NPR News: 01-31-2026 12PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – January 31, 2026, 12PM EST

Host: Dan Ronan
Duration: 5 minutes
Main Theme:
A concise roundup of significant national and global news, including the U.S. government shutdown, deadly cold weather in New York, developments in Gaza, Grammy nominations influenced by TikTok, headline sports results, and a major economic nomination.

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1. Partial U.S. Government Shutdown

Timestamps: 00:15 – 01:07

• Key Points:

  • Congress failed to fund major federal agencies by the latest deadline, triggering a partial shutdown.
  • Senate moved forward with a five-bill appropriations package, covering key departments:
    • Pentagon, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, Labor, and Education.
    • A two-week stopgap for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was included.
  • Senate package was possible after a White House deal with Democrats, who demanded DHS policy changes following the fatal shooting of Alex Preddy by DHS agents in Minneapolis.
  • The funding bill returns to the House, which reconvenes Monday; the shutdown remains until the package advances and President Trump signs it.

• Notable Quotes:

  "The government will remain partially shut down until the House advances the package and President Trump signs it." — Luke Garrett, NPR (01:01)

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2. Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza

Timestamps: 01:07 – 01:59

• Key Points:

  • At least 27 people, including women and children, killed in heavy Israeli airstrikes throughout Gaza, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency.
  • Israeli Defense Forces say they targeted Hamas and Islamic Jihad commanders and infrastructure in response to a ceasefire violation.
  • Civilian casualties include apartment blocks, police stations hit; report of seven members of a single family killed in a tent attack.

• Notable Quotes:

  "People in Gaza described these strikes as the heaviest since Donald Trump announced the second phase of the ceasefire." — Dan Johnson, BBC (01:33)

  "One man said it felt like war had returned to the Gaza Strip." — Dan Johnson, BBC (01:47)

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3. Deadly Cold Snap in New York City

Timestamps: 01:59 – 02:58

• Key Points:

  • More than a dozen deaths (13 confirmed), with seven attributed to hypothermia amid a rare prolonged cold spell.
  • Over 800 people brought into city shelters as temperatures reached single digits at night and struggled above 20°F during the day.
  • Such severe cold is now rare in New York, with winters generally milder in the past 25 years.
  • Temperatures expected to rise slightly but remain well below seasonal average.

• Notable Quotes:

  "Nighttime lows have plunged into single digits and daytime highs have struggled to climb above 20. Such a deep and prolonged cold snap has become a rarity in New York over the past 25 years..." — Bruce Kornviser, NPR (02:38)

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4. Severe Snow in the Carolinas

Timestamps: 02:58 – 03:25

• Key Points:
  • Up to a foot of snow predicted in parts of the Carolinas.
  • Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, expects 6 inches of snow but reportedly has no snow plowing equipment.

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5. Grammy Awards: TikTok’s Influence on Best New Artist

Timestamps: 03:25 – 04:10

• Key Points:

  • TikTok propelled several artists into the “Best New Artist” Grammy category.
  • Nominees include TikTok creators (Addison Rae, Alex Warren) and signed artists who found breakthrough success via TikTok (Leon Thomas, Lola Young, The Maria’s, Olivia Dean).
  • Acts such as girl group Katseye and Gen Z rocker Sombear also featured.
  • All eight nominees set to perform at the Grammys.

• Notable Quotes:

  "The one thing they have in common, they all had a breakthrough moment this year thanks to TikTok." — Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR (03:37)

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6. Australian Open Tennis Results

Timestamps: 04:10 – 04:26

• Key Points:

  • Elena Rybakina wins the Australian Open, defeating Aryna Sabalenka and denying her a third title.
  • Men's final (Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic) anticipated as “the greatest matchup in tennis history.”

• Notable Quotes:

  "I want to say thank you, of course, to you guys for such an incredible atmosphere where it was battle and honestly, your support kept us going." — Elena Rybakina (04:15)

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7. Federal Reserve Nomination

Timestamps: 04:26 – 04:54

• Key Points:
  • President Trump nominates Karvin Walsh to replace Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair in May.

