NPR News Now: January 27, 2026, 1AM EST

Host: Giles Snyder (NPR)
Episode Theme:
A rapid roundup of major U.S. and global news from politics and immigration, to severe winter weather, transportation safety, and tech regulation, offering a snapshot of key developments affecting listeners nationwide.

1. Presidential Call and Immigration Response in Minnesota

• [00:16–01:31]
• President Trump spoke with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz following recent unrest.
• Both Trump and Walz took a more conciliatory approach regarding federal intervention.
• Walz announced a leadership change in Minnesota’s immigration response:
  • Trump plans to send border czar Tom Holman to Minnesota for a new approach.
  • Tom Holman is a veteran of ICE, credited by Trump with previous successes.
• Notable quote about federal enforcement efficacy and approach:

  "He pledged that, look, I'm going to send Tom Holman in. We'll do things differently. He explained to me how he thought it was very successful in Louisiana, very successful in Louisville, which I shared with him. But ICE did not shoot anybody there and the presence was much smaller and much more targeted." — Walz (00:33)

• Greg Bovino, former lead of the immigration agent surge, will leave Minnesota after controversial remarks referring to Border Patrol agents as "the victims" in the fatal shooting of Alex Preddy, a local nurse.

2. Republican Governors' Response

• [01:31–02:11]
• Oklahoma Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, also chair of the National Governors Association, spoke out after the Minneapolis violence.
• Stitt and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore called for a "reset" in federal immigration enforcement, emphasizing involvement of states and elected officials.

  "Governors are closest to conditions on the ground and best positioned to respond to their state's matters of public safety." — Joint Governors' Statement (01:45)

• Stitt criticized Trump's advisors, noting broad American dissatisfaction:

  "Americans don't like what they're seeing right now." — Gov. Kevin Stitt on CNN (01:54)

3. Deadly Winter Weather Sweeps U.S.

• [02:11–03:13]
• Severe winter storm impacts from New Mexico to the Eastern Seaboard, causing at least 30 deaths.
• Widespread ice, sleet, snow, and ongoing bitter cold threaten much of the U.S.
• Louisiana state meteorologist Jay Grimes warns of persistent, dangerous subzero temperatures:

  "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 (02:47)

• The storm left over a million customers without power; road travel continues to be treacherous.

4. Plane Crash in Maine

• [03:13–03:56]
• At least six fatalities after a plane crashed taking off from Bangor International Airport.
• The plane ended up inverted and caught fire; snow and de-icing ops ongoing at the time.
• Airport director Jose Saavedra said other flights were able to land and depart amid the storm:

  "There were planes landing and departing around that time, and we had crews on site responding to the ongoing storm that we had at that time." — Jose Saavedra (03:36)

• The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

5. Upcoming NTSB Hearing: D.C. Mid-Air Collision

• [03:56–04:39]
• The NTSB will hold a hearing Tuesday on the causes of a fatal mid-air collision between an airliner and a U.S. Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people nearly a year ago.
• Investigators will discuss contributing factors and recommend safety changes.
• The FAA has begun implementing new separation protocols for airspace around the capital.

6. EU Opens Investigation into Elon Musk’s X Social Media

• [04:39–04:55]
• European Union regulators have formally launched an investigation into X (formerly Twitter), focusing on allegations of illegal, sexualized AI-generated images produced by its chatbot Grok.
• The probe seeks to determine compliance with the EU Digital Services Act regarding illegal content dissemination.

Notable Quotes

• "But ICE did not shoot anybody there and the presence was much smaller and much more targeted." — Governor Tim Walz (00:46)
• "Governors are closest to conditions on the ground..." — Joint National Governors Association Statement (01:45)
• "Americans don't like what they're seeing right now." — Gov. Kevin Stitt, CNN appearance (01:54)
• "We're still a long way from being out of the woods in terms of the cold..." — Jay Grimes (02:47)

Key Segment Timestamps

• [00:16] Presidential call and Minnesota immigration leadership changes
• [01:31] Governors’ call for shift in immigration enforcement
• [02:11] Severe winter weather and national impact
• [03:13] Maine plane crash report
• [03:56] NTSB sets hearing on D.C. mid-air collision
• [04:39] EU investigation into X and AI-generated content

This concise but comprehensive roundup presents the urgent, evolving stories affecting the U.S. and the globe, emphasizing political shifts, urgent public safety issues, and new regulatory challenges in tech.