NPR News Now
NPR News Now

NPR News: 01-22-2026 11PM EST

5 min
•Jan 23, 20263 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

This NPR News episode covers major breaking news including a life-threatening winter storm affecting tens of millions across the US, controversial ICE arrests involving children in Minnesota, and former special counsel Jack Smith defending his Trump investigations before Congress. The episode also touches on entertainment and business news including Netflix's Star Search reboot and TikTok's deal to avoid a US ban.

Insights
  • Government emergency response coordination across multiple states demonstrates the scale of infrastructure challenges during extreme weather events
  • Immigration enforcement operations are creating significant controversy when involving children, highlighting policy implementation challenges
  • Former special counsel investigations face ongoing political scrutiny even after completion, showing the lasting impact of high-profile legal cases
  • Traditional entertainment formats are being reimagined for digital-native audiences with real-time engagement features
  • Major tech platforms are navigating complex regulatory environments through ownership restructuring deals
Trends
Increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events requiring multi-state emergency responsesGrowing controversy around immigration enforcement tactics involving families and childrenContinued political scrutiny of legal investigations involving high-profile figuresRevival of classic TV formats adapted for modern digital engagementTech companies using ownership restructuring to navigate regulatory challengesReal-time audience participation becoming standard in entertainment programmingInternational investment partnerships as solutions to regulatory compliance
Quotes
"Make sure you got the things that you need at your house to stay warm and hunker down in case you lose power for a day or two."
Brian Kemp•N/A
"She claims the child was used as bait to bring his family members out of their home."
Sarah Ventri•N/A
"He says if he had any regrets, it was not expressing enough support for the prosecutors and FBI agents who worked on the cases."
Carrie Johnson•N/A
"The audience is truly the fourth judge. Viewers around the world get a say in who wins by voting on performances in real time with their TV remote or phone."
Jesse Collins•N/A
"I think people look to television for for a more passive experience."
James Ponniwasic•N/A
Full Transcript
7 Speakers
Speaker A

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0:00

Speaker B

Live from NPR News, I'm Jael Snyder. A huge swath of the US Is bracing for a life threatening winter storm over the weekend. Tens of millions of people under a winter storm and extreme col stretching from New Mexico into the Ohio River Valley, the south and into the Northeast. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports on what to expect.

0:18

Speaker C

Frigid temperatures and significant accumulations of ice, snow and sleet are in the forecast. It will make travel conditions treacherous and could knock out power lines. Several governors are declaring states of emergency, including Texas, the Carolinas and Georgia. The that allows them to pre treat highways, open warming stations, stage supplies and equipment and call up National Guard troops. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp says people should plan now.

0:41

Speaker B

Make sure you got the things that you need at your house to stay warm and hunker down in case you lose power for a day or two.

1:09

Speaker C

This storm is also likely to disrupt air travel at some of the busiest airports in the country. Debbie Elliot, NPR News.

1:16

Speaker B

A 5 year old boy is at the center of a controversial arrest by ICE agents in Minnesota and is now in federal custody in Texas. Npr. Sarah Ventri reports that he is the fourth child detained from the same school district over the last few weeks.

1:24

Speaker D

The child, Liam Conejo Ramos, was taken from a running car in the family's driveway when federal immigration agents came to arrest his father. That's according to Zena Stenvic, the Columbia Heights public school superintendent. The district where the boy is a student. She claims the child was used as bait to bring his family members out of their home. In a post on X, DHS says the child was abandoned by his parents and that's why he was taken. They've confirmed that both the child and his father are being held at the Dilley Detention center outside of San Antonio. In Texas, DHS continues to say that it's taking dangerous criminals off the streets of Minneapolis and that its officers have made over 3,000 arrests in the last six weeks. Sarah Ventri, NPR News, Minneapolis.

1:40

Speaker B

Former special counsel Jack Smith was on Capitol Hill today defending his investigations of President Trump as he fielded questions from congressional Republicans. NPR's Carrie Johnson reports.

2:25

Speaker E

Jack Smith presided over two criminal indictments of Trump for attempting to overturn the 2020 election and for hiding secret documents at his Florida resort. Neither case got to a jury before Trump returned to the White House last year. Smith says he had proof beyond a reasonable doubt both cases and that he was not motivated by politics. He says if he had any regrets, it was not expressing enough support for the prosecutors and FBI agents who worked on the cases. Many of those public servants have been fired by the Trump administration. Some have faced threats, he says, for doing their jobs. Kerry Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

2:36

Speaker B

And you're listening to NPR News. Star Search is back. Netflix relaunched the 1980s and 90s television talent contest this week. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports that the new series is tailored for the TikTok generation.

3:14

Speaker F

The star Search reboot has many of the same ingredients as the original, including celebrity judges and a cast of talented young people such as 10 year old country singer Blair Koudelka.

3:31

Speaker G

Oh, so awesome for you.

3:48

Speaker F

But there are differences. Notably, says Star Search executive producer Jesse.

3:51

Speaker D

Collins, the audience is truly the fourth judge.

3:55

Speaker F

Viewers around the world get a say in who wins by voting on performances in real time with their TV remote or phone. And unlike other more recent takes on TV talent shows, the results are in almost immediately. But New York Times TV critic James Ponniwasic is skeptical.

3:58

Speaker G

I think people look to television for for a more passive experience.

4:14

Speaker F

The finale of the nine episode series is scheduled for February 17th. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

4:18

Speaker B

It talks. Chinese owner says it has finalized a deal to avoid a ban in The United States, ByteDance, as it has signed agreements with major investors to establish a majority US Owned joint venture. The deal marks the end of years of uncertainty after former President Joe Biden signed a TikTok ban into law unless it found a new owner. Stocks in Asia up and Friday trading Japan's benchmark Nikkei leading the way after gains on Wall street. The S&P 500 climbed half a percentage point. Continuing a rally. I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.

4:23

Speaker G

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4:57