NPR News: 01-24-2026 7PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now — Detailed Summary

Episode: NPR News: 01-24-2026 7PM EST
Date: January 25, 2026
Host: Jeanine Herbst
Duration: ~5 minutes

---

Episode Overview

This edition of NPR News Now delivers a concise, high-impact summary of major news developments across the country and internationally. Key topics include a fatal shooting in Minneapolis involving federal agents, a severe winter storm affecting large portions of the U.S., diplomatic efforts related to the war in Ukraine, significant arts and culture news from the Kennedy Center, and legal action by the city of Philadelphia over the removal of a slavery memorial.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis by Federal Immigration Agents

[00:14 – 01:19]

• Incident:
  Minnesota officials identified Alex Jeffrey Preddy as the person shot and killed in Minneapolis, marking the second death involving federal immigration agents in less than three weeks.

• Official Statements:

  • Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith jointly named Preddy and clarified he was a 37-year-old ICU nurse and U.S. citizen.
  • Notably, Senator Tina Smith commented on the broader implications:

    “The Trump administration has already called Alex Preddy a domestic terrorist. He was a nurse. She stressed that if this can happen in Minnesota, it can happen in any community in the country.”
    (Sen. Tina Smith, 00:36)

• Response:
  Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey requested National Guard deployment to support police, with members distinguished by yellow safety vests.

---

2. Massive Winter Storm Threatening the U.S.

[01:19 – 02:13]

• Scope of Storm:

  • Spanning the Southwest to the Mid-Atlantic and up through the Northeast.
  • Heavy snow, ice, freezing rain, and sleet expected; already thousands without power in the Southwest.

• Meteorological Risks:

  • National Weather Service expert, Josh Weiss, emphasized the severity:

    “If people lose power, people can't get out of their homes because snow and ice is covering the roadways. They could be stuck for several days without the ability to get warm.”
    (Josh Weiss, 01:45)

  • Risk of subzero wind chills extending as far south as Dallas, Memphis, and Raleigh, making the situation “truly life threatening.”

• Travel Impact:

  • Thousands of flights canceled or delayed.

---

3. Trilateral Talks on the Russia-Ukraine War

[02:13 – 03:07]

• Diplomatic Progress:

  • U.S., Russian, and Ukrainian delegations met for two days in Abu Dhabi.
  • Officials viewed the meeting itself as a “big step,” noting respectful conversations despite no major breakthroughs.

• Outstanding Issues:

  • Major sticking points include territorial division and de-escalation terms.

• Next Steps:

  • Follow-up meeting already scheduled for the coming week in Abu Dhabi.
  • Speaker summarizes:

    “Just getting them to the table to talk is a big step…having everyone in the same room was progress.”
    (U.S. Official, 02:26)

• Escalating Violence:

  • As discussions took place, Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Ukraine’s two largest cities.

---

4. Kennedy Center Cancellations & Renee Fleming

[03:07 – 04:21]

• Concert Cancelation:

  • Renowned soprano Renée Fleming cancels upcoming Kennedy Center concerts due to a scheduling conflict.

• Context:

  • Her withdrawal is part of a larger trend following President Trump’s self-installation as Kennedy Center chairman, which has prompted many artists and groups to withdraw.

• Notable Past Connection:

  • Fleming had previously been a Kennedy Center artistic advisor and was honored in 2023:

    “This is another level, and it's not.” — Renée Fleming echoing her excitement,
    “Comparable to anything else.” — Kennedy Center video clip
    (03:59–04:04)

• Broader Impact:

  • Other resignations include the Washington National Opera and banjoist Béla Fleck.

---

5. Philadelphia Sues Federal Government Over Slavery Memorial

[04:21 – 04:50]

• Issue:

  • Lawsuit filed after the National Park Service removed a slavery memorial at the Presidents’ House in Philadelphia.

• Memorial Significance:

  • The removed exhibit honored nine individuals enslaved by George Washington.

