NPR News: 01-25-2026 11PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: January 25, 2026, 11PM EST — Episode Summary

Main Theme

This NPR News Now episode provides a concise roundup of the latest significant national and international news, spanning from a high-profile police shooting and business response in Minnesota, severe winter weather impacts across the U.S., escalating Israeli actions against a UN agency, updates from the Sundance Film Festival, and a peace march making national headlines.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minnesota Business Leaders Call for Calm after Shooting [00:16–01:14]

• Background: CEOs from over 60 major Minnesota companies (including Target, Best Buy, and General Mills) released an open letter urging officials to deescalate tensions after ICU nurse Alex Preddy was fatally shot by federal immigration officers.
• Business Impact: Companies report recent losses amid unrest.
• Investigations & Public Response: There are growing calls for investigations into the circumstances of Preddy’s death. Greg Bovino, Customs and Border Patrol commander, addressed the media but withheld details pending investigation.
  • Quote:

    "How many shots were fired? Where were the weapons located? All those facts are going to come out in the investigation… So I’m not going to speculate."
    — Greg Bovino [00:58]

• Political Tensions:
  • President Trump (to the Wall Street Journal): "We're reviewing everything and we'll come out with a determination." [01:14]
  • Governor Tim Walz stresses urgency, telling Trump he can "end this today."

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2. Major Winter Storm Disrupts Northeast [01:14–02:09]

• Storm Impact: Heavy snow and sleet from Arizona to Maine, notably burying New Jersey under nearly a foot. The sleet reduced expected snow totals but brought dangerous ice.
• Travel and Power:
  • 2,700+ flight cancellations in the New York metro area.
  • Power outages—modest as of report, but risks rising.
  • New Jersey Transit: All rail and bus service suspended, possible resumption on Monday, pending further updates.
  • Quote:

    "...the icy sheen poses its own risks. Power outages were relatively modest by mid afternoon, but as the storm continues, more outages are possible."
    — Bruce Kahnfeiser [01:37]

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3. Israel Moves Against UNRWA Facilities [02:09–03:08]

• Background: Israel to cut off power and water to several UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency) sites, following government criticism that the agency supports terrorism, which UNRWA denies.
• Context:
  • Israel has already bulldozed UNRWA's main offices in East Jerusalem.
  • In 2024, Israel banned UNRWA from its territory; law now allows cutting utilities.
  • UNRWA uncertain about which facilities are targets, as Israeli officials are barred from UNRWA contact.
• Quote:

  "UNRWA says it does not know which of its facilities might be targeted, given Israel's also forbidden its government officials from having any contact with UNRWA."
  — Emily Feng [02:27]

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4. Sundance Film Festival: Last Year in Park City [03:08–04:15]

• Festival Update: Sundance, founded by Robert Redford, is moving from Park City, Utah, to Boulder, Colorado, next year. The current festival pays tribute to Redford and screens past hits like "Little Miss Sunshine."
• New Films & Stars:
  • Standouts include "the Moment," a mockumentary with Charli XCX, and three other films starring or featuring her.
  • Olivia Wilde directs and stars in "the Invite," with Seth Rogen and Penelope Cruz.
  • Diverse lineup includes midnight movies, documentaries, and TV episodes.
  • Notable Moment:

    "Don't you just think the whole, like, keep having a brat summer thing is a bit cringe?"
    — Charli XCX (clip from 'the Moment') [03:45]
    "It's all cringe."
    — Mandalit Del Barco [03:49]

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5. Monks' Walk for Peace Reaches North Carolina [04:15–04:55]

• Update: The Walk for Peace, a 93-day journey by 19 Buddhist monks from Texas to D.C., encountered icy, snowy conditions in North Carolina—their first experience with such weather on the trek.
• Public Reception: Thousands greet the monks at North Carolina’s state capitol in Raleigh.
• Governor’s Message:
  • Governor Josh Stein thanks the monks for inspiring unity and hope, referencing rising partisan discord.
  • Quote:

    "We live in a time of partisan rancor and political discord. We don't want to be on guard against our neighbors. We want to come together."
    — Governor Josh Stein [04:44]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Greg Bovino on investigation:
  "How many shots were fired? Where were the weapons located? All those facts are going to come out in the investigation… So I’m not going to speculate." [00:58]
• President Trump on the shooting:
  "We're reviewing everything and we'll come out with a determination." [01:14]
• Bruce Kahnfeiser on the storm:
  "...the icy sheen poses its own risks. Power outages were relatively modest..." [01:37]
• Emily Feng on UNRWA:
  "UNRWA says it does not know which of its facilities might be targeted, given Israel's also forbidden its government officials from having any contact with unrwa." [02:27]
• Charli XCX in 'the Moment':
  "Don't you just think the whole, like, keep having a brat summer thing is a bit cringe?" [03:45]
• Governor Josh Stein on unity:
  "We live in a time of partisan rancor and political discord. We don't want to be on guard against our neighbors. We want to come together." [04:44]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Minnesota CEO Letter/Shooting — 00:16–01:14
• Winter Storm in Northeast — 01:14–02:09
• Israel vs. UNRWA — 02:09–03:08
• Sundance Film Festival — 03:08–04:15
• Monks’ Walk for Peace — 04:15–04:55

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This episode encapsulates a dramatic day across the U.S. and the globe, touching on community tensions, political responses, environmental hazards, global conflict, arts and culture milestones, and messages of unity. The brief and balanced reporting style delivers the essentials for listeners wanting a rapid yet meaningful update.

