NPR News: 01-23-2026 3PM EST

Summary

---

NPR News Now – 01-23-2026, 3PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Date: January 23, 2026
Theme: Rapid-Fire Top Stories from the U.S. and Abroad

---

Episode Overview

The January 23, 2026, 3PM EST update from NPR News Now delivers key national and international news headlines, with a focus on recent ICE controversies in Minnesota, the looming extreme winter weather in New York, the UN’s response to Iranian human rights concerns, recent Trump administration initiatives, and unusual pub protests in the United Kingdom. The episode is concise, informative, and captures the latest developments in a five-minute roundup.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. ICE Actions and Community Response in Minnesota

[00:16–01:20]

• Immigration Enforcement Controversy:
  Federal immigration officials dispute reports that ICE agents targeted a five-year-old child in Minnesota; they claim their primary focus was the child's father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias.
  Quote:

  "Earlier this week, Arias fled from law enforcement officers and left his child behind again, middle of winter in a car. We will enforce the law as it's written, but we will go above and beyond to reunite families because that is who we are."
  —Marcos Charles (ICE Official), [00:39]

• Ongoing Tensions:

  • Local officials counter that the child was among four minors detained recently.
  • The Twin Cities has seen daily protests following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent, which remains under investigation.
  • Economic blackout protests feature clergy, labor unions, grassroots organizers, and businesses.

2. Looming Extreme Winter Weather in New York State

[01:28–02:27]

• States of Emergency:
  Over a dozen governors have declared emergencies as blizzard conditions are forecast for several days.
• New York Impact:
  Governor Kathy Hochul warns of up to 18 inches of snow for New York City and Long Island, with dangerously low temperatures reminiscent of the deadly December 2022 snowstorm. Quote:

  "That's what I'm trying to prevent, is always reminding people that hypothermia can settle in quickly, frostbite can settle in, and that's something that maybe a lot of people in other parts of our state aren't even aware of."
  —Kathy Hochul (Governor, NY), [02:07]

• Remote Work Guidance:
  State employees to work remotely; private employers are asked to follow suit.

3. United Nations Extends Probe on Iran Human Rights Abuses

[02:27–03:12]

• UN Investigation:
  Ongoing concern about mass arrests and continued brutality by Iranian authorities, despite a temporary reduction in street violence.
• Conflicting Statements on Executions:
  • President Trump says Iran reassured him against executions.
  • Senior Iranian judicial authorities make statements to the contrary. Quote:

  "We have indications that the security forces made mass arrests in several cities, even pursuing injured people into hospitals and detaining lawyers, human rights defenders, activists and ordinary civilians."
  —Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, [02:43]

4. Trump Administration Announces New Anti-Abortion Initiatives

[03:16–03:50]

• March for Life Rally:
  The administration spotlights three policies:
  • Expanded “Mexico City policy” to limit U.S. funding for DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) and gender equality work internationally.
  • Prohibition on use of human fetal tissue in NIH-supported research.
  • Fraud investigation targeting COVID-era funds used by Planned Parenthood.
• Event Participation:
  President Trump sends a video message; Vice President J.D. Vance speaks in person.

5. UK Pub Owners Boycott Labour Lawmakers

[03:50–04:43]

• Tax Protest:
  In retaliation for a new commercial property tax, British pub owners have banned Labour Party MPs from their establishments.
• Widespread Action:
  Over 1,000 pubs join; the government hints at upcoming concessions. Memorable moment:

  “Signs have appeared on the doors of pubs across Britain, which read 'no Labour MPs.' ... More than a thousand pubs have joined the protest, and Labour lawmakers, eager to get back to their favorite watering holes, have taken note.”
  —Fatima Al Kassab (NPR London), [04:06]

6. Market Update

[04:43–04:54]

• Dow Jones down nearly 300 points (half a percent) at 49,084.
• S&P up by 2; Nasdaq up 73 points.

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “We will go above and beyond to reunite families because that is who we are.”
  —Marcos Charles (ICE Official), [00:39]
• “That's what I'm trying to prevent, is always reminding people that hypothermia can settle in quickly, frostbite can settle in...”
  —Governor Kathy Hochul (New York), [02:07]
• “We have indications that the security forces made mass arrests in several cities...”
  —Volker Turk (UN Human Rights), [02:43]
• “Signs have appeared on the doors of pubs across Britain, which read 'no Labour MPs.'”
  —Fatima Al Kassab (NPR), [04:06]

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• [00:16–01:20] — ICE confrontation and protests in Minnesota
• [01:28–02:27] — Winter storm and emergency measures in New York
• [02:27–03:12] — UN investigation of Iran human rights abuses
• [03:16–03:50] — Trump administration's anti-abortion initiatives at March for Life
• [03:50–04:43] — UK pubs ban Labour MPs over property tax
• [04:43–04:54] — Market Summary

---

This news roundup offers clear, concise updates on major developments, blending urgent national reporting with international perspectives and moments that capture both policy debates and public response.

