NPR News: 01-23-2026 1AM EST

Summary

---

NPR News Now — January 23, 2026, 1AM EST

Host: Giles Snyder
Duration: 5 minutes
Main Focus: Top global and domestic headlines including U.S. foreign policy, extreme winter weather, a dramatic decrease in homicide rates, civil rights protests, political developments in Japan, and an innovative HIV vaccine trial.

---

1. U.S. Foreign Affairs: Trump and Ukraine Diplomacy

[00:16 – 01:08]

• Trump at World Economic Forum:
  President Trump concluded his visit to Davos, Switzerland, focusing on efforts to broker an end to the war in Ukraine.

  • He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and described the meeting as "good".
    • Quote: “The meeting was good with President Zelensky. We'll see how it turns out. A lot of people being killed,” – President Trump ([00:36])
  • Trump noted that both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin are interested in making a deal, but major unresolved "territorial issues" remain.
  • While Trump met with Zelensky, his envoys were simultaneously in Moscow meeting with Putin.

• House Vote on War Powers in Venezuela:
  The Republican-led House blocked a resolution intended to limit President Trump’s war powers relating to Venezuela.

  • The resolution failed due to a tie vote (215-215).
  • Opposition: House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Brian Mass stated military operations in Venezuela are already over.
    • Quote: “There are no troops in Venezuela. We are not at war.” – Brian Mass ([01:17])
  • Democratic Critique: Massachusetts Democrat Jim McGovern accused Republicans of shirking their constitutional duties.
    • Quote: “The best we can get from the current majority here is that there's never a good time for Congress to assert its war powers.” – Jim McGovern ([01:27])
  • Only two Republicans joined Democrats in the attempt to curb presidential authority.

---

2. Extreme Winter Weather Preparedness

[01:56 – 02:13]

• States of Emergency:
  Multiple U.S. states from New Mexico and Texas up to New England are bracing for a major winter storm.
  • Large amounts of snowfall, freezing rain, and sleet expected.
  • Warnings issued urging preparation for potential power outages and dangerously cold temperatures.

---

3. Historic Drop in U.S. Homicide Rate

[02:13 – 03:12]

• New Study Findings:
  U.S. homicide rate on track to reach its lowest level in 125 years — the biggest one-year drop ever, per the Council on Criminal Justice.
  • Compared to 2019:
    • 25% fewer homicides
    • 13% fewer shootings
    • Nearly 30% drop in carjackings
  • All crime categories now below pre-pandemic levels except for drug crimes, which saw a slight increase but remain historically low.
  • Quote: “The national homicide rate is on track to reach its lowest level in 125 years and the steepest single year drop on record.” – Windsor Johnston ([02:29])
  • FBI has not released full national data; local trends suggest 2020’s crime spike was temporary.

---

4. Civil Rights Protest Arrests in Minnesota

[03:12 – 03:38]

• Protest at Minnesota Church:
  Three arrested during Sunday’s protest at a St. Paul church.
  • Protesters, including a civil rights attorney, demanded the pastor’s resignation, citing his alleged leadership role at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

---

5. Political Developments in Japan

[03:38 – 04:06]

• Snap Election Called:
  Recently elected Prime Minister Sanae Takechi dissolved parliament, setting an election for February 8th.
  • Takechi, Japan’s first woman leader, was elected just three months ago.

---

6. New HIV Vaccine Trial in South Africa

[04:06 – 04:53]

• Delayed but Launched:
  A major, innovative HIV vaccine trial has started in South Africa, though it was initially planned for multiple African countries.
  • Goal: Test vaccines designed to prompt the immune system to create "broadly neutralizing antibodies" effective against up to 90% of global HIV strains.
  • Quote: “In many cases, up to 90% of global viruses could be stopped by one antibody.” – Penny Moore ([04:20])
  • The original $45 million USAID grant was canceled due to Trump administration cuts to foreign aid.
  • The trial moved ahead in South Africa with scaled-back funding.

