NPR News: 01-19-2026 5AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: January 19, 2026 – 5AM EST

Host: Dave Mattingly
Date: January 19, 2026
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now hourly update covers the latest breaking national and international news in five minutes. Today’s top stories include a deadly train collision in Spain, European Union deliberations regarding US policy on Greenland, the Pentagon’s readiness to deploy troops to Minnesota after local protests, pessimistic outlook for US homebuilders in 2026, and a DOJ criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Deadly Train Collision in Spain

[00:18]–[01:14]

• Summary: A catastrophic train accident in Cordoba, Spain, left at least 39 dead and dozens injured as two high-speed trains collided on a flat, recently renovated stretch of track.
• Details:
  • Incident occurred where routes connecting Andalusia cities to Madrid converge.
  • The train that derailed was only four years old; tracks had been renovated as recently as May 2025.
  • The cause remains unknown, with Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente calling the accident "tremendously strange."
• Notable Quote:
  • “The accident is tremendously strange, as the trains were also traveling on a flat stretch of track.” — Oscar Puente (via Miguel Macias), [01:04]

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2. EU Response to President Trump’s Greenland Comments

[01:14]–[02:14]

• Summary: EU leaders are planning an emergency summit in Brussels to address President Trump's continued remarks about acquiring Greenland and potential US tariffs.
• Details:
  • The European Council is considering 93 billion Euros in counter-tariffs against the US—a previously drafted measure.
  • French President Macron is pushing to invoke the EU's “anti coercion emergency powers,” which would limit US Companies’ access to the EU market, a tool never used before.
  • Meeting is expected Thursday or Friday, with the outcome potentially marking a historic first for EU action against the US.
• Notable Quote:
  • “There are also calls… to trigger what's called the anti coercion emergency powers to limit US Companies access to the EU market. It's never been used before.” — Terry Schultz, [01:58]

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3. US Military on Alert for Minnesota Deployment Amid Protests

[02:14]–[03:13]

• Summary: The Pentagon has readied 1,500 active-duty soldiers from Alaska’s 11th Airborne Division for possible deployment to Minnesota following protests after a fatal shooting during a federal immigration operation.
• Details:
  • The shooting of Renee Macklin Goode in Minneapolis led to tense protests and confrontations.
  • President Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act but has since pulled back as protests quieted due to severe winter weather.
  • The situation remains tense, but current conditions have dampened public gatherings.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Minneapolis has been quiet for the last few days, in part because of heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures.” — Jasmine Gardz, [02:33]

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4. Homebuilder Sentiment Down, Despite Some Relief in Rates

[03:13]–[04:16]

• Summary: Despite brief optimism, US homebuilders are signaling a negative outlook for 2026, citing high construction costs and interest rates.
• Details:
  • The National Home Builders Association’s housing market index dipped 2 points to 37 (below the positive threshold of 50).
  • Survey predated new housing policies, such as the government buying $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities to help lower rates.
  • The average 30-year mortgage rate is just over 6%, which is lower than recent highs but still deterring movement in the market.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Anything below 50, an overall negative outlook. Builders are dealing with rising construction costs and high interest rates.” — Stephen Bassaha, [03:48]

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5. Justice Department Investigation Into Federal Reserve Chair Powell

[04:16]–[04:56]

• Summary: The Justice Department has launched a criminal probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell regarding $2.5 billion in renovations at Fed headquarters. Powell claims this is political pressure to lower interest rates faster.

• Details:

  • The Fed dropped interest rates by 0.25% three times in late 2025.
  • The investigation's timing and rationale are viewed skeptically by Powell.

