NPR News: 01-26-2026 6AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – January 26, 2026, 6AM EST

Overview
This NPR News Now episode provides listeners with a rapid update on several major national stories, including legal challenges to federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota, a deadly winter storm sweeping across the eastern U.S., economic outlook from business economists, updates on a private jet crash, ongoing trilateral diplomacy over Ukraine, and the long-awaited Super Bowl matchup.

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Key Stories and Insights

1. Minnesota Challenges Federal Immigration Crackdown

• [00:15–01:17]
  • A federal judge in Minnesota will hear arguments regarding whether to limit the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement actions in the state.
  • The case comes after the fatal shooting of Alex Preddy, an ICU nurse, by federal agents during a protest—marking the second such fatality in the month.
  • Minnesota, led by Democrats, is requesting the court declare the federal surge unconstitutional or at least limit specific enforcement tactics.
  • The state alleges the administration’s real intent is policing, with aggressive tactics “harming innocent people, draining local budgets and leaving many afraid to leave their home.”
  • Hearing will address a temporary pause (injunction) while the litigation continues.

Notable Quote:

"[Minnesota] says officers' aggressive tactics are harming innocent people, draining local budgets and leaving many afraid to leave their home."
— Jennifer Ludden, NPR News ([00:34])

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2. Massive Winter Storm Disrupts the East

• [01:17–02:14]
  • Brutal winter conditions persist from Kentucky to Maine, with warnings still active.
  • Over a dozen fatalities reported, roughly 750,000 without power—most severely in Tennessee.
  • In Nashville, functional infrastructure is under strain. Some residents, such as Alejandro Marin, consider venturing out for warmth despite dangerous road conditions.
  • Local authorities have set up 24-hour warming centers at fire stations, police precincts, and community centers.

Notable Moments:

“No power at the moment, no heating as well. So our house is slowly dropping in temperature. I might be going to a hotel, potentially...”
— Alejandro Marin, Nashville Resident ([01:52])

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3. Signs of Business Confidence in Hiring

• [02:14–03:08]
  • National Association for Business Economics survey finds an upbeat hiring outlook—the strongest in years.
  • 25% of firms plan to hire in next three months, less than 10% expect cuts.
  • Over half forecast increased demand; only 6% expect a decrease.
  • Most economists expect current tariffs to remain, with businesses passing on increased costs to consumers.

Notable Quote:

“About one in four firms say they plan to add workers in the next three months. Less than 1 in 10 is planning to cut jobs.”
— Scott Horsley, NPR News ([02:29])

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4. Other Headlines

• [03:08–03:38]

  • Dow futures are flat in premarket trading.
  • A private jet crashed while taking off in snowy conditions in Bangor, Maine. Eight were aboard; no condition details released.

• Diplomatic Update: Ukraine Talks

  • Trilateral talks (Ukraine, U.S., Russia) in the UAE see conflicting reporting:
    • Ukraine says a security pact with the U.S. is “100% ready to be signed.”
    • Russian sources say talks will continue next week instead.

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5. Super Bowl Teams Decided

• [03:38–04:49]
  • The Seattle Seahawks defeat the Los Angeles Rams, 31–27.
  • Seahawks, under new leadership (Coach Mike McDonald and QB Sam Darnold), are aiming for their second Super Bowl title.
  • Patriots clinch their seventh Super Bowl berth, overcoming Denver in “heavy snow” with backup QB Drake May.
  • The Patriots end a six-year Super Bowl drought.

Notable Quote:

“The Seahawks went 14-3 and now have a chance at their second ever super bowl title. The Patriots will be playing for their seventh.”
— Becky Sullivan, NPR News ([04:18])

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Memorable Quotes

• On Minnesota’s Immigration Challenge:
  “[The state] says officers' aggressive tactics are harming innocent people, draining local budgets and leaving many afraid to leave their home.”
  — Jennifer Ludden ([00:34])

• On Enduring the Winter Storm:
  “No power at the moment, no heating as well. So our house is slowly dropping in temperature.”
  — Alejandro Marin ([01:52])

• On Economic Outlook:
  “About one in four firms say they plan to add workers in the next three months. Less than 1 in 10 is planning to cut jobs.”
  — Scott Horsley ([02:29])

• On Super Bowl Aspirations:
  “The Seahawks went 14-3 and now have a chance at their second ever super bowl title.”
  — Becky Sullivan ([04:18])

