NPR News Now – February 1, 2026, 12PM EST

Host: Dan Ronan (NPR)
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of the hour’s major U.S. and international news stories, including updates on the Federal government shutdown, extreme weather events, Israeli-Palestinian border negotiations, a Texas special election, the Grammy Awards, and new TSA identification procedures.

Government Shutdown Stalemate and Prospects for Resolution

[00:15–01:14]

• Current Status: The federal government is partially shut down after Congress failed to pass full funding.
• Progress:
  • Senate action: A large spending bill passed the Senate on Friday.
  • House tension: Some Republican House members object to the two-week funding extension for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
• Speaker Commentary:
  • Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House (R-LA), is optimistic:

    “We’ll get all this done by Tuesday.” ([00:49])

  • Johnson emphasized willingness to work with Democrats on DHS reforms, referencing measures like body cameras for ICE agents:

    "Some of the reforms and the processes are fine with them. For example, we want body cameras on Immigration Customs Enforcement agents." ([00:58])

• Background:
  • Recent push for DHS reforms follows the recent shooting of two U.S. citizens by DHS agents in Minnesota.
• Notable Insight:
  • The funding dispute is intertwined with high-profile negotiations involving President Trump and bipartisan demands for reform.

Major Snowstorm and Nationwide Cold Snap

[01:15–02:04]

• Bomb Cyclone Impact:
  • North Carolina received around a foot of snow, marking some of the biggest snowfall totals in years.
  • State patrol reported 750 traffic collisions on Saturday; impressively, none were fatal.
• Meteorologist Perspective:
  • Brian Hurley (Weather Prediction Center):

    “It doesn’t look like the week is going to be as cold as it was last week here in the eastern U.S., and even with the next waves of cold air ... temperatures during the day, even at night, aren’t going to be as cold as [has] been seen up to this point here in the eastern United States.” ([01:46])

• Additional Weather Note:
  • Florida saw lows dip to the mid-20s Fahrenheit—the coldest in 90 years.

Gaza Border Crossing Preparations Amidst Ceasefire Progress

[02:05–03:08]

• Development:
  • Israeli authorities are preparing to reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, a major step in progressing the ceasefire with Hamas.
• Reopening Details:
  • The crossing has been nearly sealed since Israeli takeover in 20XX.
  • Daniel Estrin (NPR, Jerusalem):

    “Egyptian authorities, Palestinian security officers and European Union border patrol officers are making final arrangements to reopen the land crossing.” ([02:27])

• Humanitarian Context:
  • Starting Monday, up to 50 Gaza patients per day, with two companions each, will be allowed to leave for medical treatment.
  • Gaza health officials: At least 20,000 need to travel abroad for care currently unavailable in Gaza.

Houston Special Election Results

[03:09–03:22]

• Winner Announced:
  • Democrat Christian Menefee won a special election for a Congressional seat previously held by the late Sylvester Turner, who passed away 11 months prior.

2026 Grammy Awards Preview: Hip Hop Domination Potential

[03:23–04:19]

• Big Story:
  • Los Angeles rapper Kendrick Lamar is a leading nominee with nine Grammy nods, including Song, Record, and Album of the Year.
• Historical Context:
  • If Lamar's album “GNX” wins Album of the Year, it'll be the first hip hop win in 22 years (since OutKast’s Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, 2004).
• Quote from Isabella Gomez Sarmento (NPR):
  > "The other Album of the Year contenders who could break that streak are Tyler, the Creator and the duo Clipse, When I Was Born." ([04:09])
  • Lamar’s competitors include Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, and Bad Bunny.

New TSA Identification Policy for Air Travelers

[04:20–04:53]

• Policy Change:
  • Effective today, travelers without a REAL ID or passport face a non-refundable $45 charge to use the new TSA “Confirm ID” alternative verification process.
  • TSA clarifies: This is a service payment, not a penalty or fine.
• Logistics:
  • The verification process can take up to 30 minutes and doesn’t guarantee boarding.
  • Process cannot be completed by regular security screeners.

Notable Quotes

• Mike Johnson (Speaker of the House):

  “We’ll get all this done by Tuesday.” ([00:49])

  <br> "Some of the reforms and the processes are fine with them. For example, we want body cameras on Immigration Customs Enforcement agents." ([00:58])

• Brian Hurley (Weather Prediction Center):

  “It doesn’t look like the week is going to be as cold as it was last week … temperatures during the day, even at night, aren’t going to be as cold as [has] been seen up to this point here in the eastern United States.” ([01:46])

• Daniel Estrin (NPR):

  "Egyptian authorities, Palestinian security officers and European Union border patrol officers are making final arrangements to reopen the land crossing." ([02:27])

• Isabella Gomez Sarmento (NPR):

  "Kendrick Lamar is nominated for nine Grammys total. That includes Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Album of the Year." ([03:43])
  "The other Album of the Year contenders who could break that streak are Tyler, the Creator and the duo Clipse, When I Was Born." ([04:09])

Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:15: Government shutdown coverage and House negotiations
• 01:15: Major snowstorm in North Carolina and outlook for national weather
• 02:05: Rafah border crossing preparations; humanitarian coordination
• 03:09: Houston special election result
• 03:23: Grammy Awards preview; Kendrick Lamar’s historic chance
• 04:20: TSA launches new “Confirm ID” process and charges for non-compliant travelers

This episode offers a rapid but informative survey of significant current events, capturing the urgency of policy debates, the impact of severe weather, the importance of humanitarian progress at Gaza, the excitement of Grammy competition, and the practicalities of travel under new security rules.