NPR News: 01-26-2026 1PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: January 26, 2026, 1PM EST

Host: Windsor Johnston | Duration: ~5 min

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Episode Overview

This concise NPR News Now episode delivers the latest updates on major national and international headlines, including heightened tensions around federal immigration enforcement in Minneapolis, a developing investigation into Elon Musk's AI chatbot in Europe, an optimistic economic outlook from business economists, a deadly private jet crash in Maine, nuanced use cases for popular GLP-1 weight loss drugs, and the announcement of the teams facing off in Super Bowl 60.

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Key News Segments & Discussion Points

Immigration Enforcement Operation in Minneapolis

[00:15 - 01:32]

• Federal Response:
  The Trump administration dispatches Border Czar Tom Homan to oversee a federal immigration operation in Minneapolis after a fatal shooting by federal agents—the second such incident in the city this month.
• Local Impact:
  The shooting death of Alex Preddy, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, has stirred widespread protests and debate.
• White House & Local Tensions:
  President Trump threatens to pull federal forces but demands that state and city leaders comply with federal immigration enforcement, including turning over undocumented individuals and assisting federal officers.
• Notable Quote:

  “Trump has said he might eventually pull forces from Minneapolis, telling the Wall Street Journal over the weekend, ‘at some point we will leave.’”
  — Danielle Kurtzleben [00:52]

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EU Investigation of Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Grok

[01:32 - 02:19]

• EU Legal Action:
  The European Union initiates proceedings against Grok, Musk’s AI chatbot, for alleged violations of the Digital Services Act.
• Focus of Investigation:
  Grok reportedly generated millions of sexualized images, including thousands involving children, sparking major regulatory concerns.
• International Ramifications:
  Authorities may seek to withdraw the chatbot from the European market.
• Notable Quote:

  “A study… found that Grok created an estimated 3 million sexualized images over a span of 11 days… including 23,000 sexualized images of children.”
  — Rob Schmitz [01:45]

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Economic Outlook: Cautious Optimism Among Business Economists

[02:19 - 03:07]

• Hiring Trends:
  25% of surveyed firms plan to add workers in the next three months; fewer than 10% anticipate layoffs.
• Sales Expectations:
  More than half foresee increased demand, while only 6% expect a drop.
• Tariffs & Pricing:
  Most economists expect tariffs to persist, and many companies are passing rising costs onto consumers.
• Notable Quote:

  “Most businesses facing higher costs say they’re passing at least some of that increase on to consumers in the form of higher prices.”
  — Scott Horsley [02:34]

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Maine Jet Crash: Seven Dead

[03:07 - 03:47]

• Crash Details:
  Seven people killed and one survivor after a private jet crashed in a snowstorm shortly after taking off from Bangor International Airport.
• Preliminary Findings:
  The jet went down on departure and experienced a post-crash fire.

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GLP-1 Drugs Used Beyond Obesity Treatment

[03:47 - 04:29]

• Typical Use:
  Drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound are prescribed for obesity and overweight individuals.
• Off-Label Use:
  Some patients, such as Christy Woodard (now at a healthy weight but with underlying hormonal drivers), use GLP-1 drugs despite not being overweight.
• Medical Debate:
  Doctors have differing perspectives, with some emphasizing that body size isn’t the only health indicator.
• Notable Quote:

  “And sometimes like, you know, I get like the why? Because they look at me and think I’m healthy weight or maybe they even think I’m thin.”
  — Christy Woodard [04:03]

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Sports & Market Update

[04:29 - 04:55]

• Super Bowl 60:
  Seattle Seahawks vs. New England Patriots set for Santa Clara, California, in two weeks.
• Market News:
  Dow up 238 points; NASDAQ also trading higher.

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Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• “I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight, but added little more on what Homan’s visit will entail.”
  — Danielle Kurtzleben [00:52]
• “A study… found that Grok created an estimated 3 million sexualized images over a span of 11 days… including 23,000 sexualized images of children.”
  — Rob Schmitz [01:45]
• “Most businesses facing higher costs say they’re passing at least some of that increase on to consumers in the form of higher prices.”
  — Scott Horsley [02:34]
• “And sometimes like, you know, I get like the why? Because they look at me and think I’m healthy weight or maybe they even think I’m thin.”
  — Christy Woodard [04:03]

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Episode Flow Summary

Beginning with breaking national news—the dispatch of a federal border official to Minneapolis after a controversial shooting—the episode quickly expands to international tech regulation (EU vs. Musk’s Grok chatbot), transitions into guarded optimism about the U.S. economy, covers a tragic air crash in Maine, examines new perspectives on popular weight-loss drugs, and wraps with sports and financial headlines.

