NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-25-2026 3PM EST

Episode Date: January 25, 2026

NPR News: 01-25-2026 3PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

40 years ago, the space shuttle challenger exploded shortly after liftoff. The nation was shocked, but the night before, engineers had pleaded for a launch delay. He said the challenger's going to blow up. Everyone's going to die. An NPR investigation into why last-minute warnings about the launch were dismissed. Listen now on the NPR app to the Sunday story from the Up First podcast. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Minnesota Governor Tim Walls is once again calling on President Trump to immediately remove federal immigration agents from his state. We believe in law and order in this state. We believe in peace. And we believe that Donald Trump needs to pull these 3,000 untrained agents out of Minnesota before they kill another person. And we're up here telling another story of a Minnesotan just trying to live their life without the interference.

Ice agent shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Preti, a U.S. citizen in Minneapolis on Saturday. Homeland Security Secretary Christine Nome says Predi showed up to impede a law enforcement operation. Democrats and some Republicans are now calling for a deeper investigation into federal immigration tactics. A massive winter storm is stretching from Texas to the northeast, bringing heavy snow, ice, and widespread power outage. Karen Zarr from Member Station WKY reports, thousands are without power across Kentucky. State and local road crews are working around the clock and officials are calling travel conditions treacherous across Kentucky. Governor Andy Beshear is asking everyone to stay home. It is simply unsafe in basically any part of Kentucky right now to be out on the roads. All you're doing is putting yourself and other people in harm. Bishir calls the state's response a quote, all hands-on-deck situation that could last throughout the week as forecasters call for temperatures to stay well below freezing for the next several days. For NPR News, I'm Karen Zarr in Lexington.

President Trump has approved emergency declarations in a number of states as snow and ice knock out power and bring travel to a standstill. More than 10,000 flights have been canceled across the country today. The Federal Reserve is expected to hold interest rates steady when policymakers meet this week. NPR Scott Horsley reports all eyes will be on Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, who's been the target of a pressure campaign by President Trump. The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates at his last three meetings in an effort to prop up the sagging job market. But with inflation still elevated, the central bank has signaled it will be cautious about additional rate cuts.

President Trump, who wants much lower rates, has gone to, great lengths to bend the Fed in that direction. The Justice Department has even launched an investigation of the central bank. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell has generally tried to avoid getting dragged into a fight with the president, but earlier this month, Powell said public service sometimes requires standing firm in the face of threats. This week's post-meeting news conference will give Powell another chance to make the case for why the Fed should be insulated from political interference. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. This is NPR News. American rock climber Alex Honnold scaled the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper today in Taiwan.

He didn't use any ropes or protective equipment. It took him an hour and a half to get to the top. The Sundance Film Festival is in full swing for the last time in Park City, Utah, before it moves to Boulder, Colorado next year. NPR's Mandelit Del Barco reports on some of this year's films. For its last dance in Utah, Sundance is paying tribute to the late Robert Redford, who started the festival for independent film more than 40 years ago. This year, the festival is screening some of its old hits like Little Miss Sunshine,

as well as Buzzy Films like The Momentary starring pop singer Charlie XX. Don't you just think the whole like, keep having a brat summer thing is but cringe? It's all cringe. Charlie XX is in three films at Sundance, including The Gallerist with Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega. and I Want Your Sex with Olivia Wild. Wild also directed in Stars in The Invite with Seth Rogen and Penelope Cruz. Among the indie films premiering at the festival are midnight movies, documentaries, and TV episodes. Sundance continues all week in person and online.

Mandalay Del Barco, NPR News, Park City. Crowds gathered at the zoo in Tokyo today to say farewell to Japan's last two pandas. The twin cubs are heading back to China this week. Japan received its first pandas in 1972, a gift that marked the normalization of diplomatic ties with Beijing, but the relationship between the two nations has since deteriorated. This is NPR News.