NPR News: 01-25-2026 2AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – January 25, 2026, 2AM EST

Host: Dwahali Sai Kowtel
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of major national news stories, including the fatal federal immigration operation in Minneapolis, a major winter storm impacting the Northeast, the political implications of Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s death, and the UN’s response to the ongoing crisis in Haiti.

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1. Minneapolis Federal Immigration Operation Turns Deadly

Main Points:

• A fatal shooting occurred during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis, leading to shock and anger among residents.
• Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent further fatal encounters and urged for peaceful protests.

Quotes and Key Moments:

• [00:16-00:42] Dwahali Sai Kowtel (host):
  “Minnesotans are responding with shock and anger after another person was shot and killed during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis. Mayor Jacob Fry now plans to ask a judge... He also called for more peaceful protests.”
• [00:42-00:54] Jacob Frey (Mayor of Minneapolis):
  “Most of the protests that we've seen have remained peaceful. Let's keep it that way. Let's not counter Donald Trump's chaos with our own version of chaos here. I understand that people are angry. I'm angry.”
• [00:54-01:10] Dwahali Sai Kowtel:
  The victim, Alex Jeffrey Preeti, was a “37 year old ICU nurse at a local VA hospital with no criminal record.”
• [01:10-01:25] Senator Amy Klobuchar:
  “One Renee Good, mother of three, and now Alex Preeti, a 37 year old Minneapolis man, a citizen, also a nurse. They both have families that love them very much.”

Additional Reporting:

• Governor Tim Walz activated the National Guard to help maintain order.
• [01:25-01:54] Jeff Brumfield (NPR):
  Bystander videos contradict Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statements, showing that Preeti was filming with his phone and disarmed before being shot by officers.

Key Contradiction:

• [01:41-01:54] Kristi Noem (Secretary of Homeland Security):
  “Alex Preeti had approached DHS officers with a pistol and... was killed after he resisted attempts to disarm him.”
• [01:54-02:24] Jeff Brumfield:
  “Videos show Preeti was filming with his phone... Officers pepper sprayed him and grappled him to the ground... one of the officers actually did disarm him. The videos show the officer running away with Preeti's distinctive Sig Sauer pistol about a second before another officer fired multiple shots, ending his life.”

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2. Major Winter Storm Sweeps the Northeast

Main Points:

• A significant winter storm is hitting a large portion of the U.S., especially New England.
• Connecticut could receive up to 20 inches of snow; officials urge residents to stay home.

Key Moments & Quotes:

• [02:32-02:55] Chris Polanski (Connecticut Public Radio):
  “Officials say Connecticut could see up to 20 inches of snow... 900 snowplow drivers are at the ready. He asks residents to stay off the roads.”
• [02:55-03:03] Governor Ned Lamont:
  “Weather Channel often hypes up these storms. This is the real McCoy, and I want you to pay special attention.”
• [03:03-03:10] National Weather Service:
  Issued winter storm warnings for “most of southern New England from Sunday morning through Monday evening.”

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3. Political Update: Death of Congressman Doug LaMalfa

Main Points:

• U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson attends memorial for late Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa in California.
• LaMalfa’s passing narrows the Republican House majority; his seat will remain vacant until a special election on August 4th.

Quotes & Insights:

• [03:37-03:52] Claudia Brankert (North State Public Radio):
  “The memorial was in Chico... Speaker Johnson said he arranged to take Air Force Two... as a winter storm grounded thousands of flights across the US.”
• [03:52-04:17] Claudia Brankert:
  “Doug La Malfa was a longtime ally to President Donald Trump. His death narrows House Republicans hold on the chamber, and the Republican seat will remain empty for months... Governor Gavin Newsom... scheduled a special election... for August 4th.”

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4. UN Reinforcements in Haiti Amid Ongoing Crisis

Main Points:

• The UN is sending more troops to Haiti to help police in Port-au-Prince, where gangs have taken over 80% of the capital.
• The humanitarian situation remains dire, with 1.4 million internally displaced.

Key Quotes:

• [04:29-04:44] Carlos Ruiz Masiu (UN Special Representative in Haiti):
  “The humanitarian situation, as you know, is still rather dire in terms of 1.4 million internally displaced due to violence, but we do hope that the situation moves forward during 2026.”

