NPR News: 01-25-2026 8AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – 01-25-2026, 8AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman
Date: January 25, 2026
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This concise news update delivers the latest national and international headlines, focusing on a police shooting in Minnesota, a major U.S. winter storm, new immigration-related housing policies, tensions in US-Canada trade, a notable Australian Open tennis upset, and a record-breaking climbing feat. The reporting covers both breaking developments and key reactions, providing listeners with essential context for the day's top stories.

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Key Stories and Discussion Points

1. Minnesota Protester Shot by Federal Agents

Timestamps: 00:14 – 01:34

• Incident: Minnesota authorities identified the protester shot and killed by federal immigration agents as Alex Preddy, a 37-year-old ICU nurse.

• Context: Preddy was motivated by opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

  “He cared about those people and he knew it was wrong.”
  — Michael Preddy (Alex Preddy’s father), [00:33]

• Official Statement: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claimed:

  “An individual approached U.S. border Patrol officers with a .9 millimeter semiautomatic handgun… The armed suspect reacted violently, fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers… An agent fired defensive shots.”
  — Secretary Kristi Noem, [00:48]

• Contradictory Evidence:

  • Video footage seemingly contradicts Noem’s account, instead showing Preddy being restrained and struck by multiple agents before being shot.
  • To date, no evidence has surfaced of Preddy brandishing or using a firearm.

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2. Massive U.S. Winter Storm Impacts Millions

Timestamps: 01:34 – 02:09

• Scale: Over 170 million people are under weather advisories, with more than 500,000 power outages reported.

• Details:

  • In Mississippi, videos show long icicles weighing down power lines.
  • Southwestern Electric Power Co. notes widespread outages due to falling trees.
  • Thousands of utility crews are on standby, but outage numbers continue rising.

  “But right now, outage numbers are still ticking up as the storm moves east.”
  — Matt Bloom, [02:09]

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3. HUD Orders Citizenship Verification in Public Housing

Timestamps: 02:09 – 03:11

• Policy Update: The Trump administration has directed all public housing authorities to immediately verify tenants' citizenship status or risk loss of federal funds.

• Audit Findings: HUD's recent audit found approximately 200,000 cases with incomplete eligibility verification.

  “HUD says the review was part of a broader effort to prevent misuse of taxpayer funded housing assistance.”
  — Windsor Johnston, [02:28]

• Reaction:

  • The New York City Housing Authority stated existing rules already require such verification and is “reviewing HUD’s latest guidance.”
  • Clarification of who qualifies and who does not for public housing.

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4. US-Canada Trade Tensions Flare Over China Deal

Timestamps: 03:11 – 03:57

• Trump Threatens Tariffs: President Trump threatens new tariffs on Canadian goods if Canada proceeds with a trade deal with China.
• Backdrop:
  • Trump had previously supported such deals for Canada.
  • Canadian Prime Minister delivered a forceful speech in Switzerland condemning use of tariffs as political weapons, without explicitly naming Trump.

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5. American Tennis Prodigy’s Australian Open Upset

Timestamps: 03:57 – 04:38

• Event: 25th-seed Learner Tien (U.S.) defeats three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open, reaching his first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

  “It took less than two hours for the American 25th seed Learner Tien to eliminate the Russian former world number one in straight sets, 6-4, 6-love, 6-3.”
  — Cristina Kukulya, [03:57]

• Emotional Highlight:

  “I mean, so special to do it, especially here where, you know, it’s always so special for me to come back and play every year.”
  — Learner Tien, [04:14]

• Milestone: At 20, Tien is the youngest man in the Australian Open quarterfinals since 2015.

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6. Alex Honnold’s Skyscraper Climb

Timestamps: 04:38 – 04:52

• Achievement: Noted American climber Alex Honnold scales Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan, free solo (no ropes or protective gear).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Michael Preddy’s tribute to his son:

  “He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people and he knew it was wrong.”
  — Michael Preddy, [00:33]

• Official vs. Eyewitness Contradiction:

  “…Video footage appears to contradict what she’s saying. It shows Preddy being surrounded by multiple federal agents… restrained… hit… then he is shot multiple times. So far, no video has surfaced showing that Preddy brandished a firearm or tried to use one.”
  — Korva Coleman, [01:07]

• On the Winter Storm’s Impact:

  “But right now, outage numbers are still ticking up as the storm moves east.”
  — Matt Bloom, [02:09]

• Young Tennis Star’s Reaction:

