NPR News: 01-22-2026 8AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – January 22, 2026, 8AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers the latest national and international headlines in a concise five-minute roundup. Major themes include evolving U.S.-E.U. relations after Trump’s Greenland remarks, an ICE memo sparking Fourth Amendment debate, potential changes in U.S. measles elimination status, an impending winter storm across the eastern and southern U.S., and upcoming congressional testimony from former special counsel Jack Smith.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S.-E.U. Relations & Trump’s Greenland Comments

[00:18–01:07]

• Backdrop:
  President Trump, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, claims he would not use military force to take over Greenland and mentions an unspecified "deal about the island."
• Reactions from Denmark & Greenland:
  Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen asserts that "security, investment and economy can be discussed politically, but not sovereignty."
• NATO’s Role Questioned:
  Talks were led not by the Danes or Greenlanders, but by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
  A Greenlandic MP posts:

  "NATO in no way has a mandate to negotiate without Greenland."

• Correspondent Insight (Terry Schultz, 00:42):
  Emphasizes the unusual diplomatic process and the strong statements from both Denmark and Greenland pushing back against U.S. claims and NATO’s involvement.

2. ICE Memo & Fourth Amendment Controversy

[01:07–02:08]

• ICE Policy Shift:
  A leaked memo suggests ICE agents may enter private property with just an administrative warrant—not a judicial one.
• Legal Challenge:
  University of St. Thomas law professor Julie Jonas stresses this contravenes the U.S. Constitution:

  "We require in this country for a unbiased magistrate to make a determination of probable cause. They're the ones who are supposed to be calling the balls." (Julie Jonas, 01:42)

• Recent Enforcement Actions:
  In recent Minneapolis and St. Paul raids, ICE agents entered two homes without judicial warrants. Notably, neither man arrested was undocumented; one is a U.S. citizen, both now released.
• Implication:
  Raises concerns about overreach and the potential for wrongful detentions.

3. U.S. Measles Elimination Status at Risk

[02:08–03:08]

• CDC Perspective:
  Dr. Ralph Abraham, CDC deputy director, downplays significance:

  "Would, quote, not really [be significant]. Just the cost of doing business with our... somewhat worse global in international travel." (CDC Deputy Director via Maria Godoy, 02:36)

• Public Health Experts Disagree:
  They argue losing the status—held since 2000—would be a major setback, signaling failure of public health infrastructure to prevent a once-eliminated disease.

4. Major Winter Storm Warning

[03:10–04:22]

• Storm Overview:
  The National Weather Service predicts "significant or even crippling" snow and ice across the Eastern and Southern U.S. starting tomorrow.
• Official Advice:
  • Avoid driving if possible.
  • If travel is absolutely necessary:
    • Stock your vehicle with a first aid kit, charger, flashlight, water, nonperishable food, blankets, scarves, and gloves.
    • Top off your gas tank to run the engine and heater if stuck.
  • Quote from Jacqueline Diaz:

    "The best thing to do during a winter storm is to obviously stay off the roads. But if you have to drive... always good to keep a first aid kit, phone charger, flashlight, water and some food in the car." (Jacqueline Diaz, 03:38)

5. Jack Smith to Testify Before House Committee

[04:22–04:56]

• Event:
  Former special counsel Jack Smith will testify publicly before the House Judiciary Committee. Republican members plan to question him on investigations into Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents and efforts to subvert the 2020 election.
• Partisan Tensions:
  Republican lawmakers label Smith a "partisan actor," while Smith maintains:

  "Donald Trump is responsible for his own actions." (Paraphrased, Korva Coleman, 04:54)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On ICE and the Constitution:

  "We require in this country for a unbiased magistrate to make a determination of probable cause. They're the ones who are supposed to be calling the balls."
  — Julie Jonas, University of St. Thomas Law Professor [01:42]

• On Greenland and NATO Diplomacy:

  "NATO in no way has a mandate to negotiate without Greenland."
  — Greenlandic Member of Parliament, relayed by Terry Schultz [00:42]

• CDC on Measles Status:

  "...just the cost of doing business with our... somewhat worse global in international travel."
  — CDC Deputy Director Dr. Ralph Abraham, via Maria Godoy [02:36]

• Winter Storm Preparedness:

