NPR News: 01-26-2026 5PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now – January 26, 2026, 5PM EST

Host: Ryland Barton
Duration: 5 minutes
Summary Prepared By: Podcast Summarizer AI

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Episode Overview

This fast-paced NPR News Now episode delivers a succinct roundup of major national and international news events as of January 26, 2026. Stories span federal immigration actions in Minnesota, an ongoing national winter storm crisis, concerns about CDC health data transparency, the largest U.S. Winter Olympics team in history, the geopolitical role of the Rafah crossing in Gaza, and a surge of demand for K-pop band BTS in Mexico.

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Key Headlines and Insights

1. Federal Immigration Actions Escalate in Minnesota

Time Stamp: 00:13–01:21

• Federal Response: Minnesota Governor Tim Walls announced that Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino will depart the state, as the Trump administration sends border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis to oversee federal immigration enforcement operations.

• Presidential Oversight: President Trump insists Homan will report directly to him, signaling direct White House engagement amid local tensions.

• Fatal Shooting Fallout: The move follows widespread outrage and protests over the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Preddy (age 37) by federal agents, with videos of the incident circulating online.

• Presidential Demands: Trump’s social media posts outlined conditions for potential withdrawal, including demands for state and city leaders to assist in handing over undocumented individuals and supporting federal apprehension efforts.

  “I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight.”
  — Donald Trump, via social media [00:41]

  “At some point we will leave.”
  — Donald Trump, interview with The Wall Street Journal [00:41]

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2. Deadly Winter Storm Grips U.S.

Time Stamp: 01:21–02:21

• Impact Scope: A severe winter storm has led to at least 25 deaths, stretching the effects of ice, sleet, and snow from New Mexico to the eastern seaboard.

• National Emergency: Nearly half of the U.S. population faces bitter cold, with subzero lows expected to persist through the week.

• Life-Threatening Cold: Jay Grimes, Louisiana state meteorologist, states:

  “Even though we’re done with the freezing rain, the sleet and the snow, we’re still a long way from being out of the woods in terms of the cold. The dangerous and potentially deadly cold will continue through the week.”
  — Jay Grimes [01:55]

• Power Outages & Infrastructure: Over a million customers lost power at the storm’s peak, and travel has been severely disrupted.

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3. CDC Health Database Updates Stalled

Time Stamp: 02:21–03:07

• Data Transparency Warning: The CDC has stopped or delayed updates to nearly half (46%) of its 82 key health databases, many of which track vaccination, respiratory disease, and drug overdose data.

• Potential Reasons: The Health and Human Services Department attributes some lapses to ongoing efforts to consolidate databases.

• Researcher Findings: This information was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

  “At least half, 46%, had stopped updating... Most of the PAWS databases had been tracking vaccinations, respiratory diseases or drug overdoses.”
  — Rob Stein [02:30]

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4. Economic Brief: Markets and Gaza Border Update

Time Stamp: 03:07–03:41

• Market Snapshot: U.S. stock indexes moved slightly higher; gold reached a new record high.
• Gaza Rafah Crossing: Anticipation surrounds the reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, a vital conduit for people and trade.
  • Israel will allow pedestrian crossings with full inspections.
  • Egypt calls for immediate two-way reopening.

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5. Record U.S. Winter Olympics Delegation Announced

Time Stamp: 03:41–04:25

• Historic Team: Over 230 U.S. athletes will compete at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

• Notable Figures:

  • Abby Winterberger (15, free skier): Youngest American Olympian this year.
  • Rich Rouenen (54, curler): Oldest on the U.S. team.
  • Mikaela Shiffrin: Two-time gold medalist returns for her fourth Games.

• New Events: Ski mountaineering debuts as an Olympic sport.

• Upcoming Dates: Opening ceremony is February 6; competition runs through February 22.

  “Generally, it’s just a really cool time for alpine ski racing and our team is bringing big energy into Milan Cortina.”
  — Athlete soundbite [04:01]

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6. BTS Mexico Concert Demand & Presidential Intervention

Time Stamp: 04:25–04:53

• Fandom Moves Political Leaders: After rapid sell-out of BTS Mexico City concert dates, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum appealed directly to South Korea’s prime minister and concert organizers for more shows.
• No Additional Dates: Despite diplomatic pressure, the promoter declined to add concerts; current schedule is three dates in Mexico City this May.