Transcript

[Charles Schwab Representative]

This message comes from Charles Schwab. When it comes to managing your wealth, Schwab gives you more choices like full service, wealth management and advice when you need it. You can also invest on your own and trade on think or swim. Visit schwab.com to learn more.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Faced with mounting public anger over Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minnesota, federal immigration officials are disputing accounts that their agents targeted five year old senior ICE official Marcos Charles said during a news conference today that officers were targeting the child's father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias.

[Marcos Charles]

Earlier this week, Arias fled from law enforcement officers and left his child behind again, middle of winter in a car. We will enforce the law as it's written, but we will go above and beyond to reunite families because that is who we are.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Charles says a father and son are.

[NPR News Reporter]

Together at an immigration facility pending immigration proceedings.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Local officials paint a different picture, adding that the child was among four minors.

[NPR News Reporter]

Detained recently in the area.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Twin Cities region has been seeing.

[NPR News Reporter]

Daily protests since an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good, whose death is now under investigation.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This hour, many Minnesotans are staging mass.

[NPR News Reporter]

Protests they've described as an economic blackout. Clergy, labor unions, grassroots organizers and many businesses are taking part.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Despite below zero temps, more than a.

[NPR News Reporter]

Dozen governors have declared states of emergency in anticipation of the extreme winter weather.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Expected over the next few days. Samuel King with a New York public.

[NPR News Reporter]

News network reports they're urging residents to finalize preparations.

[Samuel King]

New York Governor Kathy Hochul says parts of the state, including New York City and Long island, could see 12 to 18 inches of snow. The state also faces some of the coldest temperatures seen in years, so Hochul says people should hunker down and stay off the roads. Top of mind for her is the December 2022 snowstorm in Western New York, which killed more than 40 people.

[Kathy Hochul]

That's what I'm trying to prevent, is always reminding people that hypothermia can settle in quickly, frostbite can settle in, and that's something that maybe a lot of people in other parts of our state aren't even aware of.

[Samuel King]

Hochul says state employees will work remotely on Monday and is asking private employers to do the same. For NPR News, I'm Samuel King in Albany.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

[NPR News Reporter]

Is extending its investigation into abuses in Iran. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports.

[Michelle Kellerman]

The UN's top human rights official, Volker Turk, says the killing on the streets of Iran may have subsided, but as he puts it, the brutality continues.

[Volker Turk]

We have indications that the security forces made mass arrests in in several cities, even pursuing injured people into hospitals and detaining lawyers, human rights defenders, activists and ordinary civilians.

[Michelle Kellerman]

He said he's alarmed by the mixed messages coming from Iran about their fate. President Trump has said that Iran promised him that they would not execute prisoners, but senior Iranian judicial authorities say otherwise. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[NPR News Reporter]

It's NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Trump administration has been touting a trio of initiatives during appearances at today's anti Abortion Rights March for Life rally.

[NPR News Reporter]

Including an expanded Mexico City policy aimed.

[Lakshmi Singh]

At curbing federal funding internationally for efforts supporting DEI or gender equality, ending the.

[NPR News Reporter]

Use of human fetal tissue and NIH supported research and a newly launched fraud investigation of COVID era funding into Planned Parenthood affiliates. President Trump appeared in a video played before the crowd. Vice President J.D. vance spoke in person.

[Lakshmi Singh]

In the United Kingdom, pub landlords angry about a new property tax are fighting back by banning lawmakers from the ruling Labor Party from entering their establishments. And the approach seems to be working. NPR's Fatima Al Kassab reports from London.

[Fatima Al Kassab]

In recent weeks, signs have appeared on the doors of pubs across Britain, which read no Labour MPs. This is after the center left Labour government introduced a new tax on commercial property, which pubs say will cost them thousands of dollars a year at a time when they are already struggling with the effects of Brexit, the pandemic and rising costs. More than a thousand pubs have joined the protest, and Labour lawmakers, eager to get back to their favorite watering holes, have taken note. The government is expected to announce concessions for pubs in the coming days. Fatima Al Kassab, NPR News, London.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Dow Jones industrial average down nearly.

[NPR News Reporter]

300 points, more than half a percent at 49,084. The S&P is up 2. Nasdaq is up 73 points. It's NPR News.

[Podcast Sponsor Announcer]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app, by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.