NPR News: 01-24-2026 3PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: 01-24-2026 3PM EST

Host: Luis Schiavone
Date: January 24, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode offers a concise roundup of the day’s major U.S. news stories, spanning civil unrest in Minneapolis after a fatal shooting involving federal agents, severe winter weather preparations, volatile markets after President Trump’s recent actions, a new San Francisco childcare initiative, and a FEMA staffing policy reversal.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minneapolis Protests After Deadly Shooting Involving Federal Agents

• [00:14] The episode opens with reports from a frigid Minneapolis, where protests erupted after a 37-year-old man died in a confrontation with immigration agents.
• Details from the Scene (Meg Anderson):
  • Police reported multiple gunshot wounds; the man was pronounced dead at the hospital.
  • DHS claims the man was armed and that agents acted out of fear for their lives.
  • Contradictory video evidence shows multiple agents pinning the man down and then firing.
• Mayor Jacob Fry’s Response:
  • Expressed strong disapproval of federal actions in his city.
  • Quote [00:55]:

    “To everyone listening, stand with Minneapolis. Stand up for America. Recognize that your children will ask you what side you were on.” — Jacob Fry, Mayor of Minneapolis

  • Officials urge peaceful protest.
• Federal vs. Local Narratives (Luis Schiavone):
  • President Trump posts that the victim was carrying a loaded gun with two full magazines and criticizes local police constraints.
  • Gregory Bovino (U.S. Border Patrol) contends that agents tried to disarm a “violently resistant” suspect.
  • Mayor Fry disputes the Trump administration’s description; investigation ongoing.

2. Severe Winter Weather Across the Nation

• [01:54] As a storm approaches, cities prepare emergency measures.
  • Mayor Zoran Mandani (NYC) [01:54]:
    • All highways/major roadways brined.
    • Teachers and school staff prepping for possible remote learning.
    • Quote:

      “DSNY workers have brined every highway and major roadway in our city. Teachers and public school staff have made sure that students have the devices they will need to learn from should classes be held remotely on Monday.”

  • Airlines cancel thousands of flights.

3. Market Turbulence Linked to President Trump’s Policy Shifts

• [02:09] President Trump’s reversal on Greenland tariffs caused significant Wall Street volatility.
• Rafael Nam (NPR finance correspondent) [02:17]:
  • Trump threatens tariffs on European allies unless U.S. gains control of Greenland; markets tumble.
  • He later backs down, agrees to ambiguous “framework,” and stocks partially recover.
  • Memorable Phrase:

    “Trump always chickens out. It’s a phrase the president deeply dislikes. But Wall street investors stand by what they call the taco trade, like this week.”

  • Dow Jones/S&P end with small losses; could have been worse.

4. San Francisco Expands Childcare Access

• [03:01] New city plan broadens free childcare eligibility to families earning less than $230,000/year.
  • Daisy Nguyen (KQED) [03:32]:
    • 50% subsidy for families up to 200% area median income.
    • Unique to SF: eligibility based on local, not federal, poverty levels.
    • Funded by a voter-approved tax.
  • Mayor Daniel Lurie [03:44]:

    “This is going to remove a huge burden for working parents. We’re going to be the first major city in the nation to actually get this done.”

5. FEMA Suspends Controversial Worker Terminations

• [04:16] Amid winter storm response, FEMA halts automatic termination of disaster workforce contract staff.
  • Policy of terminating staff at contract end drew criticism due to unpredictable disaster timing.
  • An internal email confirms the change; FEMA says staff needs fluctuate with emergencies.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jacob Fry (Minneapolis Mayor) [00:55]:

  “Stand up for America. Recognize that your children will ask you what side you were on.”

• Zoran Mandani (NYC Mayor) [01:54]:

  “Teachers and public school staff have made sure that students have the devices they will need to learn from should classes be held remotely on Monday…”

• Rafael Nam (NPR) [02:17]:

  “Trump always chickens out. It’s a phrase the president deeply dislikes. But Wall street investors stand by what they call the taco trade, like this week.”

• Daniel Lurie (San Francisco Mayor) [03:44]:

  “We’re going to be the first major city in the nation to actually get this done.”

