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NPR News Now – January 23, 2026, 12AM EST

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This episode delivers a concise, up-to-the-hour roundup of significant national and international news. Key topics include Ukraine's President Zelenskyy’s forceful call to action at Davos, protests and arrests over immigration enforcement in Minnesota, Special Prosecutor Jack Smith’s defense of his charges against President Trump, the forecast of a major winter storm, the political ambitions of a well-known sports broadcaster in Minnesota, and an upcoming historic NCAA basketball coaching showdown.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Zelenskyy’s Davos Speech: Europe Urged to Act ([00:11]–[01:19])

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a frank speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, sharply criticizing Europe's hesitancy to take decisive action against Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy opened with a nod to the movie “Groundhog Day,” illustrating that Ukrainians feel caught in a repetitive cycle of conflict:
- “He said Ukrainians have been living the same day for four years.” — Eleanor Beardsley ([00:35])
Recalling last year’s call for European self-defense, Zelenskyy stressed that nothing had changed and called for concrete measures:
- He urged Europeans to halt the so-called “Russian shadow fleet” exporting oil to fund Putin.
- Zelenskyy admonished European leaders to stop hoping that “President Trump will change,” insisting that “he likes the way he is.”
Zelenskyy’s rallying call:
- “World order comes from action and we just need the courage to act. Without action now, there is no tomorrow.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy ([01:11])
Closing with a signature phrase:
- “Slava, Ukraine, let's end this Groundhog Day.” — Zelenskyy ([01:19])

2. Minnesota Immigration Enforcement and Protest Arrests ([01:25]–[02:29])

Three people arrested in Minnesota after organizing a protest at a St. Paul church tied to ICE.
Among those arrested: civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong, accused of organizing a demonstration at a Southern Baptist church where Pastor David Easterwood also heads the local ICE office.
- Protesters chanted: “Justice for Renee Goode and ICE Out.” ([01:43])
Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the protest:
- “Listen loud and clear, we do not tolerate attacks on places of worship.” — Pam Bondi ([02:09])
- Bondi also leads President Trump’s task force against “anti-Christian bias.”
Context: Federal agents continue large-scale ICE operations in Twin Cities; more protests are anticipated.

3. Special Prosecutor Jack Smith Defends Trump Charges ([02:29]–[02:57])

Former special prosecutor Jack Smith stood firm on the decision to file charges against President Trump for:
- Trying to overturn the 2020 election
- Concealing classified documents at Mar-a-Lago
Smith’s statement before the House Judiciary Committee:
- “No one should be above the law in this country and the law required that he be held to account. So that is what I did. To have done otherwise on the facts of these cases would have been to shirk my duties as a prosecutor and as a public servant.” — Jack Smith ([02:41])
Smith faced tough questioning from Republicans; President Trump responded via social media, suggesting Smith should be prosecuted himself.
Smith asserted he would not be intimidated.

4. Winter Storm Warning Across Southern and Eastern US ([02:57]–[03:45])

Meteorologists warn of a major winter storm set to roll from New Mexico and Texas eastward across the South, up the Atlantic coast into New England.
Risks include severe ice, snow, and extremely cold temperatures from Texas to Boston.
Utility workers are preparing for likely disruptions.

5. Sports Broadcaster Michelle Tafoya Enters Minnesota Senate Race ([03:45]–[04:29])

Michelle Tafoya, well-known NFL broadcaster, announced a Republican campaign for an open US Senate seat in Minnesota.
- She is running on issues such as voter fraud, immigration, crime, and transgender athlete restrictions.
- “Our campaign is bigger than right versus left… It’s about confidence over corruption.” — Michelle Tafoya ([04:10])
Tafoya joins a crowded GOP field; Democrats also have a heated contest for their nomination.

6. Historic Father-Son NCAA Basketball Coaching Matchup ([04:29]–[04:53])

St. John’s basketball coach Rick Pitino is approaching 900 career wins.
Pitino’s next game is against Xavier, where his son Richard is in his first season as head coach.
- It's the first time they’ll face off in Big East Conference play, with Rick Pitino holding a historic 3-1 record against his son in coaching matchups.

