NPR News Now – 01-28-2026 2PM EST

Date: January 28, 2026
Host: Lakshmi Singh

Episode Overview

This concise 5-minute news update from NPR covers major national and international stories: new details and resignations following the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Preddy by federal officers in Minneapolis; increasing tensions between the U.S. and Iran as President Trump threatens military action; policy changes for organ transplants and interest rate news from the Federal Reserve; electric vehicle market shifts; a historic new leader for the Anglican Communion; and a landslide disaster in Sicily.

Key News Stories & Insights

1. Minneapolis Shooting and DOJ Fallout

[00:20 - 01:47]

• Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirms two officers have been placed on administrative leave after fatally shooting ICU nurse Alex Preddy in Minneapolis.

  • The agency’s preliminary review contradicts the Trump administration's earlier claim that Preddy was a domestic terrorist and brandished a weapon.
  • "The agency's preliminary assessment contradicted the Trump administration's initial narrative that Preddy, a U.S. citizen, engaged in domestic terrorism and brandished his weapon." – Lakshmi Singh (00:28)

• Resignations at U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota:

  • Three additional employees, including a division chief, resigned following pressure to investigate a case related to Renee Macklin Good, another recent shooting victim.
  • At least six prosecutors quit earlier this month; an FBI agent also resigned after being pressured to drop their inquiry.
  • "The three new resignations at the U.S. attorney's office in Minnesota include a division chief... They come as the Trump administration continues its ramped up immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis, where federal agents have shot and killed two U.S. citizens this month..." – Ryan Lucas (01:07)

2. U.S.–Iran Tensions Escalate

[01:47 - 02:43]

• President Trump threatens new military action against Iran as a U.S. naval fleet arrives.

  • Trump refers to the deployment as a "massive armada" and draws a parallel to previous actions in Venezuela.
  • "Like with Venezuela, it is ready, willing and able to rapidly fulfill its mission with speed and violence if necessary." – Quoting President Trump (02:01)

• Cites last June’s Operation Midnight Hammer—U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities.

• Trump expresses willingness to negotiate but warns: "The next attack will be far worse. Don't make that happen again." (02:36)

3. Organ Transplant Policy Changes & Federal Reserve Decision

[02:43 - 03:18]

• Proposal to increase use of less-than-perfect donor organs:

  • The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services aims to strengthen oversight of organ procurement organizations.

• Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady despite President Trump’s calls for rate cuts, cautious about ongoing inflation.

4. Global Electric Vehicle Market Trends

[03:18 - 03:56]

• European Union: Pure electric vehicles outsell gasoline counterparts for the first time.
• U.S. Federal Policy: Recent shift against EV support, but global sales continue to surge.
  • "Sales of pure electric vehicles were up more than 50% year over year, while hybrids rose just 6% and old fashioned gas and diesel sales dropped 20%." – Camila Domonosky (03:32)
• Chinese automaker BYD is fastest-growing in Europe.

5. Historic Appointment in the Anglican Church

[03:56 - 04:43]

• Sarah Mullally becomes first female Archbishop of Canterbury.
  • Official installation in March after confirmation of election at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.
  • Some conservative Anglicans, particularly in Africa, express opposition to her leadership and stance on LGBTQ inclusion.
  • "She's the first woman to hold the role in the history of the Anglican Church, which began when Henry VIII wr with Rome in the 16th century." – Jason DeRose (04:08)

6. Sicily Landslide and Evacuation

[04:43 - 04:54]

• Torrential rainfall triggers a landslide in southern Sicily; over 1,500 evacuated in Neshemi as buildings teeter on a cliff’s edge.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "The agency's preliminary assessment contradicted the Trump administration's initial narrative..." — Lakshmi Singh, on CBP’s statement (00:28)
• "They're ready, willing and able to rapidly fulfill its mission with speed and violence if necessary." — President Trump, as read by Danielle Kurtzleben (02:01)
• "Sales of pure electric vehicles were up more than 50% year over year..." — Camila Domonosky (03:32)
• "She's the first woman to hold the role in the history of the Anglican Church..." — Jason DeRose (04:08)

Segment Timestamps

• Minneapolis Shooting / DOJ Resignations: 00:20–01:47
• U.S.–Iran Tensions: 01:47–02:43
• Organ Transplant Policy / Fed News: 02:43–03:18
• Electric Vehicle Market: 03:18–03:56
• Anglican Church Leader: 03:56–04:43
• Sicily Landslide Evacuation: 04:43–04:54

The episode covers significant ongoing domestic and global events, highlighting the rapid news developments characteristic of NPR News Now. For listeners, it provides a brief yet comprehensive snapshot of critical news stories around politics, technology, religion, and natural disasters as of January 28, 2026.