NPR News Now – 5PM EST, January 20, 2026

Episode Overview

This rapid-fire five-minute news update from NPR delivers the day's top stories, touching on escalating federal-state immigration disputes in Minnesota, President Trump's energy cost promises, changes with the USPS, market reactions to tariff threats, a major media industry merger battle, and new climate-driven threats to Antarctic penguins.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Subpoenas to Minnesota Officials Over Immigration Enforcement

• [00:31–01:33]
  • The Justice Department issued grand jury subpoenas to Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
  • Context: The Trump administration claims these Democratic officials are obstructing federal immigration crackdowns.
  • Mayor Frey’s statement accuses the federal government of weaponizing its power for political intimidation:
    • [00:55] Jacob Frey: “We shouldn’t have to live in a country where people fear that federal law enforcement will be used to play politics.”
  • Attorney General Ellison ties the subpoenas to his ongoing litigation against the Trump administration regarding aggressive immigration tactics:
    • [01:25] Keith Ellison: “Let’s be clear about why this is happening. Donald Trump is coming after the people of Minnesota and I’m standing in his way.”
  • The Justice Department did not comment.

2. Trump’s Energy Bill Promise: Cheaper Gas, Higher Electricity

• [01:33–02:24]
  • President Trump promised to halve Americans’ energy bills one year into office.
    • Gasoline prices are down ~10% from last year, mostly due to cheaper crude oil.
    • [01:45] The focus on crude oil has benefited gas prices, but electricity costs have risen.
  • Charles Hua, Powerlines nonprofit:
    • [02:01] “The issue of utility affordability has now very much become a crisis, and a political crisis at that.”
  • Electricity price increases haven’t been key policy priorities; however, Trump is proposing increased utility costs on AI data centers, which could benefit average consumers by offsetting rate hikes.

3. US Postal Service Opens “Last Mile” Network to Small Businesses

• [02:24–03:16]
  • USPS usually prioritizes major companies like Amazon for special final-delivery rates but is now accepting bids from smaller businesses.
  • [02:32–02:54] Context: Postmaster General David Steiner warned of unsustainable finances; USPS posted a $9 billion net loss this fiscal year. It receives no tax funding, depending entirely on shipping/stamp fees.
  • The move targets new revenue but risks big shippers pulling business, possibly destabilizing USPS further.

4. Markets Tumble After Trump Threatens Tariffs Over Greenland

• [03:16–04:05]
  • Wall Street took a hit after President Trump threatened new tariffs on European countries, linked to his ongoing (and controversial) attempts to acquire Greenland.
    • S&P 500 dropped over 2%; Dow fell 1.7%; Nasdaq lost nearly 2.4%.
  • Brief world news update: Russia bombards Ukraine’s power grid, knocking out heat to 5,600 Kyiv buildings during subzero temperatures.

5. Media Mega-Merger: Netflix vs. Paramount for Warner Bros

• [04:05–04:49]
  • Netflix has upped its bid (~$83 billion, now all cash) for Warner Bros Discovery, including HBO Max, Warner Bros Studios, and major IPs (Harry Potter, DC Comics).
  • [04:16] Warner’s board accepted Netflix’s bid, but Paramount is countering with a $108 billion bid covering all assets, including legacy cable networks.
  • [04:25] Paramount is controlled by Trump allies David and Larry Ellison. Trump himself appears to have personal interest in the outcome.
  • Comment: Netflix execs reportedly cultivate ties with President Trump as the industry awaits final decisions.

6. Climate Change Threatens Antarctic Penguins

• [04:49–05:13]
  • New research: Warmer Antarctic temperatures are causing three penguin species to breed about two weeks earlier than a decade ago.
  • Impact: The early breeding shift brings food shortages for chicks and puts some species at risk of extinction before 2100.
  • Worryingly, the breeding grounds have warmed by more than 5°F in a decade.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mayor Jacob Frey ([00:55]):

  “We shouldn’t have to live in a country where people fear that federal law enforcement will be used to play politics.”

• Attorney General Keith Ellison ([01:25]):

  “Let’s be clear about why this is happening. Donald Trump is coming after the people of Minnesota and I’m standing in his way.”

• Charles Hua, Powerlines ([02:01]):

  “The issue of utility affordability has now very much become a crisis, and a political crisis at that.”

Segment Timestamps

| Segment Topic | Time | |--------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Federal subpoenas to MN officials (Immigration enforcement battle) | 00:31–01:33 | | Trump energy bills promise: gas down, electricity up | 01:33–02:24 | | USPS bidding opens to small business, financial risk | 02:24–03:16 | | Markets plummet on tariff, Greenland drama; Ukraine blackout | 03:16–04:05 | | Netflix v. Paramount: Warner Bros mega-merger, Trump interest | 04:05–04:49 | | Penguin species threatened by climate change | 04:49–05:13 |

Summary

This episode succinctly delivers the day’s urgent news: a federal-state showdown in Minnesota over immigration enforcement; President Trump’s mixed results on cutting energy bills; USPS’s scramble for financial solvency opening its delivery network to smaller companies; a volatile day on Wall Street triggered by presidential tariff threats; an escalating media merger fight with political overtones; and the alarming, tangible toll of climate change on Antarctic wildlife. The reporting features direct, pointed statements from key figures, encapsulating the political and social stakes in each unfolding story.