• Legal Basis:

  • City claims the NPS violated multiple laws and a 2006 agreement.
  • The Department of the Interior asserts removal aligns with President Trump’s order to eliminate “divisive race centered ideology narratives” from national cultural institutions.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Minneapolis Shooting:

  “She stressed that if this can happen in Minnesota, it can happen in any community in the country.”
  (Sen. Tina Smith, 00:36)

• Winter Storm Warning:

  “So people are trapped due to heavy snowfall and damage, increasing rain. This cold is going to linger all of next week, making a dangerous situation truly life threatening.”
  (Josh Weiss, 01:45)

• On the Russia-Ukraine Talks:

  “Just getting them to the table to talk is a big step…having everyone in the same room was progress.”
  (U.S. Official via Tamara Keith, 02:26)

• Renee Fleming on Kennedy Center Honor:

  “This is another level, and it's not...Comparable to anything else.”
  (Renée Fleming and Kennedy Center video, 03:59)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Minneapolis Shooting Coverage: 00:14 – 01:19
• Winter Storm Analysis: 01:19 – 02:13
• Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks: 02:13 – 03:07
• Kennedy Center Cancellations: 03:07 – 04:21
• Philadelphia Lawsuit over Slavery Memorial: 04:21 – 04:50

---

Overall Tone:
Direct, urgent, and concise, providing listeners with rapid-fire updates on major stories with a clear sense of official reaction and public impact.

---

End of Summary

Transcript

[A]

This message comes from Live Wright, publisher of the Mattering Instinct. Drawing on biology, psychology and philosophy, Rebecca Neuberger Goldstein argues that the primal need to matter is the source of humans greatest progress and their deepest conflicts.

[B]

Available now live from NPR News in Washington. I'm Jeanine Herbst. Minnesota officials identified the person shot and killed today in Minneapolis as Alex Jeffrey Preddy. As NPR's Meg Anderson reports, he was the second person kill by federal immigration agents in less than three weeks.

[C]

In a news conference with city officials, US Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith named Preddy as the shooting victim. They said Pretty was a 37 year old ICU nurse, a US citizen and a Minneapolis resident. Senator Tina Smith, the Trump administration has already called Alex Preddy a domestic terrorist. He was a nurse. She stressed that if this can happen in Minnesota, it can happen in any community in the country. In the aftermath of the shooting, Mayor Jacob Fry requested that the governor deploy National Guard members to support Minneapolis police officers. Guard members will wear yellow safety vests to distinguish them from other entities on the ground. Meg Anderson, NPR News, Minneapolis.

[B]

A massive winter storm is sweeping through a huge swath of the country from the southwest heading to the Mid Atlantic and then up through the Northeast this weekend with heavy snow and ice possible freezing rain and sleet is also expected in many states. That could bring down trees onto power lines, leading to widespread power outages. Already thousands are without power in the Southwest. National Weather Service meteorologist Josh Weiss.

[D]

So if people lose power, people can't get out of their homes because snow and ice is covering the roadways. They could be stuck for several days without the ability to get warm. And it's going to be so cold. We've got sub zero wind chills that may reach as far south as Dallas, Memphis and Raleigh, North Carolina and all points north of there. So people are trapped due to heavy snowfall and damage, increasing rain. This cold is going to linger all of next week, making a dangerous situation truly life threatening.

[B]

Thousands of flights have been canceled or delayed because of the storm. U.S. officials say progress was made in trilateral talks with Russia and Ukraine to end Moscow's nearly four year long war. NPR's Tamara Keith reports.

[E]

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, 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.

[B]

Meanwhile, Russia launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Ukraine's two largest cities as the talks went on. This is NPR News. The Grammy Award winning soprano Renee Fleming has canceled her upcoming concerts at The Kennedy Center. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports. The singer's decision is the latest in a wave of cancellations at the iconic performing arts venue in Washington, D.C. renee.

[F]

Fleming was scheduled to perform with the National Symphony Orchestra in late May. The Kennedy center website now states the soprano will not appear owing to a scheduling conflict. Neither Fleming's representatives nor the Kennedy center immediately responded to NPR's requests for comment. The soprano has in the past enjoyed a close relationship with the venue. Here she is in a Kennedy center video sharing her excitement about becoming a prestigious Kennedy center honoree in 2023.

[E]

This is another level, and it's not.

[C]

Comparable to anything else.

[F]

Fleming was also a Kennedy center artistic advisor, but resigned last February after President Trump installed himself as chairman. A slew of other artists and groups have also withdrawn from the venue, including the Washington National Opera and and banjoist Bela Fleck. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[B]

The city of Philadelphia is suing the Trump administration after the National Park Service removed a slavery memorial at the president's house in the city. It's an exhibit that honored the lives of nine people enslaved by President George Washington. The suit alleges the NPS violated several laws as well as a 2006 agreement with the city. The Interior Department says the removal complies with President Trump's executive order directing it to remove divisive race centered ideology narratives from federal cultural institutions. You're listening to NPR News. This message comes from Mint mobile. Starting at $15 a month, make the [e-mail] Switch $45 upfront payment for 3 months 5 gigabyte plan equivalent to $15 a month Taxes and fees Extra first 3 months.