January 19, 2026
Episode Theme:
A concise update on the major national and international news stories, highlighting political developments, foreign policy, civil rights commemorations, public health decisions, and notable moments in sports.

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Key News Highlights & Discussion Points

1. President Trump’s Reaction to Nobel Peace Prize Snub and Greenland Acquisition (00:18–01:12)

• President Trump reached out to Norway’s prime minister, expressing frustration at not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Trump said not receiving the prize influenced his approach to acquiring Greenland, suggesting a shift from diplomatic “peace” considerations to U.S.-centered interests.
• Quoted Trump:

  “Because he didn't win the prize, he no longer feels obliged to think only of peace and said he was now considering what is good and proper for the United States.” – Robbie Griffiths (00:38)

• Trump claimed global security depended on U.S. "complete and total control of Greenland."
• The Norwegian government reaffirmed they do not select Nobel Prize recipients.

2. World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Gaza Reconstruction, and U.S. Military Preparedness for Minnesota Protests (01:12–01:59)

• Danish officials will not attend the World Economic Forum session in Switzerland; President Trump is expected to attend.
• Trump invites world leaders to join the Board of Peace for Gaza’s post-war rehabilitation; the UNSC has officially sanctioned this board.
• Key policy detail: Each permanent member must donate at least $1 billion to the Gaza effort.
• The Pentagon is preparing 1,500 active-duty U.S. soldiers for possible deployment to Minnesota after fatal federal shooting sparked protests.

Minneapolis Unrest and the Insurrection Act (01:59–02:40)

• Protests in Minneapolis have subsided due to severe winter weather, though tensions remain.
• Trump previously threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act (1807), allowing military law enforcement involvement, but has since retreated from that stance.
• Troops from Army’s 11th Airborne Division in Alaska are on alert.

3. Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Legacy of Nonviolence (02:40–03:07)

• The country marks Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
• Dr. King's son, Martin Luther King III, emphasizes the ongoing importance of nonviolent activism.
  • Quote:

    “So we have to create the climate where people are able to resist but yet not engage in violence. And I think we can be successful over time because of that. It’s sad that we even have to be at this point, but history repeats itself.”
    — Martin Luther King III (02:53)

4. U.S. Withdrawal from the World Health Organization (03:07–04:24)

• U.S. set to formally withdraw from WHO after the required one-year notice period.
• An added complication: U.S. has not paid $278 million in outstanding dues, which is required for formal withdrawal.
• Expert Commentary:

  “This is a very public and messy divorce between WHO and the United States.”
  — Lawrence Gostin, Georgetown University (03:55)

• Uncertainty remains over whether the U.S. will participate in WHO meetings and data sharing.
• WHO leadership publicly urges the U.S. to reconsider.

5. Nurses Strike in New York City & Historic Women’s Hockey Attendance (04:24–04:56)

• Nurses strike in NYC enters second week; core demands are safer staffing levels and better workplace protection from violence.
• The Professional Women’s Hockey League sets a new attendance record: 17,228 fans at a game between the New York Sirens and Montreal Victoire in D.C.—the highest in U.S. women’s ice hockey history.
  • The New York Sirens won, 2–1.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Nobel Peace Prize & Greenland:
  “The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.”
  — Donald Trump, as relayed by Robbie Griffiths (00:38)
• On Nonviolence:
  “So we have to create the climate where people are able to resist but yet not engage in violence.”
  — Martin Luther King III (02:53)
• On WHO Exit:
  “This is a very public and messy divorce between WHO and the United States.”
  — Lawrence Gostin (03:55)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:18 — Trump’s Nobel snub and Greenland stance
• 01:12 — World Economic Forum, Gaza Board of Peace, U.S. deployments to Minnesota
• 01:59 — Minneapolis protests/Insurrection Act update
• 02:40 — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, nonviolence remarks
• 03:07 — U.S. withdrawal from WHO, financial disputes
• 04:24 — NYC nurses strike and women’s hockey league record

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Tone & Language

This episode maintains NPR’s signature factual, concise reporting style, delivering fast-moving news with clarity and measured tone. Direct commentary from prominent figures is preserved, offering listeners both information and context for the day's major stories.