  "The best thing to do during a winter storm is to obviously stay off the roads. But if you have to drive... keep a first aid kit, phone charger, flashlight, water and some food in the car."
  — Jacqueline Diaz [03:38]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• EU Summit & Greenland discussions: 00:18–01:07
• ICE warrant policy controversy: 01:07–02:08
• Measles elimination status debate: 02:08–03:08
• Winter storm warning & advice: 03:10–04:22
• Jack Smith testimony preview: 04:22–04:56

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This episode delivers a brisk and informative news update, balancing global diplomacy, constitutional questions in immigration enforcement, public health vigilance, severe weather alerts, and unfolding political investigations in Washington, D.C.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. European Union officials are holding a summit today to talk about transatlantic relations. This come a day after President Trump told officials at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that he would not use military force to take over Greenland. He later said he had a deal about the island. But Terry Schultz reports officials from Greenland and Denmark say they do not have details about this agreement.

[Terry Schultz]

Denmark's Prime Minister Mente Frederiksen has issued a statement now underscoring that things like security, investment and economy can be discussed politically, but not sovereignty. So it's quite interesting that these talks in Davos were not led by Danes and Greenlanders, but by the NATO Secretary General, Mark Rute. But a Greenlandic member of Parliament has already written on social media that, quote, NATO in no way has a mandate to negotiate without Greenland.

[Korva Coleman]

Terry Schultz reporting. The acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement says federal agents may enter private property without getting a warrant from a federal judge. This is outlined in a memo from a top ICE official that was leaked by a whistleblower. Minnesota Public Radio's Matt Sepik reports.

[Matt Sepik]

In the May 12 memo, which the Associated Press first reported, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons claims that agents need only an administrative warra from ICE itself to enter someone's home. University of St. Thomas law professor Julie Jonas says this flies in the face of the Fourth Amendment.

[Julie Jonas]

We require in this country for a unbiased magistrate to make a determination of probable cause. They're the ones who are supposed to be calling the balls.

[Matt Sepik]

And the strikes in Minneapolis and St. Paul this month, ICE agents without judicial warrants broke down the doors of two homes. Neither of the men they arrested is undocumented. One is a citizen. Both have been released. For NPR News, I'm Matt Sepik in Minneapolis.

[Korva Coleman]

A top official from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the loss of measles elimination status would not be significant for the United States. NPR's Maria Godoy reports. The comments from the CDC's top deputy director come as the U.S. is experiencing measles cases at levels not seen in decades.

[Maria Godoy]

During a press call Tuesday, Dr. Ralph Abraham told reporters that the loss of measles elimination status would, quote, not really.

[Public Health Expert]

Be just the cost of doing business with our with our borders being somewhat worse global in international travel.

[Maria Godoy]

But other Public health experts disagree, saying measles elimination status, which is granted to countries that have not had ongoing chains of transmission for more than a year, was a hard won public health victory for the U.S. that it's had since 2000. They say its loss would signal a public health infrastructure that's failing to protect Americans from preventable disease.

[Terry Schultz]

Maria.

[Maria Godoy]

Maria Godoy, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, in premarket trading, Dow futures are higher. This is npr. The National Weather Service says that a major winter storm is forming and will strike much of the eastern and southern US Starting tomorrow. Officials predict some areas will get significant or even crippling snow and ice. They're asking people not to drive. NPR's Jacqueline Diaz says if you must, there are some suggestions for safety.

[Jacqueline Diaz]

The best thing to do during a winter storm is to obviously stay off the roads. But if you have to drive, emergency preparedness experts tell NPR there are several things you can do to stay safe. They say it's always good to keep a first aid kit, phone charger, flashlight, water and some food in the car. Hypothermia can be a major concern in the winter, so add blankets, scarves and extra gloves to that emergency kit. And before you hit the road ahead of a snowstorm, experts say top off on your gas because you never know how long he could be stuck on the road. That way you can run the engine and crucially, the heater if you get stuck. Jacqueline Diaz, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Former special counsel Jack Smith will testify publicly today before the House Judiciary Committee. Republican lawmakers want to question him about his investigations into Donald Trump. That includes for Trump's alleged mishandling of classified documents and for alleged efforts to subvert the 2020 presidential election. Republican lawmakers say Smith is a partisan actor. Smith says that Donald Trump is responsible for his own actions. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.

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