NPR News: 01-25-2026 2PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Summary — January 25, 2026, 2PM EST

Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode delivers the day's top national and international stories: a major clash between Minnesota and federal law enforcement over a fatal shooting, a devastating ice storm affecting large parts of the country, escalating U.S.–Canada–China trade tensions, the results of trilateral Russia–Ukraine–US peace talks, and Alex Honnold’s stunning free solo of Taipei 101.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Fatal Shooting by Federal Agents Sparks State–Federal Clash

• Incident: Federal immigration agents shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Preddy in Minneapolis (Saturday).

• Conflict: State investigators were blocked by federal officers from entering the scene, even after obtaining a judicial warrant.

• Reaction:

  • Minnesota Governor Tim Walz vowed a full, state-led investigation and accountability (00:58).
  • The state launched legal action to preserve evidence; a judge issued a temporary order to that effect.

• Context: Incident has renewed debates over jurisdiction, transparency, and accountability in use-of-force cases involving federal law enforcement.

  Notable Quotes

  • Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (00:58):

    "We need to have a fair investigation, understanding what's happening and held accountable. ... We continue to hear, and we heard it from the vice president that these folks can do whatever they want. They can have full immunity. And what I'm telling you is they will not. There will be justice to Minnesotans."

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2. Severe Winter Storm Disrupting the Country

• Scope: Winter storm warnings from New Mexico to Maine’s Canadian border.

• Impact:

  • Over 800,000 utility customers without power.
  • Ice as the major hazard; trees and power lines brought down, especially in the South.
  • Danger of prolonged freezing temperatures, difficult recovery for households reliant on electric heating.

• Eyewitness Reporting:

  • Blake Farmer (WPLN, Nashville) described hazardous, surreal conditions and widespread damage.

  Memorable Moment & Quote

  • Blake Farmer (01:51):

    "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."

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3. Trump Administration Threatens Tariffs on Canadian Goods

• Situation: President Trump threatens 100% tariffs if Canada signs a trade deal with China.

• Details:

  • Treasury Secretary Scott Besant clarifies new duties are “not a certainty” and conditional on Canadian actions (02:45).
  • Trump accuses China of using Canada to circumvent U.S. tariffs.
  • Canadian officials deny pursuing a full free trade agreement with China.

  Notable Quotes

  • Treasury Secretary Scott Besant (02:45):

    "There's a possibility of 100% tariffs if they do a free trade deal. So it's not now. This is if they go further than what's already happened. ... if we see that the Canadians are allowing the Chinese to dump goods."

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4. Trilateral Peace Talks: Russia, Ukraine & U.S.

• Location: United Arab Emirates
• Outcome:
  • No major breakthroughs.
  • U.S. envoys included Steve Wykoff and Jared Kushner.
  • Ukraine’s President called talks “constructive,” but no agreement was reached on oversight for Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, still under Russian control.

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5. Alex Honnold Free Solos Taipei 101

• Event: Noted climber Alex Honnold free-climbed Taipei 101, Taiwan’s 101-story skyscraper (over 1,600 feet).

• Conditions:

  • No rope or safety net.
  • Climb took about 90 minutes; large crowd watched.
  • Taipei 101 is considered engineering marvel, built for earthquakes.

• Honnold’s Reflection:

  • Compared the building’s scale to natural landmarks and marveled at the view (04:25).

  Notable Quotes

  • Alex Honnold (04:25):

    "If you look at a building like Taipei 101, you're just like, dude, it's so big. It's so much bigger than everything around it. The view is insane."

