NPR News Now – January 25, 2026, 4AM EST

Host: Doua Helisai
Podcast: NPR News Now
Episode Theme:
A concise update on major national and international news events, featuring coverage of a historic U.S. winter storm, a controversial shooting incident in Minnesota, unrest at a Texas ICE detention center, Myanmar’s disputed election, and newly-affirmed findings on Hunter S. Thompson’s death.

Main Segments and Key Discussion Points

1. Historic U.S. Winter Storm Impacts [00:16 – 01:15]

• Storm Scale & Impact:
  Potential to affect 180+ million people; over 100,000 already without power.
• Geographic Sweep:
  “The storm is sweeping across the south with freezing rain and sleet and up into the Northeast in New England with up to 2 feet of snow expected in some places.”
  – Jeff Brady (00:34)
• Weather Advisories:
  30+ states under winter weather advisories for snow, sleet, wind, and extreme cold.
• Emergency Response:
  Governors in over a dozen states have declared emergencies.
• School Closures:
  Universities and schools in affected areas plan to close or pivot to virtual classes next week.

2. Minnesota ICU Nurse Shooting & Aftermath [01:15 – 02:14]

• Incident Summary:
  Minnesota ICU nurse shot and fatally wounded; described by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem as “domestic terrorism.”
• Conflicting Accounts:
  “She said the individual approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a .9 millimeter semi automatic handgun. But most multiple videos appeared to contradict this.”
  – Doua Helisai (01:15)
• Political Reaction:
  • Anonymous Commentator:
    “We have it because we have a mayor and a governor who encouraged this violence and encouraged this type of rioting.” (01:34)
  • Governor Tim Walz’s Statement:
    “This federal occupation of Minnesota long ago stopped being a matter of immigration enforcement. It's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of our state. And today that campaign claimed another life. I've seen the videos from several angles and it's sickening.”
    – Gov. Tim Walz (01:57)
• Escalation:
  National Guard mobilized to support police.
  Protests break out; clashes between demonstrators and immigration agents reported.

3. Detention Center Unrest in Texas [02:14 – 03:12]

• Source of Unrest:
  Disturbance at the South Texas ICE detention facility, linked to the treatment of a detained child, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father from Minneapolis.
• Attorney's First-Hand Account:
  “Guards started to shout, everybody out. Everybody out. There's been an incident. So I left and walked out. And as I was walking back to my car, I heard what sounded like hundreds of children shouting.”
  – Eric Lee, immigration attorney (02:47)
• Trigger:
  The protest was reportedly triggered by treatment of 5-year-old Liam Ramos.
• ICE Response:
  ICE did not provide comment.

4. Myanmar’s Disputed General Election [03:12 – 03:40]

• Election Context:
  Voting underway in Myanmar, a process criticized as illegitimate by the UN, but backed by China and Russia.
• Military Dominance:
  The military-led USDP party expected to win amid ongoing civil war.

5. Reaffirmation of Hunter S. Thompson’s Cause of Death [03:40 – 04:48]

• Case Review:
  The Colorado Bureau of Investigation reaffirms Thompson’s 2005 suicide after review requested by his widow.
• Findings:
  “It did not uncover any new facts or evidence to support a conclusion different from the original one, that Hunter S. Thompson died of a self inflicted gunshot wound...”
  – Chloe Veltman (04:03)
• Personal Context:
  Reference to Thompson’s history of depression, chronic pain, and prior suicidal thoughts.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the scale of the winter storm:
  “More than 30 states are under some sort of winter weather advisory for snow, sleet, wind and extreme cold.”
  – Jeff Brady (00:34)

• On Minnesota incident:
  “It's a campaign of organized brutality against the people of our state. And today that campaign claimed another life.”
  – Gov. Tim Walz (01:57)

• Inside the ICE Detention Protest:
  “As I was walking back to my car, I heard what sounded like hundreds of children shouting.”
  – Eric Lee (02:47)

• On Hunter S. Thompson:
  “The bureau says Thompson's widow, Anita Thompson, contacted the Pitkin county sheriff last summer to share, quote, new concerns and potential information about her husband's death.”
  – Chloe Veltman (04:03)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:16 – U.S. winter storm update (Jeff Brady)
• 01:15 – Minnesota ICU nurse shooting details and reactions (Kristi Noem, Governor Walz)
• 02:14 – Texas ICE facility protest (David Martin Davies, Eric Lee)
• 03:12 – Myanmar’s general election
• 03:40 – Hunter S. Thompson death case reaffirmed (Chloe Veltman)
• 04:48 – Closing (Doua Helisai)

This episode offered a tight, factual overview of pressing national crises, global political maneuverings, and the closing of a cultural mystery, threaded with statements from journalists, officials, and impacted individuals.