NPR News: 01-28-2026 12PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Summary of January 28, 2026, 12PM EST

Main Theme:
This concise news update covers breaking developments in U.S. domestic protest investigations, immigration enforcement, nuclear safety regulations, winter storms, mental health diagnostics, and the financial markets. The episode delivers a snapshot of key national issues, with a particular focus on evolving government narratives, policy shifts, and public health concerns.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Contradictory Government Narrative in Minneapolis Protest Shooting

[00:16–01:13]

• Incident: Preliminary government assessment regarding the fatal shooting of protester Alex Preddy by Minneapolis police.
• Finding: The government review finds Preddy resisted arrest but does not mention that he attacked or threatened officers with a weapon, contrary to the Trump administration’s initial statements.
• Political Response: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem faces bipartisan scrutiny for previously labeling the incident as “domestic terrorism.”
• Notable Quote:
  • "The review makes no mention of Alex Preddy attacking officers or threatening them with a weapon, as the administration first described the incident." — Jimena Bustier [00:34]

2. Unprepared Federal Immigration Tactics in Urban Protests

[01:13–01:41]

• Deployment: Large numbers of federal immigration agents (Customs and Border Protection, or CBP) have been sent to Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
• Concerns: Experts warn that CBP officers are less trained in urban policing and crowd control, citing their typical isolation at the border and associated law enforcement experiences.
• Consequences: The inexperience may affect how arrests are handled and the likelihood of using lethal force.

3. Quiet Rollback of Nuclear Safety Rules

[01:43–02:41]

• Policy Change: The Trump administration has rewritten internal rules governing safety, security, and environmental management at experimental nuclear reactors.
• Secrecy: Changes were distributed to companies but not released publicly.
• Expert Critique:
  • “In the best world, the public should expect as much openness from the government as is possible.” — Catherine Huff [02:21]
• Analysis: NPR confirms that new rules loosened restrictions on groundwater, security, and more, though the Department of Energy insists safety remains a "top priority."

4. Deadly Winter Storm Continues in Eastern U.S.

[02:41–03:44]

• Impact: Arctic air maintains severe cold, resulting in dozens of deaths from hypothermia, heart attacks, and accidents.
• Local Tragedy: Three siblings in Texas died after falling into an icy pond.
• Southern Response: Mississippi’s Governor Tate Reeves describes the cyclical challenges of restoring power amidst falling trees and limbs:
  • “It's somewhat like whack a mole. Every time one of the utility companies and power companies gets a large group back online, we have another tree fall or we have another limb fall.” — Governor Tate Reeves [03:26]
• Action: National Guard troops are deployed in Mississippi for storm recovery.

5. Major Update Planned for Mental Health Diagnostic Manual

[03:44–04:46]

• What's New: The American Psychiatric Association is revising the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) for broader context.
• Addressing Criticism: The new edition will acknowledge critiques, especially the lack of reference to causes of mental health disorders:
  • "There are many critiques out there, and perhaps the most salient one is the fact that the DSM doesn't reference what the causes of mental disorders are." — Dr. Maria Okendo [04:21]
• Holistic Approach: Future DSMs will integrate genetic, environmental, experiential, and cultural factors. Five detailed papers on this shift were published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

6. Market Updates

[03:08–04:53]

• Snapshot:
  • Dow is up 19–25 points.
  • Nasdaq is up slightly; S&P is down 4 points.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jimena Bustier on the Preddy Shooting:
  “The review makes no mention of Alex Preddy attacking officers or threatening them with a weapon...” [00:34]

• Catherine Huff on Nuclear Rule Changes:
  “In the best world, the public should expect as much openness from the government as is possible.” [02:21]

• Governor Tate Reeves on Utility Struggles in Mississippi:
  “It's somewhat like whack a mole. Every time one of the utility companies and power companies gets a large group back online, we have another tree fall or we have another limb fall.” [03:26]

• Dr. Maria Okendo on DSM Changes:
  "There are many critiques out there, and perhaps the most salient one is the fact that the DSM doesn't reference what the causes of mental disorders are." [04:21]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Minneapolis Protester Preddy Shooting Narrative Contradicted: [00:16–01:13]
• Federal CBP Tactics Questioned in Minnesota: [01:13–01:41]
• Nuclear Safety and Security Rules Changed: [01:43–02:41]
• Winter Storm Deaths and Recovery Efforts: [02:41–03:44]
• DSM Mental Health Diagnostic Manual Updates: [03:44–04:46]
• Market Updates: [03:08–04:53]

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This NPR News Now episode delivers succinct, critical updates on U.S. law enforcement, energy policy, severe weather, mental health science, and financial markets for midday listeners.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. A preliminary government assessment is out about the fatal shooting of Minneapolis protester Alex Preddy last weekend in Minneapolis, NPR's Jimena Bustier reports. It contradicts the Trump administration's initial narrative of the shooting.

