NPR News: 01-25-2026 9AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – 9AM EST, January 25, 2026

Host: Korva Coleman
Duration: ~5 minutes
Main Theme:
A brisk, comprehensive update of top national and global news stories, focusing on a contentious federal-state investigation in Minnesota, a powerful winter storm, a Democratic voter registration push, heightened Iran-U.S. tensions, Myanmar’s controversial election, and Japan’s farewell to its last Chinese giant pandas.

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1. Minnesota-Federal Tensions Over Protester Shooting

[00:15–01:12]

• Incident:
  A Minneapolis protester, Alex Preddy (37), was shot and killed by a federal immigration agent. Federal officials claim the agent acted in self-defense, while Minnesota authorities seek to lead the investigation.
• Key Details:
  • State vs. federal agencies dispute who controls the investigation and access to evidence.
  • This mirrors a previous conflict over the Renee Macklin Goode case, where access issues also arose.
  • Minnesota law enforcement was blocked from the scene—twice, even after presenting a judicial warrant.
  • Ruling: A federal judge has instructed that all evidence be preserved.
• Notable Quote:

  “When Minnesota's law enforcement division showed up at the scene yesterday, they say they were blocked from it by federal officials and were again blocked from it when they came back with a signed judicial warrant.”
  —Peter Cox, [00:47]

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2. Major Winter Storm Paralyzes Eastern U.S.

[01:12–02:07]

• Impact:
  • “Well over half a million utility customers are without power.”
    —Jeff Brady, [01:26]
  • Areas most affected include eastern Texas and northern Louisiana.
  • More than a dozen state governors have issued emergency declarations or preparatory measures.
  • President Trump has provided federal emergency assistance to states like North Carolina.
• Warnings & Response:
  • North Carolina Governor, Josh Stein:

    “Fellow North Carolinians, this is a serious storm. We are taking it seriously. We and so should you.”
    —Josh Stein, [01:41]

  • Northeast regions are bracing for up to 2 feet of snow; schools and colleges are closed.
• Air Travel:
  • “About 10,000 [flights] have been canceled so far today.”
    —Korva Coleman, [02:07]

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3. DNC Targets Voter Registration in Swing States

[02:07–03:04]

• Strategy:
  The Democratic National Committee (DNC) plans to invest millions to register voters ahead of the midterms, focusing initially on Arizona and Nevada.
• Context:
  • Past strategies relied on nonpartisan groups, limiting engagement and party affiliation discussions.
  • New approach involves direct party leader engagement, aiming to connect with voters previously overlooked.
• Notable Quote:

  “As we learned in 2024, we can’t just assume that certain demographics, whether they be young voters, voters of color or otherwise, will automatically support the Democratic Party. We have to earn every registration so that we can earn every vote.”
  —Ken Martin, DNC Chair, [02:50]

• Statistics:
  • Republicans outnumber Democrats by over 300,000 voters in Arizona.

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4. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Escalates Rhetoric

[03:11–03:31]

• Situation:
  The head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warns Iran is ready to respond to threats from the U.S. and Israel, stating the nation’s “finger is on the trigger.”
  • Tensions have risen since President Trump’s warning to Iran over its crackdown on anti-government protests.

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5. Myanmar’s Controversial Elections

[03:31–04:38]

• Election Overview:
  • Myanmar nears the end of a one-month general election widely seen as illegitimate.
  • Pro-military parties and proxies guaranteed victory; opposition parties, including Aung San Suu Kyi’s, are banned.
• Concerns:
  • Elections take place amidst a civil war, with voting blocked in high-conflict areas.
  • Military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party leads; one-fourth of parliamentary seats already reserved for the military.
  • Expected Outcome: Coup leader General Min Aung Lang is likely to become president.
• Notable Quote:

  “Critics call the election a sham, its goal to legitimize the military’s power after it ousted the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021.”
  —Michael Sullivan, [03:50]

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6. China Repatriates Last Japanese Pandas Amid Tensions

[04:38–04:55]

• Event:
  • Tokyo crowds gathered to bid farewell to the last two Chinese giant pandas in Japan.
  • The pandas’ return to China reflects deepening diplomatic tensions.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• State-Federal Investigation Conflict:

  “They say they were blocked from it by federal officials and were again blocked from it when they came back with a signed judicial warrant.”
  —Peter Cox, [00:47]

• Winter Weather Warning:

  “This is a serious storm. We are taking it seriously. We and so should you.”
  —Governor Josh Stein, [01:41]

• DNC Strategy Shift:

  “We can’t just assume that certain demographics…will automatically support the Democratic Party. We have to earn every registration…”
  —Ken Martin, [02:50]