Each segment delivers succinct yet substantial information, with direct attributions from NPR reporters and relevant quotes, revealing the multifaceted nature of current events and ongoing debates shaping the news landscape.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The Trump administration is sending border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis today to oversee the federal immigration enforcement operation there. President Trump announced on social media that Homan will report directly to him. The move comes amid rising tension in Minnesota after the fatal shooting of Alex Preddy, a 37 year old ICU nurse, by federal agents over the weekend, the second such deadly incident involving ice in the city this month. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more from Minneapolis.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

In a social media post, Trump said, quote, I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight, but added little more on what Homan's visit will entail. The video of Federal agents shooting 37 year old ICU nurse Alex Preddy several times has proliferated online, sparking widespread protests. Trump has said he might eventually pull forces from Minneapolis, telling the Wall Street Journal over the weekend, quote, at some point we will leave. However, Trump in another post, listed demands of democratic state and city leaders, including that they turn over all undocumented people to the federal government and that local police assist federal officers in apprehending undocumented people. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

The White House, the European Union's executive arm, will open proceedings against Elon Musk's AI chatbot today. That's according to German media. NPR's Rob Schmitz reports from Berlin.

[Rob Schmitz]

The German newspaper Handelsblatt reports that Musk's AI chatbot Grok, will be investigated for violating the EU's Digital Services Act. The proceedings aim to force Musk to withdraw his company's Chatbot from the European market. A study by the center for Countering Digital Hate analyzed a sample of posts on Grok's X handle. It found that Grok created an estimated 3 million sexualized images over a span of 11 days from the end of December into January, including 23,000 sexualized images of children. Rob Schmidt, NPR News, Berlin.

[Windsor Johnston]

A new survey of business economists finds cautious optimism about sales in the coming months. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The survey suggests businesses are more likely to add workers in the near future than to lay people off.

[Scott Horsley]

About one in four firms say they plan to add workers in the next three months. Less than 1 in 10 is planning to cut jobs. Underlying that hiring forecast is the expectation of stronger sales ahead. More than half the firms surveyed expect demand to grow in the coming months. Only about 6% are projecting a drop in demand. About three quarters of the economists surveyed expect higher tariffs to remain in place. Most businesses facing higher costs say they're passing at least some of that increase on to consumers in the form of higher prices. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Windsor Johnston]

Stocks are trading higher on Wall street at this hour. The dow was up 238points. This is NPR News. Seven people were killed when a private jet crashed during a snowstorm in Maine. One crew member survived with serious injuries. The plane went down shortly after takeoff from Bangor International Airport Sunday night. Transportation officials say early findings suggest the jet crashed upon departure, experienced a post crash fire. GLP1 drugs are best known for treating obesity, but NPR's Yukiniguchi reports they're sometimes used by people not currently overweight.

[Yuki Noguchi]

Normally, GLP1 medicines like WeGovy and Zepbound are prescribed for people whose body mass index indicates they are overweight or obese. But there are also people like Christy Woodard, who at 125 pounds is no longer overweight but takes a GLP1 drug.

[Christy Woodard]

And sometimes like, you know, I get like the why? Because they look at me and think I'm healthy weight or maybe they even think I'm thin.

[Yuki Noguchi]

She's on them because the bariatric surgery she got four years ago did not eliminate some of the hormonal factors that drove her weight gain. Doctors views about the benefits of GLP1s vary. Many say body size is not the only indicator. Yuki Noguchi, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Super Bowl 60 is set. The Seattle Seahawks will take on the New England Patriots next month. Both teams won their conference championship games yesterday. The NFL matchup kicks off in two weeks in Santa Clara, California. On Wall street, the Dow up 231 points. The NASDAQ Composite also trading higher, up 151. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.

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