NPR News: 02-02-2026 11AM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: 02-02-2026 11AM EST – Episode Summary

Main Theme:
A brisk five-minute news roundup covering major national and international stories from federal immigration crackdowns, high-profile investigations, extreme winter weather, Grammy Award highlights, and the annual Groundhog Day forecast.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Federal Judge Upholds Trump-Era Immigration Crackdown in Minneapolis

• [00:15-00:53]

• U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez denied Minnesota’s request to halt federal immigration actions in Minneapolis.

• The state and local officials argued these actions violated constitutional rights and caused “tremendous damage.”

• Judge Menendez (a Biden appointee) ruled the state was unlikely to succeed—though she recognized the operation’s profound and “even heartbreaking consequences” for Minnesota.

  “Her ruling really focused on the state's argument and whether it was likely to succeed in court. And ultimately she said she didn't think it would.”
  — Kat Lansdorf, NPR reporter [00:39]

  “The immigration operation, quote, has had and will likely continue to have profound and even heartbreaking consequences for the state of Minnesota.”
  — Korva Coleman, NPR (quoting Judge Menendez) [00:53]

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2. UK’s Prince Andrew Faces Renewed Scrutiny in Epstein Investigation

• [00:53-02:06]

• British PM urges Prince Andrew to testify before US Congress after new Epstein-related document releases and photos.

• Emails between Andrew, his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, and Epstein surfaced, contradicting prior claims of severed ties.

• Andrew previously stripped of royal titles, evicted from Windsor Castle, and settled an abuse case (but maintains innocence).

• Former UK ambassador Peter Mandelson resigned from Labour Party for sharing confidential information with Epstein.

  “There are also friendly emails from Andrew and his ex wife Sarah Ferguson to Epstein while he was under house arrest—long after the royals had said they'd cut ties.”
  — Lauren Frayer, NPR London [01:27]

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3. Extreme Cold and Winter Weather Hits Southeast and East US

• [02:06-03:08]

• Bitter cold and wind chills stretch from Florida to the Northeast, with rare snowfall reported in the Carolinas.

• North Carolina Governor Josh Stein comments on the unusual snow.

  “We just don't get snow like this very often.”
  — Gov. Josh Stein [02:23]

• Incidents include numerous crashes, dramatic rescues, and lingering storm impacts across the region.

• Meteorologist Dan McGinley forecasts temperatures will start to moderate, but cold will persist.

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4. Grammy Awards: Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, SZA Among Big Winners

• [03:08-04:07]

• Bad Bunny collects three Grammys, including Album of the Year, and uses his platform to criticize misconceptions about immigrants.

  “We're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”
  — Bad Bunny [03:45]

• Gloria Estefan, also present, expresses her concern for immigrant families.

  “These are people that have families that have contributed to this country for decades.”
  — Gloria Estefan [03:55]

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5. Groundhog Day: Six More Weeks of Winter Predicted

• [04:07-04:44]

• Thousands gather in Pennsylvania as Punxsutawney Phil “sees his shadow,” signaling six more weeks of winter.

• Dan McGinley, Groundhog Club vice president, delivers the forecast in traditional rhyme.

  “There is a shadow here on my ground. Six more weeks of winter abound.”
  — Dan McGinley, Punxsutawney Phil spokesperson [04:28]

• Host notes the event’s roots in ancient European farming traditions.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We just don't get snow like this very often.”
  — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein [02:23]
• “We're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.”
  — Bad Bunny at the Grammys [03:45]
• “These are people that have families that have contributed to this country for decades.”
  — Gloria Estefan [03:55]
• “There is a shadow here on my ground. Six more weeks of winter abound.”
  — Dan McGinley (Groundhog Day) [04:28]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Immigration Crackdown Ruling: 00:15–00:53
• Prince Andrew/Epstein Investigation: 00:53–02:06
• Extreme Winter Weather: 02:06–03:08
• Grammy Awards/Immigrant Rights: 03:08–04:07
• Groundhog Day Forecast: 04:07–04:44

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Tone:
Straightforward, briskly factual, with moments of human interest and direct commentary from newsmakers.

