NPR News: 01-19-2026 1AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now — 01-19-2026 1AM EST

Host: Dan Ronan
Date: January 19, 2026

Episode Overview

This five-minute newscast from NPR highlights urgent global political developments, domestic legal and weather updates, a historic Hollywood milestone, a tragic accident abroad, and a reflection on Martin Luther King Jr. Day against the backdrop of current American discourse.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Emergency EU Summit Over Trump’s Greenland Threats

[00:18–01:16]

• Dan Ronan introduces the lead story: European leaders are gathering in Brussels for an emergency summit spurred by escalating tensions with President Trump.
• Terry Schultz reports the EU Council president has called a meeting to confront Trump’s repeated threats to annex Greenland (a Danish territory) and impose tariffs on certain countries.
• The EU might reactivate €93 billion in counter-tariffs against the US—an abandoned plan from the previous year.
• French President Emmanuel Macron is pushing to trigger the “anti-coercion instrument”—emergency powers that could limit US companies’ access to EU markets. This mechanism has never been used before.

Notable Quote:

• “The 27 national leaders need to meet in person to discuss President Trump’s repeated threats to annex Greenland…” — Terry Schultz [00:33]
• “Calls led by French President Emmanuel Macron to trigger what’s called the anti-coercion instrument, emergency powers to limit US Companies access to the EU market. It’s never been used before.” — Terry Schultz [01:04]

2. Tariffs Against NATO Members and DOJ Decisions

[01:16–02:26]

• Dan Ronan relays Trump’s promise to start imposing tariffs at 10% in February, rising to 25% on eight NATO members unless they support his Greenland plans.
• Luke Garrett covers the Justice Department’s stance on two issues:
  • The DOJ will not investigate an ICE agent who shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche explains the rationale on FOX News.
  • However, the DOJ is actively investigating Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly impeding federal law enforcement, a claim both officials deny.
  • The Department of Homeland Security continues an internal review of the ICE shooting.

Notable Quotes:

• “We investigate when it’s appropriate…that is not the case here. It wasn’t the case when it happened and it’s not the case today.” — Todd Blanche [01:46]
• “Whether you’re a governor, a mayor, or somebody out there on the streets assaulting ICE, you cannot, under federal law, you cannot impede a federal officer doing their job.” — Todd Blanche [02:08]
• “Frey and Walz said they will not be intimidated and denied impeding federal law enforcement.” — Luke Garrett [02:18]

3. Winter Weather Warnings in the US

[02:26–03:14]

• Chuck Kormbach from Milwaukee reports a widespread cold front will bring wind chills of -30°F to parts of Minnesota and the Great Lakes region.
• Taylor Patterson from the National Weather Service identifies the origin: a low-pressure system from Canada sweeping across the northern US into New England.
• Advisory includes warnings about blowing snow and the risk of prolonged outdoor exposure.

Notable Quote:

• “We have a low pressure system that has descended down from northern Alberta, Saskatchewan area, and it is tracking across the northern Great Lakes and it’s going to head out northeast towards the New England states.” — Taylor Patterson [02:49]
• “If possible, do not spend a lot of time outside.” — Chuck Kormbach [03:09]

4. Zoe Saldana Becomes Highest Grossing Actor Ever

[03:14–04:17]

• Nada Ulabay details Zoe Saldana’s rise: outpacing Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson with over $15 billion in collective box office receipts.
• Credits include starring roles in the top three all-time movies—Avatar, Avatar 2, and Avengers: Endgame—as well as Star Trek and Guardians of the Galaxy.
• The release of “Avatar: Fire and Ash” secured her box office record.
• Saldana is now the first actress with four films grossing $2 billion each.

Memorable Moments:

• “I’m in this place where I have nothing.” — Zoe Saldana, Avatar [03:56]
• “This is the Great Mother’s plan.” — Zoe Saldana, Avatar [04:05]
• “It was the box office receipts for Avatar, Fire and Ash that pushed her ahead of Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson…” — Nada Ulabay [03:48]

5. Other Headlines: Train Crash & MLK Day

[04:17–04:57]

• Dan Ronan briefs on:
  • A train crash in southern Spain kills 21 ([04:17]).
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Monday). King’s daughter, Rev. Bernice King, calls the holiday “a saving grace amid the political divisions” and critiques current efforts to reverse diversity initiatives, while expressing hope for continued progress.
• “The progress that was made during the civil rights movement is paramount…but despite the challenges, she said she continues to see progress going forward with her father’s goals.” — Dan Ronan [04:50]

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Summary Table of Key Segments

| Segment Topic | Timing | Key Voices | |----------------------------------------------------|-------------|--------------------| | EU response to Trump’s Greenland threats | 00:18–01:16 | Terry Schultz | | Trump’s tariffs, DOJ & ICE controversy | 01:16–02:26 | Luke Garrett, Todd Blanche | | Major cold front in the Northern US | 02:26–03:14 | Chuck Kormbach, Taylor Patterson | | Zoe Saldana’s box office record | 03:14–04:17 | Nada Ulabay, Zoe Saldana | | Spain train crash; MLK Day reflections | 04:17–04:57 | Dan Ronan, Bernice King |

