NPR News: 01-26-2026 10PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: January 26, 2026, 10PM EST

Host: Ryland Barton (NPR)
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of major U.S. and international news stories, offering rapid updates on politics, severe weather, military conflicts, labor actions, business, and science.

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Key Stories & Insights

1. Immigration Crackdown & Leadership Change in Minnesota

00:15–01:15

• Context:
  Following another fatal shooting during federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, President Trump replaces the top official overseeing the crackdown.
• Legal Challenge:
  • Minnesota officials allege that federal agents have infringed on the state's sovereignty and that the enforcement surge is politically motivated.
  • A judge notes the legal situation is “unprecedented,” and there is little case law for guidance.
• Administrative Changes:
  • Trump instructs Border Czar Tom Homan to coordinate directly with Minnesota.
  • Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bevino is stepping down amid backlash.
• Public Outcry:
  • Homeland Security deemed the recent fatal shooting self-defense, but video evidence reportedly contradicts this claim.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jennifer Ludden reports:

    “The judge noted the situation is so unprecedented, there’s little case law to guide a decision.” (01:00)

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2. Deadly Winter Storms Paralyze U.S. Eastern Two-Thirds

01:15–02:14

• Impact:
  • Heavy snow in the Northeast.
  • At least 25 fatalities from frigid temperatures.
  • Widespread utility, transportation, and service disruptions.
• Response:
  • Emergency crews clearing ice; repeated outages due to falling trees and limbs.
  • Officials urge people without electricity to seek shelter.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves:

    “It’s somewhat like whack-a-mole every time one of the utility companies and power companies gets a large group back online, we have another tree fall…another power outage. And so it’s just a challenging environment out there.” (01:48)

  • Debbie Elliott (NPR):

    “Officials are warning about the dangers of hypothermia and urging people without electricity to seek shelter at warming centers.” (02:03)

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3. Gaza Hostage Recovery and Ceasefire Moves

02:14–03:10

• Breakthrough:
  • Israeli military recovers the last Israeli hostage body taken by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attacks.
  • The recovered: Ron Gvili, 24, a special forces policeman.
• Ceasefire Implications:
  • Marks the end of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire.
  • Israel to reopen Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt for Palestinians.
• Notable Quote:
  • Daniel Estrin (NPR):

    “This marks the end of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire. It paves the way for another big step—Israel says it will allow Gaza’s border crossing with Egypt to reopen again for Palestinians…” (03:00)

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4. Southwest Airlines Ends Open Seating

03:10–03:46

• Airline Policy Change:
  • Southwest Airlines will end its signature open seating policy; passengers will now have assigned seats.
  • An “eight group boarding structure” will replace the “find your own seat scrum,” starting tomorrow.

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5. Kaiser Permanente Strike Expands in California and Hawaii

03:46–04:34

• Union Action:
  • Thousands of nurses and other employees continue a major strike demanding improved staffing and compensation.
  • This is the union’s third strike since September.
• Worker Perspective:
  • Workers emphasize strikes are about livelihoods and patient care.
• Corporate Response:
  • Kaiser, a nonprofit, reports billions in net income, but executives highlight the need to control payroll costs to keep care affordable.
• Memorable On-the-Ground Chants:
  • Union crowd: “Who’s got the power?” “We got the power.” “What kind of power?” “Union power.”
• Notable Quote:
  • Jessica Servin, nurse anesthetist (San Francisco):

    “It feels necessary to be here, absolutely necessary. We're fighting for our livelihoods. We're fighting for patient care, and those things are really important.” (04:06)

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6. Science Discovery: Oldest Wooden Tools in Greece

04:34–04:54

• Archeological Find:
  • Two artifacts from Greece’s Megalopolis basin, dated to 430,000 years ago, are the oldest wooden tools ever uncovered.
  • One is a stick, possibly for digging; the other, a hand-held chunk for shaping stone tools.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “The judge noted the situation is so unprecedented, there’s little case law to guide a decision.”
  (Jennifer Ludden, 01:00)
• “It’s somewhat like whack-a-mole… It’s just a challenging environment out there.”
  (Gov. Tate Reeves, 01:48)
• “This marks the end of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire…”
  (Daniel Estrin, 03:00)
• “It feels necessary to be here… We’re fighting for our livelihoods. We’re fighting for patient care, and those things are really important.”
  (Jessica Servin, 04:06)

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Additional Information

• Markets: U.S. stock indexes ticked higher today.
• Business: Southwest ends open seating; assigned seats begin tomorrow.
• Science: Record-breaking archeological discovery in Greece.