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Memorable Quotes with Timestamps

• Donald Trump (regarding federal intervention in Minnesota):

  “I am sending Tom Homan to Minnesota tonight.” [00:41]
  “At some point we will leave.” [00:41]

• Jay Grimes (on winter storm danger):

  “Even though we’re done with the freezing rain, the sleet and the snow, we’re still a long way from being out of the woods in terms of the cold. The dangerous and potentially deadly cold will continue through the week.” [01:55]

• Athlete (alpine ski racing):

  “Generally, it’s just a really cool time for alpine ski racing and our team is bringing big energy into Milan Cortina.” [04:01]

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Notable Moments

• [00:41] Danielle Kurtzleben details how video of federal agents shooting Alex Preddy has sparked protests and social media outrage.
• [01:55] Jay Grimes underscores that millions remain at risk, despite precipitation passing.
• [03:41] The U.S. Olympic roster sets a new record for team size, spanning athletes aged 15 to 54.
• [04:25] BTS fan fervor draws a unique, high-level diplomatic effort from Mexico’s president.

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End of summary.
This five-minute episode offers a whirlwind but thorough look at some of the day's most urgent news cycles and human-interest stories in the U.S. and abroad.

Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Minnesota's Democratic Governor Tim Walls says Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino is leaving the state. The Trump administration is sending border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis today to oversee the federal immigration enforcement operation. President Trump says Holman will report directly to him. The move comes amid rising tensions over fatal shootings by federal agents. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more.

[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. 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 to 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.

[Ryland Barton]

The White House bitter cold is gripping much of the country after a massive winter storm swept across the US Dumping ice, sleet and snow from New Mexico to the eastern seaboard. At least 25 deaths are attributed contributed to the storm. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports. Nearly half the nation's population is affected.

[Debbie Elliott]

The National Weather Service warns the frigid temperatures will persist over the eastern two thirds of the US this week with record sub zero lows expected. Louisiana state meteorologist Jay Grimes says conditions will remain life threatening.

[Jay Grimes]

Even though we're done with the freezing rain, the sleet and the snow, we're still a long way from being out of the woods in terms of the cold. The dangerous and potentially deadly cold will continue through the week.

[Debbie Elliott]

At its peak, the storm knocked out power for more than a million customers across the country and made road travel nearly impossible. Debbie Elliot, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stopped or delayed updating databases that track important health issues. NPR's Rob Stein reports.

[Rob Stein]

Researchers examined more than 82 CDC databases that the agency had been updating at least monthly and found that at least half, 46%, had stopped updating. Most of the PAWS databases had been tracking vaccinations, respiratory diseases or drug overdoses. The findings were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. In a statement to npr, the Health and Human Services Department says the CDC continues to monitor important health problems and that at least some of the delays may due to the CDC consolidating databases. Rob stein, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

U.S. stock indexes ticked higher today and the price of gold shot to a new record. It's npr. Palestinians are eagerly awaiting the reopening of the Rafah border crossing, Gaza's lifeline to the outside world. The crossing between Gaza and Egypt is crucial for people seeking medical treatment, traveling or boosting the economy. Israel says it will allow pedestrian passage with full inspection. Egypt wants the crossing open immediately in both directions. The team of American athletes competing in the Winter Olympics next month is set. As NPR's Ping Huang reports, it's the biggest U.S. delegation yet.

[Ping Huang]

More than 230 U.S. athletes are headed to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. They range in age from 15 year old Abby Winterberger, a free skier from California, to rich Rouenen, a 54 year old curler from Minnesota. Two time gold medalist Mikayla Schiffrin is back representing the US in alpine skiing for her fourth Olympics.

[Carvana Announcer]

Generally, it's just a really cool time for alpine ski racing and our team is bringing big energy into Milan Cortina.

[Ping Huang]

Other athletes are returning to compete in snowboarding, bobsledding, ice hockey and figure skating. A new sport this year is ski mountaineering. The Winter Olympics kicks off with the opening ceremony on February 6 and runs through February 22. Ping Huang, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

Demands for more concerts from K pop sensation BTS in Mexico have prompted action from the country's president. After a quick sellout last week, President Claudia Shane Bomb sent a letter to South Korea's prime minister requesting additional dates. Shane Bomb also reached out to concert organizers, but the promoter said adding dates is not currently possible. The group is scheduled to perform three dates in Mexico City in May. I'm Ryland Barton. This is NPR News from Washington.

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[Ryland Barton]

Com.