NPR News: 01-27-2026 6PM EST

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Ryland Barton 0:00
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Minnesota's Democratic Governor Tim Walz says he met with President Trump's border czar Tom Homan today at the state capitol. The two met after Trump pulled Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino from the state. Minnesota Public Radio's Clay Masters reports.
Clay Masters 0:18
Governor Tim Walz's office confirms the Democrat met with Tom Homan in his Capitol office. Walz reiterated his call for impartial investigations into the fatal shootings of Alex Preti and Renee Macklin-Good in Minneapolis by federal agents. The governor's office says he also asked for a swift and significant reduction in the number of federal forces in Minnesota. The governor's office says the two agreed on the need for an ongoing dialogue, and they'll continue working toward the goals that President Trump agreed to in a phone call Monday with Walls. Trump told reporters at the White House the meeting went well. For NPR News, I'm Clay Masters in St. Paul.
Ryland Barton 0:55
Texas's Republican Governor Greg Abbott says he wants all state agencies and universities to freeze new visa applications for skilled foreign workers. Texas newsroom's Blaise Ganey reports the move comes after recent reports of abuse in the H-1B visa program.
Blaise Gainey 1:10
Abbott has told agency heads across the state to make sure U.S. workers are being recruited before foreign labor is sought out. This is a response to a federal proclamation restricting the entry of certain non-immigrant workers. The belief is that U.S. workers are being overlooked in the hiring process and even fired at a large rate so employers can hire foreign workers who are often paid less. The freeze is to remain in place until the end of the next state legislative session in 2027. Abbott will also be asking that any new and renewal H-1B visas submitted in 2025 be reviewed, as well as documentation showing the efforts made to hire Texas candidates for each position held by a visa holder. For NPR News, I'm Blaise Gainey in Austin.
Ryland Barton 1:52
TikTok has agreed to settle a lawsuit over claims its app is harmful to children. NPR's Shannon Bond reports Meta and Google's YouTube still face a jury trial that started today in Los Angeles.
Shannon Bond 2:04
The case is among a wave of lawsuits accusing social media companies of deliberately hooking kids on their apps, leading to mental health problems. The plaintiff's lawyer told NPR, Another defendant, Snapchat, reached its own undisclosed settlement last week. The outcome of a few trials, including the one in L.A., could help open the door to a wider settlement, with more than 1,000 individuals, school districts, and state attorneys general suing the tech companies in state and federal court. Shannon Bond, NPR News.
Ryland Barton 2:38
A new influx of Arctic air is expected to spur freezing temperatures in parts of the South already covered in snow and ice. Many people are fleeing to warming shelters and crews work to restore power after last weekend's storm. At least 42 deaths have been reported. Parts of the country from Texas through western Pennsylvania are under extreme cold warnings. This is NPR News. The Federal Reserve's rate-setting committee is set to meet tomorrow. It's almost certain to keep its key short-term rate unchanged at about 3.6 percent, despite President Trump's wishes for further cuts. The meeting will be overshadowed by the bombshell revelation earlier this month that the Justice Department has subpoenaed the head of the nation's central bank as part of a criminal investigation.
Ryland Barton 3:22
It's the first time a sitting Fed chair has been investigated. The American Library Association has announced the 2026 Caldecott and Newbery winners, the annual awards for children's and young adult literature. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has the details.
Elizabeth Blair 3:35
All the Blues in the Sky by Renee Watson has won the John Newbery Medal. Watson's middle grade novel, written in verse, tells the story of a 13-year-old girl who is grieving the sudden death of her best friend. The Randolph Caldecott Medal for American Picture Book is Fireworks, illustrated by Katya Chen and written by Matthew Burgess.

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