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Important Timestamps

• [00:15] Minnesota challenge to federal immigration enforcement
• [01:17] Winter storm devastation and Nashville struggles
• [02:14] Business economists’ upbeat hiring report
• [03:08] Private jet crash in Maine; Ukraine talks update
• [03:38] Super Bowl matchups finalized

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This episode delivers crisp, informative updates on pressing legal, climate, economic, international, and sports stories with on-the-scene reporting highlighting both the national scope and impactful human stories behind the headlines.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Live from NPR News, I'm Korva Coleman. A federal judge will hear arguments in Minnesota today about whether to rein in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. This comes two days after federal agents shot and killed a protester In Minneapolis in NPR's Jennifer Lund reports. It's the second fatal such shooting this month.

[C]

Minnesota has asked the court to declare the federal surge unconstitutional and unlawful or at least prohibit officers from certain harmful actions. And it says the matter is even more urgent after this weekend's fatal shooting of intensive care nurse Alex Preddy. Homeland Security has sent some 3,000 immigration agents to Minneapolis. It says the aim is to stop benefits fraud and arrest criminals. The state, led by Democrats, argues the real aim is police. And it says officers aggressive tactics are harming innocent people, draining local budgets and leaving many afraid to leave their home. Today's hearing is about a temporary pause while the case plays out. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Minneapolis.

[B]

The National Weather Service says that mammoth winter storm isn't over yet. Winter storm warnings are still up from Kentucky to Maine. More than a dozen people have been killed by the weather and three quarters of a million customers are out of power. The worst affected state is Tennessee, where a quarter of a million customers are in the dark. From member station wpln, Justin Barney reports.

[D]

The National Weather Service is describing travel around Nashville as dangerous to impossible. But with so many people without power, some, like Alejandro Marin, are looking to brave the roads in search of shelter.

[E]

No power at the moment, no heating as well. So our house is slowly dropping in temperature. I might be going to a hotel, potentially just to.

[D]

The impact of the storm pushed area governments to open all fire department stations and some police precincts and community centers as 24 hour warming centers. For NPR News, I'm Justin Barney in Nashville.

[B]

A new survey of business economists finds cautious optimism about sales in the coming months. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The survey suggests businesses are more likely to add workers in the near future than to lay people off.

[F]

The survey by the national association for Business Economics shows the most positive hiring outlook in several years. About one in four firms say they plan to add workers in the next three months. Less than 1 in 10 is planning to cut jobs. Underlying that hiring forecast is the expectation of stronger sales ahead. More than half the firms surveyed expect demand to grow in the coming months. Only about 6% are projecting a drop in demand. About three quarters of the economists surveyed expect higher tariffs to remain in place. Most businesses facing higher costs say they're passing at least some of that increase on to consumers in the form of higher prices. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[B]

On Wall street, in premarket trading, Dow futures are flat. You're listening to npr. The Federal Aviation Administration says a private jet crashed in Maine yesterday morning. It was taking off from Bangor International Airport in steady snow. Eight people were aboard. No details were released about their conditions. There are differing views over the outcome of this weekend's three way talks among Ukraine, the U.S. and Russia. The talks were held in the United Arab Emirates. The Associated Press reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says a security agreement with the US is 100% ready to be signed. But the Russian news agency Tass said today only that trilateral talks on Ukraine would continue next week. The teams are set for the Super Bowl. The Seattle Seahawks are returning. They beat the Los Angeles Rams yesterday 31, 27. The Seahawks will play the New England Patriots, as NPR's Becky Sullivan reports.

[G]

Two years ago, Seattle fired their longtime coach and hired a new guy in young defensive hotshot Mike McDonald. Then last year, they brought in a new quarterback. The Vikings and Jets cast off Sam Darnold. Now they've cashed in. The Seahawks went 143 and now have a chance at their second ever super bowl title. The Patriots will be playing for their seventh. New England faced the Denver Broncos, who were starting their backup quarterback after their starter broke his ankle last week. After halftime, heavy snow began and the Pats escaped with a 10 to 7 win. New England fans had to suffer six long years without a Super bowl appearance. Now, with the young quarterback Drake May under center, their weight is over. Becky Sullivan, NPR News.

[B]

Again on Wall Street, Dow futures are lower. This is npr.

[A]

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