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For a five-minute news burst, this episode delivers rapid, critical updates on evolving national and international events, capturing both the policy debates and personal voices behind the headlines.

Transcript

[A]

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.

[B]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump is replacing the person in charge of his immigration crackdown in Minnesota, days after another fatal shooting there. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports. The decision came as a judge heard arguments on pausing the federal surge.

[C]

Minnesota Soda says thousands of federal agents have acted so aggressively that it's infringed on the state's sovereign right to ensure public safety. And it argued the surge was politically driven. The Trump administration insisted it's conducting legitimate immigration enforcement. The judge noted the situation is so unprecedented, there's little case law to guide a decision. Meanwhile, Trump is telling his border czar, Tom Homan, to work with Minnesota officials and report directly to him. The state's governor, Tim Walz, said as the previous official in charge, Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bevino, is leaving the state. The change follows growing backlash after Homeland Security insisted Saturday's fatal shooting was in self defense, despite video evidence that contradicted that. Jennifer Lutton, NPR News, Minneapolis.

[B]

Heavy snow is falling in the Northeast as a deadly winter freeze sets in over the eastern two thirds of the U.S. nPR's Debbie Elliott reports. The frigid weather has killed at least 25 people.

[D]

Emergency crews in more than a dozen states are working to clear the ice that have crippled public services. Water and power systems are out, roads are impassable and air travel is disrupted. Forecasters say frigid temperatures through the week will further hamper the response. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves says ice storms are difficult.

[E]

It's somewhat like whack a mole every time one of the utility companies and power companies gets a large group back online. We have another tree fall or we have another limb fall, we have another power outage. And so it's just a challenging environment out there.

[D]

Officials are warning about the dangers of hypothermia and urging people without electricity to seek shelter at warming centers. Debbie Elliot, NPR News.

[B]

The Israeli military says the last Israeli hostage body in Gaza has been found. It's a major breakthrough in efforts to advance the Gaza ceasefire, as NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Jerusalem.

[F]

Hamas captured 251 living and dead hostages from Israel in the October 7, 2023 attack. Now the last one has been returned. He is ron Gvili, a 24 year old special forces policeman who was killed while fighting Hamas militants. The day of the attack. His body was taken to Gaza. The military said it launched a special search operation for his body over the weekend in a cemetery in northern Gaza on the Israeli occupied side of Gaza. Acting based on intelligence, it says his body has been returned to Israel for burial. This marks the end of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire. It paves the way for another big step. Israel says it will allow Gaza's border crossing with Egypt to reopen again for Palestinians to enter and exit. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Jerusalem.

[B]

U.S. stock indexes ticked higher today. This is NPR News. Southwest Airlines passengers are making their final boarding time scrambles for seats as the carrier prepares to end its signature open seating system. Customers on Southwest flights will have assigned seats starting tomorrow. An eight group boarding structure is replacing the find your own seat scrum. Thousands of nurses and other employees at Kaiser Permanente plan to stay on strike across California and Hawaii. From member station kqed, Farida Javala Romero reports. The health provider serves more than 12 million people.

[G]

Who's got the power?

[B]

We got the power.

[G]

What kind of power?

[E]

Union power.

[H]

Workers at one of the picket lines in the Bay Area said they want improved staffing and compensation. This is the union's third strike since September. Jessica Servin is a nurse anesthetist in San Francisco.

[I]

And it feels necessary to be here, absolutely necessary. We're fighting for our livelihoods. We're fighting for patient care, and those things are really important.

[H]

The nonprofit Kaiser has made billions of dollars in net income from operations and investments in recent years. But executives at California's largest private employers say they must balance growing payroll costs with keeping care affordable. For NPR News, I'm Farida Javala Romero in Oakland, California.

[B]

Scientists say two artifacts found at a lakeshore in Greece are the oldest wooden tools uncovered so far. One is a spindly stick, possibly used for digging. The other is a handheld chunk that may have been used to shape stone tools. They were found in Greece's Megalopolis basin and date back 430,000 years. This is NPR.

[J]

This message comes from Bombus. You need better socks and slippers and underwear because you should love what you wear every day. One purchased equals one donated. Go to bombas.com NPR and use code NPR for 20% off.