NPR News: 01-23-2026 5PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – 01-23-2026 5PM EST

Host: Ryland Barton (NPR)
Date: January 23, 2026
Length: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This fast-paced NPR News Now episode delivers a snapshot of major headlines in under five minutes, focusing primarily on growing domestic protests over immigration policy, significant military and federal agency developments, European diplomatic friction, controversy over NATO and US alliances, and a closing update on the investigation into Hunter S. Thompson's death.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Minnesota Protests Against Immigration Crackdown

[00:18–01:01]

• Nationwide Walkout:
  • A major coalition of labor unions, progressive organizations, and clergy led a mass protest in Minnesota against President Trump’s immigration policies.
  • Minnesotans were urged to abstain from work, school, and shopping in response.
  • Over 700 businesses reportedly closed for the action.
• Escalating Tensions:
  • Strained confrontations reported between federal law enforcement and both activists and community members.
• Community Voices:
  • St. Paul resident Guy Hammink speaks out in support of targeted community members:

    “It's made me angry. It made me feel like I got to do something. And I feel like there's people who are scared to go outside and people who aren't being targeted feel like there's an obligation for those people to stand up for those who are being targeted. So I'm just here to show my support for my neighbors.”
    — Guy Hammink, 00:48

2. Federal and Military Readiness Amidst Unrest

[01:01–01:33]

• Army Deployment Prep:
  • An army battalion at Fort Carson, Colorado, has received a preparatory order for potential deployment to Minnesota, per an anonymous official.
  • Additional units from North Carolina and Alaska are also on alert.
  • President Trump threatens invoking the Insurrection Act, which enables domestic military deployment.

3. FEMA Disaster Worker Policy Reversal

[01:33–02:15]

• Background:
  • FEMA relies on a workforce under renewable 2-4 year contracts to manage disasters.
  • Recently, the agency had begun terminating contracts as they expired, a move criticized by disaster response experts for undermining federal response efficacy.
• Abrupt Change:
  • FEMA has suddenly suspended this termination policy, likely in light of an impending severe winter storm.
• Trump Administration:
  • The administration has been critical of FEMA and is reportedly seeking reforms.
• FEMA Statement:
  • FEMA told NPR its workforce is "designed to fluctuate," but did not clarify future plans regarding contract terminations.

4. Diplomatic Tensions Over Greenland

[02:15–03:07]

• Danish PM in Greenland:
  • Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen visits Greenland following high-level EU meetings.
  • A diplomatic crisis persists following President Trump’s threats to “take over” Greenland.
  • Frederiksen comments:

    “It's a serious situation we're in. Everyone can see that... Now there's a diplomatic, political track that we're going to pursue and we need to prepare it.”
    — Mette Frederiksen, 02:28

  • No details disclosed on a so-called “framework for an agreement” with Trump.

5. Trump Sparks Outrage Over NATO Afghanistan Comments

[03:07–03:55]

• President’s Remarks:
  • President Trump tells Fox News he's uncertain NATO would come to the US's aid, and dismisses the alliance's front-line role in Afghanistan.
• UK and Allied Outrage:
  • British politicians, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, criticize Trump’s comments as “insulting and frankly, appalling.”

    “I consider President Trump's remarks to be insulting and frankly, appalling, and I'm not surprised they've caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured.”
    — Keir Starmer, 03:43

  • British veteran Ben McBean (who lost limbs in Afghanistan) posts on social media expressing fury.
  • UK’s Afghanistan involvement marked the only Article 5 invocation in NATO’s history.

6. Journalist Hunter S. Thompson Death Review

[04:23–04:54]

• Investigation Update:
  • Official review of Thompson’s 2005 death reaffirms original finding of suicide, following concerns raised by former wife Anita Thompson.
  • Anita expresses relief at the review’s outcome, allowing loved ones to “move forward with a clean conscience.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Guy Hammink (community solidarity):

  “...I feel like there's people who are scared to go outside and people who aren't being targeted feel like there's an obligation for those people to stand up for those who are being targeted.”
  — [00:48]

• Mette Frederiksen (Danish PM):

  “It's a serious situation we’re in. Everyone can see that, she said. Now there’s a diplomatic, political track that we’re going to pursue and we need to prepare it.”
  — [02:28]

• Keir Starmer (UK PM):

  “I consider President Trump's remarks to be insulting and frankly, appalling, and I’m not surprised they've caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured.”
  — [03:43]

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Segment Timestamps

• Protests in Minnesota/ICE Crackdown: 00:18–01:01
• Military/FEMA Developments: 01:01–02:15
• Greenland/Danish Diplomatic Drama: 02:15–03:07
• NATO Comments & UK Reaction: 03:07–03:55
• Hunter S. Thompson Death Review: 04:23–04:54

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This episode delivers critical, rapidly unfolding stories on domestic unrest, international relations, and federal policy shifts—providing listeners with a comprehensive news snapshot as events develop.

