NPR News Now: January 23, 2026, 9AM EST

Overview

This episode, hosted by Korva Coleman, delivers a concise roundup of major news stories in the U.S. and worldwide. Key topics include a massive U.S. winter storm, a controversial ICE arrest involving a child, insights from swing voters ahead of the midterms, ongoing nurse strikes in New York, a record number of seafarers stranded abroad, and the divestment of TikTok’s Chinese ownership.

Major News Stories

1. Massive Winter Storm Threatens U.S.

• [00:00–01:17]
• Over 170 million Americans are facing a dangerous winter storm this weekend.
  • Heavy snow, crippling ice, and persistent freezing temperatures are expected.
  • More than half a dozen states have declared emergencies; National Guard troops have been called up.
  • Governor Jeff Landry (Louisiana) warns prolonged power outages are likely:
    • "An ice storm is going to create power outages." — Gov. Landry [00:52]
    • “Ice accumulates on trees, it accumulates on the lines, and then it causes them to fail.” — Gov. Landry [00:59]
  • Major school systems (Chicago, Des Moines, Milwaukee) closed; hundreds of flights canceled.

2. Controversial ICE Arrest of a 5-Year-Old in Minnesota

• [01:17–02:17]
• Immigration agents detained 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, now in Texas federal custody.
  • Fourth child from the same district detained in recent weeks.
  • Zena Stanvik, superintendent, alleges ICE used Liam as "bait" to lure family:
    • "The child was used as bait to bring his family members out of their home." — Zena Stanvik [01:32]
  • DHS disputes, claiming the child was abandoned, not used as bait.
  • Both child and father detained at Dilley Detention Center, Texas.
  • DHS asserts over 3,000 arrests in Minneapolis area in last six weeks, focusing on “dangerous criminals.”

3. Midterm Elections: Swing Voter Sentiment in Pennsylvania

• [02:17–02:57]
• NPR conducted a focus group of 14 swing voters:
  • Group voted Biden 2020, Trump 2024; lean Republican/Independent, but critical of both parties.
  • One-word associations for parties:
    • Republicans: "Trump, weak, conservative, bewildered, outspoken, patriotic, loyal, immoral." [02:34]
    • Democrats: "Distracted, unprepared, panicked, sensitive, whiny, scary, disoriented, corrupt, weak." [02:57]
  • Voters want Trump to prioritize domestic issues — particularly the U.S. economy — over foreign concerns like Greenland and Venezuela.

4. New York City Area Nurses’ Strike Continues

• [02:57–03:58]
• 15,000+ nurses on strike since January 12th, demanding better security and higher wages.
  • Hospital representatives call union demands “costly and unreasonable.”
  • Contract negotiations are ongoing but progressing slowly.

5. Shipping Companies Stranding Seafarers Abroad

• [03:58–04:32]
• International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) reports a record 6,000+ seafarers abandoned last year.
  • Indian seafarers most affected (>1,000 cases), followed by Filipinos and Syrians.
  • Indian government to blacklist repeat-offender companies.
  • Middle East and Europe—especially Turkey, UAE—have highest incidents.
  • “The Middle East and Europe are the worst regions overall for abandoning crew members…” — Jackie Northam [04:13]

6. TikTok Sale to U.S.-Led Investors

• [04:32–04:54]
• TikTok finalizes a deal to sell the majority of its Chinese stake to investors headed by Larry Ellison, a Trump ally.
  • Sale prompted by federal law mandating Chinese owners divest over national security.
  • Highlights ongoing U.S.-China tech tensions.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “An ice storm is going to create power outages.” — Gov. Jeff Landry [00:52]
• “The child was used as bait to bring his family members out of their home.” — Zena Stanvik, superintendent [01:32]
• “Trump, weak, conservative, bewildered, outspoken, patriotic, loyal, immoral.” — Voters describing Republicans [02:34]
• “Distracted, unprepared, panicked, sensitive, whiny, scary, disoriented, corrupt, weak.” — Voters describing Democrats [02:57]
• “The Middle East and Europe are the worst regions overall for abandoning crew members...” — Jackie Northam [04:13]

Useful Timestamps

• 00:00 — Start of news coverage
• 00:31–01:17 — Winter storm updates and official statements
• 01:17–02:17 — ICE arrest controversy in Minnesota
• 02:17–02:57 — Swing voter insights and party perceptions
• 02:57–03:58 — New York nurse strike updates
• 03:58–04:32 — Seafarer abandonment crisis
• 04:32–04:54 — TikTok divestment and U.S. tech policy

This summary reflects the latest developments and highlights the tone and key points as presented by NPR’s reporters and sources in the January 23, 2026, 9AM broadcast.