NPR News: 01-25-2026 1AM EST

Summary

---

NPR News Now – January 25, 2026, 1AM EST

Host: Dwahalisai Kowtel
Duration: 5 minutes
Theme: Hourly update on top national and international stories

---

Main Overview

This concise episode spotlights major breaking stories nationwide and internationally, with a strong focus on immigration enforcement controversies in the U.S., the ongoing impact of severe winter weather, and significant events abroad, including Myanmar's contentious election and a deadly weather crisis in Afghanistan.

---

Key News Stories and Discussion Points

1. Immigration Agent Shooting in Minneapolis

[00:16] – [01:17]

• Incident Summary: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly defended an immigration agent who fatally shot a protester, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, during protests against federal immigration actions in Minneapolis.

• Key Details:

  • Noem asserts the agent acted “in accordance with their training” (00:25).
  • Pretti was claimed to be armed and to have “brandished the weapon and attacked officers,” but Noem avoided addressing when the weapon was recovered (00:38-00:48).
  • After the shooting, a White House official labeled Pretti a “domestic terrorist.”
  • Third such shooting involving immigration officers in Minneapolis this month; two people have been killed.
  • Federal response has seen a surge of 2,000 officers into the city; public protests continue.

• Notable Quote:

  • “The immigration agent fired defensive shots that killed 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti, asserting that he was armed with a handgun.”
    — Ximene Bustia, NPR ([00:38])

---

2. Texas Democratic Senate Primary Debate

[01:17] – [02:12]

• Context: Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico debate amid heightened attention to immigration enforcement, only hours after the Minneapolis incident.
• Key Points:
  • Immigration policy, especially concerning ICE’s future and funding, dominated debate questions.
  • James Talarico’s Position:
    • Strongly condemned ICE’s actions, called for radical reform.
    • Quote:
      • “ICE executed a man in broad daylight on our streets. It's time to tear down this secret police force and replace it with an agency that actually is going to focus on public safety.”
        — James Talarico ([01:50])
  • Jasmine Crockett’s Stance:
    • Recently voted against additional funding for ICE.
    • Emphasized need for a complete overhaul: “the agency needs to be cleaned up from top to bottom.”

---

3. Major Winter Storm Threatens the Northeast

[02:12] – [03:08]

• Details:
  • A “powerful winter storm” is forecast to bring the heaviest snowfall New York has seen in years.
  • Mayor Zahran Mamdani is leading the city’s emergency response, assuring equal service to all residents.
  • Emergency measures are in place due to “plummeting temperatures” and forecasts of up to a foot of snow, with whiteout or blizzard-like conditions expected.
  • Over 15,000 flights canceled nationwide.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “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 ([02:34])
  • “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 ([02:49])

---

4. International News Roundup

[03:08] – [04:49]

• Myanmar’s Election:

  • Polls open for what the U.N. calls an “illegitimate” election, backed by China and Russia and dominated by the military-led USDP party, with a backdrop of ongoing civil war.

• Afghanistan’s Deadly Winter Weather:

  • Over 60 dead after snow and landslides, including 15 children; more than 450 homes destroyed.
  • Ongoing humanitarian crisis as deportations from neighboring countries continue.
  • Nearly half the Afghan population expected to be “severely food insecure” by March.
  • Notable neighboring tragedy: Nine family members in northern Pakistan killed by avalanche.

• Notable Quote:

  • “Authorities say the dead include 15 children... Even as tens of thousands are forcibly repatriated from their homes in neighbouring Pakistan and Iran, nearly half of all Afghans are expected to be severely food insecure by March.”
    — Dia Hadid, NPR ([04:03])

---

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “ICE executed a man in broad daylight on our streets. It's time to tear down this secret police force and replace it with an agency that actually is going to focus on public safety.”
  — James Talarico, Texas State Rep. ([01:50])

• “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 ([02:34])

• “Authorities say the dead include 15 children... nearly half of all Afghans are expected to be severely food insecure by March.”
  — Dia Hadid, NPR ([04:03])

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:16] Immigration agent shooting reactions
• [01:17] Texas Senate primary debate and immigration
• [02:12] Winter storm preps in New York
• [03:08] Myanmar’s election and Afghan weather disaster

---

This episode delivered rapid, well-sourced updates on pivotal U.S. and international developments, blending political, social, and environmental reporting in NPR's succinct, urgent style.

