NPR News: 01-27-2026 9PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 27, 2026, 9PM EST

Host: Ryland Barton
Date: January 27, 2026
Duration: 5 minutes

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Overview

This episode of NPR News Now delivers concise, up-to-date coverage of the most pressing national and international headlines from January 27, 2026. Key topics include a security incident involving Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, escalating debate over Department of Homeland Security funding amid concerns over ICE abuses, mass layoffs at UPS, Philip Glass canceling a major symphonic premiere, unrest and crackdown in Iran, controversy over ICE’s role at the upcoming Italian Winter Olympics, and a rare mountain lion spotting in San Francisco.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Attack at Ilhan Omar Town Hall ([00:14]–[00:39])

• Incident:

  • "A man was tackled to the ground after video appears to show him spraying an unknown substance on Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar at a town hall in Minneapolis this evening." – Ryland Barton ([00:14])
  • Omar continued to speak after the attacker was subdued and his arms were tied.

• Context:

  • Omar has long been targeted by President Trump; Trump recently commented that both the Justice Department and Congress are "looking at Omar."

• Protester Quote:

  • “Secretary Christi Noem must resign or face impeachment.” – Unnamed protester ([00:28])

2. Homeland Security Funding Showdown and ICE Controversy ([00:39]–[01:50])

• Issue:

  • Senate Democrats are refusing to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security, largely due to outrage over killings by Border Patrol and ICE abuses.
  • Outrage surged over the killing of another protester in Minneapolis by Border Patrol.

• Key Voices:

  • "Current funding for many federal agencies runs out after Friday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says five of the six funding bills are ready to go and should quickly pass. But he and Senate Democrats say they will not vote for the bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security as is." – Ryland Barton ([01:07])
  • "But in the wake of ICE's abuses and the administration's recklessness, the Senate must not pass the DHS budget as currently written and must be reworked to rein in and overhaul ICE." – Unnamed Senate Democrat ([01:26])
  • Schumer highlights logistical challenges: “Even if GOP leadership agreed to split up the bills, changes to the package would mean another vote in the House, which is in recess.” – Chuck Schumer ([01:39])

• Reporter: Barbara Sprunt

3. UPS Cuts & Amazon Partnership Wind-down ([01:50]–[02:45])

• Layoffs:

  • UPS announces plans to cut 30,000 additional operational positions and close two dozen facilities, following nearly 50,000 positions cut last year.

• Amazon Partnership:

  • UPS is in the "final six months" of a plan to reduce Amazon-related shipping volume, seeking $3 billion in cost savings.

• Notable Quote:

  • "For the full year 2026, we intend to glide down another million pieces per day while continuing to reconfigure our network." – Carol Tome, UPS CEO ([02:25])

• Financials:

  • UPS reported $88.7 billion in revenue for 2025.

• Reporter: Marlon Hyde

4. Philip Glass Cancels Abraham Lincoln Symphony Premiere ([02:45]–[03:16])

• Event:

  • Philip Glass cancels the world premiere of his Abraham Lincoln symphony at the Kennedy Center.

• Reason:

  • Glass cites conflict between the Kennedy Center's current values and the symphony's message.
  • The venue has seen increased influence from President Trump, who has added his name to the building.

• Broader Context:

  • Several other artists have recently withdrawn from the Kennedy Center.

5. Iran: Deadly Crackdown & Currency Crisis ([03:16]–[03:46])

• Protest Death Toll:
  • Human rights observers: at least 6,200 deaths; Iranian government claims the toll is “more than 33,000 lower.”
• Currency:
  • Iran's currency falls to a record low against the dollar.

6. ICE Agents at Milan Cortina Olympics: Italian Backlash ([03:16]–[04:29])

• Issue:
  • Controversy erupts in Italy over a US plan to involve ICE agents in security for Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, following recent ICE-linked violence in Minneapolis.
• US Statement:
  • ICE's Homeland Security Investigations team will “mitigate risks from transnational criminal organizations,” but no immigration operations in Italy. – Tricia McLaughlin, Homeland Security ([03:46])
• Italian Political Response:
  • Milan Mayor: ICE “is a militia that kills on social media.” – Mayor Giuseppe Sala ([04:13])
  • Ex-Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte: “We cannot allow this.”
• Reporter: Brian Mann

7. Mountain Lion Roams San Francisco ([04:29]–[04:54])

• Event:
  • Young mountain lion found in Pacific Heights near Lafayette Park; wildlife officials are attempting a safe capture.
• Public Advisory:
  • Residents urged to back away if they see the animal. Sightings are rare but “similar incidents have occurred before.”

