NPR News Now: 02-03-2026 5PM EST

Date: February 3, 2026
Host: Ryland Barton (NPR)
Duration: ~5 minutes

Episode Overview

This NPR News Now episode delivers key national and world headlines in five rapid minutes, covering the latest developments in U.S. politics, legal news, global tech regulation, business, weather phenomena, and quirky upcoming holiday promotions. The main story is the congressional effort to end a partial government shutdown and its ties to debates over immigration enforcement.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. End of the Four-Day Partial U.S. Government Shutdown

[00:13 – 01:09]

• President Trump has signed a bill ending the brief partial government shutdown after a narrow House vote.
• Funding Details:
  • Full-year funding is restored for key agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Transportation, and Health and Human Services.
  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) receives only two weeks of funding, giving lawmakers time to negotiate contentious immigration enforcement rules.
• Political Context:
  • The negotiations are in response to public outcry over the deaths of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Preddy in Minneapolis.
  • Democratic Demands: use-of-force policy changes, mandatory removal of masks from agents, implementation of body cameras.
  • Republican Stance: Expected resistance to those changes.

Quote:
"Lawmakers are facing the daunting task of reaching a bipartisan deal to address public outcry over the deaths of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Preddy."
— Claudia Grisales, NPR News [00:44]

2. Resignations in the U.S. Attorney's Office, Minneapolis

[01:09 – 01:36]

• Another wave of resignations hits the Minneapolis office after the killing of Renee Macklin Good by an immigration agent and subsequent DOJ pressure on prosecutors.
• Who Resigned: Eight people, including three prosecutors, a victim’s advocate, and four civil division lawyers.
• The Justice Department is bringing in lawyers from other regions and the military to fill the gaps.

Quote:
"The mass exodus started last month after an immigration agent killed Renee Macklin Good..."
— Matt Sepik, Minnesota Public Radio [01:16]

3. Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Ruling

[01:36 – 02:14]

• A federal judge blocks the Trump administration from ending TPS for approximately 350,000 Haitians, which was set to expire today.
• TPS has enabled many Haitians to live and work in the U.S.; ending it is part of a wider Trump administration effort targeting migrant protections.

4. Investigation into Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) by French Prosecutors

[02:14 – 02:52]

• French authorities raid X's Paris offices in a probe into the platform's role in spreading illegal content:
  • Child sexual abuse imagery.
  • Sexually explicit AI deepfakes, including those generated by Musk’s chatbot Grok.
  • Posts denying the Holocaust, which is illegal in France.
• Musk has been summoned for questioning.
• X’s response: Calls the investigation politically motivated.

Quote:
"Prosecutors also cite posts that denied the Holocaust, which is illegal in France."
— Rebecca Rossman, NPR News [02:34]

5. Business News: Walmart Hits $1 Trillion Market Valuation

[02:52 – 03:18]

• Walmart becomes the first retailer to reach a $1 trillion valuation, with shares soaring nearly 26% in the last year and 468% over the past decade.
• The retailer’s online business has been a major growth driver, putting Walmart among tech giants like Nvidia and Alphabet.

6. Consumer & Food News: PepsiCo Price Cuts

[03:18 – 03:32]

• PepsiCo lowers prices on snacks like Lays, Doritos, Cheetos, and Tostitos, seeking to win back budget-conscious customers after years of price hikes.

7. Weather & Wildlife: Cold Snap Stuns South Florida, Iguana Trouble

[03:32 – 04:30]

• Record cold temperatures in South Florida have left iguanas immobilized; trappers report unprecedented catches.
• Long-term impact: Cold snaps won’t solve the ongoing issue of invasive iguanas in the region.

Quote:
"The sheer numbers of them was surprising. Even knowing that it was getting as cold as it was going to. I'm still kind of like borderline shocked with how many we we found and got."
— Blake Wilkins, Redline Iguana Removal [03:53]

8. Valentine’s Day Promotions: Caviar McNuggets & White Castle Love Castles

[04:30 – 04:58]

• McDonald’s: Launches a limited-time caviar McNugget kit pairing Siberian sturgeon caviar with a $25 gift card.
• White Castle: Will transform select locations into "Love Castles" with table service for Valentine’s Day.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Bipartisan Immigration Talks:
  "Lawmakers are facing the daunting task of reaching a bipartisan deal to address public outcry over the deaths of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Preddy."
  — Claudia Grisales [00:44]

• French Prosecution of Social Media Harm:
  "Prosecutors also cite posts that denied the Holocaust, which is illegal in France."
  — Rebecca Rossman [02:34]

• Iguana Trapping Boom:
  "The sheer numbers of them was surprising. ...I'm still kind of like borderline shocked with how many we we found and got."
  — Blake Wilkins [03:53]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Partial Government Shutdown Resolved: [00:13 – 01:09]
• Minneapolis U.S. Attorney Resignations: [01:09 – 01:36]
• Haitian TPS Ruling: [01:36 – 02:14]
• France Raids X Offices: [02:14 – 02:52]
• Walmart’s Valuation Milestone: [02:52 – 03:18]
• PepsiCo Price Cuts: [03:18 – 03:32]
• Cold Snaps & Iguanas: [03:32 – 04:30]
• Valentine’s Fast Food News: [04:30 – 04:58]

This summary delivers a concise, informative recount of the episode's main content, presenting the day's breaking stories, political developments, and lighter fare in NPR's hallmark objective, rapid-fire style.