NPR News: 01-24-2026 12PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: 01-24-2026 12PM EST – Episode Summary

Episode Overview

This episode of "NPR News Now," aired on January 24, 2026, provides a five-minute update on the latest national and international events. The episode covers major protests in Minneapolis following another officer-involved shooting, widespread travel disruption due to a severe winter storm, power grid readiness in Texas, intensifying Russian attacks in Ukraine during peace talks, the final performance of opera legend Denise Graves, and new developments regarding FEMA's workforce policy during ongoing disasters.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minneapolis Protests and Governor’s Response

• Main Issue:
  Protests erupted in Minneapolis after another shooting by federal agents. Activists chanted "Ice out now" demanding the end of ICE operations in the state.
• Government Response:
  • Minnesota Governor Tim Walz stated he has been in contact with the White House, urging President Trump to "end the ICE operation in the state."
  • The city of Minneapolis published on X (formerly Twitter) that they are confirming the details and urging the public to avoid the immediate area.
• Significance:
  Demonstrates ongoing tensions around federal immigration enforcement.

Memorable Quote:

"Ice out now. Ice out now. Ice out now."
— Protesters [00:23]

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2. Widespread Travel Disruption (Winter Storm)

• Storm Impact:
  A powerful winter storm is causing severe travel disruptions across the U.S. Nearly 10,000 flights have been canceled.
• Airline Response:
  Most airlines have waived rebooking fees and advise passengers to change plans.
• Texas Situation:
  The state is preparing for a winter freeze; Governor Greg Abbott claims the grid is improved and ready, referencing deadly outages nearly five years ago.

Timestamps & Notable Quotes:

• "US airlines have canceled almost 10,000 flights...travel of all kind is bound to be seriously hampered."
  — Louise Schiavone [00:30]
• "The ERCOT grid has never been stronger, never been more prepared, and is fully capable of handling this winter storm."
  — Governor Greg Abbott via Lucio Vazquez [01:52]

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3. Russian Drone and Missile Attacks During Ukraine Peace Talks

• Attack Details:
  Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Kyiv and Kharkiv. Ukrainian air defense was active, but the energy grid was hit during the coldest winter since the 2022 invasion.
• Ukrainian Response:
  Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said half of apartment buildings lack heat, and repairs are nearly impossible during wartime.
• International Context:
  The attack coincided with peace talks in the UAE involving Ukrainian, Russian, and American officials.

Notable Quotes:

• "Half of the city's apartment buildings are once again without heat."
  — Joanna Kakissis, summarizing Klitschko [02:50]
• "To repair the capital's massive heating system and to rebuild new one right now and during the wartime, it's impossible. We need a lot of money and time for that."
  — Vitali Klitschko [02:57]
• "Ukraine needs more air defense supplies to protect its energy grid."
  — Joanna Kakissis [03:05]

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4. Denise Graves’ Final Opera Performance

• Cultural Highlight:
  Celebrated mezzo soprano Denise Graves performs her final role ("Mariah") in Porgy and Bess at the Metropolitan Opera, capping a four-decade career.
• Her Legacy:
  Graves is noted for powerful portrayals of Delilah, Carmen, and other historic roles, and has won Emmy and Grammy awards.
• Next Steps:
  She plans to focus on her foundation and stage directing.

Memorable Quotes:

• "I'm very fulfilled. I've done the things that I've wanted to do."
  — Denise Graves [03:37]
• "Music...can transcend everything, race, socioeconomic status, language, and that's what I'm choosing to lean into."
  — Denise Graves [03:56]

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5. FEMA Workforce Terminations Suspended During Disaster

• Recent Policy Change:
  FEMA had been terminating contract disaster workers when their agreements expired.
• New Development:
  These automatic terminations have ended abruptly amid the ongoing winter storm, following criticism that emergencies are unpredictable.
• Ongoing Uncertainty:
  FEMA’s statement to NPR suggested the disaster workforce is designed to fluctuate, but uncertainty remains over future reinstatement of the termination policy.