---

Notable Quotes Recap

• “We'll see how it turns out. A lot of people being killed.”
  — President Trump ([00:36])
• “There are no troops in Venezuela. We are not at war.”
  — Rep. Brian Mass ([01:17])
• “The best we can get from the current majority here is that there's never a good time for Congress to assert its war powers.”
  — Rep. Jim McGovern ([01:27])
• “The national homicide rate is on track to reach its lowest level in 125 years and the steepest single year drop on record.”
  — Windsor Johnston ([02:29])
• “In many cases, up to 90% of global viruses could be stopped by one antibody.”
  — Penny Moore ([04:20])

---

Key Segments/Timestamps

• Trump in Davos & Ukraine War Talks: [00:16 – 01:08]
• Venezuela War Powers Resolution: [01:08 – 01:56]
• Winter Storm Prep: [01:56 – 02:13]
• Homicide Rate Decline: [02:13 – 03:12]
• Minnesota Church Protest Arrests: [03:12 – 03:38]
• Snap Election in Japan: [03:38 – 04:06]
• HIV Vaccine Trial Launch: [04:06 – 04:53]

---

This NPR News Now episode swiftly covers headline current events with succinct updates and key statements, making it essential listening for an at-a-glance understanding of late January 2026 news.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Odoo. Some describe Odoo like a magic beanstalk because it scales with you and is magically affordable. Odoo exactly what a business needs. Sign [e-mail], that's O D O O.com.

[Giles Snyder]

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump has wrapped up his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Before he left, he spoke to reporters and after meeting Thursday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as part of efforts to broker an end to the war in Ukraine, the meeting was good with President Zelensky. We'll see how it turns out. A lot of people being killed, trump said Both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin want to make a deal, but territorial issues remain the major sticking point. Trump met with Zelensky while his envoys were in Moscow meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a close vote, the Republican led House blocked a resolution to limit President Trump's war powers. In Venezuela. NPR's Claudia Grosales reports. A resolution failed in a tie, falling just short of the majority needed for passage.

[Claudia Grosales]

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mass led the opposition against the resolution, arguing US Military operations in Venezuela are over.

[Giles Snyder]

There are no troops in Venezuela. We are not at war.

[Claudia Grosales]

But Massachusetts Democrat Jim McGovern argues Republicans are making excuses.

[Ari Daniel]

The best we can get from the current majority here is that there's never a good time for Congress to assert its war powers.

[Claudia Grosales]

Just two Republicans, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Don Bacon of Nebraska, joined all Democrats in the vote to force President Trump to seek congressional approval for the use of military forces inside Venezuela. However, the resolution was blocked in a tie of 215 to 215. Claudia Grizzales, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

Multiple states have declared states of emergency ahead of that huge winter storm that's expected to stretch from New Mexico and Texas to New England. The forecast is calling for large amounts of snowfall, freezing rain and sleet. Officials are warning people to be prepared for potential power outages and bitterly cold temperatures. A new study says the U.S. homicide rate has fallen, fallen to a historic low. Researchers are calling it a dramatic turnaround in violent crime. As NPR's Windsor Johnston reports, the national.

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

Homicide rate is on track to reach its lowest level in 125 years and the steepest single year drop on record. That's according to the Council on Criminal justice, which analyzed crime data from 40 major US cities. The report found 25% fewer homicides, 13% fewer shootings and a nearly 30% drop in carjackings compared to 2019, all now below pre pandemic levels. The FBI hasn't released full national data yet, but local trends suggest the pandemic crime spike was a blip, not a lasting trend. Drug crimes were the only category that ticked up last year, but they remain lower than before the pandemic. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

[Giles Snyder]

And you're listening to NPR News. Three people have been arrested in connection with Sunday's protest at a Minnesota Church in U.S. attorney General Pam Bondi says they include the civil rights attorney and activist who led the protest. Dozens of people interrupted services at a Church in St Paul on Sunday calling for the resignation of the pastor. They say he has a leadership role with U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement. Japan's prime minister has paved the way for a snap election. Sanae Takechi has dissolved parliament and called for an election next month. On February 8th. Just three months ago, Takeichi was elected as Japan's first woman leader. This week, shots for a new HIV vaccine trial started going into participants arms. But as Ari Daniel reports, the effort a year delayed and almost didn't happen at all.

[Ari Daniel]

The innovative trial was supposed to roll out across multiple African nations and had been set up to find the best way to encourage the human immune system to create legions of special broadly neutralizing antibodies.

[NPR Sponsor Announcer]

In many cases, up to 90% of global viruses could be stopped by one antibody.

[Ari Daniel]

Penny Moore is a virologist at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. But early last year, she says the $45 million grant they'd received from USAID to do the work was cancelled as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to extinguish foreign aid. The team scrambled to secure a much smaller amount of other funding and scaled the trial way back to take place within South Africa, only for n. Hi, I'm Ari Daniel.

[Giles Snyder]

And I'm Jael Snyder. This is npr.

[Capella University Sponsor Announcer]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Capella University. Interested in a quality online education. Capella is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. A different future is closer than you think with Capella University. Learn more at Capella. Eduardo.