NPR News: 01-26-2026 4PM EST - NPR News Now

Summary4 min read

NPR News Now: January 26, 2026, 4PM EST

Host: Windsor Johnston
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise update on major national news stories, focusing on a controversial police shooting in Minnesota, the ongoing aftermath of a powerful winter storm, a deadly plane crash in Maine, new research on Arctic noise pollution, and ongoing nurse strikes in New York City.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Minneapolis Police Shooting and Federal Response

Incident: Shooting of Alex Preddy, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, by federal agents in Minneapolis is under investigation.
Political Reaction:
- White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt attributes blame to local Democratic leaders for resisting federal law enforcement efforts.
  - Quote: “For weeks, Governor Walz and the mayor, Jacob Fry and other elected Democrats were spreading lies about federal law enforcement officers who are risking their lives daily to remove the worst criminal illegal aliens from our streets, murderers, rapists, pedophiles, human traffickers and gang members.”
    —Caroline Levitt [00:39]
- Contradictory reports emerging regarding whether Preddy was brandishing a weapon or committing an act of terrorism.
Investigative Update:
- DHS is reviewing body cam footage from "multiple angles."
- Eyewitness accounts and video evidence contradict claims made by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Political Coordination:
- President Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz discuss next steps, with Trump reportedly open to reducing the federal agent presence.
- State officials working to involve local investigators in federal probes. Trump dispatches top border official Tom Homan to Minnesota.
  - Quote: “The takeaway from Walz is that Trump is open to ramping down an operation that has a few thousand federal agents on the ground.”
    —Brian Bask [01:30]

2. Winter Storm Disrupts Transportation

Weather Impact:
- Heavy snow and freezing temperatures cause sweeping flight cancellations and delays, especially in the Northeast.
- Roads in Central and Eastern U.S., particularly the South, are treacherous due to ice.
  - Quote: “Airline operations were battered by the weekend storm that dumped heavy snow and ice across more than a dozen states.”
    —Joel Rose [02:28]
- Major power outages in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

3. Fatal Plane Crash in Maine

Details:
- Seven people killed when a private jet crashed during takeoff amid a snowstorm in Bangor, ME.
- Confusion over passenger manifest: It listed only six, all deceased.
- One crew member survived.

4. Arctic Sound Pollution

Research:
- A UK study finds the Arctic Ocean is noisier than previously believed.
- Increase in noise sources: snowmobiles, shipping, and potential for mining due to climate change.
  - Recorded Sound: Audio of a snowmobile on sea ice included in the report.
  - Quote: “That's what the snowmobile sounds like. Underwater climate change means a warmer Arctic, which makes it easier for ships, mining operations and other potentially noisy activities to escalate even more, the authors warn.”
    —Rebecca Hersher [03:46]

5. New York City Nurses’ Strike

Labor Dispute:
- Around 15,000 nurses continue to strike, seeking better pay and workplace safety.
- Some progress on health care benefits, but negotiations ongoing.
  - Quote: “Nurses say they’ll be back out on the picket line tomorrow if a deal isn’t reached.”
    —Windsor Johnston [04:27]

6. Stock Market Update

Summary:
- Dow up 313 points, NASDAQ up 100.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“For weeks, Governor Walz and the mayor, Jacob Fry and other elected Democrats were spreading lies about federal law enforcement officers who are risking their lives daily...”
—Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary [00:39]
“The takeaway from Walz is that Trump is open to ramping down an operation that has a few thousand federal agents on the ground.”
—Brian Bask, Minnesota Public Radio [01:30]
“Airline operations were battered by the weekend storm that dumped heavy snow and ice across more than a dozen states.”
—Joel Rose, NPR [02:28]
“That's what the snowmobile sounds like. Underwater climate change means a warmer Arctic, which makes it easier for ships, mining operations and other potentially noisy activities to escalate even more, the authors warn.”
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR [03:46]

Important Timestamps

[00:16] Main news headlines
[00:39] Statement from Press Secretary Caroline Levitt
[01:30] Analysis and statements about federal-state cooperation in Minnesota (Brian Baxd)
[02:13] Winter storm transportation update (Joel Rose)
[03:05] Stock market and crash reports
[03:46] Arctic noise pollution study (Rebecca Hersher)
[04:27] NYC nurses’ strike update

Tone & Style

The tone is factual, urgent, and balanced, reflecting both government statements and public scrutiny. The reporting is succinct but covers the gravity and controversy of ongoing national issues, especially around the Minnesota shooting and federal-local tensions.

