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.