NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-24-2026 12AM EST

Episode Date: January 24, 2026

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Live from NPR News in New York City, I'm Duhalisei Kautau. Over half of the U.S. could be affected by a major winter storm this weekend. Forecasters at the Weather Channel say the system is forecast to move through 34 states from Arizona to the Midwest, South and New England. In New York City, new mayor, Zoran Mamdani, says, as the storm nears, thousands of trucks with agency partners will be transformed into the nation's largest snowfighting operation. We are going to see more than 2,000 of those sanitation workers begin 12-hour shifts starting tomorrow evening. They will salt as soon as we see the first snowflakes hit the ground

with 700 salt spreaders. And then as soon as we see two inches of snow accumulate, we're going to see 2,200 plows activate across the city. The National Weather Service is forecasting 6 to 12 inches of snowfall from Sunday into Monday morning. Thousands of protesters fill the streets of downtown Minneapolis to oppose the Trump administration's immigration crackdown there. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports the protests included an economic boycott with hundreds of businesses closed for the day. Ralliers turned out despite frigid temperatures, with some saying they know people who've been arrested. One man who's been here decades and says he is in the country legally was still afraid to give his

name because of how aggressive he says ICE agents are acting. He spoke through a ski mask. for warmth. We're against violent, you know. These kids have been dragged out of their homes. Refugees and even U.S. citizens have been arrested. The Trump administration has accused protesters of being violent and threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to quell them using active military forces. One woman said she can't worry about that. She just wanted to speak out in defense of her neighbors and her city. Jennifer Lutton and Pierre News, Minneapolis. The U.S. military has carried out another lethal attack on an alleged drug smuggling boat.

As John Otis reports, it was the first strike since U.S. Special Forces seized Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro. The attack occurred in the eastern Pacific Ocean and killed two people, according to the U.S. Southern Command. A video of the operation shows a person on the deck of the boat as it speeds through the water, then a huge explosion. It was the 35th U.S. attack on an alleged. drug boat since September and brought the death toll to 125 people. The strikes began as a way to put

more pressure on Maduro, the now ousted Venezuelan leader who the U.S. accuses of drug trafficking. But human rights groups describe the killings as unlawful executions. For NPR News, I'm John Otis. And you are listening to NPR News from Washington. A new federal lawsuit filed by the city of Philadelphia demands that the Department of Interior restore an exhibit on slavery that was removed this week at Philadelphia's Independence National Historical Park. Critics and observers say the Trump administration is, quote, whitewashing history by removing references to slavery and the names of nine enslaved people. Austin, Paris, Hercules, Christopher Shields, Richmond, Giles O'Ne, Judge Mole, and Joe. on Thursday. Vietnam's top leader has been reappointed as head of the ruling communist party for the next

five years, according to state-run media. The vote among the newly elected 180 member central committee at its party Congress was unanimous. Michael Sullivan reports. The former Minister of Public Security had been party chief since mid-20204 after the death of then-general secretary Nguyenfuchong and had been the chief enforcer. of the massive anti-corruption campaign that began under the former chief. The economic reforms, Tolams enacted since 2024, have helped spur Vietnam's rapid economic

growth, and he's promised even more, even as he appears to be trying to add the role of president to his portfolio. The dual role would be broadly similar to that of China's Xi Jinping in the one-party state, where power has traditionally been split between the party general secretary and the President, Prime Minister, and head of the National Assembly. For NPR news, I'm Michael Sullivan in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This is NPR. 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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