Transcript

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[Doua Lisi Kowtel]

Live from NPR News in New York City. I'm Doua lisai Kowtel. The CEOs of more than 60 Minnesota companies, including Target, Best Buy and General Mills, are urging local, state and federal officials to de escalate tensions following the killing of of ICU nurse Alex Preddy by federal immigration officers. In an open letter, the company executives called for peace and focused cooperation as some businesses reported recent losses. Meanwhile, there are calls for further investigations to determine what led to the fatal shooting of Preddy, a US Citizen who worked at a local VA hospital in Minneapolis. Here's Greg Bovino, the Customs and Border Patrol commander at large, updating reporters.

[Greg Bovino]

How many shots were fired? Where were the weapons located? All those facts are going to come out in the investigation. I wasn't there wrestling that assault, a subject that was assaulting Border Patrol agents. I wasn't there wrestling him myself. So I'm not going to speculate.

[Doua Lisi Kowtel]

President Trump, speaking to the Wall Street Journal, said, quote, we're reviewing everything and we'll come out with a determination. Governor Tim Walz, meanwhile, told Trump, you can end this today. A winter storm that has pounded more than half of the country from Arizona to Maine has buried New Jersey under nearly a foot of sn went sleet. As Bruce Conviser reports, by mid afternoon.

[Bruce Kahnfeiser]

The snow had turned to sleet across most of the state, tamping down higher snow accumulations that had been forecasted. But the icy sheen poses its own risks. Power outages were relatively modest by mid afternoon, but as the storm continues, more outages are possible. The storm brought travel to a near halt. More than 2,700 flights into and out of the three New York City area airports were canceled Sunday and New Jersey transit suspended. All rail and bus service operations may resume on Monday, but no official word on when. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Kahnfeiser in.

[Doua Lisi Kowtel]

Greenbrook, N.J. on Monday, Israel is scheduled to cut off power and water to a number of facilities run by a UN Agency that's come under fire by Israel. Doing so would effectively close them down, the agency said. NPR's Emily Feng is in Tel Aviv with this report.

[Emily Feng]

Israel has already bulldozed the main offices for the agency, called unrwa. In East Jerusalem. UNRWA schools once serviced about half a million Palestinian children across the Middle east, including in East Jerusalem, and its healthcare clinics supported underserved Palestinian communities. But in 2024, Israel banned it from its territory, saying UNRWA supports terror, something the agency denies. Under a law passed last fall, Israel can also cut off utilities to UNRWA sites and is planning to do so on Monday. UNRWA says it does not know which of its facilities might be targeted, given Israel's also forbidden its government officials from having any contact with unrwa. Emily Fang, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Doua Lisi Kowtel]

And you are listening to NPR from New York City. The Sundance Film Festival is in full swing for the last time in Park City, Utah, before it moves to Boulder, Colorado, next year. NPR's Mandalit da Barco reports on some of this year's films.

[Mandalit Del Barco]

For its Last Dance in Utah, Sundance is paying tribute to the late Robert Redford, who started the festival for independent film more than 40 years ago. This year, the festival is screening some of its old hits like Little Miss Sunshine, as well as buzzy films like the Moment, a mockumentary starring pop singer Charli Xcx.

[Emily Feng]

Don't you just think the whole, like, keep having a brat summer thing is a bit cringe?

[Doua Lisi Kowtel]

It's all cringe.

[Mandalit Del Barco]

Charli Xcx is in three films at Sundance, including the Gallerist with Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega, and I Want yout Sex with Olivia Wilde. Wilde also directed and stars in the Invite with Seth Rogen and Penelope Cruz. Among the indie films premiering at the festival are midnight movies, documentari and TV episodes. Sundance continues all week in person and online. Mandalit Del Barco, NPR News, Park City.

[Doua Lisi Kowtel]

It is day 93 for the walk for Peace monks who started their journey to Washington, D.C. from Texas in October. And for the first time, the 19 men dressed in gold and maroon clothes faced wintry, icy conditions walking through snow and frigid temperatures in North Carolina. In Raleigh, at the state Capitol, thousands gathered to meet them. Governor Josh Stein thanked the monks for inspiring unity and hope in the country, telling them we live in a time of partisan rancor and political discord. We don't want to be on guard against our neighbors. We want to come together. I'm Dwahili Sai Kowtow, NPR News, in New York.

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