This summary covers all major stories, emphasizing conflicting accounts in the Minnesota shooting, the broader transportation impacts of the winter storm, the tragedy of the Maine plane crash, growing concerns about Arctic environmental change, and the continued labor actions by nurses in New York City.

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Transcript11 lines

[00:01]
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[00:16]
Windsor Johnston
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The White House says the shooting of a 37 year old ICU nurse in Minneapolis on Saturday is under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt today blamed the latest shooting on Democratic leaders in Minnesota, accusing them of deliberate and hostile resistance.
[00:40]
Caroline Levitt
For weeks, Governor Waltz and the mayor, Jacob Fry and other elected Democrats were spreading lies about federal law enforcement officers who are risking their lives daily to remove the worst criminal illegal aliens from our streets, murderers, rapists, pedophiles, human traffickers and gang members.
[01:00]
Windsor Johnston
The Department of Homeland Security says investigators are reviewing body cam footage in the shooting of Alex Preddy from multiple angles. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Preddy was committing an act of terrorism and brandishing a weapon, but video evidence and eyewitness accounts that have surfaced contradict that claim. Meanwhile, President Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are now speaking about what happens next in the state. Ms. Minnesota Public Radio's Brian Bask reports.
[01:30]
Brian Bask
President Trump positively appraised his call with Governor Walz. On social media, Trump wrote that the two seem to be on a similar wavelength. The takeaway from walls is that Trump is open to ramping down an operation that has a few thousand federal agents on the ground. It comes after the week in fatal shooting by Border Patrol agents of ICU nurse and US Citizen Alex Preddy and Renee Macklin Good, who was killed by an ICE agent earlier this month. A statement from the governor's office also says Trump would talk with the Department of Homeland Security about involving state criminal investigators into the probes. Trump says top border official Tom Homan will travel to Minnesota and speak with Walz. For NPR News, I'm Brian Baxd in St. Paul.
[02:13]
Windsor Johnston
Flight cancellations and delays may stretch into the week after a powerful winter storm swept across large parts of the U.S. this weekend. NPR's Joel Rose reports. Heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures have snarled transportation networks.
[02:28]
Joel Rose
Airline operations were battered by the weekend storm that dumped heavy snow and ice across more than a dozen states. Sub zero temperatures and other weather issues across the Northeast forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights and delay thousands more again on Monday, complicating their efforts to get aircraft and crews back in position for regular service. The storm also impeded road travel across a wide swath of the central and eastern U.S. in the south, ice brought down trees and power lines, cutting electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, with the most out reported in Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.
[03:05]
Windsor Johnston
At last check on Wall street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 313 points, the NASDAQ up 100. This is NPR News. The Federal Aviation Administration says seven people were killed when a private jet crashed on takeoff during a snowstorm in Bangor, Maine, last night. One crew member survived, however, Maine public reports that airport officials say the planes manife only listed six people, all of whom died. The Arctic is louder than previously thought. That's according to a new study. NPR's Rebecca Hersher reports. Much of the noise comes from snowmobiles, ships and planes.
[03:47]
Rebecca Hersher
The Arctic is generally thought of as a quiet place compared to other regions where there are major cities. That's beneficial for ocean creatures, which thrive in quiet seas. But a new study by researchers in the United Kingdom finds that there's more ocean noise in the Arctic than previously thought. They analyzed recordings from underwater microphones. Here's one recording of a snowmobile driving on sea ice. That's what the snowmobile sounds like. Underwater climate change means a warmer Arctic, which makes it easier for ships, mining operations and other potentially noisy activities to escalate even more, the authors warn. Rebecca Hersher, NPR News.
[04:28]
Windsor Johnston
About 15,000 nurses in New York City remain on strike across several hospital systems. Their union says some employees Employers have agreed to preserve existing health care benefits, but talks continue as nurses push for better pay and improved workplace safety. Nurses say they'll be back out on the picket line tomorrow if a deal isn't reached. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.
[04:56]
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