NPR News Now – January 26, 2026, 4AM EST

Episode Overview

This brief update delivers a rapid-fire summary of breaking national news and current events, focusing on the aftermath of a controversial fatal police shooting in Minnesota, the impacts of a major winter storm in Texas, a spiritual peace march in North Carolina, and political pressure on the Federal Reserve. The tone stays factual and concise, in typical NPR style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minnesota Immigration Controversy and Shooting (00:16–02:13)

• Governor Walz Speaks Out

  • Governor Tim Walz emphasizes Minnesota's commitment to "law and order" while criticizing the federal government's deployment of immigration agents.
    • Notable quote:

      "We believe in law and order in this state. We believe in peace. And we believe that Donald Trump needs to pull these 3,000 untrained agents out of Minnesota before they kill another person."
      — Gov. Tim Walz (00:33)

• Incident Recap

  • Alex Preddy, an ICU nurse and local VA hospital employee, was shot and killed by federal immigration agents in South Minneapolis.
  • President Trump, commenting to the Wall Street Journal, indicates the administration is reviewing the situation.

• Corporate Response

  • Over 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies—including Target, Best Buy, and General Mills—urge authorities to "de-escalate tensions," reporting recent business losses.

• Public Backlash in Wisconsin

  • About 1,000 people in Green Bay protest the shooting, braving single-digit temperatures.
    • Protester Tom Murphy reflects on the local loss:

      "This is a hit to the hometown and we need to let everybody know this isn't right. This should not have happened."
      — Tom Murphy, Protester (01:50)

  • Federal officials label Preddy a "domestic terrorist," which his parents strongly dispute as "sickening lies."

2. Winter Storm Impacting Texas and Nationwide Travel (02:13–03:08)

• Severe Weather Closures
  • Major ice and snow lead to widespread shutdowns and deserted roads in Texas.
  • Schools are closed, thousands of flights cancelled or delayed.
  • At least one person dies from exposure in Austin; minor outages but not a replay of the catastrophic 2021 storm.
    • Key report:

      "The roads here are still coated in a layer of ice. This is a big problem for a part of the country that's not used to dealing with winter weather."
      — Matt Largey, KUUT Austin (02:28)

3. Walk for Peace Monks’ Journey Through North Carolina (03:08–03:52)

• Unity and Inspiration
  • On day 94 of their Texas-to-DC march, Buddhist monks face harsh winter conditions in North Carolina.
  • Thousands meet them in Raleigh where Governor Josh Stein praises their message:

    "We live in a time of partisan rancor and political discord. We don't want to be on guard against our neighbors. We want to come together."
    — Gov. Josh Stein, NC (03:28)

4. Federal Reserve and Political Pressure (03:52–04:46)

• Interest Rate Watch
  • The Federal Reserve is expected to hold rates steady. It had cut rates at the last three meetings to help the labor market.
  • President Trump ramps up pressure, even prompting a Justice Department investigation into the central bank’s actions.
  • Fed Chair Jerome Powell maintains the importance of the Fed’s independence:

    "[Powell] said public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats."
    — Scott Horsley, NPR (04:18)

  • All eyes are on the upcoming news conference for further clarification on the Fed’s position.

5. Market Update (04:46–04:55)

• Asia Stocks
  • Asian markets are down, with Japan's Nikkei index falling 1.7%.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Governor Walz’s Outcry (00:33): "Donald Trump needs to pull these 3,000 untrained agents out of Minnesota before they kill another person."
• Community Mourning in Green Bay (01:50): "This is a hit to the hometown and we need to let everybody know this isn't right."
• Governor Stein’s Call for Unity (03:28): "We don't want to be on guard against our neighbors. We want to come together."
• Fed Chairman Powell’s Stand (04:18): "Public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats."

Timestamps of Major Segments

• Minnesota news and shooting aftermath: 00:16–02:13
• Texas winter storm impact: 02:13–03:08
• Walk for Peace monks in NC, unity message: 03:08–03:52
• Federal Reserve under pressure: 03:52–04:46
• Asia stock market update: 04:46–04:55