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Segment Timestamps

• [00:14] Minneapolis protest and shooting coverage
• [01:16] President Trump’s and DHS officials’ statements on Minneapolis incident
• [01:54] NYC’s winter weather response and airline cancellations
• [02:09] Stock market reactions to Trump’s Greenland tariff reversal
• [03:01] San Francisco expands free and subsidized childcare
• [04:16] FEMA reverses course on contract terminations

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This summary captures the urgent and concise nature of NPR News Now, highlighting the day’s key crises, government responses, and economic developments, while weaving in voices of political and community leaders.

Transcript

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[Luis Schiavone]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Luis Schiavone. In the sub zero temperatures of Minneapolis, people are turning out today to protest a deadly shooting involving federal immigration agents. A 37 year old man was killed in the confrontation. NPR's Meg Anderson has details.

[Meg Anderson]

Minneapolis police said the man had multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at a hospital. In a statement, officials with the Department of Homeland Security said the man was armed and that the agent feared for his life. But video of the shooting shows multiple agents aggressively forcing a man to the ground before firing several times. At a press conference, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry said his city has been invaded by its own government.

[Jacob Fry]

To everyone listening, stand with Minneapolis. Stand up for America. Recognize that your children will ask you what side you were on.

[Meg Anderson]

City officials urged residents to remain peaceful. Meg Anderson, NPR News, Minneapolis.

[Luis Schiavone]

President Trump today posted on social media that the person involved in the confrontation was carrying a loaded gun with two full magazines and that local police were not allowed to protect federal immigration officers. Separately, Gregory Bovino, the head of U.S. border Patrol, said agents attempted to disarm the man, but he, quote, violently resisted. At that point, the victim was shot by an ICE agent, says Bovino. In self defense, the mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Fry, rejected the administration's version of events in the cases under investigation. Across the nation, a winter storm system has communities deep in preparation. Here is the mayor of New York City, Zoran Mandani.

[Jacob Fry]

DSNY workers have brined every highway and major roadway in our city. Teachers and public school staff have made sure that students have the devices they will need to learn from should classes be held remotely on Monday, US Airlines.

[Luis Schiavone]

Have canceled thousands of flights. It was a turbulent week on Wall street with President Trump's U turn on Greenland. NPR's Rafael Nam has more.

[Rafael Nam]

Trump always chickens out. It's a phrase the president deeply dislikes. But Wall street investors stand by what they call the taco trade, like this week. Last weekend, Trump threatened to impose additional tariffs on several European allies unless the US Was given control of Greenland. That sent stocks sharply lower. But the president then backed down after saying he had agreed to a framework of a deal. He provided no details, but investors were relieved, sending stocks sharply higher before gains eventually stalled. The Dow Jones and the S and P ended the week with small losses, but it could have been worse. Once again, the taco trade came through. Rafael Nam, NPR News.

[Luis Schiavone]

President Trump is threatening Canada with a 100% tariff on goods imported from Canada if that nation goes through with a trade deal with China. This is NPR News in Washington. In San Francisco, a family of four making less than $230,000 a year will now qualify for free child care under a new plan to lower the cost of living in one of the nation's most expensive cities. Daisy Nguyen from member station KQED has more.

[Daisy Nguyen]

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced that the city will also offer a 50% child care subsidy for families making up to 200% of the area median income.

[Jacob Fry]

This is going to remove a huge burden for working parents. We're going to be the first major city in the nation to actually get this done.

[Daisy Nguyen]

While many cities calculate eligibility for benefits based on federal poverty guidelines, San Francisco determines eligibility on area median income. The city is using funds from a voter approved tax measure to specifically fund childcare. For NPR News, I'm Daisy Nguyen in San Francisco.

[Luis 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 agreements are up. Critics have warned that it's the nature of emergencies that you cannot necessarily predict when you'd need these workers. Thursday, the automatic terminations ended abruptly, according to an internal email obtained by npr. In a statement to npr, FEMA said that its disaster workforce is designed to fluctuate. I'm Luis Schiavone, NPR News.

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