NPR News Now – 6AM EST Update (January 29, 2026)
Overview
This five-minute NPR News Now episode provides a rapid rundown of key national and international headlines as of the morning of January 29, 2026. Major stories feature continued unrest in Minneapolis, federal scrutiny of Georgia’s 2020 election, a historic rise in U.S. life expectancy, deadly winter weather in the South, steady interest rates from the Federal Reserve, and new diplomatic engagement between the UK and China.
Key Headlines & Discussion Points
1. Minneapolis Unrest After Protester Shootings
[00:15 – 01:10]
- Host (Korva Coleman): Introduces the ongoing tensions in Minnesota, referencing President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, who is set to address public unrest following the lethal shooting of two protesters by federal agents.
- Report (Sergio Martinez Beltran, Minneapolis):
- Details: Two federal agents involved in the killing of Alex Brady have been placed on administrative leave, a move described as standard procedure by DHS.
- Local Reaction: Community members remain upset and demand more decisive action, both for justice in the deaths of Alex Brady (referred to as “Preddy”) and Renee Macklin Goode, and for federal agents, particularly ICE, to leave Minneapolis.
- Community Voices: “They have expressed how they want justice for Preddy and for Renee Macklin Goode. They also say they want more action from their state and local leaders.” (Martinez Beltran, 00:54)
2. FBI Seizure of 2020 Ballots in Georgia
[01:10 – 02:18]
- Host: Reports on a significant law enforcement action in Fulton County, Georgia, where FBI agents seized ballots from the 2020 presidential election.
- Report (Chemain Cruz, WABE Atlanta):
- Official Statement: The FBI executed a court-authorized search warrant related to 2020 election records but provided no further detail.
- Context: The move follows a recent Justice Department lawsuit over access to these documents. Multiple recounts and audits have reaffirmed Biden’s win despite ongoing false claims from former President Trump.
- Notable Quote: “Multiple recounts and audits have confirmed Trump’s 2020 loss to Joe Biden. But Trump’s pressure campaign to undo that defeat culminated in the now dismissed sweeping election interference case…” (Chemain Cruz, 02:00)
3. U.S. Life Expectancy Hits Record High
[02:18 – 03:11]
- Host: Announces government data showing a historic high in life expectancy.
- Report (Rob Stein):
- Key Findings: In 2024, American life expectancy climbed to age 79, the highest since record-keeping began in 1900. This improvement owes much to fewer deaths from drug overdoses and COVID-19 (which is now out of the top 10 causes of death).
- International Comparison: Despite the positive trend, the U.S. still lags behind peer nations like Australia and Japan.
- Notable Quote: “The increase in life expectancy caused primarily by a drop in deaths from drug overdoses and from COVID-19, which fell out of the top 10 causes of death for the first time since the pandemic.” (Rob Stein, 02:44)
4. Southern U.S. Faces Deadly Winter Power Outages
[03:11 – 03:44]
- Host: Reports that nearly 300,000 homes remain without power—mainly in Mississippi and Tennessee—after last week’s severe winter storm. Approximately 50 fatalities have been attributed to the event.
- Key Fact: The story underscores the vulnerability of Southern infrastructure to extreme weather.
5. Federal Reserve: Interest Rates Unchanged
[03:44 – 04:23]
- Report (Scott Horsley): The Fed’s rate-setting committee voted 10–2 to keep the benchmark rate stable, breaking from three consecutive previous rate cuts.
- Reason: The job market’s apparent stabilization offset lingering inflationary concerns.
- Statement (Fed Chair Jerome Powell, 04:02):
- “We see the current stance of monetary policy as appropriate to promote progress toward both our maximum employment and 2% inflation goals.”
- Looking Ahead: Powell will likely lead just two more meetings before his term expires in May; President Trump is expected to nominate a successor.
6. UK-China Diplomatic Push; U.S.–Canada Trade Tensions
[04:23 – 04:55]
- Host: British PM Keir Starmer is in Beijing with business leaders to advocate for a “comprehensive partnership” with China, joined in this economic outreach by Canadian overtures.
- U.S. Warning: President Trump threatens 100% tariffs on Canadian goods if Canada pursues its own China trade pact.
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
On Protester Deaths:
“They have expressed how they want justice for Preddy and for Renee Macklin Goode. They also say they want more action from their state and local leaders.”
— Sergio Martinez Beltran ([00:54]) -
On Georgia Ballot Seizures:
“Multiple recounts and audits have confirmed Trump’s 2020 loss to Joe Biden. But Trump’s pressure campaign...culminated in the now dismissed sweeping election interference case…”
— Chemain Cruz ([02:00]) -
On Life Expectancy:
“That’s the highest life expectancy since the government started tracking this key measure...in 1900.”
— Rob Stein ([02:36]) -
Federal Reserve Statement:
“We see the current stance of monetary policy as appropriate to promote progress toward both our maximum employment and 2% inflation goals.”
— Jerome Powell ([04:02])
Timestamps & Contents Map
- 00:15 – Minneapolis protests and border czar press conference
- 00:39 – Community frustration in Minneapolis (Sergio Martinez Beltran)
- 01:10 – FBI search at Fulton County elections office
- 01:36 – Fulton County election investigation (Chemain Cruz)
- 02:18 – U.S. life expectancy record high announced
- 02:33 – Life expectancy analysis (Rob Stein)
- 03:11 – Winter storm aftermath, power outages in the South
- 03:44 – Federal Reserve holds interest rates (Scott Horsley)
- 04:02 – Jerome Powell’s statement
- 04:23 – UK-China economic relations, Trump’s threat to Canada
- 04:55 – End of content, commercial break
This concise episode provides targeted updates on urgent national developments—protest violence, election security, public health milestones, weather disasters, economic policy, and shifting global alliances—setting the agenda for listeners in the U.S. and beyond.