Transcript

[Charles Schwab Announcer]

This message comes from Charles Schwab. When it comes to managing your wealth, Schwab gives you more choices like full service, wealth management and advice when you need it. You can also invest on your own and trade on thinkorswim. Visit schwab.com to learn more.

[Dwahalisai Kowtel]

Live from NPR News in New York City. I'm Dwahalisai Kowtel. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is defending the conduct of an immigration agent who shot and killed a man protesting federal immigration enforcement efforts in Minneapolis. Noem said the officers acted in accordance with their training. As NPR's Ximene Bustia reports, Noem said.

[Ximene Bustia]

That the immigration agent fired defensive shots that killed 37 year old Alex Jeffrey Pretti, asserting that he was armed with a handgun. She accused Pretti 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 Pretty 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.

[Dwahalisai Kowtel]

Ahead of the March primary in Texas, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and State Representative James Talarico faced off in their first public debate Saturday. The Texas newsroom's Blaze Gainey reports on how this could factor in to who will be the Democratic Party nominee in the U.S. senate race.

[Blaze Gainey]

Being a border state, one of the constant themes in the question was around immigration laws. This debate took place just hours after a man was killed by immigration law enforcement officers in Minneapolis. When asked what they would do about ICE's funding and whether it should be abolished, this is how Talarico answered.

[James Talarico]

ICE executed a man in broad daylight on our streets. It's time to tear down this secret police force and replace it with an agency that actually is going to focus on public safety.

[Blaze Gainey]

Crockett voted against a House bill that provides more funding to ICE this week. She says the agency needs to be cleaned up from top to bottom. For NPR News, I'm Blaise Gainey in Austin.

[Dwahalisai Kowtel]

The powerful winter storm making its way across two thirds of the US Is expected to hit the Northeast Sunday. Steve Kastenbaum reports New York could receive its heaviest snowfall in years.

[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.

[Dwahalisai Kowtel]

More than 15,000 flights have already been canceled. This is NPR News from New York. Polls in Myanmar opened at 6am local time in the last round of that Southeast Asian country's controversial general election, backed by China and Russia, but called illegitimate by the United Nations. Myanmar's military led party, the usdp, or Union Solidarity and Development Party, has already secured the majority of seats in its national parliament, according to the government's election commission. All this while a civil war is ongoing. More than 60 people have been killed in Afghanistan after three days of heavy snowfall and rain triggered landslides. The unusually cold weather has come at a time when thousands of Afghans have been forcibly deported with little help or aid. As NPR's Dia Hadid reports.

[Dia Hadid]

Authorities say the dead include 15 children. According to local media, the heavy snowfall damaged or destroyed more than 450 homes and blocked roads, forcing the Disaster Management Authority to rescue people trapped in cars. The extreme weather comes as aid agencies are scrambling for donations to prevent Afghans from slipping even deeper into hunger. Even as tens of thousands are forcibly repatriated from their homes in neighbouring Pakistan and Iran, nearly half of all Afghans are expected to be severely food insecure by March. In neighbouring Pakistan, local outlet dawn reported that nine members of her family were killed when an avalanche buried their house in the northern Himalayan region of Chitral. Dear Hadid, NPR News, Mumbai.

[Dwahalisai Kowtel]

And I'm Dwahli Sai Kautel and PR News in New York City.

[Greenlight Announcer]

This message comes from Greenlight. Don't wait to protect your legacy. Greenlight, trusted by millions of families, helps you protect what's yours with Family Shield's account monitoring alerts and 911 dispatched crash detection. Learn more at greenlight.com. protect.