PBS News Hour full episode, Jan. 23, 2026

A 'monster' winter storm is spanning over 2,000 miles, from Texas to New England, affecting more than two dozen states. It is bringing freezing rain, ice, and snow, with wind chills dropping to -40 to -50 degrees in some areas. This severe weather is expected to cause dangerous travel conditions, thousands of flight cancellations, widespread power outages due to strained electric grids, and serious risks of hypothermia, prompting at least a dozen states to declare weather emergencies.

More than half of the nation is bracing for what's expected to be an historic weekend winter storm, one posing dangerous travel conditions, thousands of canceled flights, likely power outages and serious risks of hypothermia. (02:28) Between now and Monday, the storm will span more than 2,000 miles from Texas to New England, pummeling more than two dozen states along the way with a combination of freezing rain, ice and snow. (02:41)

Federal ICE operations in the Twin Cities have escalated, leading to thousands protesting 'a siege' by federal agents. The operations have caused small businesses to strike in sympathy, and schools to close. Superintendent Zena Stenvik reported ICE agents driving around schools, circling them, and following buses, creating an environment of fear for both documented and undocumented residents. A 5-year-old boy, Liam, was detained and flown to a Texas detention center, despite community members offering to care for him, directly contradicting official claims of family abandonment.

Thousands of people braved bone-chilling temperatures this afternoon for a rally in downtown Minneapolis, protesting what they call a siege of the Twin Cities by federal agents. (11:24) There are very many ICE agents right now in our community. They are driving around our schools, circling our schools. They are at our bus stops, following our buses. (21:20) My understanding is that there were bystanders, community members, school officials, and another adult who actually lives in the home asking to keep Liam... and that they -- that didn't happen. (15:51)

The Trump administration finalized a deal allowing TikTok to operate in the U.S., with Oracle housing American user data and a majority-American board. However, national security experts like Michael Sobolik argue the deal is a 'unilateral surrender to Beijing,' as ByteDance, the Chinese parent company, retains control over the crucial algorithm. Critics point to past instances of ByteDance requesting U.S. user data outside normal channels, even under Oracle's watch, and the app's alleged boosting of pro-Hamas content, indicating continued potential for content manipulation and data exploitation.

TikTok U.S. board of directors will be majority American. And the largest investors are Oracle, the Emirati firm MGX, and the American firm Silver Lake, each of which owns 15 percent. ByteDance retains 19.9 percent. (23:35) Michael Sobolik, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute: It's unilateral surrender to Beijing. (24:06) The real concern here isn't the data that it's being trained on. It's what the algorithm is emphasizing or censoring. And Beijing is going to be the one that retains control over those decisions. (24:21)

President Trump's rhetoric and actions at the Davos World Economic Forum, including his comments on NATO and the withdrawal of an invitation to Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney from his 'Board of Peace,' are interpreted by analysts David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart as a 'final break' in the post-war international order. European leaders are reportedly rethinking global architecture, believing the U.S. is now four years away from another unpredictable administration. This shift is seen as 'governing by pure rancor,' potentially leading to increased global instability and bloodshed, as the U.S. moves away from traditional alliances and rule-of-law principles.

DAVID BROOKS: The serious explanation is that this, I think, was probably the final break in the postwar international order... they say, you might elect a sane person in 2028, but you're always four years away from another one of these. (27:49) JONATHAN CAPEHART: I think the allies, particularly with Greenland, they understood what was happening. And I think, to David's point, this was the break. (29:06) DAVID BROOKS: Yes, well, it's governing by pure rancor. (31:30)

Measles cases have surged dramatically, with 416 confirmed cases in the first three weeks of the current year, following a spike to 2,240 cases last year. Epidemiologist Caitlin Rivers attributes this to declining vaccination rates, especially accelerated during COVID-19. Unvaccinated individuals are most vulnerable, comprising 94% of cases. The U.S. is on track to lose its measles elimination status, a sign of public health system failure. The U.S.'s official withdrawal from the World Health Organization is expected to further reduce its preparedness for epidemics and pandemics by severing crucial information and support ties.

In 2023, there were just 63 cases. That number quadruples by 2024 to more than 280 cases, then, last year, a huge spike, 2,240 cases. We're only three weeks into this new year, and already 416 cases have been confirmed. (39:19) DR. CAITLIN RIVERS: People who are unvaccinated are by far the most vulnerable. Around 94 percent of cases found last year were in people who were unvaccinated. (40:46) DR. CAITLIN RIVERS: Measles is probably not top of the list of places where we will see the impact of our withdrawal from the World Health Organization. But, regardless, it's clear that that is a move that will reduce the United States is preparedness for epidemics and pandemics. (45:00)