NPR News: 01-25-2026 10PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – January 25, 2026, 10PM EST

Host: Ryland Barton
Date: January 26, 2026
Episode Overview:
This concise NPR News Now update covers the aftermath of a fatal shooting involving a Border Patrol agent in Minneapolis, mounting political backlash against Trump’s immigration policy, the impact of a severe winter storm across the eastern US, updates on Ukraine’s security agreement with the US, the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decisions amid political pressures, and the passing of public health leader Dr. William Foege.

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Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Fatal Shooting of Alex Prezzi & Immigration Policy Backlash

[00:15–01:59]

• Incident Overview:

  • 37-year-old nurse Alex Prezzi was shot and killed by a border agent in Minneapolis.
  • The Trump administration claims Prezzi provoked the shooting; bystander video contradicts this, showing Prezzi holding a phone.
  • Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and local officials demand an end to the immigration crackdown.

• Public & Political Reaction:

  • Over 60 Minnesota CEOs signed an open letter urging state, local, and federal officials to collaborate after the shooting.
  • President Trump’s immigration policies now face pushback from voters and Congress.

• Political Analysis (Mara Liasson):

  • Senate Democrats refuse to fund the Department of Homeland Security following a second fatal Minneapolis shooting involving ICE.
  • Trump’s approval ratings are falling; immigration, previously a strong issue, is now a liability.
  • A New York Times poll finds only 36% approve of ICE’s job performance; 61% say ICE's tactics “gone too far.”

• Notable Quotes:

  • Political Commentator (on shifting public sentiment):

    “If you voted for this administration, heck, even if you thought Operation Metro Surge was a good idea... you’re still allowed to look at what’s happening here in Minnesota and say, this isn’t what I voted for and this isn’t what I want.”
    — [00:41]

  • Mara Liasson (on the political stakes):

    “New polls taken before the second fatal shooting show majorities of voters disapprove of ICE's tactics...that sentiment could have an impact on the midterm elections even though Trump himself isn’t on the ballot.”
    — [01:41]

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2. Record Winter Storm Disrupts the Eastern U.S.

[01:59–02:55]

• Severe Weather Impact:

  • Massive storm brings record cold, power outages, and dangerous travel from Gulf Coast to New England.
  • North Carolina’s Gov. Josh Stein highlights road closures due to snow, sleet, freezing rain.
  • Officials warn of black ice and advise people to stay off the roads; school closures and remote work policies enacted.

• Current Power Outages:

  • 900,000 people without power; Tennessee hardest hit (~300,000 without power).
  • Significant outages also in Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Weather Reporter (on road safety):

    “Stay off the roads. Black ice is going to stick around for a few days…so whatever precipitation is on the ground is going to turn to ice overnight.”
    — [02:34]

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3. Ukraine–US Security Agreement and EU Aspirations

[02:55–03:50]

• Diplomatic Update:
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says a security agreement with the US is “100% ready,” awaiting a signing date.
  • Zelensky positions Ukraine’s EU membership push by 2027 as an economic security guarantee.
  • He acknowledges fundamental disagreements with Russia regarding territorial concessions.

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4. Federal Reserve Holds Steady Amid Political Pressure

[03:50–04:31]

• Economic Policy Update:

  • The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain current interest rates due to persistent inflation, despite prior rate cuts to support the job market.
  • President Trump has pressured the Fed for more rate cuts and has instigated a DOJ investigation into the central bank.
  • Fed Chairman Jerome Powell maintains the importance of the Fed’s independence from political influence.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Scott Horsley (on Powell’s stance):

    “Powell said public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats. This week’s post-meeting news conference will give Powell another chance to make the case for why the Fed should be insulated from political interference.”
    — [04:12]

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5. Remembering Dr. William Foege

[04:31–04:55]

• Obituary:
  • Dr. William Foege, age 89, leader in global smallpox eradication, has died.
  • As a medical missionary in Nigeria, he contained a smallpox outbreak via targeted vaccination, later served as CDC Director.

