Summary of U.S. Preparing for Winter Storm; Trump's Use of Military; U.S Consumer Spending

Overview of Up First (U.S. Preparing for Winter Storm; Trump's Use of Military; U.S. Consumer Spending)

This episode of NPR’s Up First (hosts: Scott Simon and Aisha Roscoe; aired Jan. 24, 2026) covers three main stories: a large winter storm threatening broad swaths of the U.S.; how President Trump is employing U.S. military forces at home and abroad and questions about legal and institutional limits; and the paradox of high consumer spending despite growing public unease about the economy. The reporting combines on-the-ground reporting from Tulsa, Oklahoma, interviews with national security reporters, and economic analysis based on receipts and expert commentary.

Winter storm — scope, impacts, and safety guidance

• What’s happening

  • A powerful winter storm is forecast to affect over 200 million Americans (more than half the U.S. population), stretching from New Mexico to the Northeast.
  • At least 16 states declared emergencies ahead of heavy snow, ice accumulation and extreme cold.
  • Forecasts called for more than a foot of snow in corridors from Oklahoma City to New York City and single-digit lows in some places (e.g., Tulsa).

• Impacts already observed or expected

  • Tens of thousands of power outages (especially in Texas), with outages expected to spread into the Carolinas and Virginia and some lasting a week or more.
  • Major school closures (from El Paso to Philadelphia) and road conditions expected to be hazardous for days; historic local comparisons cited (e.g., significant storms in 2007 and 15 years ago in Tulsa).
  • Power line damage from ice accumulation and falling trees; strain on utility crews and long restoration timelines.

• Safety advice reported

  • Stock up on essentials but avoid unnecessary travel; “stay off the streets.”
  • Generator safety: never run a generator indoors or in an attached garage; place it away from windows and doors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Indoor fire risk: use space heaters and candles cautiously to avoid fires.
  • Expect road pretreatment but also impassable stretches; clearing large storms can take days to weeks.

Trump’s use of the military — domestic deployments, overseas posture, and institutional questions

• Domestic deployments

  • Large National Guard presence in Washington, D.C. (over 2,000 troops) extended through 2026; Guard forces also used in cities such as Memphis and New Orleans.
  • Active-duty troops placed on pre-deployment orders and on standby (units mentioned from Colorado, Alaska, Fort Bragg) in case of use in places like Minneapolis.
  • Legal limits have blocked attempts to send out‑of‑state Guard units to some states (courts intervened for Oregon and Illinois).

• Overseas posture and operations

  • The president said he’s ruled out buying Greenland and indicated a framework for Arctic engagement; he also told reporters he’d sent a naval tasking toward Iran amid concerns about potential action.
  • Coverage described U.S. maritime operations around Venezuela (boardings of tankers/boats) and military raids/targeted actions as examples of a preference for focused missions rather than open-ended nation‑building.

• Institutional, legal, and ethical questions

  • Reporters note growing concern inside and outside the Pentagon about the erosion of safeguards:
    • Allegations that staff focused on civilian-harm mitigation and legal advice to targeters has been reduced or removed.
    • High-profile resignations and firings of senior officers have raised worries about command climate and free expression among military leaders.
    • Reduced Pentagon briefings and fewer backgroundings mean less public transparency about operations.
  • Legal debates: DOJ has argued some maritime strikes/boardings are lawful on drug-trafficking grounds; critics, some members of Congress, and former officials disputed that legal rationale.
  • Overall pattern described: willingness to use military capabilities for targeted strikes and domestic deployments, coupled with reluctance to commit to large-scale, long-term ground operations or “nation-building.”

• Note on reporting accuracy

  • The transcript contains a claim that U.S. forces “seized President Maduro.” That assertion is not consistent with public reporting; the episode’s coverage centers on U.S. maritime operations, tanker boardings, and legal questions around those actions—not a verified capture of Venezuela’s president.

U.S. consumer spending — uneasy confidence and distributional pressure

• The paradox

  • Polls (University of Michigan cited) show Americans feel worse about the economy than a year ago, worried about cost of living, but aggregate consumer spending remains strong.
  • NPR ran receipts and interviews showing spending rose during fall—even through a government shutdown period when sentiment was low.

• Who’s spending and how

  • Spending growth includes necessities (food, rent) and discretionary categories (recreation); however, growth is uneven.
  • Wealthier households are driving much of the spending rebound. Analysts cited that the top 10% of households account for nearly half of overall spending, so their resilience can mask struggles lower down the income ladder.

• Strains and signs of stress

  • Some households are drawing on savings or using credit: spending in October–November rose faster than incomes.
  • Procter & Gamble reported shoppers are trading down on everyday items (e.g., cheaper detergents, less premium toilet paper).
  • Two-speed economy: middle/upper‑income consumers keep sectors (restaurants, car sales) buoyant while lower-income families show pullbacks.

• Possible (limited) relief

  • More generous tax refunds and modest take‑home pay increases from tax changes could help some lower-income families, but analysts warn most benefits of recent tax cuts accrue to higher-income households.

Key takeaways

• The winter storm is large and dangerous: prepare, heed local emergency declarations, and follow generator and heating safety guidance.
• The Trump administration is using military options both domestically and abroad in targeted ways, raising debates about legality, transparency and the erosion of internal guardrails within the Pentagon.
• U.S. consumer spending remains a key growth engine, but it is increasingly driven by high‑income households; many lower‑income families are feeling squeezed and showing early signs of cutbacks or financial strain.

Notable details / production notes

• Hosts: Scott Simon and Aisha Roscoe. Reporting included NPR’s Frank Morris (Tulsa) and Scott Horsley (economy), with national security reporting by Tom Bowman and Quil Lawrence.
• Episode date: Saturday, January 24, 2026.
• Producer and staff credits were listed in the episode.

Practical actions for listeners

• Storm preparedness: follow local emergency orders, stock essential supplies, avoid travel unless necessary, follow generator/space heater safety.
• For civic awareness: track official briefings and reputable reporting for clarity on military actions and legal debates; expect limited transparency and check multiple sources.
• Household finances: monitor budgets, avoid overreliance on credit/savings for persistent shortfalls, and watch for swaps to cheaper brands as early signs of stress.