NPR News: 01-19-2026 5AM EST
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What happened in the recent train accident in Spain?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. Authorities in Spain say at least 39 people have been killed after a high-speed train left the tracks and slammed into another such train heading in the opposite direction. NPR's Miguel Macias says dozens of passengers were also injured.
The routes that connect multiple cities in Andalusia in southern Spain with Madrid come together in the region of Córdoba. That's where a train that was traveling from Málaga to Madrid collided with the train headed for Huelva. Transport Minister Óscar Puente says the train that derailed was only four years old and the track itself had been renovated in May 2025. The accident is tremendously strange, Puente said last night, as the trains were also traveling on a flat stretch of track. The cause of the accident is under investigation. Miguel Macias, NPR News, Seville, Spain.
President Trump's repeated remarks about the U.S. acquiring Greenland are expected to be the focus of European Union leaders when they meet later this week in Brussels. As Terry Schultz reports, EU officials are also expected to consider economic penalties against the U.S.
The president of the European Council decided the 27 national leaders need to meet in person to discuss President Trump's repeated threats to annex Greenland, which is a territory of EU member state Denmark, and his intentions to levy tariffs against some countries. An EU spokesperson says the meeting is likely to be Thursday or Friday. Leaders will be debating whether to enact some 93 billion euros worth of counter-tariffs against the U.S., which was drawn up last year but dropped after a deal was reached with Trump.
How is the EU responding to President Trump's remarks about Greenland?
There are also calls, led by French President Emmanuel Macron, to trigger what's called the anti-coercion instrument, emergency powers to limit U.S. companies' access to the EU market. It's never been used before. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels.
The Pentagon is preparing 1,500 active-duty U.S. soldiers for possible deployment to Minnesota. This follows recent protests sparked by the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis during a federal immigration enforcement operation, as NPR's Jasmine Guards reports.
Despite the Pentagon's move, Minneapolis has been quiet for the last few days, in part because of heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures. The city has experienced tense protests since the killing of Renee Macklin Good and confrontations with agents. In response, Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act, a little-used 1807 law that would allow sending the military to perform law enforcement duties. But in recent days, the weather has dampened protests, and Trump seems to have backed away from invoking the act. The Pentagon last week put troops with the Army's 11th Airborne Division, based in Alaska, on alert. Jasmine Garst, NPR News, Minneapolis.
This is NPR News from Washington. Homebuilders in the U.S.
What are the implications of the Pentagon's troop deployment to Minnesota?
are signaling they're not optimistic about 2026. That's according to a survey from the National Homebuilders Association and Wells Fargo. As NPR's Stephen Basaja reports, builders remain concerned about rising costs and elevated interest rates.
There were signs of a return to optimism among single-family homebuilders at the end of the year. The housing market index saw three straight months of gains, but that's now ended. The index fell two points to 37.
What challenges are U.S. homebuilders facing in 2026?
Anything below 50 means an overall negative outlook. Builders are dealing with rising construction costs and high interest rates. Most of the builders responded before the Trump administration announced new housing policies, like ordering Fannie and Freddie Mac to buy up $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities to lower mortgage rates. The average 30-year mortgage is down. It's just over 6%. But that's still well above COVID-era rates that make many homeowners reluctant to sell.
What is the status of the DOJ investigation into Jerome Powell?
Stephen Passaha, NPR News.
The Justice Department recently announced a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, stemming from $2.5 billion in renovations at Fed headquarters in Washington.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What happened in the recent train accident in Spain?
0:01–1:43
2
How is the EU responding to President Trump's remarks about Greenland?
1:43–3:02
3
What are the implications of the Pentagon's troop deployment to Minnesota?
3:02–3:31
4
What challenges are U.S. homebuilders facing in 2026?
3:31–3:58
5
What is the status of the DOJ investigation into Jerome Powell?
3:58–4:36
6
Which teams are competing in the NFL playoffs this year?
4:36–4:39