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End of News Content.
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Transcript

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[Dan Ronan]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. The federal government is partially shut down once again. NPR's Luke Garrett reports. Congress failed to fund some of the country's biggest agencies and departments this before a Friday night deadline.

[Luke Garrett]

The Senate advanced a massive five bill appropriations package Friday night. It funds the Pentagon Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, labor and Education. It also includes a stopgap measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks. The Senate funding package comes after the White House struck a deal with Democrats who want serious changes in DHS policy after its agents shot and killed Alex Preddy in Minneapolis. The funding package now goes back to the House, which returns Monday. The government will remain partially shut down until the House advances the package and President Trump signs it. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Dan Ronan]

The Hamas run civil defense agency in Gaza says at least 27 people, including women and children, have been killed in a wave of Israeli airstrikes across the territory. The IDF says it struck commanders and infrastructure of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. This in response to violation of the ceasefire. The BBC's Dan Johnson reports.

[Dan Johnson]

People in Gaza described these strikes as the heaviest since Donald Trump announced the second phase of the ceasefire. Apartment blocks and a Hamas police station were hit in Gaza City. Prisoners, police officers and children are among the dead. Further south, seven members of the same family are reported to have been killed when a helicopter struck the tent they were sheltering in. One man said it felt like war had returned to the Gaza Strip. Israel's military said it was checking the reports but did not confirm it had carried out any strikes.

[Dan Ronan]

That is the BBC's Dan Johnson reporting from Jerusalem. A blast of art of cold air is turned deadly in New York City. Bruce Kornviser reports more than a dozen people have died in the past week, with three more deaths reported Friday. The death toll has now increased to 13. Autopsies are expected to be completed in the next week or so, but officials have confirmed at least seven people died from hypothermia. We have more now from Bruce.

[Bruce Kornviser]

Officials say more than 800 people have been brought into city shelters. Frigid temperatures have gripped the city all week. Nighttime lows have plunged into single digits and daytime highs have struggled to climb above 20. Such a deep and prolonged cold snap has become a rarity in New York over the past 25 years as winters have become discernibly milder. Temperatures are expected to moderate next week, but only slightly. Daytime highs could approach 30 degrees, but that's still about 10 degrees below average. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Kahnfeiser in New York.

[Dan Ronan]

Meanwhile, in parts of the Carolina, officials there are predicting they could get as much as a foot of snow. The mayor of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, says they're expecting 6 inches of snow and have no snow plowing equipment. You're listening to NPR News. One of the biggest categories for the Grammy Awards is the best new artist. And this year TikTok made a big impact on who made the cut. NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiaro has more.

[Isabella Gomez Sarmiaro]

This year's best new artist nominees run the gamut from an indie pop band from Los Angeles to an English soul singer. The one thing they have in common, they all had a breakthrough moment this year thanks to TikToks nominees. Addison Rae and Alex Warren were TikTok creators who used their popularity on the app to launch music careers. Artists like Leon Thomas, Lola Young, the Maria's and Olivia Deen were signed artists who gained major traction on TikTok.

[Elena Rabakina]

Already gave you the town and the place.

[Isabella Gomez Sarmiaro]

And some of the nominees like the girl group Katseye and the Gen Z rocker somber Fall somewhere in between on Sunday night. All eight nominees will perform during the Grammy ceremony. Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

Elena Rabakina has won the Australian Tennis Championship Open.

[Elena Rabakina]

I want to say thank you, of course, to you guys for such an incredible atmosphere where it was battle and honestly, your support kept us going.

[Dan Ronan]

Her win over rival Ariana Sabalenka denied Sabalanka her third Australian Open title. The men's final is set for Sunday. Carlos Alcatraz and Novak Djokovic will face each other in what some are calling the greatest matchup in tennis history. President Trump has nominated Karvin Walsh is to be the new fed chairman to replace Jerome Powell in May. From Washington, you're listening to NPR News. I'm Dan Ronan.

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