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

Zelenskyy on Stagnation:
- “A year has passed, said Zelenskyy, and nothing has changed.” — Eleanor Beardsley ([00:51])
Zelenskyy’s Challenge:
- “World order comes from action and we just need the courage to act. Without action now, there is no tomorrow.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy ([01:11])
AG Bondi on Protests:
- “Listen loud and clear, we do not tolerate attacks on places of worship.” — Pam Bondi ([02:09])
Jack Smith’s Principle:
- “No one should be above the law in this country and the law required that he be held to account.” — Jack Smith ([02:41])
Tafoya’s Campaign Message:
- “Our campaign is bigger than right versus left… It’s about confidence over corruption.” — Michelle Tafoya ([04:10])

Segment Timestamps

[00:11] Zelenskyy’s speech at Davos
[01:25] Arrests after Minnesota immigration protest
[02:29] Jack Smith testifies before House Judiciary Committee
[02:57] Major winter storm forecast
[03:45] Michelle Tafoya Senate campaign launch
[04:29] Historic father-son NCAA basketball coaching match

This episode delivers a tight, informative snapshot of pressing news, anchored by strong statements from global leaders, legal figures, and new political entrants—all underpinned by the urgency and shifting dynamics of early 2026.

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This message comes from Capital One with the Capital One Saver card. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining and entertainment. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply.
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Details@capitalone.com Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. In a hard hitting speech at Davos Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Europe's inaction when while giving Europeans a Lesson in courage, NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports that Zelenskyy was not afraid to broach sensitive subjects.
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Zelenskyy opened his speech with a reference to the movie Groundhog Day. He said Ukrainians have been living the same day for four years.
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Just last year here in Davos, I ended my speech with the words Europe needs to know how to defend itself.
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A year has passed, said Zelenskyy, and nothing has changed. He exhorted Europe to stop, stop the Russian shadow fleet selling the oil that's financing Putin's war and said Europeans must stop, hoping President Trump will change. He likes the way he is. Zelensky told them there will always be new threats. He said what's important is to act in time.
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World order comes from action and we just need the courage to act. Without action now, there is no tomorrow.
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Slava, Ukraine let's end this Groundhog Day, said Zelensky. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.
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The showdown over heavy immigration enforcement in Minnesota now involves the arrest of at least three people. They're accused of helping organize a protest that disrupted Sunday services at a St. Paul church where one of the pastors is linked to Immigration and Customs enforcement. Here's NPR's Sarah Ventry reporting.
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Nekima Levy Armstrong is a civil rights attorney and allegedly played a role in organizing the protest in which demonstrators went to city's church, a Southern Baptist church, and chanted justice for Renee Goode and ICE Out. One of the church's pastors, David Easterwood, leads the local ICE field office. In a post on X announcing the arrest, US Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote, listen loud and clear, we do not tolerate attacks on places of worship. Bondi is also the chair of President Trump's task force to, quote, eradicate anti Christian bias. This all comes as thousands of federal agents remain in the Twin Cities conducting immigration enforcement operations and large scale protests are planned for Friday. Sarah Ventri, NPR News, Minneapolis.
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Former special prosecutor Jack Smith says he stands by his decision to charge President Trump for attempting to overturn the 2020 election and for hiding secret government documents at his Florida resort.
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No one should be above the law in this country and the law required that he be held to account. So that is what I did. To have done otherwise on the facts of these cases would have been to shirk my duties as a prosecutor and as a public servant.
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Smith gave his first public testimony Thursday, facing tough questions from Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee. On social media, President Trump suggested that Smith himself should be prosecuted. Smith says he won't be intimidated. This is NPR News. Millions of Americans are preparing for a massive winter storm. It's expected to start in New Mexico and Texas Friday and then move east through the south and up the coast to New England. Forecasters are warning of severe ice and snow from Texas to Boston, with bitterly cold air to follow. Utility workers are on alert. A nationally known sports broadcaster from Minnesota has launched a Republican campaign for an open U.S. senate seat. But Minnesota Public Radio's Catherine Richard reports on the heightened stakes.
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For years, Michelle Tafoya was a fixture on the NFL sidelines as an NBC Sports reporter. Now she's jumping into politics, her sights set on flipping a Democratic held seat in Minnesota. Tafoya was recruited to run by Senate Republicans as they worked to defend a slim majority. Tafoya used a launch video to push fraud, immigration, crime and transgender athlete restrictions as driving issues.
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Our campaign is bigger than right versus left.
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It's about confidence over corruption. Tafoya joins an already crowded Republican field vying for the GOP nod. And Democrats have a spirited race between the lieutenant governor and a swing district congresswoman for that nomination. For NPR, I'm Kathryn Richard in St. Paul.
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St. John's basketball coach Rick Pitino is on the verge of a milestone, his first shot at 900 career wins come Saturday when St. John's plays Savior, where his son Richard is in his first season as the head coach. As coaching matchups go, Rick Pitino is 31 against his son. This Saturday's game is the first time they'll square off in Big East Conference play. I'm Giles Snyder, NPR News.
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