The NewsWorthy – Episode Summary

Podcast: The NewsWorthy
Host: Erica Mandy
Episode: Second Deadly MN Shooting, Storm Grips 34 States & Super Bowl Set
Date: January 26, 2026

Overview

On this episode, Erica Mandy delivers a rapid-fire roundup of major news stories impacting the U.S. and the world, with a focus on the fallout from a deadly shooting in Minneapolis involving immigration officers, a massive winter storm affecting much of the country, and updates on the upcoming Super Bowl. Additional segments cover changes to tax season, U.S.-Canada trade tensions, major headlines in entertainment, tech outages, and the start of tax season. The tone remains fair, concise, and accessible, presenting multiple sides to contentious issues.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Second Deadly Shooting Involving Immigration Officers in Minneapolis

[00:45 – 06:10]

• Incident Details:

  • Alex Preddy, a 37-year-old VA hospital nurse and American citizen with no criminal record, was killed by federal agents near a protest.
  • DHS claims Preddy approached with a gun and resisted arrest, prompting agents to open fire.
  • Bystander video shows Preddy recording agents and attempting to intervene during an altercation—he appeared to raise a hand to block a chemical spray while holding his phone.
  • Preddy was surrounded by at least five masked agents, forcibly restrained, and had a gun removed from his waist. Seconds later, he was shot multiple times.

• Reactions:

  • Authorities, including FBI Director Cash Patel, argued, “No one who wants to be peaceful shows up at a protest with a firearm that’s loaded.” (Cash Patel, 04:09)
  • The NRA and gun rights advocates pushed back, calling such statements “dangerous and wrong.”
  • Minneapolis police chief confirmed Preddy was a lawful gun owner.
  • Public protests escalated despite bitter cold, with Minneapolis’ police chief urging, “not to destroy our own city.”
  • Gov. Tim Walz deployed the Minnesota National Guard to secure federal facilities.

• Federal-State Tensions:

  • U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi urged Minnesota to aid in “restoring the rule of law” by sharing records and repealing sanctuary laws.
  • Growing national scrutiny of ICE and border patrol tactics; bipartisan lawmakers called for a thorough, impartial investigation.
  • The DHS will lead the probe, but local police note lack of federal cooperation.
  • President Trump: “We’re reviewing everything.” (Donald Trump, 05:19)

• Political Fallout:

  • Fight over ICE funding could prompt a government shutdown; Dems seek spending cuts or more oversight, Republicans stress law enforcement needs.
  • Funding deadline falls at week’s end.

2. Massive Winter Storm Paralyzes 34 States

[06:15 – 07:55]

• Sleet, freezing rain, and snow stretched from Arizona to New England, affecting 220+ million Americans.
• Northeast and New England will see further snow; record cold expected across southern and mid-Atlantic states.
• Over one million lost power; significant outages in Texas led to a declared power emergency.
• Dangerous travel: icy roads, halted transit, shuttered schools/businesses, and 15,000+ flight cancellations—highest since early pandemic times.
• Another storm could arrive the following weekend.

3. Super Bowl 60 Set: Patriots vs Seahawks

[07:56 – 08:49]

• NFL Championships:
  • Patriots beat the Broncos in the AFC; Seahawks overcame Rams in NFC.
  • Super Bowl 60 to be held February 8th at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA.
• Entertainment:
  • Kickoff: Green Day.
  • Halftime: Bad Bunny.
  • Tens of thousands at the stadium; over 100 million expected to watch from home.

4. Remarkable Headlines: Climbing, Crime, Trade, & Tech

[09:04 – 13:18]

• Alex Honnold’s Urban Climb [09:04]:

  • Scaled Taiwan’s tallest building (1,600ft) with no safety gear, live on Netflix.
  • Smiled and waved at people inside, including his wife; calls it “the highest free solo climb of any urban structure.”
  • Honnold: “My thumbs and back will likely be sore in the coming days…” (Alex Honnold, 09:38)

• Olympic Fugitive Arrest [10:03]:

  • Ex-Canadian snowboarder Ryan Wedding, most-wanted by FBI, captured in Mexico.
  • Allegedly led a major drug trafficking organization and is linked to witness killing. Facing charges in U.S. court.

• U.S.–Canada Trade Escalation [11:02]:

  • Trump threatened 100% tariffs on Canadian imports if Canada strikes deals with China.
  • Canadian PM Mark Carney at World Economic Forum encouraged smaller nations to “stick together.”
  • Trump responded: “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that Mark the next time you make your statements.” (Trump, 12:02)

• TikTok Outage [12:29]:

  • Users struggled to log in, encountered buggy feeds, and couldn’t access help or new terms.
  • Issues surface days after TikTok becomes a majority U.S.-owned joint venture; ByteDance retains just under 20%.
  • New policies feature expanded ad tracking and data collection, including on use of AI tools.

• Box Office Slows Due to Storm [13:18]:

  • Mercy (Chris Pratt) led with $11 million, lowest box office weekend so far due to winter weather.
  • Avatar: Fire and Ash fell to #2; Oscar nominees saw small boosts.
  • Hollywood hopes better weather will bring moviegoers back.

5. Money Monday: Tax Season Updates

[16:21 – 17:53]

• Tax season officially begins; IRS starts processing 2025 returns.
• Notable changes:
  • Taxes removed on overtime/tipped income.
  • Cap on state/local tax deduction lifted.
  • Average refunds may be $1,000 higher, per Piper Sandler research.
  • Filing online yields faster refunds (under three weeks).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “No one who wants to be peaceful shows up at a protest with a firearm that’s loaded.”
  (FBI Director Cash Patel, 04:09)

• “Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that Mark the next time you make your statements.”
  (President Donald Trump, 12:02)

• “My thumbs and back will likely be sore in the coming days, and the climber says he hopes to scale another skyscraper soon.”
  (Alex Honnold, 09:38)

• “Most Americans who file will qualify for a refund, and this year’s average refund could be even larger than last year’s.”
  (Erica Mandy, 17:31)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|-------------| | Minneapolis Shooting Fallout | 00:45–06:10 | | Winter Storm Update | 06:15–07:55 | | Super Bowl Lineup | 07:56–08:49 | | Alex Honnold’s Tower Climb | 09:04–09:53 | | FBI Nabs Former Olympian Ryan Wedding | 10:03–10:53 | | U.S.–Canada Trade Tensions | 11:02–12:27 | | TikTok Outage Explained | 12:29–13:08 | | Box Office Wrap | 13:18–14:14 | | Money Monday Tax Season Tips | 16:21–17:53 |

Tone and Original Language Highlights

Erica Mandy keeps a brisk, even-handed style, weaving in official statements, protester perspectives, and expert reactions. She injects personal touches (e.g., talking about her child and routines), blends headlines with context, and balances hard news with lighter pop culture tidbits, never veering into sensationalism.

Summary Takeaway

This tight, information-rich episode balances urgent national stories—like tensions over ICE tactics and a paralyzing winter storm—with lighter fare ranging from Super Bowl entertainment to Oscar nominations. It provides context, multiple viewpoints, and actionable advice (notably about tax season), all in an engaging, accessible format.