NPR News: 01-22-2026 7PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – 01-22-2026 7PM EST

Airdate: January 23, 2026
Host: Ryland Barton

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Episode Overview

This brief five-minute NPR News Now segment delivers a rapid update on urgent national developments. Major topics include a life-threatening winter storm affecting much of the US, ongoing border enforcement actions in Minneapolis, congressional testimony from Special Counsel Jack Smith on Trump investigations, regulatory scrutiny on college sports gambling, the return of Star Search for a new generation, and a milestone in US Olympic hockey.

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Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. Life-Threatening Winter Storm Sweeps the US

Timestamps: 00:15 – 01:20

• Summary: Tens of millions across the US are under severe weather warnings due to a massive winter storm stretching from New Mexico to the Northeast.
• Details:
  • Expect frigid temperatures, hazardous ice, snow, and sleet, disrupting travel and threatening power outages.
  • Multiple states, including Texas, the Carolinas, and Georgia, have declared emergencies, allowing for road treatment, warming centers, and National Guard mobilization.
  • Anticipated air travel chaos at major airports.
• Notable Quote:
  • Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (01:05):

    “Make sure you got the things that you need at your house to stay warm and hunker down in case you lose power for a day or two.”

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2. Tensions Between Border Patrol and Minneapolis Authorities

Timestamps: 01:20 – 02:14

• Summary: US Border Patrol confronts a hostile climate in Minneapolis amid ongoing federal operations.
• Details:
  • Chief Greg Bovino claims agents face stalking, anarchists, and rioters during operations.
  • No timeline set for ending enforcement missions, citing ongoing public safety concerns.
  • Bovino criticizes Minneapolis Police Department as “missing in action.”
  • Immigrants and people of color report heightened fear and reluctance to go outside.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Chief Greg Bovino (01:43):

    “We’re not going to put a date or a timeline to stop this mission. This mission’s ongoing until there are no more of those criminal illegal aliens roaming the streets of Minneapolis.”

  • Chief Greg Bovino (01:55):

    Called the Minneapolis police “missing in action.”

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3. Jack Smith Defends Trump Investigations in Congress

Timestamps: 02:14 – 02:52

• Summary: Former DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith stands firm on his work investigating Donald Trump, denying political motivations.
• Details:
  • Smith says Trump “engaged in a criminal scheme” post-2020 election and illegally retained classified documents after his term.
  • Testimony underscores ongoing legal and political drama echoing into the 2024 campaign cycle.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jack Smith (02:27):

    “Rather than accept his defeat in the 2020 election, President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results and prevent the lawful transfer of power. After leaving office in January of ’21, President Trump illegally kept classified documents at his Mar-A-Lago social club and repeatedly tried to obstruct justice to conceal his continued retention of those documents.”

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4. Economic Update: Inflation Gauge Rises

Timestamps: 02:52 – 03:15

• Summary: The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure ticked up in November.
• Details:
  • Inflation remains above target but has eased significantly from record highs in 2022.

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5. Missouri Considers College Sports Gambling Restrictions

Timestamps: 03:15 – 03:51

• Summary: State gambling authorities examine new limits on “prop bets” tied to individual college athlete performance.
• Details:
  • NCAA warns these bets are prone to manipulation.
  • Recent indictments over attempts to rig college basketball games intensify scrutiny.

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6. Star Search Returns, Reinvented for the TikTok Generation

Timestamps: 03:51 – 04:38

• Summary: Netflix revives the classic TV talent show with new interactive features.
• Details:
  • Format keeps celebrity judges and young talent (e.g., 10-year-old country singer Blair Koudelka).
  • Viewers worldwide can vote instantly with remotes or phones; results are immediate.
  • Some critics question whether fast-paced interactivity fits with TV viewing habits.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Executive Producer Jesse Collins (04:15):

    “The audience is truly the fourth judge.”

  • NYT TV Critic James Poniewozic (04:33):

    “I think people look to television for… you know, a more passive experience.”

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7. History in the Making: Layla Edwards Set for Olympic Hockey

Timestamps: 04:43 – 04:57

• Summary: Layla Edwards becomes the first Black woman named to the US Olympic hockey team for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games.
• Details:
  • Edwards is a senior at the University of Wisconsin.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Governor Brian Kemp (01:05):

  “Make sure you got the things that you need at your house to stay warm and hunker down in case you lose power for a day or two.”

• Chief Greg Bovino (01:43):

  “We’re not going to put a date or a timeline to stop this mission. This mission’s ongoing until there are no more of those criminal illegal aliens roaming the streets of Minneapolis.”

