NPR News Now — February 2, 2026, 2AM EST

Host: Dale Willman
Duration: 5 Minutes
Theme: The latest updates on U.S. immigration, political shifts, Grammy Awards milestones, severe weather, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Episode Overview

This concise NPR News Now episode delivers a rapid-fire update on major events across the United States and internationally. Key topics include developments in immigration enforcement and protests, a significant Democratic victory in Texas, historic Grammy Awards achievements, harsh winter weather in the Southeast, and violent escalations in Ukraine.

Key News Highlights & Timestamps

1. Release of Detained Child and Father in Texas

00:13 – 01:06

• Summary:
  • Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, after a week in a Texas immigration detention center, were released by federal court order and returned home to Minneapolis.
  • Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) accompanied the family and shared an iconic image of Liam in his floppy bunny ear hat, symbolizing the case as part of a broader immigration crackdown.
• Notable Quote:
  • “A picture of the boy in a floppy bunny ear hat before he was taken by ICE came to represent the immigration crackdown in Minnesota.” — David Martin Davies (00:51)

2. Protests and Federal Conduct in Portland, Oregon

01:06 – 02:01

• Summary:
  • Portland Mayor Keith Wilson condemned the use of tear gas by federal immigration officers during a union-backed protest outside an ICE facility.
  • Tear gas intended for protesters blocking a security gate affected a larger crowd, including families and the elderly.
  • The incident happened as a federal court prepares to hear an ACLU lawsuit on alleged excessive force by federal officers.
• Notable Quote:
  • “They had deployed heavy waves of chemical munitions on peaceful protesters who did not pose a threat.” — Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, cited by Conrad Wilson (01:37)

3. Democratic Upset in Texas State Senate Race

02:01 – 02:53

• Summary:
  • Democrat Taylor Ramette, an Air Force veteran and union leader, won a Texas state senate seat long held by Republicans, flipping a district that previously supported Trump by a wide margin.
  • Expert commentary suggests moderate Republicans either supported the Democrat or stayed home, influencing the upset.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Moderate Republicans... have tended to hold their nose and vote for the more conservative candidates... In this election, some... voted Democratic or stayed home.” — Dr. Mark Jones, Rice University (02:37)
  • “Trump endorsed Wambsgan shortly before the election. On Sunday, he claimed he didn't know a thing about the contest.” — Andrew Schneider (02:53)

4. Impending Congressional Vote on Government Funding

03:02 – 03:14

• Summary:
  • The House reconvened to vote on measures aimed at ending a partial government shutdown that began Friday night.

5. Historic Grammy Wins

03:14 – 04:11

• Summary:
  • Bad Bunny’s album “De Vitidar Mas Fotos” became the first Spanish-language album to win Album of the Year. His acceptance speech centered on pride in his Puerto Rican roots.
  • Kendrick Lamar took home five Grammy Awards, becoming both the night’s most-awarded artist and the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “He told the people of his island that there is nothing they can’t accomplish, and thanked his mom for giving birth to him there.” — Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, on Bad Bunny (03:37)
  • “He also became the most awarded rapper in Grammy’s history.” — Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, on Kendrick Lamar (04:05)

6. Severe Weather Impacts the U.S. Southeast

04:11 – 04:36

• Summary:
  • A major winter storm brought heavy snow and freezing temperatures, causing hundreds of flight cancellations. South Florida recorded its coldest air since 1989.

7. Russian Drone Attacks in Ukraine

04:36 – 04:55

• Summary:
  • Russian forces launched drone attacks on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro, killing at least 12, including mine workers on a bus, and injuring others. Another drone hit a maternity hospital in Zaporizhzhia.
  • The violence occurred shortly after Ukraine’s president announced impending peace talks.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Iconic Image in Immigration Debate:
  • “A picture of the boy in a floppy bunny ear hat before he was taken by ICE came to represent the immigration crackdown in Minnesota.” — David Martin Davies (00:51)
• Condemnation of Federal Use of Force:
  • “They had deployed heavy waves of chemical munitions on peaceful protesters who did not pose a threat.” — Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, as reported by Conrad Wilson (01:37)
• Political Shift Commentary:
  • “In this election, some of those more moderate Republicans voted Democratic or stayed home.” — Dr. Mark Jones (02:37)
• Grammy Milestone Recognition:
  • “He told the people of his island that there is nothing they can’t accomplish, and thanked his mom for giving birth to him there.” — Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, quoting Bad Bunny (03:37)

Recap

This episode succinctly captures a moment of shifting tides — from social and political changes in the U.S. (immigration stories, state-level political realignment) to global headlines (war in Ukraine, cultural milestones at the Grammys). The news is delivered in NPR’s straightforward, measured style, highlighting both the immediacy and significance of each development.