• Notable Quote:

  • “Powell has said he believes the DOJ probe is an attempt to pressure the Fed into lowering interest rates more aggressively.” — Dave Mattingly, [04:24]

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6. NFL Playoff Update

[04:46]–[04:56]

• Summary: The NFL playoffs narrow to four teams:
  • AFC: New England vs. Denver
  • NFC: LA Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks

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Notable Quotes Recap

• Oscar Puente (via Miguel Macias), [01:04]:
  “The accident is tremendously strange, as the trains were also traveling on a flat stretch of track.”
• Terry Schultz, [01:58]:
  “There are also calls… to trigger what's called the anti coercion emergency powers to limit US Companies access to the EU market. It's never been used before.”
• Jasmine Gardz, [02:33]:
  “Minneapolis has been quiet for the last few days, in part because of heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures.”
• Stephen Bassaha, [03:48]:
  “Anything below 50, an overall negative outlook. Builders are dealing with rising construction costs and high interest rates.”
• Dave Mattingly, [04:24]:
  “Powell has said he believes the DOJ probe is an attempt to pressure the Fed into lowering interest rates more aggressively.”

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Segment Timestamps

• Spain Train Crash: 00:18–01:14
• EU Summit on US-Greenland: 01:14–02:14
• US Troops Alert for Minnesota: 02:14–03:13
• Builder Sentiment in 2026: 03:13–04:16
• Justice Dept. Probes Fed Chair: 04:16–04:56
• NFL Playoffs Update: 04:46–04:56

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Overall Tone:
Clear, factual, and concise, typical of NPR’s news reporting style. The episode delivers compressed yet comprehensive coverage of critical global and national events, providing essential background and context.

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Transcript

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[Dave Mattingly]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingley. Authorities in Spain say at least 39 people have been killed after a high speed train left the tracks and slammed into another such train heading in the opposite direction. NPR's Miguel Macias says dozens of passengers were also injured.

[Miguel Macias]

The routes that connect multiple cities in Andalusia in southern Spain with Madrid come together in the region of Cordoba. That's where a train that was traveling from Malaga to Madrid collided with the train headed for Huelva. Transport Minister Oscar Puente says the train that derailed was only four years old and the track itself had been renovated in May 2025. The accident is tremendously strange, puente said last night, as the trains were also traveling on a flat stretch of track. The cause of the accident is under investigation. Miguel Macias, NPR News, Seville, Spain.

[Dave Mattingly]

President Trump's repeated remarks about the US Acquiring Greenland are expected to be the focus of European Union leaders when they meet later this week in Brussels. As Terry Schultz reports, EU officials are also expected to consider economic penalties against.

[Terry Schultz]

The U.S. 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 counterterrorifs 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 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.

[Dave Mattingly]

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. As NPR's Jasmine Gardz reports, despite the.

[Jasmine Gardz]

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.

[Dave Mattingly]

This is NPR News from Washington. Home builders in the US are signaling they're not optimistic about 2026. That's according to a survey from the National Home Builders association and Wells Fargo. As NPR's Stephen Bassaha reports, builders remain concerned about rising costs and elevated interest rates.

[Stephen Bassaha]

There were signs of a return to optimism among single family home builders at the end of the year. The housing market index saw three straight months of gains, but that's now ended. The index fell 2 points to 37. Anything below 50, an overall negative outlook. Builders are dealing with rising construction costs and high interest rates. Most of the builders responded before the Trump administration announced new housing policies, like ordering Fannie and Freddie Mac to buy up $200 billion in mortgage backed securities to lower mortgage rates. The average 30 year mortgage is down. It's just over 6%. But that's still well above Covid era rates that make many homeowners reluctant to sell. Stephen Bisaha, NPR News.

[Dave Mattingly]

The Justice Department recently announced a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stemming from $2.5 billion in renovations at Fed headquarters in Washington. Powell has said he believes the DOJ probe is an attempt to pressure the Fed into lowering interest rates more aggressively. The Fed lowered rates by a quarter point three separate times in the final months of last year. The NFL playoffs are down to the final four. The AFC title game will feature New England at Denver in the nfc, the Champ championship game will be the LA Rams at the Seattle Seahawks. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News, in Washington.

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