• Myanmar Election Criticism:

  “Critics call the election a sham...”
  —Michael Sullivan, [03:50]

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Timestamped Segment Guide

• Minnesota-Federal Shooting Investigation: [00:15–01:12]
• Winter Storm & Emergency Responses: [01:12–02:07]
• DNC Voter Registration Efforts: [02:07–03:11]
• Iran-U.S. Tensions Escalate: [03:11–03:31]
• Myanmar’s Election Update: [03:31–04:38]
• Japan Returns Pandas to China: [04:38–04:55]

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This concise episode delivers urgent updates on legal, political, environmental, and international developments, using direct quotes and swiftly moving between major headlines. Listeners are left well-informed on the morning’s most pressing issues.

Transcript

[Charles Schwab Representative]

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 think or swim. Visit schwab.com to learn more.

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Korva Coleman. Minnesota officials are struggling with federal officials over who will investigate the shooting death yesterday of a Minneapolis protester. A a federal immigration agent shot and killed 37 year old Alex Preddy. Federal officials say he was a threat to the agent's life. Minnesota authorities say they need to investigate and late yesterday they obtained a temporary ruling from a federal judge. Minnesota Public Radio's Peter Cox reports. The ruling says federal officers must preserve all evidence.

[Peter Cox]

There's yet another battle shaping up between state and federal authorities over who's in charge and who gets to see evidence. The same thing happened with the investigation into the shooting death of Renee Macklin Goode by an ICE agent earlier this month. When Minnesota's law enforcement division showed up at the scene yesterday, they say they were blocked from it by federal officials and were again blocked from it when they came back with a signed judicial warrant.

[Korva Coleman]

Peter Cox reporting. A powerful winter storm is spreading snow, sleet and ice across the eastern two thirds of the country. NPR's Jeff Brady reports. Well over half a million utility customers are without power.

[Jeff Brady]

Utility customers in eastern Texas and northern Louisiana were among those most affected by the storm, according to the website poweroutage. US Governors in more than a dozen states warned residents about the storm and declared some form of emergency or state of preparation.

[NPR Announcer]

Fellow North Carolinians, this is a serious storm. We are taking it seriously. We and so should you.

[Jeff Brady]

That's North Carolina Governor Josh Stein. His state was among those that asked for and President Trump granted an emergency declaration to release federal help. Some parts of the Northeast are expecting up to 2ft of snow, prompting schools and colleges to cancel classes Monday. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The storm has also disrupted flights. About 10,000 have been canceled so far today. The Democratic National Committee says it will spend millions of dollars to register voters ahead of this year's midterms. The DNC will begin its effort in the southwestern swing states of Arizona and Nevada. From member station kjzz, Ben Giles has more.

[Ben Giles]

DNC Chair Ken Martin says the investment is part of efforts to get the party more involved in voter registration. In the past, he says, Democrats have relied on nonpartisan groups barred from discussing the party's candidates or core values. Directly involving party leaders from the national TO will allow volunteers to better connect with voters that Martin says Democrats have taken for granted.

[Ken Martin]

As we learned in 2024, we can't just assume that certain demographics, whether they be young voters, voters of color or otherwise, will automatically support the Democratic Party. We have to earn every registration so that we can earn every vote.

[Ben Giles]

Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than 300,000 voters in Arizona. For NPR News, I'm Ben Giles in Phoenix.

[Korva Coleman]

And you're listening to NPR News. The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard is warning that his forces are prepared. A news outlet in Iran says the general is warning the United States and Israel that Iran's, quote, finger is on the trigger. Tension remains high after President Trump warned Iran over its violent crackdown against anti government protesters. The country of Myanmar is completing its third and final round of voting today. The country's general election has been going on for a month. Myanmar's military and its proxies are already guaranteed of winning. Michael Sullivan reports from neighboring Thailand.

[Michael Sullivan]

Critics call the election a sham, its goal to legitimize the military's power after it ousted the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021. Her party is banned from contesting an election being held despite the civil war that's engulfed Myanmar since the couple. With security concerns preventing voting in contested areas, the military backed Union, Solidarity and Development Party has won most of the seats in the first two rounds of voting to elect a new parliament where 25% of the seats are already reserved for the military. This means the military and its allies are already assured a parliamentary majority coup. Leader General Min Aung Lang is widely expected to be tapped as Myanmar's new president. For NPR News, I'm Michael Sullivan in Chiang Rai.

[Korva Coleman]

The last two Chinese giant pandas in Japan are leaving crowds gathered in Tokyo today to say goodbye at a city zoo. They're being returned to China amid deepening tension between the two countries. This is NPR.

[NPR Announcer]

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