NPR News: 01-24-2026 5PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: 5PM EST — January 24, 2026

Main Theme:
This five-minute NPR News Now episode delivers succinct reporting on breaking national news stories, including a deadly incident involving federal agents in Minnesota, winter storm preparations in New York City, diplomatic efforts regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, confirmation of Hunter S. Thompson's cause of death, and a new childcare subsidy plan in San Francisco.

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Key News Stories & Insights

1. Minnesota Border Patrol Shooting Amid Immigration Crackdown

• [00:01 – 01:05]
  • Incident: A US Border Patrol officer shot and killed a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis during an ongoing immigration raid.
    • Officers were targeting an alleged undocumented, armed individual wanted for violent assault.
    • The man shot was reportedly a US citizen.
    • Border Patrol head Greg Bovino stated the man approached officers with a handgun.
  • Police and State Response:
    • Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara believes the victim was a citizen.
    • This marks the third federal shooting incident this month in the area (two dead, one wounded).
  • Governor's Reaction:
    • Gov. Tim Walsh vocally criticized the federal presence and urged President Trump to withdraw federal forces from Minnesota.
      • Quote [00:51]:

        "Donald Trump, I call on you once again. Remove this force from Minnesota. They are sowing chaos and violence. We've seen deadly violence from federal agents again and again and again."
        — Governor Tim Walsh

2. Major Winter Storm Threatens Northeast

• [01:05 – 02:06]
  • Forecast: A powerful winter storm is sweeping across two-thirds of the U.S., expected to reach the Northeast imminently.
    • New York City could see its heaviest snowfall in years.
  • City Response:
    • Mayor Zahran Mamdani is overseeing storm preparations and promises equal service for all residents.
      • Quote [01:33]:

        "Every single New Yorker is going to receive the same level of service where we prepare the city, take care of the city, and then get the city back on its feet in time after the storm."
        — Mayor Zahran Mamdani

    • Emergency declaration issued; warnings about low visibility and high winds.
      • Quote [01:48]:

        "Visibility will be very low. Winds will be gushing at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. New Yorkers can expect whiteout or near blizzard conditions."
        — Mayor Zahran Mamdani

    • Forecast predicts a foot or more of snow from Sunday into Monday.

3. Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Show Modest Progress

• [02:06 – 02:55]
  • Location: Two days of meetings in Abu Dhabi between delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and the U.S.
  • Main Takeaways:
    • Officials characterized getting both sides to the table as a "big step" despite lacking significant breakthroughs.
      • Quote [02:13]:

        "Just getting them to the table to talk is a big step… the conversations were very respectful, even if there were no significant breakthroughs."

    • Lingering issues: division of territory and terms of de-escalation.
    • Next round of talks is scheduled in a week, also in Abu Dhabi.

4. Colorado Reaffirms Hunter S. Thompson’s Death as Suicide

• [02:55 – 04:07]
  • Background: Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) reaffirmed the writer's 2005 death as a suicide after a review prompted by his widow, Anita Thompson.
    • No new evidence emerged to challenge the original finding.
    • The probe included potential new concerns raised by his widow, not publicly disclosed.
      • Quote [03:21]:

        "The Colorado Bureau of Investigations says it did not uncover any new facts or evidence to support a conclusion different from the original one…"

    • Thompson's history of depression and chronic pain acknowledged.

5. San Francisco Expands Childcare Subsidies

• [04:07 – 04:40]
  • Policy Update: Families of four earning less than $230,000 now qualify for free childcare.
    • Families earning up to $310,000 eligible for a 50% subsidy.
    • Aims to address the high cost of living based on area median income.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Governor Tim Walsh on federal agents in Minnesota [00:51]:

  "Remove this force from Minnesota. They are sowing chaos and violence. We've seen deadly violence from federal agents again and again and again."

• Mayor Zahran Mamdani on equitable storm response [01:33]:

  "Every single New Yorker is going to receive the same level of service..."

