NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-28-2026 7PM EST

Episode Date: January 29, 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 Rylan Barton. President Trump spoke about de-escalating tensions in Minneapolis after the second deadly shooting by federal immigration agents, but there has been little evidence of any

significant changes as immigration enforcement operations and confrontations with activists continue in the Twin Cities. NPR's Sergio Martinez-Baltron has the latest. According to the Department of Homeland Security, two of the federal agents involved in the killing of Alex Prady have been placed on administrative relief, something the department says is standard protocol. Here in Minneapolis, people continue to express their frustration and anger against ICE agents. They want them out of their city. At the makeshift memorial for Pretty, people continue to gather. They have expressed how they want justice for Pretty and for Renee Maclean Good. They also say they want more action from their state and local leaders

in fighting this search in their state. Sergio Martinez Beltran and PR News, Minneapolis. The man who sprayed an unknown substance on Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar at a town hall in Minneapolis last night was immediately tackled during the event. Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar says Omar is doing okay. My first reaction was, is Ilhan OK? And I actually talked to her about an hour after the town hall ended. And she was in good spirits as good as she can be. And I think one of the things that was kind of extraordinary is she continued on with the town hall.

The security was there. They had used Wonding to make sure there were no weapons when people had come into the meeting. So, you know, under most accounts for most members, you would think that was good enough. 55-year-old Anthony Kazmirchak was charged with third-degree assault. He has a criminal history and made online posts supportive of President Trump. He was convicted of felony auto theft in 1989 and has multiple arrests for driving under the influence. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is urging senators to be patient with him on Venezuela, saying the end goal is democracy, but that it will take time.

After a hearing on Capitol Hill, he sat down with the Nobel Peace Prize winner from Venezuela, who wants to go home. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. Outside the State Department, exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machata says she told Rubio she wants to go back as soon as possible. But it's not only about me. It's about hundreds of political leaders that have been forced to flee, many other hundreds or thousands that are in hiding right now in Venezuela.

And millions of Venezuelans abroad who want to go back and rebuild. But that requires rule of law, she says. And for now, the Trump administration is working with the woman who served as Nicholas Maduro's vice president, Dulce Rodriguez, who Machado says was an essential part of a, quote, criminal regime. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. This is NPR News from Washington. As layoffs pile up, workers are feeling increasingly anxious about the job market. Businesses had been in what economists call a no-hire, no-fire standstill as hiring stalls overall. But a growing list of companies are also cutting jobs, including Amazon, UPS, and Tyson Foods.

Some employers point to rising operational costs from President Trump's tariffs and inflation. Bruce Springsteen has released a new protest song condemning the actions of immigration and customs enforcement in Minneapolis. The song pays tribute to those who have died in clashes with officers, as NPR's Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento reports. In a post on social media, the boss wrote that he wrote Streets of Minneapolis on Saturday. The song pays tribute to Renee Maclin Good and Alex Pretti, both of whom were killed by federal agents this month. It also calls out, quote, King Trump, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem and Homeland Security Advisor Stephen Miller. Springsteen has been writing politically driven songs for decades, and he has been an outspoken critic of President Trump since he was first elected to office in 2016. Isabella Gomez-Armiento, NPR News.

Being a night owl can be bad for your heart. That's according to a study showing night owls have poor overall cardiovascular health, plus a modestly higher risk of first heart attack or stroke. Unhealthy behaviors that tend to be associated with being a night owl, like too little sleep, smoking, or a poor diet were key factors. I'm Ryland 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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