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Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• “This isn’t what I voted for and this isn’t what I want.” — Political Commentator [00:41]
• “Only 36% of voters approve of the way ICE is doing its job.” — Mara Liasson [01:37]
• “Black ice is going to stick around for a few days… every night this week we’re going to get below freezing.” — Weather Reporter [02:34]
• “Powell said public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats.” — Scott Horsley [04:12]

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Useful for Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This NPR News Now update captures the rapidly evolving public response to immigration enforcement, severe winter weather disruptions, Ukraine’s foreign policy advances, economic signals from the Federal Reserve, and the loss of a historic public health leader, providing condensed but comprehensive coverage of the day’s critical news.

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Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. The Trump administration says 37 year old nurse Alex Prezzi provoked a border Border Patrol agent who shot and killed him in Minneapolis yesterday. Federal officials say the shots were fired defensively against him, but in bystander videos, pretty seen with only a phone in his hand. Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz and local officials are calling for the federal government to end the immigration crackdown.

[Political Commentator]

If you voted for this administration, heck, even if you thought Operation Metro Surge was a good idea, sounded like the thing to do a month ago, you're still allowed to look at what's happening here in Minnesota and say, this isn't what I voted for and this isn't what I want.

[Ryland Barton]

More than 60 CEOs of Minnesota based companies signed an open letter calling for state, local and federal officials to work together after the shooting. President Trump's immigration policies are getting some pushback from voters and from Congress. NPR's Mara Liasson reports.

[Mara Liasson]

Following the second fatal shooting of an American citizen in Minneapolis by ICE agents, Senate Democrats say they will not vote for a bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security. This comes at a time when President Trump's approval ratings are dropping. Although immigration has been Trump's best issue, with voters generally approving of his efforts to secure the southern border and deport undocumented immigrants with criminal records, new polls taken before the second fatal shooting show majorities of voters disapprove of ICE's tactics. According to a new New York Times poll, only 36% of voters approve of the way ICE is doing its job. 61% said ICE had, quote, gone too far. That sentiment could have an impact on the midterm elections even though Trump himself isn't on the ballot. Mara Liasson, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

A massive winter storm is sweeping across the eastern US Delivering record cold, power outages and hazardous travel from the Gulf coast to New Eng. In North Carolina, emergency officials are warning of more sleet and sub freezing temperatures tonight that could make roads even more dangerous. As Nick Delacanal from member station WFAE.

[Nick Della Canal]

Reports, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein says portions of three interstates were briefly closed on Sunday as snow, sleet and freezing rain pelted the state. At a news conference, he said conditions could worsen as the snow and ice refreeze overnight and linger into Monday.

[Weather Reporter]

Stay off the roads. Black ice is going to stick around for a few days. Every night. This week we're going to get below freezing, so whatever precipitation is on the ground is going to turn to ice overnight.

[Nick Della Canal]

School is canceled for thousands of North Carolina students on Monday, and many businesses are telling employees to work from home. For NPR News, I'm Nick Della Canal in Charlotte.

[Ryland Barton]

About 900,000 people are still without power after the massive winter storm coated tree branches and power lines with heavy ice across the South. Tennessee was the hardest hit, with about 300,000 still out of power. Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana each had more than 100,000. This is NPR News from Washington. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says a security agreement with the US is 100% ready. He says Ukraine is waiting for its partners to set a signing date. Zelensky says Ukraine's push for European Union membership by 2027 is an economic security guarantee. He did acknowledge fundamental differences with Russia over territorial concessions. The Federal Reserve is expect expected to hold interest rates steady when policymakers meet this coming week. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. All eyes will be on Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, who's been the target of a pressure campaign by President Trump.

[Scott Horsley]

The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates at its last three meetings in an effort to prop up the sagging job market. But with inflation still elevated, the central bank has signaled it will be cautious about additional rate cuts. President Trump, who wants much lower rates, has gone to great lengths to bend the Fed in that direction. The Justice Department has even launched an investigation of the central bank. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell has generally tried to avoid getting dragged into a fight with the president. But earlier this month, Powell said public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats. This week's Post meeting news conference will give Powell another chance to make the case for why the Fed should be insulated from political interference. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Ryland Barton]

A leader in the global eradication of smallpox, Dr. William Foege, has died. He was 89 years old. He was the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the late 1970s and early 1980s. While he was a medical missionary in Nigeria, he helped contain a smallpox outbreak by identifying each case and vaccinating everyone who they might have come into contact with. This is NPR News.

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