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Ilhan Omar incident:
  "A man was tackled to the ground after video appears to show him spraying an unknown substance on Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar at a town hall in Minneapolis this evening." – Ryland Barton ([00:14])

• Senate pushback on DHS budget:
  "But in the wake of ICE's abuses and the administration's recklessness, the Senate must not pass the DHS budget as currently written and must be reworked to rein in and overhaul ICE." – Senate Democrat ([01:26])

• UPS CEO on Amazon wind-down:
  "For the full year 2026, we intend to glide down another million pieces per day while continuing to reconfigure our network." – Carol Tome ([02:25])

• Milan Mayor on ICE:
  "ICE, quote, is a militia that kills on social media." – Mayor Giuseppe Sala ([04:13])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:14] – Ilhan Omar attacked at Minneapolis town hall
• [01:07] – Senate funding standoff on Homeland Security; ICE abuses highlighted
• [01:50] – UPS layoffs and ends Amazon partnership; CEO's remarks
• [02:45] – Philip Glass withdraws Lincoln symphony from Kennedy Center
• [03:16] – 6,200 reported killed in Iran protests; currency crash
• [03:46] – ICE's planned involvement at Milan Olympics sparks Italian outrage
• [04:29] – Mountain lion spotted in San Francisco

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Summary

This NPR News Now episode provides a rapid-fire yet rich survey of breaking political, economic, and international stories, including physical attacks on a sitting U.S. Congresswoman, legislative gridlock in response to ICE's alleged abuses, significant corporate restructuring at UPS, cultural protest by a leading composer, grave human rights concerns abroad, diplomatic tensions surrounding Olympic security, and a rare urban wildlife encounter. The tone is brisk and urgent, reflecting both the seriousness and breadth of contemporary news.

Transcript

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[Ryland Barton]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. A man was tackled to the ground after video appears to show him spraying an unknown substance on Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar at a town hall in Minneapolis this evening.

[Christi Noem Supporter/Protester]

Secretary Christi Noem must resign or face impeachment.

[Ryland Barton]

Omar continued to speak after the man was pinned to the ground and his arms were tied behind his back. Omar has long been targeted by President Trump. Yesterday, Trump said the Justice Department and Congress are, quote, looking at Omar. On Capitol Hill, Senate Democrats are pledging to block a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security as the clock ticks closer to the government government shutdown. NPR's Barbara Sprunt reports. This comes after outrage over Border Patrol agents killing another Minneapolis protester.

[Chuck Schumer]

Current funding for many federal agencies runs out after Friday. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says five of the six funding bills are ready to go and should quickly pass. But he and Senate Democrats say they will not vote for the bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security as is.

[Senate Democrat]

But in the wake of ICE's abuses and the administration's recklessness, the Senate must not pass the DHS budget as currently written and must be reworked to rein in and overhaul ice.

[Chuck Schumer]

Even if GOP leadership agreed to split up the bills, changes to the package would mean another vote in the House, which is in recess. Barbara Sprunt, NPR News, Washington.

[Ryland Barton]

UPS plans to slash 30,000 positions this year to cut costs and increase automation. This comes as the continues to wind down its partnership with retail giant Amazon. Marlon Hyde from member station WABE has this report.

[Marlon Hyde]

Atlanta based UPS is cutting another 30,000 operational positions and closing two dozen facilities this year. Nearly 50,000 jobs were cut last year to reduce labor costs. Meanwhile, UPS is reducing Amazon's volume, targeting $3 billion in savings, CEO Carol Tome said during Tuesday's earnings conference call.

[Carol Tome]

We're in the final six months of our Amazon accelerated Glide down plan. And for the full year 2026, we intend to glide down another million pieces per day while continuing to reconfigure our network.

[Marlon Hyde]

UPS reported revenue for 2025 of $88.7 billion. For NPR News, I'm Marlon Hod in Atlanta.

[Ryland Barton]

Prize winning composer Philip Glass has canceled the world premiere of his symphony about Abraham Lincoln at the Kennedy Center. The piece was set to be performed in June in Washington, D.C. glass says the Kennedy Center's Christmas current values conflict with the symphony's message. Several artists have withdrawn from the venue. As president, Trump has increased his influence over the center and added his name to the building. Wall street closed mix today, but it also set new records. This is NPR News from Washington. Human rights observers say at least 6,200 people have been killed in Iran's crackdown on anti government protests. The Iranian government says the death toll is more than 33,000 lower. Meanwhile, Iran's currency has fallen to a record low against the US dollar. Some Italian politicians are voicing outrage at a US plan to have ICE agents help with security at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after recent violence by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Milan's mayor told local media they are not welcome in his city. NPR's Brian Mann reports.

[Brian Mann]

The opening ceremony for the Games is a week from Friday. U.S. homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin says ICE's Homeland Security Investigations team will support efforts to quot mitigate risks from transnational criminal organizations as they've done at past Olympics. According to McLaughlin's statement to NPR, ICE will not conduct immigration related operations in Italy. But after the killing of two US Citizens in Minneapolis, many Italian politicians want ICE to stay away. Milan's Mayor Giuseppe Sala told local media that ice, quote, is a militia that kills on social media. Italy's former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conti calls on Italy's government to block ICE's presence, saying, we cannot allow this. Brian Mann, NPR News.

[Ryland Barton]

A young mountain lion has been spotted roaming the streets of San Francisco. Authorities say the animal was located in Pacific Heights near Lafayette park, where wildlife officials are trying to capture it safely. Residents are advised to back away if they encounter it. Mountain lion sightings are rare in San Francisco, but similar incidents have occurred before the this is NPR News from Washington.

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