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Memorable Quotes

• “The 27 national leaders need to meet in person to discuss President Trump’s repeated threats to annex Greenland…” — Terry Schultz [00:33]
• “We investigate when it’s appropriate…that is not the case here. It wasn’t the case when it happened and it’s not the case today.” — Todd Blanche [01:46]
• “We have a low pressure system … tracking across the northern Great Lakes and it’s going to head out northeast towards the New England states.” — Taylor Patterson [02:49]
• “I’m in this place where I have nothing.” — Zoe Saldana (in Avatar) [03:56]
• “[MLK Day] is…a saving grace amid the political divisions in the country.” — Rev. Bernice King (paraphrased by Dan Ronan) [04:49]

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This episode briskly covers serious geopolitical tensions, domestic legal decisions and controversies, weather emergencies, cultural milestones, international tragedy, and a reflection on American civil rights—all with the steady, factual reporting typical of NPR’s flagship news brief.

Transcript

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[Dan Ronan]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. European leaders this week are expected to convene in Brussels for an emergency summit aimed at combating threats from President Trump concerning Green. Terry Schultz reports.

[Terry Schultz]

The president of the European council decided the 27 national leaders need to meet in person to discuss President Trump's repeated threats to annex Greenland, which is a territory of EU member state Denmark, and his intentions to levy tariffs against some countries. An EU spokesperson says the meeting is likely to be Thursday or Friday. Leaders will be debating whether to enact some 93 billion euros worth of counterterroriffs against the US which was drawn up last year but dropped after a deal was reached with Trump. There are also calls led by French President Emmanuel Macron to trigger what's called the anti coercion instrument, emergency powers to limit US Companies access to the EU market. It's never been used before. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels.

[Dan Ronan]

President Trump is promising to impose tariffs starting at 10% in February and increase them to 25% against eight NATO members if they do not support his plans concerning Greenland. The Department of Justice says it is not investigating the the U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis. NPR's Luke Garrett reports.

[Luke Garrett]

The Justice Department is not investigating the killing of a woman by an ICE agent. Here's Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on FOX News.

[Todd Blanche]

We investigate when it's appropriate to investigate, and that is not the case here. It wasn't the case when it happened and it's not the case today.

[Luke Garrett]

Blanche did not rule out a federal probe in the future and said an internal review of the killing is ongoing at the Department of Homeland Security. The deputy attorney general then defended the DOJ's active investigation into Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

[Todd Blanche]

Whether you're a governor, a mayor, or somebody out there on the streets assaulting ice, you cannot, under federal law, you cannot impede a federal officer doing their job.

[Luke Garrett]

Frye and Waltz said they will not be intimidated and denied impeding federal law enforcement. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Dan Ronan]

Forecasters are warning of very cold temperatures over much of the northern US early this week. Chuck Kormbach reports from Milwaukee.

[Chuck Kormbach]

By Monday morning, wind chills in portions of Minnesota could be 30 below zero the national weather Service has issued a cold weather advisory for much of the Great Lakes region. Service meteorologist Taylor Patterson says Arctic air is to blame.

[Taylor Patterson]

We have a low pressure system that has descended down from northern Alberta, Saskatchewan area, and it is tracking across the northern Great Lakes and it's going to head out northeast towards the New England states.

[Chuck Kormbach]

Patterson says some areas will also be dealing with light and blowing snow. She warns people that if possible to not spend a lot of time outside. For NPR News, I'm Chuck Kwernbach in Milwaukee.

[Dan Ronan]

And you're listening to npr. A star of the Avatar movie franchise is now the highest grossing actor of all time. As NPR's Nada Ulabay reports, Zoe Saldana's movies have collectively grossed more than $15 billion.

[Nada Ulabay]

Zoe Saldana has starred in the top three highest grossing movies of all time, the first Avatar Movie, the second Avatar Movie and Endgame. Plus, she's shown up in other lucrative franchises, Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Trek. But it was the box office receipts for Avatar, Fire and Ash that pushed her ahead of Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson as the world's highest grossing star.

[Zoe Saldana]

I'm in this place where I have nothing.

[Nada Ulabay]

In the Avatar movies, Saldana plays a blue skinned member of a forest tribe on a faraway planet.

[Zoe Saldana]

This is the Great Mother's plan.

[Nada Ulabay]

Saldana is also the first actress who has starred in four movies that each pulled in more than $2 billion globally. Neto Ulubi, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

21 people have been killed in a train crash in southern Spain on Sunday. Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the federal holiday to honor the memory of the late civil rights leader who was assassinated in 1968. King's daughter, the RA, Reverend Bernice King, says she believes the holiday is, quote, a saving grace amid the political divisions in the country. She also is criticizing efforts to roll back diversity initiatives. She said the progress that was made during the civil rights movement is paramount. But despite the challenges, she said she continues to see progress going forward with her father's goals. From Washington, this is NPR News. I'm Dan Ronan.

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