Notable Moment:

"Critics have warned that it is the nature of emergencies that you cannot necessarily predict when you need these workers."
— Louise Schiavone [04:20]

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Timeline of Important Segments

• 00:17–01:29: Minneapolis protests, governor’s response, and winter storm/flight disruptions
• 01:29–02:16: Texas grid preparations and statewide emergency readiness
• 02:16–03:13: Russia-Ukraine conflict escalates during peace talks
• 03:13–04:08: Denise Graves wraps up a storied opera career
• 04:11–04:56: FEMA suspends termination of disaster workforce as storm intensifies

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Conclusion

This episode provides a rapid-fire but substantive look at a nation grappling with protest, severe weather, preparations for adversity, global conflict, cultural milestones, and emergency workforce challenges—all within a single news cycle.

For deeper coverage, listen to the full episode or visit NPR’s website for ongoing updates.

Transcript

[Capital One Announcer]

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[Louise Schiavone]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. Protests on the streets of Minneapolis this morning.

[Protester]

Ice out now. Ice out now. Ice out now. Ice out now.

[Louise Schiavone]

Minnesota Governor Tim Wall stating on social media that he has been in contact with the White House, quote, after another horrific shooting by federal agents. This morning, he's calling on President Trump to end the ICE operation in the state. The city of Minneapolis posted on the X platform. We are aware of reports of another shooting involving federal law enforcement. We are working to confirm additional details. We ask the public to remain calm and avoid the immediate area. Travel disruptions are already in gear as a major winter storm system makes its way across the nation. US airlines have canceled almost 10,000 flights. Most airlines waived rebooking fees during the storm and urged passengers to change their plans on the ground. Travel of all kind is bound to be seriously hampered. Texas is bracing for a winter freeze, but state leaders say the power grid is ready Nearly five years after another storm left millions without electricity statewide. The Texas Newsroom's Lucio Vazquez reports.

[Lucio Vazquez]

Nearly five years ago, extreme cold crippled Texas power grid, leaving millions without electricity for days and contributing to more than 240 deaths statewide. Now, as another freeze approaches the Lone Star, state leaders say the system is better prepared. The state's grid operator, known as ercot, says it expects to meet electricity demand as the cold settles in. Governor Greg Abbott says the grid has been improved to work under extreme cold. The ERCOT grid has never been stronger, never been more prepared, and is fully capable of handling this winter storm. Emergency crews are on standby, warming centers are opening across the state, and Texans are being urged to prepare and avoid travel during icy conditions. For NPR News, I'm Lucio Vazquez in Houston.

[Louise Schiavone]

Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Ukraine's two largest cities as Ukrainian, Russian and American envoys held peace talks in the United Arab Emirates. NPR's as Joanna Kakisis reports.

[Joanna Kakissis]

Attack drones flew over neighborhoods in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, as air defense units tried to shoot them down. Russia has repeatedly struck Ukraine's energy grid during the coldest winter since the full scale invasion nearly four years ago. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on social media that half of the city's apartment buildings are once again without heat. Klitschko told NPR on Thursday that it's a challenge to repair the capital's massive.

[Vitali Klitschko]

Heating system and to rebuild new one right now and during the wartime, it's impossible. We need a lot of money and time for that.

[Joanna Kakissis]

He said Ukraine needs more air defense supplies to protect its energy grid. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Louise Schiavone]

This is NPR News. In Washington. Mezzo soprano Denise Graves will take her final bow performing in Porgy and Bess at the Metropolitan Opera in New York city this afternoon. NPR's Olivia Hampton reports. The performance caps a career that has lasted more than four decades.

[Olivia Hampton]

Denise Graves has performed on the world's most prestigious stages.

[Denise Graves]

I'm very fulfilled. I've done the things that I've wanted to do.

[Olivia Hampton]

The Emmy and Grammy winning artist has portrayed some of opera's most commanding heroines like Delilah and Carmen. She now plans to focus on her foundation and stage directing.

[Denise Graves]

Music she says, can transcend everything, race, socioeconomic status, language, and that's what I'm choosing to lean into.

[Olivia Hampton]

Olivia Hampton, NPR News, Washington.

[Louise Schiavone]

As a major winter storm system has begun moving across the nation, terminations of federal disaster workers at FEMA are on hold. Recently, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been terminating two or four year contract employees when their work agrees agreements are up. Critics have warned that it is the nature of emergencies that you cannot necessarily predict when you need these workers. On Thursday, the automatic terminations abruptly ended that, according to internal emails obtained by npr. In a statement to npr, FEMA said it was its disaster workforce was designed to fluctuate, but did not respond to questions about whether the policy would be reinstated after the storm. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News.

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