NPR News: 01-28-2026 9PM EST - NPR News Now

Summary4 min read

NPR News Now: Evening Update – January 28, 2026, 9PM EST

Main Theme

This fast-paced episode delivers the top headlines for late January 28, 2026, focusing on severe winter weather in the South, Medicare drug price negotiations, NYC’s fiscal crisis, IRS workforce cuts, Middle East tensions, the Challenger disaster anniversary, and a historic appointment in the Church of England.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Severe Winter Weather in the South

Overview: Another powerful winter storm is forecast for the Eastern U.S. as frigid temperatures linger in the South.
Key Details:
- The National Weather Service warns of “the longest duration of bitter cold in several decades,” with a freeze warning as far south as Florida.
- Mississippi’s recovery from the previous storm is complicated by persistent cold, leaving some still without power and water.
Notable Quote:
- Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (00:45):
  
  “It's going to be brutally cold again in the state of Mississippi, and so that creates a large number of other challenges, particularly for those who have not yet gotten power back, particularly for those whose water systems are not back operating and functioning exactly the way they need to.”
Impact: University of Mississippi campus in Oxford remains closed for a second week.

2. Medicare Drug Price Negotiations

Overview: Medicare will negotiate the prices of 15 additional drugs, expanding efforts under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Key Drugs:
- Trulicity (Type 2 diabetes), plus medications for HIV, cancer, and migraines.
- The price of the Type 2 diabetes pill Tragenta (previously included in a second negotiation round) will also be renegotiated.
Process:
- Only drugs without generic/biosimilar competition and high Medicare spending are eligible.
- Negotiation: Summer and fall 2026.
- New prices: Effective 2028.
Context: This is the third negotiating batch for Medicare.
Notable Quote:
- Sidney Lupkin (01:24):
  
  “The law lays out which drugs are eligible for selection in this process. Criteria include being on the market a number of years, not having generic or biosimilar competition, and being among drugs Medicare spends the most money on.”

3. New York City’s $12 Billion Budget Shortfall

Overview: NYC confronts its largest fiscal crisis since the Great Recession, with a $12B deficit.
What Happened:
- Newly elected Mayor Zahran Mamdani blames the prior administration and proposes taxing the wealthy and corporations to close the gap.
Political Dynamics:
- Mayor’s proposal needs state support from Governor Kathy Hochul, who faces her own political balancing act.
- Democrats wary of raising taxes during an election cycle.
Notable Quotes:
- Zahran Mamdani (02:22):
  
  “While we did not create this crisis, we will solve it.”
- Zahran Mamdani (02:29):
  
  “The time has come to tax the richest New Yorkers and most profitable corporations.”
Context: Democrats aim to regain Congressional seats, making tax increases contentious.

4. IRS Workforce Reductions and Tax Season Challenges

Overview: The 2026 tax filing season will likely be turbulent.
Key Details:
- A 27% workforce reduction at the IRS since the start of President Trump’s second administration.
- Complicated by recent tax law changes.

5. Middle East Tensions & U.S.-Iran Relations

Overview: Iran reaches out diplomatically as tensions rise over threat of a possible U.S. military strike.
Key Developments:
- Saudi Arabia and UAE refuse to let their airspace be used for attacks.
- U.S. moves an aircraft carrier to the region.
- President Trump urges Iran to come to negotiations.

6. 40th Anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster

Overview: Reflecting on the Challenger explosion that killed seven astronauts.
Historical Insight:
- Engineers from Morton Thiokol warned of launch risks due to freezing weather, but NASA proceeded.
Notable Quotes:
- Brian Russell, former Thiokol engineer (04:00):
  
  “It's impossible to prove that it's unsafe. What we were saying was we're increasing the risk significantly.”
- Brian Russell (04:17):
  
  “I refused to sign it. I just thought we're taking risks we shouldn't be taking.”
Aftermath:
- A presidential commission concluded that the launch decision was flawed.

7. Historic Appointment: First Woman Archbishop of Canterbury

Overview:
- Sarah Mullally confirmed as the first woman to lead the Church of England.
Background:
- Mullally: Cancer nurse turned cleric.
- The Church of England ordained its first female priests in 1994, first female bishop in 2015.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (00:45):

“It's going to be brutally cold again in the state of Mississippi...”
NYC Mayor Zahran Mamdani (02:22):

“While we did not create this crisis, we will solve it.”
Steve Kestenbaum on state politics (02:34):

“Democrats are reluctant to raise taxes at a time when they hope to win back some Republican held congressional seats here.”
Brian Russell on Challenger (04:00):

“It's impossible to prove that it's unsafe. What we were saying was we're increasing the risk significantly.”

Key Segment Timestamps

Winter storm update & impact: 00:14 – 01:13
Medicare drug negotiations: 01:13 – 02:06
NYC budget crisis: 02:06 – 02:58
IRS/tax season challenges: 02:58 – 03:17
Middle East/U.S.-Iran update: 03:17 – 03:43
Challenger disaster anniversary: 03:43 – 04:29
Sarah Mullally confirmed as archbishop: 04:29 – 04:54

This concise news roundup covers weather emergencies, major policy shifts, political intrigue, reflections on historic tragedy, and a milestone for diversity in religious leadership, all in NPR’s trademark clear and informative style.