Transcript

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[Kristen Wright]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. President Trump has reached out to the prime minister of Norway to say not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize has influenced his approach concerning acquiring Greenland. And as NPR's Robbie Griffiths reports, Trump criticized Norway for not giving him the prize. In a message to the prime minister.

[Robbie Griffiths]

President Trump sent a message to the Norwegian prime minister claiming that the decision not to grant him the Nobel Peace Prize has helped make up his mind to try to acquire Greenland. Trump said that because he didn't win the prize, he no longer feels obliged to think only of peace and said he was now considering what is good and proper for the United States. Trump added that the world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland. The message was later confirmed by the Norwegian prime minister, who said in a statement that although Trump blames Norway for not giving him the Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian government does not select the winner of the prize. Robbie Griffiths, NPR News.

[Kristen Wright]

A spokesperson for the World Economic Forum in Switzerland this week says Danish officials will not attend. President Trump is expected at the meeting. The president is inviting world leaders to join the Board of Peace to help rehabilitate Gaza after the war. The United Nations Security Council officially sanctioned the new Board of Peace to overse reconstruction of Gaza. A copy of the charter obtained by NPR says permanent member countries must donate at least a billion dollars each. The Pentagon is preparing 1500 active duty US soldiers for possible deployment to Minnesota. This follows recent protests sparked by the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis during a federal immigration enforcement operation nearly two weeks ago. NPR's Jasmine Garst has more.

[Jasmine Garst]

Despite the Pentagon's move, Minneapolis has been quiet for the last few days, in part because of heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures. The city has experienced tense protests since the killing of Renee Macklin Goode and confrontations with agents. In response, Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a little used 1807 law that would allow sending the military to perform law enforcement duties. But in recent days, the weather has dampened protests, and Trump seems to have backed away from invoking the act. The Pentagon last week put troops with the Army's 11th Airborne Division, based in Alaska on alert. Jasmine Garsd, NPR News, Minneapolis.

[Kristen Wright]

Today, the nation pauses to honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His eldest son. Martin Luther King III is a civil rights advocate who is building on his father's legacy. He says nonviolence is still the way forward.

[Martin Luther King III]

So we have to create the climate where people are able to resist but yet not engage in violence. And I think we can be successful over time because of that. It's sad that we even have to be at this point, but history repeats itself.

[Kristen Wright]

King spoke to NPR's Morning Edition. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. This week, President Trump plans to officially withdraw the US from the World Health Organization. This comes at the end of a required one year notification period. But as NPR's Gabrielle Emanuel reports, the WHO says the withdrawal is more complicated.

[Gabrielle Emanuel]

In order to leave the who, the US Is supposed to give one year's notice. It did that, but it's also supposed to pay all its bills, which amount to $278 million. The State Department told NPR that's not happening. Lawrence Gostin is at Georgetown University and directs the WHO's center on Global Health Law.

[Lawrence Gostin]

This is a very public and messy divorce between WHO and the United States.

[Gabrielle Emanuel]

He says practically the US can leave, but it's unclear if the WHO will continue letting Washington participate in its meetings and share data about things like disease outbreaks. The State Department says it doesn't want to participate. Meanwhile, the head of the WHO is urging the US to reconsider pulling out. Gabriela Emanuel, NPR News.

[Kristen Wright]

The nurses strike in New York City is in its second week. The nurses are asking for better staffing levels to manage patients and safer conditions to protect them from workplace violence. The Professional Women's Hockey League says a new attendance record has been set. 17,228 fans came out to yesterday's game between the New York Sirens and the Montreal Victoire at Capitol One arena in Washington, D.C. the most in U.S. women's ice hockey history. The Sirens 1, 2, 1. This is NPR News.

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