[Jimena Bustier]

The review describes how Alex Preddy resisted arrest before two officers shot him. But the review makes no mention of Alex Preddy attacking officers or threatening them with a weapon, as the administration first described the incident. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has come under intense bipartisan scrutiny for her initial characterization. She was quick to describe Preddy's actions as domestic terrorism, saying Preddy was attacking officers first and brandishing a weapon. The review does not mention an attack or that a weapon was brandished. Instead, it notes, officers noticed a gun once there was already a struggle to arrest him. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Some experts argue federal immigration agents deployed in large numbers in Minnesota's Twin Cities are unprepared for for the resistance they're encountering. They say Customs and Border Protection officers are generally less experienced in urban policing and crowd control than other local law enforcement. The experts cite the isolation of border.

[NPR Reporter]

Regions that can influence how CPP officers.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Typically operate in terms of arrests without resistance and the frequency with which they.

[NPR Reporter]

May use lethal force.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Trump administration has quietly rewritten some rules for nuclear safety and security. NPR's Jeff Brumfield obtained a copy of the rules and reports there are some substantial changes.

[Jeff Brumfield]

The changes apply to experimental reactors currently under construction at the Department of Energy. The department wants to get three or more of those reactors running by July 4th of this year. To help meet that deadline, officials rewrote internal rules for safety, security and environmental management, then sent the rules to the companies building the reactors without making them public. Catherine Huff, who is a nuclear engineer at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, is critical of the decision.

[Catherine Huff]

In the best world, the public should expect as much openness from the government as is possible.

[Jeff Brumfield]

NPR's analysis found the new rules loosened groundwater restrictions, security requirements and more. The Energy Department has said safety remains a top priority for the program. Jeff Brumfiel, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

With Arctic Air expected to maintain its grip over the eastern half of the United States through the weekend, the death.

[NPR Reporter]

Toll from the recent storm continues to.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Mount Authorities say dozens of lives have been lost as a result of hypothermia, reported heart attacks or accidents from the latest storm.

[NPR Reporter]

One Texas community is mourning the deaths of three siblings who perished in an icy pond.

[Lakshmi Singh]

At last check on Wall street, the.

[NPR Reporter]

Dow is up 19 points. You're listening to NPR News. Much of the south has been battling through unusually cold and dangerous winter conditions.

[Lakshmi Singh]

In Mississippi, Governor Tate Reeves described what.

[NPR Reporter]

Clean crews in the state have been up against.

[Governor Tate Reeves]

It's somewhat like whack a mole. Every time one of the utility companies and power companies gets a large group back online, we have another tree fall or we have another limb fall.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Earlier this week, Reeves ordered hundreds of.

[NPR Reporter]

National Guard troops to assist with recovery in the state.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The American Psychiatric association is updating a key text on mental health conditions. Future editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The DSM will be different from previous ones.

[NPR Reporter]

NPR's Ritu Chatterjee has details.

[Ritu Chatterjee]

The DSM, which defines all mental health disorders, is key to diagnosing and treating mental illnesses. The current edition, the DSM 5, was published in 2013. Psychiatrist Dr. Maria Okendo is chair of the Future of DSM Strategic Committee. She told reporters at a press conference that the next edition will address critiques of the manual.

[Dr. Maria Okendo]

There are many critiques out there, and perhaps the most salient one is the fact that the DSM doesn't reference what the causes of mental disorders are.

[Ritu Chatterjee]

She says future DSMs will factor in genetics, the environment, life experiences and cultural identities. The details of plans are published in five papers in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Ritu Chatterjee, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks are mixed this hour. The Nasdaq is up slightly. The S and P is down 4.

[NPR Reporter]

The Dow has risen 25 points.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Points.

[NPR Reporter]

It's NPR News.

[NPR News Sponsor]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR news now plus@plus npr.org that's plus.npr.org.