NPR News: 01-25-2026 10AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – 01-25-2026 10AM EST

Date: January 25, 2026
Host: Korva Coleman
Length: Five minutes
Theme: The latest U.S. and global news headlines and updates

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a concise update on pressing national and international stories. Top stories include the ongoing dispute over the investigation into a fatal shooting by a federal immigration agent in Minneapolis, severe winter storm impacts across large swathes of the U.S., an analysis of Hollywood's box office slump under winter weather, the latest on Ukraine-Russia talks, and a record-setting feat by American rock climber Alex Honnold.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minnesota-Federal Dispute over Shooting Investigation

[00:16–02:03]

• Context: Minnesota and federal officials are in conflict over who will investigate the shooting death of Alex Preddy, a Minneapolis protester, by a federal immigration agent.
• Legal Action: State officials secured a temporary court order instructing the federal government to preserve all evidence.
• State’s Position:
  • Minnesota Senator Tina Smith criticized federal authorities:

    "Our state investigators had to get a warrant to have access to the evidence...and even then the federal agents refused to give them access. So looks very much like another cover up as we see that they are having the Department of Homeland Security say we're going to be handling the investigation, not even the FBI."
    (Senator Tina Smith, 00:45)

• Federal Position:
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended the agent, stating Alex Preddy was armed and attacked officers, but declined to specify when the weapon was retrieved.
  • Noted that this marks the third immigration officer shooting in Minneapolis in January, with the agency deploying 2,000 more officers amid mounting unrest.
  • Thousands protested this federal response over the weekend.

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2. Severe Winter Storm Cripples Much of U.S.

[02:03–03:12]

• Scope: Winter storm warnings stretch from New Mexico to Maine, with the main threat shifting from snow to hazardous ice.
• Impact: Around 750,000 customers are without power.
• On-the-Ground Perspective:
  • Blake Farmer in Nashville describes the dire conditions:

    "It's honestly not safe to walk outside right now, and not just because the ground is a sheet of ice. Holy cow, that's a 150-year-old oak smashing through the woods, whacking a power line and crushing some Adirondack chairs."
    (Blake Farmer, 02:32)

  • Southern states are especially vulnerable due to tree fragility and reliance on electric heating.
  • Power restoration may take days, with freezing temperatures to persist for at least a week.

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3. Hollywood Box Office Takes a Hit Amidst Storm

[03:12–04:12]

• Industry Impact: The snowstorm led to poor box office numbers nationwide, the worst weekend of the year.
• Key Film:
  • The thriller "Mercy Being" underperformed, with opening estimates dropping from $15M to $12M.
• Quotable Moment:
  • Bob Mondello notes:

    "Snowy weather is giving movie theaters very little mercy this weekend."
    (Bob Mondello, 03:26)

  • Major cinema chains (AMC, Cinemark, Regal) closed dozens of theaters; 20+ states declared emergencies.

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4. Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks

[04:12–04:36]

• Update: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported "constructive" talks but no breakthrough in UAE-hosted negotiations aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine.
• Focus: Discussions centered on possible parameters for peace, with participation from military officials.

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5. Alex Honnold's Taipei 101 Climb

[04:36–04:56]

• Event: Famed American rock climber Alex Honnold scaled Taipei 101 without ropes or protection, completing the ascent in roughly 90 minutes.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Senator Tina Smith (00:45):

  "So looks very much like another cover up as we see that they are having the Department of Homeland Security say we're going to be handling the investigation, not even the FBI."

• Blake Farmer, Nashville (02:32):

  "Holy cow, that's a 150-year-old oak smashing through the woods, whacking a power line and crushing some Adirondack chairs."

• Bob Mondello, on box office (03:26):

  "Snowy weather is giving movie theaters very little mercy this weekend."