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Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. A federal judge has ruled the Trump administration can maintain its immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. NPR's Kat Lansdorf says says state and local officials have pleaded for relief.

[Kat Lansdorf]

Attorneys representing Minnesota and the Twin Cities had argued in court that the federal actions were violating constitutional protections and causing, quote, tremendous damage and had asked for a temporary restraining order. But on Saturday, U.S. district Judge Kate Menendez, a President Biden appointee, denied that request after reviewing it for quite some time. Her ruling really focused on the state's argument and whether it was likely to succeed in court. And ultimately she said she didn't think it would.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Kat Lonsdorf reporting. The judge also said the immigration operation, quote, has had and will likely continue to have profound and even heartbreaking consequences for the state of Minnesota. Britain's prime minister is calling for King Charles brother Andrew to testify before the US Congress about Jeffrey Epstein. The latest release of files related to the late sex offender includes revelations about several British figures. NPR's Lauren Frayer reports from London.

[Lauren Frayer]

New photos show Andrew at an Epstein property kneeling on all fours over a woman whose face is redacted. There are also friendly emails from Andrew and his ex wife Sarah Ferguson to Epstein while he was under house arrest long after the royals had said they'd cut ties. Andrew's already been stripped of his title prince, and ordered evicted from Windsor Castle grounds after an Epstein victim said she had sex with him while she was a minor. Andrew settled a legal case with her, but denies wrongdoing. U.S. investigators have sought information from Andrew for years. Meanwhile, the former UK Ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson, has resigned from the ruling Labour Party over confidence confidential UK Government information he appears to have shared with the late convicted sex offender. Lauren Frayer, NPR News, London.

[Korva Coleman]

The National Weather Service says bitterly cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills persist this morning from Florida to the Northeast back to back weekend winter storms also brought rare snowfall to parts of the Carolinas. NPR's Amy Held has more.

[Amy Held]

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein.

[Josh Stein]

We just don't get snow like this very often.

[Amy Held]

They got it this weekend. And hundreds of crashes throughout the region. In Charlotte, firefighters plucked a pickup driver from a pond after skidding. Not far away, a semi got stuck on tracks and struck by a train. That driver also okay. This as a massive storm that swept more than half the country the weekend before left lingering snow, ice and headaches from travel delays to power outages. Entrenched Arctic air had made it colder in parts of Texas and Florida than it was in Juneau, Alaska. Topsy turvy temperatures that should turn around. Meteorologist BOB or temperatures will start to.

[Dan McGinley]

Moderate, so they won't be quite as.

[Amy Held]

Below average but still colder than normal this week. Amy Held, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street. The Dow's up 408 points. This is NPR News. Musicians Kendrick Lamar, SZA and Bad Bunny were among the big winners at last night's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Steve Futterman has more.

[Steve Futterman]

Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny won three Grammys and the Grammy goes to, including the top award album of the year. Bad Bunny debut and on was one of those speaking out against immigration enforcement efforts.

[Bad Bunny]

I'm going to say eyes out.

[Steve Futterman]

Bad Bunny talked about misconceptions some have toward immigrants.

[Bad Bunny]

We're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans, and we are Americans.

[Steve Futterman]

Another performer speaking out backstage was Gloria Estefan.

[Gloria Estefan]

These are people that have families that have contributed to this country for decades.

[Steve Futterman]

Estefan, who was born in Cuba, said she is scared and worried. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

[Korva Coleman]

It's February 2nd, or Groundhog Day, and keeping with tradition, thousands of fans of Punxsutawney Phil have turned out to hear his weather prediction in Central Pennsylvania. Dan McGinley is the vice president of the Groundhog Club's inner circle. Speaking for Punxsutawney Phil. He says winter is going to stick around.

[Dan McGinley]

It is my job this February 2nd to look to the skies and report back to you that there is a shadow here on my ground. Six more weeks of winter abound.

[Korva Coleman]

The Groundhog Day event has links to ancient farming traditions in Europe. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.

[Josh Stein]

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