• Jack Smith (02:27):

  “Rather than accept his defeat in the 2020 election, President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results and prevent the lawful transfer of power…”

• Jesse Collins, Star Search EP (04:15):

  “The audience is truly the fourth judge.”

• NYT Critic James Poniewozic (04:33):

  “I think people look to television for… you know, a more passive experience.”

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Summary

This NPR News Now bulletin provides essential updates on major winter weather threats across the US, federal enforcement controversies in Minneapolis, the latest in high-profile legal and political saga surrounding Donald Trump, persistent inflation, new debates over college sports betting, nostalgic television with a modern twist, and a groundbreaking Olympic nomination. The episode captures rapid shifts in news and culture, underscored by direct quotes and voices from public officials, newsmakers, and cultural critics.

Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

See Terms live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. A huge swath of the US Is bracing for a life threatening winter storm over the weekend. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports. Tens of millions of people are under a winter storm and extre stretching from New Mexico into the Ohio River Valley, the South and into the Northeast.

[Debbie Elliott]

Frigid temperatures and significant accumulations of ice, snow and sleet are in the forecast. It will make travel conditions treacherous and could knock out power lines. Several governors are declaring states of emergency, including Texas, the Carolinas and Georgia. That allows them to pre treat highways, open warming stations, stage supplies and equipment and call up National Guard troops. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp says Pete should plan now.

[Georgia Governor Brian Kemp]

Make sure you got the things that you need at your house to stay warm and hunker down in case you lose power for a day or two.

[Debbie Elliott]

This storm is also likely to disrupt air travel at some of the busiest airports in the country. Debbie Elliot, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

U.S. border Patrol Chief Greg Bevino says the current climate is not very favorable to federal law enforcement. In Minneapolis, NPR's Sarah Ventri reports. He also says there is no end in sight for the operation.

[U.S. Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino]

Bovino says that federal agents are being quote, stalked and that they're encountering anarchists and rioters. When asked by reporters when the operation will conclude, Bovino responded, we're not going.

[Georgia Governor Brian Kemp]

To put a date or a timeline to stop this mission. This mission's ongoing until there are no more of those criminal illegal aliens roaming the streets of Minneapolis.

[U.S. Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino]

He also questioned the role of the Minneapolis Police Department, saying they were, quote, missing in action. Meanwhile, immigrants and people of color, including citizens and those in the country with legal status, have told NPR they are scared to leave their homes or go outside. Sarah Ventri, NPR News, Minneapolis.

[Ryland Barton]

Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith defended his investigations of Donald Trump at a congressional hearing today. He says he acted without regard to politics and he had no second thoughts about the criminal charges he brought.

[Jack Smith]

Rather than accept his Defeat in the 2020 election, President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results and prevent the lawful transfer of power. After leaving office In January of 21, President Trump illegally kept classified documents at his Mar A Lago social club and repeatedly tried to obstruct justice to conceal his continued retention of those documents.

[Ryland Barton]

Smith's two criminal investigations shadowed Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign. The Trump administration has been target targeting the investigators who scrutinized him. The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge ticked up in November. In the latest sign that price increases are still up. Inflation has fallen sharply from a four decade high in 2022. This is NPR News from Washington. Missouri gambling regulators are considering new restrictions on bets related to college athletes performance. Prop bets focus on individual player performances, like points scored in basketball or passing yards in football. The NCA argues these bets are vulnerable to manipulation. Last week, more than two dozen people were indicted for allegedly trying to rig college basketball games. Star Search is back. Netflix relaunched the 1980s and 90s TV talent contest this week. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports. The new series is tailored for the TikTok generation.

[Chloe Veltman]

The star Search reboot has many of the same ingredients as the original, including celebrity judges and a cast of talented young people such as 10 year old country singer Blair Koudelka.

[Ryland Barton]

Oh, so lonesome for you.

[Chloe Veltman]

But there are differences. Notably, says Star Search executive producer Jesse.

[Jack Smith]

Collins, the audience is truly the fourth judge.

[Chloe Veltman]

Viewers around the world get a say in who wins by voting on performances in real time with their TV remote or phone. And unlike other more recent takes on TV talent shows, the results are in almost immediately. But New York Times TV critic James Poniewozic is skeptical.

[Ryland Barton]

I think people look to television for.

[Jack Smith]

You know, a more passive experience.

[Chloe Veltman]

The finale of the nine episode series is scheduled for February 17th. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

Layla Edwards is set to make history as the first black woman to represent the US in Olympic hockey during the Milan Cortina Games. The 21 year old is completing her senior year at the University of Wisconsin. It's NPR.

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