  “I mean, so special to do it, especially here where, you know, it’s always so special for me to come back and play every year.”
  — Learner Tien, [04:14]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start Time | |-------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Minnesota protester shooting & fallout | 00:14 | | Major winter storm disrupts US power grid | 01:34 | | HUD citizenship verification for public housing | 02:09 | | Trump threatens tariffs on Canada over China deal | 03:11 | | American tennis prodigy upsets Medvedev in Australia | 03:57 | | Alex Honnold climbs Taipei 101 | 04:38 |

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This rapid-fire news brief efficiently captures the day’s crucial events with clarity and immediacy, offering listeners both the headlines and the nuanced context behind major stories.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Korva Coleman. Minnesota authorities have identified the protester shot to death yesterday by federal immigration agents. They say he's 37 year old Alex Preddy, an ICU nurse. Preddy's father, Michael, says Alex was upset about the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

[Michael Preddy]

He thought it was terrible, you know, kidnapping children, just grabbing people off the street. He cared about those people and he knew it was wrong.

[Korva Coleman]

But Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says yesterday's shooting only happened because the federal agent feared for his life.

[Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem]

An individual approached U.S. border Patrol officers with a.9 millimeter semiautomatic handgun. The officers attempted to disarm this individual, but the armed suspect reacted violently, fearing for his life and for the lives of his fellow officers around him. An agent fired defensive shots, but online.

[Korva Coleman]

Video footage appears to contradict what she's saying. It shows Preddy being surrounded by multiple federal agents. Several restrained him and hit him while he's on the ground and then he is shot multiple times. So far, no video has surfaced showing that Preddy brandished a firearm or tried to use one. A mammoth winter storm is continuing to move across the U.S. more than 170 million people are under some kind of weather caution. NPR's Matt Bloom says more than half a million customers have lost power.

[Matt Bloom]

Videos on social media for Mississippi showed long icicles forming on power lines in several cities as the storm moved through. Southwestern Electric Power Company, which services parts of northern Louisiana, eastern Texas and Arkansas, said a large number of trees fell on power lines, knocking off power to many. Utilities say they have thousands of crew members on standby to repair downed lines. But right now, outage numbers are still ticking up as the storm moves east.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Matt Bloom reporting. The Trump administration is ordering public housing authorities nationwide to immediately verify their tenant's citizenship status. Other otherwise, they could lose federal funding. NPR's Windsor Johnston reports. The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently did an audit.

[Windsor Johnston]

HUD says the audit uncovered nearly 200,000 tenants whose eligibility had not been fully verified. HUD says the review was part of a broader effort to prevent misuse of taxpayer funded housing assistance. In a statement, the New York City Housing Authority said federal rules already require housing authorities to verify tenant citizenship or immigration status and that it's reviewing HUD's latest guidance. Under federal law, U.S. citizens, permanent residents, refugees and asylum seekers may qualify for public housing assistance. Immigrants without legal status, foreign students and diplomats are not eligible. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

And you're listening to NPR News. President Trump is again threatening Canada with more tariffs on its goods exported to the United States. And in an online post, Trump said he'll slap levies on Canada if it goes ahead with a proposed trade deal with China. Trump had initially said this was a good thing for Canada to do. Last week at a conference in Switzerland, Canada's prime minister gave a blistering speech about the dangers of authoritarian leaders who used tariffs as economic weapons. He never named Donald Trump, A US Tennis prodigy has eliminated three time men's singles finalist Daniel Medvedev from the Australian Open. He's now made it to his first ever Grand Slam quarterfinal. Christina Kukulya reports from Melbourne.

[Christina Kukulya]

It took less than two hours for the American 25th seed learner Tian to eliminate the Russian former world number one in straight sets. 646 Love 63 Fighting back the Melbourne heat and a late comeback by Daniel Medvedev. Tian stunt spectators and his opponent feels amazing.

[Michael Preddy]

I mean, so special to do it, especially here where, you know, it's always so special for me to come back and play every year.

[Christina Kukulya]

At age 20, Tien is the youngest man to reach the Australian Open quarter finals since Australian Nick Kyrgios in 2015, and the youngest American to do so in over two decades. He'll face world number three German Alexander Zverev in the quarter finals Tuesday. For NPR News, I'm Cristina Kokola in Melbourne.

[Korva Coleman]

A daring American rock climber has clinched a new feat. Climber Alex Honnold has scaled the Taipei 101, the iconic skyscraper in Taiwan. He did it without ropes or protective gear.

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