NPR News Now – January 28, 2026, 1PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Duration: 5 minutes
Date: January 28, 2026

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers a succinct five-minute update on key headlines from Washington and beyond, focusing on escalating threats to lawmakers, uncertainty in Venezuela, Federal Reserve actions, the start of tax season, and a concerning report on tobacco use in the U.S.

Major Stories & Key Insights

1. Rising Threats Against Lawmakers

[00:17–01:20]

• Incident: Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar faced an attempted attack during a town hall meeting. A man rushed her, spraying an unknown liquid from a syringe. Omar was unharmed and continued the event.
• Context: This follows another incident where Rep. Maxwell Frost was punched at the Sundance Festival.
• Trend: Threats against Congress members, their families, and staff have increased for the third consecutive year. Nearly 15,000 threats were investigated in 2025—a striking 58% jump from 2024.
• Quote:
  • "U.S. Capitol Police attribute this in part to a false sense of anonymity online."
    — Lakshmi Singh, [00:28]
  • "Last year, there was an increase in security funding for members of Congress in response to growing concerns about political violence."
    — Barbara Sprunt, [01:14]

2. U.S. Policy and Potential Military Action in Venezuela

[01:20–01:59]

• Background: Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the U.S. position following the ousting of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro amid concerns about international adversaries operating in Venezuela.
• Rubio’s Statement:
  • "We are not postured to, nor do we intend or expect to have to take any military action in Venezuela at any time. The only military presence you'll see in Venezuela is our Marine guards at an embassy... But if an Iranian drone factory pops up and threatens our forces in the region, the president retains the option to eliminate that threat."
    — Marco Rubio, [01:36]
• Context: Rubio previously served as a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before becoming Secretary of State in early 2025.

3. Federal Reserve Holds Interest Rates Steady Amid Political Pressure

[01:59–03:02]

• Current Situation: The Fed is expected to maintain its benchmark interest rate, following three cuts since September due to a soft job market and declining consumer confidence.
• Details:
  • "Job growth has slowed sharply over the last year... But inflation is still higher than the Fed would like."
    — Scott Horsley, [02:23]
  • President Trump is pressuring the Fed to lower rates more aggressively and is poised to nominate a replacement for current Fed chair Jerome Powell.
  • Despite executive pressure, the Fed prides itself on independence from political influence.

4. Tax Season Opens Amid IRS Challenges

[03:02–03:40]

• Issues:
  • The IRS faces a 27% workforce reduction, leadership reorganization, and new tax laws under GOP legislation.
  • Despite these hurdles, the Trump administration promises “substantial refunds” and predicts a smooth season.
• Official Statement:
  • "The nation's official taxpayer advocate, Erin Collins, released a report to Congress today projecting significant challenges."
    — Lakshmi Singh, [03:17]

5. American Lung Association Criticizes Anti-Smoking Program Rollbacks

[03:40–04:46]

• Report Findings:
  • Smoking rates among U.S. adults declined from 23% in 2000 to 11% in 2023, but new administrative cuts threaten this progress.
  • The Trump administration has drastically reduced funding and staff at CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health and FDA’s Tobacco Control Unit.
  • "That's imperiled programs like state's quit lines, which offer phone or tech support to smokers trying to quit."
    — Yuki Noguchi, [04:33]

6. Stock Market Update

[03:02 & 04:46]

• At 1PM EST:
  • Dow Jones: Down slightly at 48,997
  • S&P and Nasdaq: Also slightly lower.
  • "U.S. stocks are trading slightly lower this hour with the Dow down two points."
    — Lakshmi Singh, [04:46]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "[Capitol Police] attribute this in part to a false sense of anonymity online."
  — Lakshmi Singh, [00:28]
• "If an Iranian drone factory pops up and threatens our forces... the president retains the option to eliminate that threat."
  — Marco Rubio, [01:50]
• "President Trump insists borrowing costs should be much lower, and he's been demanding the Fed do his bidding, even though the central bank is supposed to be insulated from political pressure."
  — Scott Horsley, [02:48]
• "Much of that progress is being undermined by the Trump administration."
  — Yuki Noguchi, [04:15]

Episode Flow & Tone

The episode provides a brisk, facts-first update, maintaining NPR’s characteristic professionalism and objectivity. The urgency of threats against lawmakers, geopolitical unease, and the interplay between economic policy and politics are underscored by straight reporting and on-the-ground quotes. The tone is serious given the topics, but also aims for clarity and reassurance with official explanations and data-driven context.