NPR News: 01-26-2026 3AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 26, 2026, 3AM EST – Episode Summary

Main Theme
This concise NPR News Now episode delivers quick updates on major national and international events. The primary focus is on the political and social fallout from the Minneapolis shooting of ICU nurse Alex Preddy by federal agents, the latest on federal immigration enforcement, a severe winter storm in Massachusetts, a renewed ceasefire in northeast Syria, and escalating drone warfare in Russia-Ukraine.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minneapolis Shooting & Immigration Enforcement

• President Trump’s Response ([00:16])
  • Trump indicates Immigration enforcement officials will eventually leave Minnesota but provides no specifics, while his administration reviews the Minneapolis shooting.
  • Quote: “Will come out with a determination.” (Trump to WSJ, quoted by host Doahly Sai Kowtow)
• Local Reaction & Atmosphere ([00:46])
  • Community grapples with grief and fear at a growing memorial for shooting victim Alex Preddy.
    • Quote: “What's happening here is beautiful and it brings a tear to my eyes. But sometimes I don't know if it's going to stay peaceful no more...and I don't know what's going to happen next. And it's scary.” — Local Resident [00:46]
• On-the-Ground Report ([01:04])
  • National Guard presence in Minneapolis: requested by the mayor, differentiated from immigration enforcement through distinct uniforms.
    • Quote: “They're wearing fluorescent vests to differentiate themselves from immigration enforcement officers...” — Liz Baker [01:04]
• Government Response
  • Senate Democrats consider risking a partial government shutdown to oppose spending bills funding ICE.
    • Quote: “They would risk a partial government shutdown rather than approve...' — Doahly Sai Kowtow [01:20]
  • Senator Tina Smith condemns the incident ([01:46])
    • Quote: “It really does feel in many ways a bit like a war zone. And that image of Alex Preddy being shot in the back by ICE agents when all he was trying to do was to help a woman who had been shoved down by them.” — Senator Tina Smith [01:46]
• Federal Perspective & Fallout
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem claims Preddy tried to “impede a law enforcement operation.”
  • Bipartisan calls for investigation into federal immigration enforcement.

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2. Massive Winter Storm Hits Massachusetts ([02:16])

• Governor Maura Healey’s Emergency Guidance
  • Up to 2 feet of snow expected; urging residents to “stay indoors and hunker down.”
    • Quote: “This is the biggest storm we've seen in years...Visibility is going to be terrible.” — Maura Healey [02:32]
  • Emphasizes mutual aid: “I just ask that we look out for each other...particularly if you've got folks who are elderly nearby...” — Maura Healey [02:43]
• Precautionary Measures
  • Trucks banned from highways except essentials; non-essential state employees to work from home.

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3. Nationwide Vigils for Alex Preddy ([03:08])

• Vigils and rallies held across U.S. states including Wisconsin, Maine, Illinois in memory of Alex Preddy.

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4. Middle East: Syrian Ceasefire Extended ([03:39])

• Ceasefire Details
  • Syrian government and Kurdish forces prolong ceasefire in northeast Syria for 15 days after increased clashes.
    • Quote: “A ceasefire expired Saturday night, but now the two sides have renewed it for 15 days.” — Jane Araf [03:39]
  • U.S. permitted to transfer “most potentially dangerous ISIS prisoners” to Iraq.
  • Tens of thousands of ISIS affiliates still detained for years without charges.

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5. Russia-Ukraine Tensions & Drone Warfare ([04:14])

• Russian Air Defenses Repel Drones
  • Russia claims destruction of at least 40 Ukrainian drones overnight; debris lands in Slavyansk on Kuban.
• Diplomatic Stalemate
  • Two days of trilateral (Russia, Ukraine, U.S.) peace talks in UAE end with “no details, no final conclusions.” Anticipation for further talks.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Community Grief and Fear:
  “But sometimes I don't know if it's going to stay peaceful no more after someone just got executed in the street a couple blocks away...And it's scary.”
  — Local Resident [00:46]

• Call for Mutual Aid during Storm:
  “I just ask that we look out for each other, you know, particularly if you've got folks who are elderly nearby or maybe in need of a little assistance.”
  — Maura Healey [02:43]

• Senator Smith’s Outrage:
  “It really does feel in many ways a bit like a war zone...”
  — Senator Tina Smith [01:46]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:16 — Lead headlines and introduction to the Minneapolis shooting.
• 00:46–01:04 — Listener testimony from Minneapolis, local scene description.
• 01:20–02:16 — Senate Democrats' shutdown threat and political reaction.
• 02:16–02:52 — Massachusetts storm preparations and official statements.
• 03:08 — National candlelight vigils for Alex Preddy.
• 03:39–04:14 — Syrian ceasefire and regional security update.
• 04:14–04:55 — Russia-Ukraine drone attack and diplomatic efforts.

