NPR News: 01-31-2026 3AM EST
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News in Washington, D.C., I'm Dale Willman.
What is the current status of the federal government shutdown?
The federal government is under yet another partial shutdown this weekend. The Senate Friday voted to fund most of the government through September. It also carved out a short-term extension for Homeland Security funding. It gives Congress an additional two weeks to debate that funding. But the House must now vote on the measures, and they're not in session. House Speaker Mike Johnson says they won't be able to vote until at least Monday. Yeah. It may not be possible.
We have a rule of a 72-hour notice for a return, and I can try to truncate that, but I've got people literally spread around the world right now, and we have a snowstorm.
The Justice Department released more than three million pages tied to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday. As NPR's Kerry Johnson reports, the new videos and photos are emerging weeks after a deadline from Congress had passed.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch says more than 500 lawyers and other Justice Department staff worked through weekends and holidays to comply with the mandate from Congress. He says the reviewers had to examine the equivalent of two Eiffel Towers of pages to decide what materials to release. The Justice Department continues to withhold papers that depict violence or involve attorney-client privilege. DOJ says some of the material contains sensational and false claims that about President Trump. On the campaign trail, Trump promised to release the Epstein files. Once in office, he fought efforts in Congress to press for their full release. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.
This week, the dollar fell to its lowest level in four years compared to other major currencies. That drop is raising some concerns about the U.S. currency. But as NPR's Rafael Nam reports, President Trump thinks a weaker dollar is great. The U.S.
has traditionally wanted a strong dollar. But when Trump was asked by a reporter this week about the currency, he had a different take.
I think it's great. I mean, the value of the dollar. Look at the business we're doing. No, the dollar's doing great.
In other words, Trump doesn't mind the dollar's decline. There are benefits to a weaker dollar. It makes U.S. exports a little cheaper. And it's good for tourism. Visitors can get more dollars back when they exchange their currencies. But there are also disadvantages.
What new information has emerged from the Jeffrey Epstein case?
It can make some stuff imported from overseas more expensive. And that bucket list trip to Paris becomes more expensive for Americans. So yes, there are benefits to a weaker dollar. But there can also be a bit of pain. Rafael Nam, NPR News.
Israel says it will reopen Gaza's border crossing with Egypt over the weekend. If that happens, it would allow Palestinians to enter and leave the territory. The enclave has been almost completely closed for the past two years. Israeli officials say, though, that aid will not be allowed through the crossing. Stocks closed down on Friday. The Dow was down 179 points, while the Nasdaq was down 223 points. This is NPR News. Another major storm is expected to hit parts of the eastern U.S. this weekend. Arctic air will bring frigid temperatures to the southeast, while the east coast will be hit with high winds, snow and some flooding. Canadian-American actress Catherine O'Hara has died at her home in Los Angeles.
She was 71 years old. O'Hara was known for her absurdist comic characters. NPR's Mondelez del Barco has this remembrance.
Catherine O'Hara played the freaked-out mom of a rascally son in the Home Alone movies. She also played the self-centered, whiny matriarch in the riches-to-rags TV sitcom with the rascally name Schitt's Creek.
Taking your picture with a motley crew of pale, dewy-faced salamander people. I haven't hit rock bottom quite yet.
O'Hara won awards for that role, teaming up with her longtime friend and fellow Canadian Eugene Levy. They first collaborated in the 1970s and 80s on the sketch comedy show SCTV, which she also wrote for. O'Hara and Levy also paired up in several mockumentaries, including Best in Show and A Mighty Wind.
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