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:13 — News anchor introduction and headlines
• 00:40 — Peter Cox: Details of Minneapolis shooting and investigation
• 00:58 — Gov. Tim Walz: Pledge for accountability
• 01:23 — Winter storm coverage introduction
• 01:51 — Blake Farmer reporting from Nashville
• 02:31 — U.S.-Canada-China trade tensions
• 02:45 — Treasury Secretary Scott Besant on tariffs
• 03:19 — Russia-Ukraine-US trilateral talks update
• 04:12 — Alex Honnold climbs Taipei 101
• 04:25 — Honnold’s reflection on the climb

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Memorable Moments & Tone

• The episode combines urgent weather reporting with sharp political debate and an inspiring athletic feat.
• It highlights growing tensions—both political and meteorological—with vivid, immediate imagery (“a 150-year-old oak smashing through the woods”) and direct statements from public figures.
• Alex Honnold’s awe at Taipei 101 closes the news with a note of wonder and human achievement.

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Overall, the episode balances critical political and public safety issues with a captivating story of human accomplishment.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Minnesota and federal law enforcement officials are clashing over the fatal shooting of Alex Preddy by immigration agents in Minneapolis on Saturday. The Inc. Reignited tensions over jurisdiction and transparency in use of force cases. Peter Cox with Minnesota Public Radio reports.

[Peter Cox]

After federal immigration agents shot and killed 37 year old Alex Jeffrey Preddy, state investigators say they were blocked from the scene by federal law enforcement even after returning with a signed judicial warrant. Minnesota Governor Tim Walls says the state will do its own investigation.

[Minnesota Governor Tim Walls]

We need to have a fair investigation, understanding what's happening and held accountable. We continue to hear, and we heard it from the vice president that these folks can do whatever they want. They can have full immunity. And what I'm telling you is they will not. There will be justice to Minnesotans.

[Peter Cox]

The state is suing to prevent the destruction of evidence and a judge granted a temporary order to preserve it. For NPR News, I'm Peter Cox in St. Paul.

[NPR News Anchor]

A powerful winter storm is hammering much of the country at this hour. Winter storm warnings have been posted from New Mexico up to Maine's border with Canada. Forecasters say some areas will get several feet of snow, but the big danger is ice. More than 800,000 utility customers are without power in the midst of the storm. Blake Farmer from member station WPLN in Nashville reports.

[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.

[NPR News Anchor]

President Trump is threatening to slap a 100% tariff on Canadian goods if it goes ahead with the trade deal with China. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant tells ABC News that the new duties are not a certainty.

[Treasury Secretary Scott Besant]

There's a possibility of 100% tariffs if they do a free trade deal. So it's not now. This is if they go further than what's already happened. Well, if they go further, if we see that the Canadians are allowing the Chinese to dump goods.

[NPR News Anchor]

Trump also suggested that Beijing would try to use Canada to avoid paying U.S. tariffs. Canada says it's resolved several important trade issues with China, but there was no pursuit of a free trade agreement. This is NPR News in Washington. Trilateral peace talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US have wrapped up in the United Arab Emirates. No major breakthroughs were announced, but U.S. envoys Steve Wykoff and Jared Kushner, President Trump's son in law, took part in the discussions. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called the talks constructive, but said no agreement was reached on oversight of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which still is under Russian control. American rock climber Alex Honnold shot to fame in the documentary film Free Solo. It showed him doing one of the hardest climbs in Yosemite national park without using ropes. This weekend, Alex Honnold Free climbed a very different goal, Taipei 101, Taiwan's iconic skyscraper. NPR's Emily Fang has the details.

[Emily Fang]

A large crowd cheered as Honnold scaled The more than 1600 foot high blue glass and steel skyscraper with nothing more than his hands and some chalk. No rope and no safety net. He said he'd been thinking of climbing Taipei 101 for years.

[Alex Honnold]

If you look at a building like.

[Treasury Secretary Scott Besant]

Taipei 101, you're just like, dude, it's so big.

[Alex Honnold]

It's so much bigger than everything around it. The view is insane.

[Emily Fang]

At 101 stories tall, Taipei101 is one of the tallest buildings in Asia and built in a high risk earthquake zone, which it compensates for with an internal steel damper that sways whenever there's a quake to counteract it and stop the building from breaking in half. In total, the climb to Connell, about an hour and a half. Emily Fang and Pure News.

[NPR News Anchor]

This is npr.

[Alex Honnold]

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