NPR News Now — 7PM EST, January 27, 2026

Host: NPR News Anchor (Rylan Barton)
Episode Theme: Rapid-fire national news update covering legal, weather, economic, policy, and scientific stories making headlines in late January 2026.

1. Federal Judge Hears Minnesota Challenge to Trump Administration Immigration Crackdown

Key Points:

• Minnesota v. Trump Administration: U.S. District Judge Catherine Menendez hears arguments from the state and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul seeking to halt federal immigration operations linked to two fatal shootings by federal officers.
• Arguments and Judicial Scrutiny: Both the state and federal government face tough questioning. The judge probes the state’s legal footing and the true motives of the Trump administration.

Notable Quotes:

• “[The Department of Justice] rejected the idea that agents are intruding into state sovereignty...we are carrying out legitimate immigration enforcement now.”
  — Jennifer Ludden reporting ([00:45])
• “Bondi's letter sure looks like a quid pro quo.”
  — Judge Menendez, via Jennifer Ludden ([00:59])
• “A lot of what federal agents are doing, like pulling people over randomly to check papers, just does not appear to have anything to do with immigration enforcement.”
  — Judge Menendez, via Jennifer Ludden ([01:04])

Timestamps:

• Start of the legal update: [00:14]
• Jennifer Ludden’s deeper report: [00:45]

2. Winter Weather and the Texas Power Grid

Key Points:

• A dangerous winter storm (“Fern”) is straining power grids nationwide.
• Texas grid operator ERCOT reports stability despite rising demand, unlike the catastrophic 2021 blackout.
• U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order freeing up backup power sources.
• The worst of the cold snap is expected to ease soon.

Notable Quotes:

• “The system is performing better this time, at least so far.”
  — NPR News Anchor ([01:13])
• “So far, most outages reported have been localized...ERCOT says electricity supply has remained stable even as demand rises during the cold snap.”
  — Lucio Vazquez ([01:31])

Timestamps:

• Weather and grid story intro: [01:13]
• Lucio Vazquez’s regional update: [01:31]

3. IRS Opens 2026 Tax Filing Season

Key Points:

• IRS begins accepting tax returns a day earlier than last year.
• 164 million returns expected before the April 15 deadline.
• Electronic filing recommended — over 93% submission rate last year.
• Over half of filers use professional tax preparers.
• IRS advises using direct deposit for quicker refunds (most within 21 days).

Notable Quotes:

• “Most taxpayers follow the IRS advice to file electronically, since paper returns can slow down processing.”
  — Scott Horsley ([02:25])
• “The IRS recommends using direct deposit to get your money faster.”
  — Scott Horsley ([02:47])

Timestamps:

• IRS story intro: [02:18]
• Scott Horsley report: [02:25]

4. Super Bowl Set: New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks

Key Points:

• Super Bowl teams determined: Patriots vs. Seahawks.
• Game scheduled for February 8th in Santa Clara, California.

Timestamps:

• Super Bowl announcement: [03:05]

5. U.S. Moves to Secure Rare Earth Supply Chain

Key Points:

• U.S. government acquires a stake in an Oklahoma rare earth mine, aiming to reduce dependency on China (which processes >90% of world’s supply).
• $1.6 billion Commerce Department investment in USA Rare Earth.
• Plans to advance mining in Texas and build an Oklahoma magnet manufacturing facility.
• Trade war context: China uses its rare earth dominance as leverage.

Timestamps:

• Rare earth/mining report begins: [03:23]

6. FEMA Review Council Deadline Extended

Key Points:

• President Trump extends the deadline for the FEMA Review Council’s recommendations to late March.
• Council’s purpose: Suggest reforms for a “dramatically downsized or even eliminated” FEMA (per Trump’s comments).
• Final report was to be delivered in December, but that meeting was canceled.
• Bipartisan FEMA reform bill active in House.

Notable Quotes:

• “President Trump has repeatedly suggested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, is ineffective and should be dramatically downsized or even eliminated.”
  — Rebecca Hersher ([04:01])

Timestamps:

• FEMA council story: [03:56]
• Rebecca Hersher reports: [04:01]

7. Archaeological Discovery: Oldest Wooden Tools in Greece

Key Points:

• Two wooden tools discovered at a lakeshore in Greece’s Megalopolis Basin.
• Artifacts (a spindly stick and a chunk likely used for tool shaping) are 430,000 years old — oldest known wooden tools.

Timestamps:

• Discovery announcement: [04:35]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

“Bondi's letter sure looks like a quid pro quo.”
— Judge Menendez via Jennifer Ludden ([00:59])

“Texas power grid has so far held up as winter storm Fern continues to bring freezing temperatures, snow and ice across the region.”
— Lucio Vazquez ([01:31])

“President Trump has repeatedly suggested that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, is ineffective and should be dramatically downsized or even eliminated.”
— Rebecca Hersher ([04:01])

Timeline of Major Segments

• [00:14] Immigration crackdown in Minnesota (Judge Menendez)
• [01:13] Winter weather and power grid resilience in Texas
• [02:18] IRS tax season opens
• [03:05] Super Bowl matchup announced
• [03:23] Rare earth mining investment
• [03:56] FEMA reform council update
• [04:35] Ancient tool discovery in Greece

This five-minute episode delivers a tightly packed national update with courtroom drama, weather and infrastructure resilience, major policy moves in minerals and disaster preparedness, a quick sports headline, and a remarkable archaeological find. The language remains concise and factual, carrying NPR’s signature calm and authoritative tone throughout.