• NPR reporting official on Ukraine-Russia talks [02:13]:

  "Just getting them to the table to talk is a big step…"

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Minnesota border shooting & governor’s response: 00:01 – 01:05
• Northeast winter storm preparations: 01:05 – 02:06
• Russia-Ukraine talks update: 02:06 – 02:55
• Hunter S. Thompson’s death review: 02:55 – 04:07
• San Francisco childcare subsidy: 04:07 – 04:40

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This NPR News Now episode delivers a rapid-fire summary of serious and diverse national issues—ranging from federal policing controversies and extreme winter weather responses to international diplomacy and socioeconomic policy changes—providing listeners with pressing updates in just five minutes.

Transcript

[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. In Minnesota, a US Border Patrol officer shot and killed a 37 year old man in Minneapolis amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O' Hara says he believes the man was a U.S. citizen. Immigration officers were conducting a targeted raid against a person they say was undocumented and armed and wanted for violent assault. When the man who was shot approached, Border Patrol head Greg Bovino says he had a handgun.

[Governor Tim Walsh]

The agents attempted to disarm the individual, but he violently resisted. Fearing for his life and the lives and safety of fellow officers, a Border Patrol agent fired defensive shots.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Governor Tim Walsh is calling on the president to pull federal agents out of the state.

[Governor Tim Walsh]

Donald Trump, I call on you once again. Remove this force from Minnesota. They are sowing chaos and violence. We've seen deadly violence from federal agents again and again and again.

[Jeanine Herbst]

This is the third person shot by federal officers this month. Two were killed, one was wounded. Meanwhile, protests continue in the city. The powerful winter storm carving its way across two thirds of the US Is expected to hit the Northeast tomorrow and New York could get its heaviest snowfall in years. Steve Kastenbaum has more.

[Steve Kastenbaum]

New York City mayors are often judged by how they handle a big snowstorm. Zahran Mamdani is in the middle of that test now as he manages the city's response.

[Zahran Mamdani]

Every single New Yorker is going to receive the same level of service where we prepare the city, take care of the city, and then get the city back on its feet in time after the storm.

[Steve Kastenbaum]

Temperatures plummeted into the single digits early Saturday morning, prompting an emergency declaration here.

[Zahran Mamdani]

Visibility will be very low. Winds will be gushing at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour. New Yorkers can expect whiteout or near blizzard conditions.

[Steve Kastenbaum]

The weather forecast calls for a foot or more of snow from Sunday into Monday. For NPR News, I'm Steve Kastenbaum in New York.

[Jeanine Herbst]

U.S. officials say progress was made in talks with Russia and Ukraine to end Moscow's nearly four year long war. NPR's Tamara Keith reports.

[Tamara Keith]

The U.S. team spoke to reporters after two days of meetings in Abu Dhabi with high level delegations from Ukraine and Russia. The officials said said, quote, just getting them to the table to talk is a big step. And quote, the conversations were very respectful, even if there were no significant breakthroughs. They said having everyone in the same room was progress. After months of at times frustrating shuttle diplomacy, major sticking points remain, including how territory will be divided up and the terms of de escalation. If there is a deal. The officials say the next meeting has already been set for a week from now. Again in Abu Dhabi, Tamara Keith, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Authorities in Colorado have reaffirmed the cause of writer Hunter S. Thompson's death in 2005 as suicide. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation announced the results of its comprehensive review following a request to reopen the case at the behest of Thompson's widow.

[Chloe Veltman]

In a press release issued on Friday, the Colorado Bureau of Investigations says it did not uncover any new facts or evidence to support a conclusion different from the original one, that Hunter S. Thompson died of a self inflicted gunshot wound at his home northwest of Aspen, Colorado, on February 20, 2005. He was 67. The bureau says Thompson's widow, Anita Thompson, contacted the Pitkin county sheriff last summer to share, quote, new concerns and potential information about her husband's death. Investigators have not shared details. The counterculture figure was best known as the author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. In interviews, Thompson sometimes mentioned his struggles with depression, chronic pain and suicidal thoughts. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

In San Francisco, a family of four making less than $230,000 a year now qualifies for free child care. It's part of a plan to lower the cost of living in one of the most expensive cities in the country. And the city will also offer a 50% child care subsidy for a family of four making up to 310,000. The city determines benefit eligibility based on area median income. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[Steve Kastenbaum]

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