Loading summary

Transcript21 lines

[00:00]
Schwab Announcer
This message comes from Schwab. Everyone has moments when they could have done better. Same goes for where you invest. Level up and invest smarter with Schwab. Get market insights, education and human help when you need it.
[00:15]
Ryland Barton
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Another winter storm is headed for the Eastern U.S. and NPR's Debbie Elliott reports. Frigid temperatures persist in the south as the region tries to dig out of last weekend's snow and ice storm.
[00:29]
Debbie Elliott
The National Weather Service says the next blast, Arctic air coming Friday, could result in the longest duration of bitter cold in several decades. A freeze warning will dip down into Florida. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves says that complicates recovery efforts.
[00:46]
Tate Reeves
It's going to be brutally cold again in the state of Mississippi, and so that creates a large number of other challenges, particularly for those who have not yet gotten power back, particularly for those whose water systems are not back operating and functioning exactly the way they need to.
[01:05]
Debbie Elliott
The University of Mississippi says its campus in Oxford will remain closed for a second week. Debbie Elliott, NPR News.
[01:13]
Ryland Barton
The government has announced the next batch of drugs that will get their prices negotiated in Medicare. They include trulicity for type 2 diabetes as well as drugs for HIV, cancer and migraines.
[01:24]
Sidney Lupkin
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will negotiate the prices of 15 more drugs. This is the third batch the program will negotiate since gaining this ability as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. It will also renegotiate the Medicare price of type 2 diabetes pill Tragenta, which was part of the second round of negotiations completed last year. The law lays out which drugs are eligible for selection in this process. Criteria include being on the market a number of years, not having generic or biosimilar competition, and being among drugs Medicare spends the most money on. Negotiation will take place this summer and fall, and prices will go into effect in 2028. Sidney Lupkin, NPR News.
[02:07]
Ryland Barton
New York City is facing its largest fiscal crisis since the Great Recession, a projected budget shortfall of $12 billion. Steve Kestenbaum says the new mayor announced his proposed fix today.
[02:18]
Steve Kestenbaum
Mayor Zahran Mamdani blamed the huge shortfall on his predecessor in City Hall.
[02:23]
Zahran Mamdani
While we did not create this crisis, we will solve it.
[02:26]
Steve Kestenbaum
To plug the gap, he wants to follow through on a campaign promise.
[02:30]
Zahran Mamdani
The time has come to tax the richest New Yorkers and most profitable corporations.
[02:34]
Steve Kestenbaum
To do that, he'll need the support of Governor Kathy Hochul at a time when she's walking a political tightrope in her re election campaign, balancing pressure from her party's progressive wing while appealing to moderate voters. Democrats are reluctant to raise taxes at a time when they hope to win back some Republican held congressional seats here. For NPR News, I'm Steve Kastenbaum in New York.
[02:58]
Ryland Barton
The 2026 tax filing season is likely to face significant challenges due to IRS workforce reductions and complex tax law changes. The IRS has seen a 27% reduction in staff since the start of President Trump's second administration. This is NPR News. Iran is reaching out to Middle Eastern countries over the threat of a possible US Military strike. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have signaled they won't allow their airspace to be used for attack. The US has moved an aircraft carrier into the region, and President Trump has urged Iran to negotiate. Today marks 40 years since the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger that killed seven astronauts. Howard Berkus was part of an NPR investigation of the decision to launch during freezing weather.
[03:44]
Howard Berkus
The booster rocket engineers from NASA contractor Morten Thiokol argued for hours the night before the launch that the freezing temperatures could doom the spacecraft. Former Thiokol engineer Brian Russell remembers NASA officials wanting proof of a potential rocket failure.
[04:01]
Zahran Mamdani
It's impossible to prove that it's unsafe. What we were saying was we're increasing the risk significantly.
[04:08]
Howard Berkus
But NASA officials were not convinced. Alan McDonald was Thiokol's representative at the Kennedy Space center and was expected to sign a launch approval document.
[04:18]
Brian Russell
I refused to sign it. I just thought we're taking risks we shouldn't be taking.
[04:22]
Howard Berkus
An investigation by a presidential commission concluded the Challenger launch decision was flawed. For NPR News, I'm Howard Berkus.
[04:29]
Ryland Barton
Sarah Mullally has been confirmed as archbishop of Canterbury, becoming the first woman to lead the Church of England. Mulally is a cancer nurse turned cleric. Judges presided over the ceremony confirming her appointment, which was announced last year. The church ordained its first female priests in 1994 and its first female bishop in 2015. You are listening to NPR News from Washington.
[04:54]
Mint Mobile Announcer
This message comes from Mint mobile. Starting at $15 a month. Make the switch@mintmobile.com Switch $45 upfront payment for 3 months, 5 gigabyte plan equivalent to $15 a month. Taxes and fees extra first 3 months only. See terms.