NPR News Now – January 27, 2026, 2PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh (NPR)
Duration: ~5 Minutes

Episode Overview

This episode provides an up-to-the-minute news briefing on major US and global events. Key topics include legal challenges facing social media giants over children's mental health, political fallout after a fatal incident involving US federal immigration officers, a lawsuit targeting a US military strike in Venezuela, investigation into a deadly helicopter-jet crash, controversy surrounding the upcoming World Cup, and the US’s official withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lawsuits Against Social Media Companies

[00:16–01:07]

• TikTok has settled a lawsuit accusing its app of causing harm to children. The settlement’s details remain confidential.
• Meta and Google’s YouTube face a jury trial in Los Angeles, part of a larger wave of lawsuits targeting social media platforms for allegedly “hooking” children and causing mental health issues.
• Additional context: Snapchat settled a similar lawsuit the previous week.
• The outcomes of these trials could lead to wider settlements involving over a thousand plaintiffs, including school districts and state attorneys general.

Notable Quote:

"The outcome of a few trials, including the one in LA, could help open the door to a wider settlement with more than a thousand individuals, school districts and state attorneys general suing the tech companies in state and federal court."
– Shannon Bond, NPR ([00:55])

2. Political Fallout After Minneapolis Shooting

[01:07–01:32]

• President Trump refuses to dismiss Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after two US citizens were killed by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis.

• Trump defends his border record:

  Memorable Moment:

  "I think she's doing a very good job. ... The border is totally secure. ... Now we have a border where no one is coming through."
  — President Trump ([01:16])

• Immigration policy remains a focal point as Trump transitions campaign messaging to the economy.

• Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz seeks fewer federal agents and impartial investigations after discussions with border czar Tom Homan.

3. Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over US Strike in Venezuela

[01:32–02:52]

• Relatives of Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo, killed in an alleged US missile strike off Venezuela, are suing the US government in a Massachusetts federal court.
• The US classified the victims as drug traffickers; the lawsuit asserts they were fishermen and farm workers, and argues the US violated international law and the Death on the High Seas Act.
• Plaintiffs demand economic damages; the Pentagon declines to comment.

Notable Quote:

“The lawsuit argues neither man presented an imminent threat to the US or anyone else.”
– Carrie Johnson, NPR ([02:46])

4. NTSB Investigation into DC Mid-Air Collision

[02:52–03:10]

• The National Transportation Safety Board is holding hearings into the causes of a 2025 collision involving a Blackhawk helicopter and a passenger jet over Washington, D.C., resulting in 67 fatalities.

5. World Cup Boycott Momentum

[03:10–04:03]

• Growing calls for a boycott of the US-hosted World Cup, with former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and others voicing support, protest President Trump’s domestic and foreign policies.
• Controversies include his handling of Greenland, travel bans, sweeping immigration operations, and the deaths of two American protesters in Minnesota.
• The World Cup is scheduled for June, shared between the US, Canada, and Mexico.

6. US Withdraws from Paris Climate Agreement (Again)

[04:03–04:44]

• The US has formally left the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time under President Trump.
• President Trump initiated withdrawal on his first day of this term; the exit became official after a waiting period.
• The US had previously left and rejoined (under President Biden).
• The move occurs as global temperatures continue their upward trend—each of the past 11 years has been the warmest on record.

Notable Quote:

"Now the US is out again. Global temperatures continue to rise. The past 11 years have been the 11 warmest ever recorded."
– Rebecca Hersher, NPR ([04:37])

7. Markets Update

[04:44–04:54]

• The Dow Jones is down 450 points (~1%), while the S&P is up 31 points, and the Nasdaq has gained 229 points.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Trump on Immigration and Border Security:
  “The border is totally secure. … Now we have a border where no one is coming through.” ([01:19])
• Legal Action Against Social Media:
  “The outcome of a few trials, including the one in LA, could help open the door to a wider settlement…” – Shannon Bond ([00:55])
• US and International Law:
  “The lawsuit argues neither man presented an imminent threat to the US or anyone else.” – Carrie Johnson ([02:46])
• Climate Change Urgency:
  “Now the US is out again. Global temperatures continue to rise.” – Rebecca Hersher ([04:37])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:16–01:07: Social Media Lawsuit Developments
• 01:07–01:32: Minneapolis Shooting/Trump Comments
• 01:32–02:52: Lawsuit Over Venezuelan Strike
• 02:52–03:10: NTSB Hearing on Mid-Air Crash
• 03:10–04:03: World Cup Boycott Calls
• 04:03–04:44: US Exits Paris Agreement
• 04:44–04:54: Stock Market Update

This summary captures the rapidly evolving stories, relevant quotes, and the brisk, matter-of-fact tone of NPR’s news coverage for listeners seeking a succinct rundown of the day's crucial headlines.