Transcript

[Charles Schwab Announcer]

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[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton.

[Protester]

What do we want? Let's go. What do we want?

[Ryland Barton]

A vast network of labor unions, progressive organizations and clergy called on Minnesotans to stay away from work, school and stores for a massive proceed test of President Trump's immigration crackdown today. Organizers say more than 700 businesses closed. Federal law enforcement officers have repeatedly squared off with community members and activists in recent weeks. Guy Hammink from St. Paul says people who support ICE are on the wrong side of history.

[Guy Hammink]

It's made me angry. It made me feel like I got to do something. And I feel like there's people who are scared to go outside and people who aren't being targeted feel like there's an obligation for those people to stand up for those who are being targeted. So I'm just here to show my support for my neighbors.

[Ryland Barton]

Meanwhile, an army battalion in Fort Carson, Colorado, has received a prepare to deploy order to Minnesota. That's according to an official not authorized to speak publicly. President Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection act, which allows a president to deploy the military domestically. Military units from North Carolina and Alaska have also been told to prepare to deploy to Minnesota. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is abruptly halting a policy of terminating federal disaster workers that's ahead of a severe winter storm that's hitting the U.S. as NPR's Lauren Sommer reports.

[Lauren Sommer]

FEMA relies on thousands of disaster workers to respond on the ground when storms and wildfires hit. Those workers are on two or four year contracts, which generally are renewed. Recently, FEMA has been terminating employees whose contracts are up, something disaster response experts say could hurt the agency's ability to respond. On Thursday, FEMA abruptly stopped that policy, according to an internal email obtained by npr. The Trump administration has been critical of FEMA and is working to overhaul the agency. In a statement to npr, FEMA says its disaster workforce is designed to fluctuate, but did not respond to questions about whether the termination policy would be reinstated after the winter storm. Lauren Sommer, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

The Danish prime minister is in Greenland after meetings with fellow European Union leaders. Mette Frederiksen says the political crisis with President Trump may have eased, but it's not over. As Terry Schulz reports, it's been a.

[Terry Schultz]

Very, very difficult time. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told journalists as she met her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens Frederik Nielsen, in his country's capital after days of drama with over Trump's threats to take over the island. It's a serious situation we're in. Everyone can see that, she said. Now there's a diplomatic, political track that we're going to pursue and we need to prepare it. Frederickson didn't share what she learned from NATO chief Mark Rutte, the man who negotiated what's being called a framework for an agreement with Trump. Nielsen said Thursday he hadn't yet been given any details. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels.

[Ryland Barton]

Stocks closed mixed today. The S&P 500 closed with little change. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. President Trump told Fox News he's not sure the NATO alliance would come to the US Aid and that NATO forces weren't on the front lines in the war of Afghanistan that sparked outrage in the UK as NPR's Fatima Al Kassab.

[Fatima Al Kassab]

Reports from London, Trump's comments suggesting NATO troops avoided the front line in the war in Afghanistan have been condemned by politicians across the spectrum in the UK UK Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on Trump to apologise.

[Keir Starmer]

I consider President Trump's remarks to be insulting and frankly, appalling, and I'm not surprised they've caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured.

[Fatima Al Kassab]

One veteran, Ben McBean, wrote on social media. As I sit here with two limbs missing, friends gone, it's infuriating to hear this come out of Donald Trump's mouth. Soon after the 911 terror attacks, the UK joined the US in its invasion of Afghanistan. This remains the only time a NATO member has invoked Article 5, which says that an attack on one member is an attack on all. Fatima Al Kassab, NPR News, London, Colorado.

[Ryland Barton]

Investigators say a review of the 2005 shooting death of journalist Hunter S. Thompson has confirmed the original finding that his death was a suicide. The review was conducted after Thompson's former wife said she had new concerns and information about the investigation. Anita Thompson says the review allows everyone who loved her husband to move forward with a clean conscience. The US Stock market finished an up and down week full of terrorist threats with a quiet close. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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