NPR News Now: January 31, 2026, 12AM EST

Host: Dale Willman, NPR
Duration: 5 minutes
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of the hour’s major U.S. and international news stories, focused on government funding, severe weather, military tensions, financial developments, private spaceflight, and a criminal trial verdict.

Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. Partial U.S. Government Shutdown Looms

[00:15–01:16] Host: Dale Willman; Reporter: Sam Greenglass

• The U.S. Senate approved funding for much of the government, preventing a broad shutdown.
• House Delay: The House of Representatives must return to pass the final measure; they won’t return until Monday.
• Shutdown Details: A partial government shutdown begins at midnight, but it’s not as widespread as the historic previous shutdown.
• Complicating Factors: Democrats withdrew support for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding after a second fatal encounter involving immigration officers.
• Republican Response: Agreed to isolate DHS funding and extend it for two weeks so lawmakers can debate immigration enforcement measures.
• Quote:
  • “Funding will lapse at least over the weekend, but will not be as widespread as the last record long shutdown when all government funding had expired.” – Sam Greenglass [01:15]

2. Storms and Power Outages in the Southern U.S.

[01:16–01:52] Host: Dale Willman; Guest: Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell

• Another major storm is expected in the South, affecting states still reeling from last weekend’s weather, particularly Tennessee.
• Ongoing Outages: Tens of thousands are still without power in Nashville and surrounding areas.
• Local Criticism: Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell expressed frustration with Nashville Electric Service (NES) over the slow progress and lack of communication.
• Quote:
  • "No, I am not satisfied and continue to expect them to do better... share more, do more, offer more, show visualization, share data, talk about performance, all of those things.” – Freddie O’Connell [01:34–01:52]

3. U.S.-Iran Tensions Escalate

[01:52–02:57] Host: Dale Willman; Reporter: Greg Myhre

• U.S. Military Positioning: Major buildup, with an aircraft carrier, ships, and warplanes near Iran.
• Presidential Stance: President Trump has not committed to military action, stating ambiguously, "we'll see what happens."
• Diplomacy at an Impasse: Iran’s foreign minister refuses to negotiate amid threats, pledging to retaliate if attacked.
• Background: The U.S. and Israel previously bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities for 12 days last June.
• Quote:
  • “Iran has an arsenal of ballistic missiles and says that if attacked, it will strike U.S. targets in the region.” – Greg Myhre [02:38]

4. Federal Reserve Nominee and Stock Market Reaction

[02:57–03:13] Host: Dale Willman

• Leadership Change: President Trump intends to nominate Kevin Warsh to replace Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair.
• Market Response: Stocks dropped (Nasdaq fell 0.9%) amid investor uncertainty over possible policy shifts.

5. United Nations Faces Financial Crisis

[03:13–03:37] Host: Dale Willman

• UN Funding at Risk: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns the UN might run out of cash by July.
• Potential Impact: Could cause a dramatic reduction in UN operations worldwide.
• Requests: Calls for financial rules overhaul or for all countries to pay outstanding dues.

6. Blue Origin Halts Space Tourism Flights

[03:37–04:30] Reporter: Brendan Byrne (Central Florida Public Media)

• Program Pause: Blue Origin suspends suborbital New Shepard flights for at least two years.
• Reason: Refocusing efforts to develop a lunar lander for NASA’s Artemis moon missions, supported by a $3.4 billion contract.
• To Date: New Shepard carried 98 people, including Jeff Bezos, William Shatner, and Katy Perry, above the Karman Line and returned safely.
• Quote:
  • “The company says the shift allows Blue Origin to focus on building a lunar lander for NASA’s human moon missions.” – Brendan Byrne [04:08]

7. Actor Nathan Chasinghorse Convicted

[04:30–04:54] Host: Dale Willman

• Conviction: Nathan Chasinghorse, known for “Dances With Wolves,” found guilty in Las Vegas of sexually assaulting a minor.
• Details: Chasinghorse acquitted on some charges; guilty verdicts involve a victim who was 14 when the assaults began.
• Timeline: He was first indicted in 2023.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Freddie O’Connell, Nashville Mayor [01:34]:
  “No, I am not satisfied and continue to expect them to do better... share more, do more, offer more, show visualization, share data, talk about performance, all of those things.”
• Greg Myhre, NPR [02:38]:
  “Iran has an arsenal of ballistic missiles and says that if attacked, it will strike U.S. targets in the region.”
• Brendan Byrne, Central Florida Public Media [04:08]:
  “The company says the shift allows Blue Origin to focus on building a lunar lander for NASA’s human moon missions.”

Key Timestamps

• 00:15 – Government shutdown update & Congressional dynamics
• 01:16 – Southern storm updates & Mayor O’Connell’s response to continued outages
• 01:52 – U.S.–Iran escalation update
• 02:57 – Federal Reserve chair nomination & market reaction
• 03:13 – UN financial crisis warning
• 03:53 – Blue Origin halts space tourism for lunar lander development
• 04:30 – Nathan Chasinghorse convicted in sex assault trial

Summary:
This episode delivers a snapshot of a tense U.S. political and global environment: unresolved government funding leads to a narrow partial shutdown; severe weather and power crises grip the South; U.S.-Iran tensions are high with military assets in play; global financial stability is threatened at the UN; private spaceflight pivots towards NASA’s moon mission; and a high-profile criminal verdict closes out the broadcast. The episode is brisk, factual, and driven by clear reporting and impactful local voices.