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NPR News Now

NPR News: 01-28-2026 9PM EST

29 Jan 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

0.031 - 10.287 Ira Glass

This is Ira Glass. On This American Life, one thing we like is a good mystery. Sometimes about really big things, but most times, the little mysteries are the best.

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10.587 - 16.717 Unknown

Our lost and found is currently filled with pants. I don't know, I've never seen this happen. This is true?

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16.757 - 23.828 Steve Kastenbaum

This is true. Mysteries of every size, each week. This American Life, wherever you get your podcasts.

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24.668 - 39.162 Ryland Barton

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Another winter storm is headed for the eastern U.S., and NPR's Debbie Elliott reports frigid temperatures persist in the south. as the region tries to dig out of last weekend's snow and ice storm.

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39.262 - 60.328 Unknown

The National Weather Service says the next blast of Arctic air coming Friday could result in the longest duration of bitter cold in several decades. A freeze warning will dip down into Florida. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves says that complicates recovery efforts. It's going to be brutally cold again in the state of Mississippi, and so

60.578 - 83.18 Unknown

That creates a large number of other challenges, particularly for those who have not yet gotten power back, particularly for those whose water systems are not back operating and functioning exactly the way they need to. The University of Mississippi says its campus in Oxford will remain closed for a second week. Debbie Elliott, NPR News.

83.48 - 93.911 Ryland Barton

The government has announced the next batch of drugs that will get their prices negotiated in Medicare. They include Trulicity for type 2 diabetes, as well as drugs for HIV, cancer, and migraines.

94.151 - 114.335 Sydney Lepkin

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will negotiate the prices of 15 more drugs. This is the third batch the program will negotiate since gaining this ability as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. It will also renegotiate the Medicare price of type 2 diabetes pill, Tragenta, which was part of the second round of negotiations completed last year.

Chapter 2: What are the latest updates on the winter storm affecting the eastern U.S.?

114.355 - 136.435 Sydney Lepkin

The law lays out which drugs are eligible for selection in this process. Criteria include being on the market a number of years, not having generic or biosimilar competition, and being among drugs Medicare spends the most money on. Negotiation will take place this summer and fall and prices will go into effect in 2028. Sydney Lepkin, NPR News.

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136.695 - 147.709 Ryland Barton

New York City is facing its largest fiscal crisis since the Great Recession, a projected budget shortfall of $12 billion. Steve Kestenbaum says the new mayor announced his proposed fix today.

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148.05 - 159.464 Ira Glass

Mayor Zoran Mamdani blamed the huge shortfall on his predecessor in City Hall. While we did not create this crisis, we will solve it. To plug the gap, he wants to follow through on a campaign promise.

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159.865 - 164.11 Howard Berkus

The time has come to tax the richest New Yorkers and most profitable corporations.

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164.275 - 188.258 Ira Glass

To do that, he'll need the support of Governor Kathy Hochul at a time when she's walking a political tightrope in her re-election campaign, balancing pressure from her party's progressive wing while appealing to moderate voters. Democrats are reluctant to raise taxes at a time when they hope to win back some Republican-held congressional seats here. For NPR News, I'm Steve Kastenbaum in New York.

188.238 - 210.4 Ryland Barton

The 2026 tax filing season is likely to face significant challenges due to IRS workforce reductions and complex tax law changes. The IRS has seen a 27% reduction in staff since the start of President Trump's second administration. This is NPR News. Iran is reaching out to Middle Eastern countries over the threat of a possible U.S. military strike.

210.781 - 228.287 Ryland Barton

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have signaled they won't allow their airspace to be used for any attack. The U.S. has moved an aircraft carrier into the region, and President Trump has urged Iran to negotiate. Today marks 40 years since the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger that killed seven astronauts.

228.628 - 233.702 Ryland Barton

Howard Berkus was part of an NPR investigation of the decision to launch during freezing weather.

233.783 - 258.272 Howard Berkus

The booster rocket engineers from NASA contractor Morton Thiokol argued for hours the night before the launch that the freezing temperatures could doom the spacecraft. Former Thiokol engineer Brian Russell remembers NASA officials wanting proof of a potential rocket failure. It's impossible to prove that it's unsafe. What we were saying was we're increasing the risk significantly.

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