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5. Closing

• Host Dwahali Sai Kowtel signs off from NPR News in New York. [04:44-04:55]

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Timestamps of Key Segments

• [00:16-02:24] – Minneapolis immigration shooting and aftermath
• [02:32-03:10] – Winter storm warnings and preparations in New England
• [03:37-04:17] – Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s memorial and political consequences
• [04:17-04:44] – Haiti crisis and UN plans

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Notable Quotes Recap

• Jacob Frey, Mayor:
  “Let's not counter Donald Trump's chaos with our own version of chaos here. I understand that people are angry. I'm angry.” [00:42]
• Gov. Ned Lamont:
  “Weather Channel often hypes up these storms. This is the real McCoy, and I want you to pay special attention.” [02:55]
• Carlos Ruiz Masiu, UN:
  “The humanitarian situation... is still rather dire in terms of 1.4 million internally displaced due to violence…” [04:29]

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Tone:
Clear, urgent, factual, and empathetic to the major stories and undercurrent of public emotion.

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This summary provides an engaging and detailed recap for listeners, highlighting pivotal news, analysis, and direct voices from the episode.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Live from NPR News in New York City. I'm Dwahali Sai Kowtel. Minnesotans are responding with shock and anger after another person was shot and killed during a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis. Maker Mayor Jacob Fry now plans to ask a judge on Monday for a temporary restraining order to prevent what he called more tragic deaths. He also called for more peaceful protests.

[C]

Most of the protests that we've seen have remained peaceful. Let's keep it that way. Let's not counter Donald Trump's chaos with our own version of chaos here. I understand that people are angry. I'm angry.

[B]

The shooting victim has been identified as 37 year old Alex Jeffrey Preedy, an ICU nurse at a local VA hospital with no criminal record. U.S. senator Amy Klobuchar says ICE has now been involved in two homicides in Minnesota.

[D]

One Renee Good, mother of three, and now Alex Preddy, a 37 year old Minneapolis man, a citizen, also a nurse. They both have families that love them very much.

[B]

Governor Tim Walls has now activated the National Guard to help local police. Bystander videos are raising questions about the shooting of Africa Alex Preeti in Minneapolis. As NPR's Jeff Brumfield reports, the videos seem to contradict statements from the Trump administration.

[E]

Speaking at a press briefing, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said that 37 year old Alex Preeti had approached DHS officers with a pistol and that he was killed after he resisted attempts to disarm him.

[B]

Fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers around him, an agent fired defensive shots, but multiple.

[E]

Videos show Priti was filming with his phone at the time. Officers pepper sprayed him and grappled him to the ground. They also show one of the officers actually did disarm him. The videos show the officer running away with Preeti's distinctive Sig Sauer pistol about a second before another officer fired multiple shots, ending his life. Jeff Brumfiel, NPR News.

[B]

A massive winter storm is moving through a large Swath of the U.S. more from Connecticut Public Radio's Chris Polanski.

[F]

Officials say Connecticut could see up to 20 inches of snow beginning on Sunday. State Transportation Commissioner Garrett Ukulito says 900 snowplow drivers are at the ready. He asks residents to stay off the roads. We know, we're New Englanders. We know how to handle winter weather. But I strongly encourage people to stay home on Sunday. Governor Ned Lamont is calling on people to take the storm seriously.

[D]

Weather Channel often hypes up these storms. This is the real McCoy, and I want you to pay special attention.

[F]

The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings for most of southern New England from Sunday morning through Monday evening.

[B]

You are listening to NPR News from New York. U.S. house Speaker Mike Johnson was in California Saturday honoring the late Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa. La Malfa's unexpected death earlier this month cut into the Republicans majority in the chamber. North State Public Radio's Claudia Brankert reports.

[G]

The memorial was in Chico, a rural city about 90 miles north of Sacramento. Speaker Johnson said he arranged to take Air Force Two to make the service as a winter storm grounded thousands of flights across the US So this went.

[D]

All the way to the top, my.

[G]

Friends, because it's Doug La Malfa was a longtime ally to President Donald Trump. His death narrows House Republicans hold on the chamber, and the Republican seat will remain empty for months. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who was also at the memorial, scheduled a special election to fill the Malfez seat for August 4th. For NPR News, I'm Claudia Brandkart in Chico, California.

[B]

More United nations troops will be headed to Haiti this year to assist local police who have been trying to defend their capital from armed gangs that have taken over 80% of the capital, Port au Prince.

[H]

The humanitarian situation, as you know, is still rather dire in terms of 1.4 million internally displaced due to violence, but we do hope that the situation moves forward during 2026.

[B]

That's Carlos Ruiz Masiu, the special representative of the UN Secretary General in Haiti. I'm Dwahilisai Kautel, NPR News in New York.

[I]

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