NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-21-2026 6PM EST

Episode Date: January 21, 2026

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This message comes from Databricks, the data and AI company. Are your AI agents working? Most aren't reliable for business. You need AI that's accurate. Agent Bricks, AI agents grounded in your data and built for your goals. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump has canceled his threat to impose more tariffs on Europe, saying he has come to an agreement with NATO General Secretary Mark Ruta over a framework of a future

deal on Greenland. He now says the U.S. will not use military force to take the Arctic Island, but he's still making threats. So we want a piece of ice for world protection, and they won't give it. We've never asked for anything else, and we could have kept that piece of land, and we didn't. So they have a choice. You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative, or you can say no, and we will remember. Trump's comments have sparked concerns about a potential geopolitical standoff. NATO ally Denmark remains firm on its sovereignty over Greenland. California Governor Gavin Newsom says a media event he had planned at the World Economic Forum

was canceled under pressure from the Trump administration. From member station KQED, Guy Marzorati has more. Newsom was scheduled to speak at USA House, the official U.S. Pavilion at the Global Summit, and deliver a critique of Trump's economic. management. But the governor's office says the invitation was canceled under pressure by the White House and State Department. The Trump administration did not respond directly to a question about Newsom's claim, but a White House spokesperson accused the governor of, quote,

frolicking around Switzerland instead of fixing the many problems he created in California. Newsom has spent part of this week lambasting Trump policies and calling out European leaders. For NPR news, I'm Guy Marzarotti in San Jose. Supreme Court heard arguments today over the president's power to fire a member of the Federal Reserve's governing board. NPR's Scott Horsley reports President Trump has been waging a pressure campaign for the central bank to lower interest rates. The Trump administration says the president was within his rights to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook. Over allegations, she made false statements on mortgage applications, even though Cook denies any wrongdoing. During oral arguments, Cook's lawyer Paul Clement said when it comes to the central bank,

lawmakers deliberately put limits on the president's firing power to insulate the Fed from political pressure. Congress, political animals, one and all, knew better than anyone that the short-term temptations to lower interest rates and have easy money was a disaster in the long term, but was going to be irresistible. Trump has insisted interest rates should be much lower, but Cook and other Fed policymakers are expected to hold rate steady when they meet next week. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. Meteorologists warned that a polar vortex could be. bring severe winter weather to much of the United States. Warm Arctic waters and cold continental land are combining to send sub-zero temperatures, heavy snow, and ice across the eastern two-thirds

of the country. The Midwest and North could see temperatures as low as 30 degrees below zero. You are listening to NPR News from Washington. House Republicans are pushing to hold former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress over the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. It could lead to a criminal prosecution and send the Clintons to prison. Republican House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer says the Clintons have responded to the subpoena with defiance. The Clintons argue the subpoena is invalid. South Carolina officials say they expect the fast-growing measles outbreak to last for several more weeks, if not months, unless more people get vaccinated against the virus. As NPR's Maria Godoy

reports, the state has confirmed six hundred and four. 46 measles cases so far. More than 530 people are currently in quarantine in South Carolina after being exposed to measles. That includes more than 80 students at Clemson and Anderson universities. The vast majority of cases so far have been in kids and teens who are unvaccinated. State epidemiologist Linda Bell says 10 people, both children and adults, have been hospitalized. The current trajectory where we are seeing double-digit cases that are newly identified each day is very concerning. South Carolina health officials are urging people who are unvaccinated to get two doses of the measles vaccine.

Bell says that uptake of the vaccine remains lower than officials would like to see to stem the outbreak. Maria Godoy and PR News. Love letters spanning five centuries are on display at Britain's National Archives in London. It opens Saturday and runs into April. The documents include legendary romances from British history featuring royalty, soldiers, songsmiths, and spies. I'm Rylan Barton. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. This message comes from Wise, the app for international people using money around the globe. You can send, spend, and receive in up to 40 currencies with only a few simple taps.

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