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Episode Tone

The coverage remains urgent and factual, presenting direct statements from impacted community members, officials, and politicians. Local emotion and uncertainty are foregrounded—particularly in the Minneapolis segments—while weather and international crises are handled with characteristic NPR clarity and gravity.

Transcript

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[Doahly Sai Kowtow]

Live from NPR News in New York City. I'm Doahly Sai Kowtow. President Trump says immigration enforcement officials will eventually be withdrawn from Minnesota but didn't offer a timeframe. He told the Wall Street Journal that his administration is review everything about the Minneapolis shooting and, quote, will come out with a determination. The location of the latest shooting victim, Alex Preddy, is now a growing memorial to the 37 year old ICU. Nurse Tormu Diggs visited the site on Sunday.

[Local Resident]

What's happening here is beautiful and it brings a tear to my eyes. But sometimes I don't know if it's going to stay peaceful no more after someone just got executed in the street a couple blocks away from here and I can't and I don't know what's going to happen next. And it's scary.

[Doahly Sai Kowtow]

NPR's Liz Baker has more from Minneapolis.

[Liz Baker]

Well, the National Guard is out in the city. They were requested by the mayor of Minneapolis and they're wearing fluorescent vests to differentiate themselves from immigration enforcement officers, which are wearing similar colored camo in many cases. But things have been peaceful so far.

[Doahly Sai Kowtow]

Senate Democrats say they would risk a partial government shutdown rather than approve a spending bill that includes funding for Immigration Customs Enforcement. NPR's Windsor Johnston reports.

[Windsor Johnston]

37 year old Alex Preddy, an ICU nurse, was shot dead by federal agents during an immigration enforcement protest. Minnesota Senator Tina Smith tells NPR that she and her Democratic colleagues are appalled by what's happening in their state.

[Tina Smith]

It really does feel in many ways a bit like a war zone. And that image of Alex Preddy being shot in the back by ICE agents when all he was trying to do was to help a woman who had been shoved down by them.

[Windsor Johnston]

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says Preddy showed up to, quote, impede a law enforcement operation. Democrats and some Republicans are now calling for a deeper investigation into federal immigration tactics. Windsor Johnston, NPR News.

[Doahly Sai Kowtow]

Massachusetts is expecting up to 2ft of snow as a large swath of the country is being hit by a massive winter storm. From member station WBR in Boston, Josie Guarino reports.

[Josie Guarino]

Governor Maura Healey is urging people to stay indoors and hunker down if possible.

[Maura Healey]

This is the biggest storm we've seen in years. So my message to the public is look, we're going to have massive amounts of snow. Visibility is going to be terrible.

[Josie Guarino]

Healy is also asking residents to look in on their neighbors.

[Maura Healey]

I just ask that we look out for each other, you know, particularly if you've got folks who are elderly nearby or maybe in need of a little assistance.

[Josie Guarino]

The state has ordered trucks off the highways unless they're carrying food, fuel and medical supplies. Non essential state employees have been ordered to work from home Monday. The private sector is being urged to do the same. For NPR News, I'm Josie Guarino in.

[Doahly Sai Kowtow]

Boston, and this is NPR News from New York City. Across the country, candlelight vigils were held to remember Alex Preddy, the ICU nurse who was killed yesterday in Minneapolis by federal immigration. Rallies were held in Wisconsin, Maine, Illinois and other states. The Syrian government and Syrian Kurdish fighters have agreed to extend a ceasefire that paused fighting in the country's northeast. NPR's Jain Araf has details.

[Jain Araf]

Fighting between Kurdish led Syrian fighters and Syrian government forces last week has threatened the security of ISIS prisons and detention camps. A ceasefire expired Saturday night, but now the two sides have renewed it for 15 days. Syria's defense ministry said it would allow the US to move some of what it considers the most potentially dangerous ISIS prisoners to neighbouring Iraq. Tens of thousands of ISIS fighters and families have been held for years without being charged with a crime in northeastern Syria. Jane Araf, NPR News, Aman.

[Doahly Sai Kowtow]

Russia's official Tass news agency reports that Moscow's air defenses destroyed at least 40 Ukrainian drones overnight. Russia's Defense Ministry said debris fell in parts of the Slavyansk on Kuban region. This comes after two days of trilateral talks ended between Russia, Ukraine and the United States. In the United Arab Emirates. No details, no final conclusions were made. Officials say another round of peace talks is expected to begin next week. I'm Dwahili Saikawta, NPR News, in New York City.

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