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Minnesota shooting investigation dispute: 00:16–02:03
• Winter storm and power outages: 02:03–03:12
• Hollywood box office impact & theater closures: 03:12–04:12
• Ukraine-Russia talks wrap-up: 04:12–04:36
• Alex Honnold's Taipei 101 climb: 04:36–04:56

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This episode presents a fast-paced digest of the day’s most important news, underscored by tension around federal-state jurisdiction, the impact of unprecedented winter weather, economic bites in entertainment, ongoing international negotiations, and an inspiring adventure story.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Korva Coleman. Minnesota officials are in a dispute with the federal government. The issue is who will investigate yesterday's shooting death of a Minneapolis protester by a federal immigration agent. State officials obtained a temporary ruling from a federal judge late yesterday. It instructs the federal government to preserve all evidence in the case. U.S. democratic Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota says they acted because federal officials have blocked state investigators.

[Senator Tina Smith]

Our state investigators had to get a warrant to have access to the evidence of the shooting of Alex Preddy. And even then the federal agents refused to give them access to the evidence. So looks very much like another cover up as we see that they are having the Department of Homeland Security say we're going to be handling the investigation, not even the FBI.

[Korva Coleman]

She spoke to NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday. Meanwhile, NPR's Human Abustillo reports. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is defending the federal agent who killed Alex Preddy.

[Ximena Bustillo]

Noem said that the immigration agent fired defensive shots that killed 37 year old Alex. Jeffrey Pretty, asserting that he was armed with a handgun, accused Pretty of brandishing the weapon and attacking officers, but declined to answer questions regarding at what point law enforcement retrieved the weapon. Immediately after the shooting, a top White House official called Pretti a domestic terrorist. This is the third immigration officer involved shooting in Minneapolis this month. Two people have been killed. The agency has surged 2,000 officers into the city to conduct immigration enforcement. Over the weekend, thousands in Minneapolis took to the streets to protest the conduct of immigration officers. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

There's a powerful winter storm hammering much of the country this morning. The National Weather Service has posted winter storm warnings from New Mexico up to Maine's border with Canada. Some areas will get feet of snow, but a big danger is ice. About three quarters of a million customers are now out of power in the midst of the storm. From member station WPLN in Nashville, Blake Farmer reports on the dangers of ice.

[Blake Farmer]

It's honestly not safe to walk outside right now, and not just because the ground is a sheet of ice. Holy cow, that's a 150-year-old oak smashing through the woods, whacking a power line and crushing some Adirondack chairs. Standing outside, you can hear a towering hardwood topple every few minutes it's going to be a long day. Snow turned to freezing rain overnight and it hasn't stopped. Ice storms are particularly dangerous in the south. For one, the trees aren't used to the weight. But also majority of houses are heated with electricity. It could take days to restore power. And we're looking at temperatures below freezing for the next week. For NPR News, I'm Blake Farmer in Nashville.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News. Hollywood's box office numbers are down sharply this weekend across a Snow Blanketed Country. NPR's Bob Mondello has details.

[Bob Mondello]

Snowy weather is giving movie theaters very little mercy this weekend.

[Blake Farmer]

Your trial will now commence, Mercy being.

[Bob Mondello]

The thriller about an artificial intelligence justice system that is this week's only wide release. What was projected to be a $15 million opening now looks more like 12 million. And observers place the blame on snow.

[Ximena Bustillo]

Based on available evidence, I have already.

[Korva Coleman]

Judged your probability of guilt to be 97.5%.

[Bob Mondello]

More than 20 states from Texas to New York have declared states of emerg. And all three of the nation's biggest movie chains, amc, Cinemark and Regal, announced dozens of individual theater closings. As a result, movie box offices overall will only take in about $58 million, making this the lowest weekend of the year so far. Bob Mondello, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says talks have wrapped up in the United Arab Emirates about Russia's war in Ukraine. No breakthrough has been announced from these talks. No, but Zelensky described them as constructive. He says a lot was discussed. He says the focus was on the possible parameters of ending Russia's war in Ukraine. Military officials participated in the discussions. American rock climber Alex Honnold has climbed something different. Today. He successfully scaled the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan. He did it without ropes or protective equipment. It took him about an hour and a half. This is npr.

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