NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-21-2026 7PM EST

Episode Date: January 22, 2026

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This message comes from Data Bricks, 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 says he won't use military force to try to acquire Greenland. He's also backing down from his threat to impose new tariffs on European nations that

oppose his ambitions to take control of the island. This comes after a discussion with the head of NATO, as NPR's Tamara Keith explains. The NATO Secretary General Mark Ruta has been something of a Trump whisperer in this second term, largely by piling on praise. And the two met just hours after Trump's speech. And with cameras rolling, Ruta told Trump it pained him to think that the president doubted NATO's commitment to the U.S. Trump now says they have a concept of a deal, though there was no mention of the U.S. actually owning Greenland, as he had been demanding. He dodged questions about that, simply saying it would be an infinite deal. NPR's Tamara Keith reporting, President Trump has lately downplayed the possibility of sending military forces to Minnesota,

but a military police battalion in North Carolina has been put on alert, as NPR's Aquil Lawrence reports. A U.S. official who is not authorized to speak publicly has confirmed to NPR that an Army military police battalion stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, has received a prepare-to-deploy order for Minnesota. That's in addition to the 1,500 soldiers with the Army's 11th Airborne Division in Alaska told last week to ready themselves to support the Trump administration's massive ice deployment in the Twin Cities. Protests have continued in Minneapolis for two weeks since an ice agent shot to death René Macklin Good, a 37-year-old mother of three.

The Trump administration is not investigating the shooting, but has open investigations into Democratic Minnesota government officials for allegedly blocking federal immigration enforcement. Quill Lawrence NPR News. The House Oversight Committee has approved a resolution to hold former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress. The matter now moves to the full House. NPR's Claudia Grisales reports the bipartisan rebuke comes after the couple defied a congressional subpoena tied to Jeffrey Epstein. House Oversight Committee Republicans said the panel gave the Clinton's, plenty of time to testify, but some Democrats argued GOP members were rushing to judgment. Democrats were nearly evenly split on the panel with a majority, nine and all, joining Republicans

to hold former President Clinton in contempt. Eight Democrats voted no. But only three Democrats joined Republicans in a vote to do the same for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Most Democrats argued she was not privy to the same access to Epstein. The Clinton said they've turned over the, quote, little information they have. The contempt referrals will next go before the full house, which could lead the Justice Department to consider potential prosecution. Claude Riesales, NPR News. The U.S. stock market bounced back today from its worst day since October yesterday.

The SMP 500, NASDAQ and Dow all rose more than 1%. This is NPR News. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, says about 4,000 buildings in Kiev, remained without heating, and nearly 60% of the city is without power, following days of Russian attacks on Ukraine's power grid. President Trump says he'll meet tomorrow with Zelensky, while his envoy plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Another performing arts company has withdrawn from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The Seattle Children's Theater will no longer present a two-week run of a new play in April. Jeff London reports.

Young Dragon of Bruce Lee story was co-commissioned by the Seattle Children's Theater in the Kennedy Center, but the play will now only run in Seattle. The company's managing director says, quote, the landscape in which the Young Dragon was originally created has changed. He acknowledges his organization will take a financial hit by withdrawing. Since President Trump took over the Kennedy Center and the board added his name to the Living Memorial to President John F. Kennedy, many artists have left. The Washington National Opera, is leaving its home since 1971. And just last week, the Martha Graham Dance Company announced it was canceling its spring run.

For NPR News, I'm Jeff London. Nathan's famous hot dogs has been sold to packaged meat giant Smithfield foods and a $450 million all-cash deal. The company opened as a $5-cent hot dog stand in Coney Island more than a century ago. It's been under significant inflationary pressure, including a 20% increase in the cost per pound of hot dogs. This is 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. Be smart, get Wise. Download the Wise app today or visit wise.com. T's and Cs apply.