NPR News: 01-03-2025 12PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 3, 2025, 12 PM EST

On January 3, 2025, NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on significant national and international events. The episode covered the political landscape in the U.S. House of Representatives, the religious composition of Congress, President Biden's economic decisions, recent incidents both domestically and abroad, Wall Street's performance, and airline punctuality statistics. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics discussed.

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1. Election of the Speaker of the House

Timestamp: [00:24] – [00:56]

The House of Representatives for the 119th Congress convened, initiating the process to elect a new Speaker. Louise Schiavone reported that the session began orderly, with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson leading the proceedings. Johnson, endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump, expressed confidence in securing his position.

Speaker Mike Johnson stated at [00:56], "This election is not just about one person. It's about moving forward with the America First agenda. The mandate was given by the American people, by the electorate. President Trump got 77 million votes. The House Republicans got almost 75 million. It's a record number. They are expecting us to get to work."

Despite the Republican majority (219 Republicans to 215 Democrats), Johnson acknowledged the challenges ahead in maintaining party cohesion and advancing their legislative priorities.

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2. Religious Demographics of Congress

Timestamp: [01:09] – [02:08]

Jason DeRose provided an analysis of the religious affiliations within Congress compared to the general U.S. population. He highlighted that approximately 87% of Congress identifies as Christian, significantly higher than the 62% of Americans who identify similarly, according to Pew Research.

DeRose noted, "Members of Congress are far more likely than the population in general to identify as religious. Nearly 3 in 10 Americans say they're either atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular, while less than 1% of the House and Senate identify that way."

He also pointed out the representation of minority religions in Congress:

• Jews constitute 6% of Congress versus 2% of the U.S. population.
• Muslims and Hindus each make up less than 1% of the incoming Congress.

This demographic analysis underscores the differing religious landscape between elected officials and the broader American populace.

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3. President Biden Blocks Nippon Steel Deal

Timestamp: [02:08] – [03:17]

Franco Ordonez reported on President Biden's significant decision to block a nearly $15 billion acquisition of U.S. steel by Nippon Steel of Japan. Citing national security concerns, Biden emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong domestic steel industry.

In his statement, Biden remarked, "Steel production and the steel workers who produce it are the backbone of our nation, and without them, the nation is less strong and less secure." He aligned his stance with that of union workers, advocating for the company to remain under U.S. ownership.

Ordonez added, "The proposed deal turned into a hot political issue. Biden took the unusual step to weigh in on the deal. He sided with union workers and said the company should remain in US hands." This move aligns with statements from President-elect Donald Trump, who also expressed intentions to block the sale, highlighting a bipartisan concern over foreign acquisition of key industries.

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4. Recent Incidents and International Developments

a. Plane Crash in Southern California

Timestamp: [03:17] – [04:00]

A tragic incident occurred in Southern California where a small plane crashed into the roof of a large furniture manufacturing building. According to Louise Schiavone, two individuals on the plane lost their lives, and several people inside the building sustained injuries. Federal regulators are currently investigating the cause of the crash.

b. Attempted Arrest of South Korean President Yoon Song Yawl

Timestamp: [04:00] – [04:37]

Anthony Kuhn reported on the failed attempt to arrest South Korea's impeached President Yoon Song Yawl. Around 150 police and investigators attempted to execute an arrest warrant at Yoon's residence on Friday morning. The attempt faced significant resistance from Yoon's security team, who cited the presence of military secrets within the premises as a barrier.

Kuhn detailed, "A crowd of Yoon supporters rallied outside. The investigators got past a military unit guarding the residents, but Yoon's security detail wouldn't let them in on the grounds that there were military secrets inside." The six-hour standoff concluded without success, and the arrest warrant remains valid until Monday. This event marks a historic moment as no sitting South Korean president has ever been arrested, raising discussions about the nation's legal and political protocols.

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5. Wall Street Update

Timestamp: [03:17] – [04:00]

The stock market showed resilience with the Dow Jones Industrial Average increasing by 260 points at the last check. This positive movement reflects investor confidence amidst ongoing political and economic developments.

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6. Airline On-Time Performance

Timestamp: [04:37] – [05:03]

In aviation news, Aeromexico was highlighted as the most punctual airline globally for 2024, achieving an 87% on-time arrival rate according to data from Cirium. Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) and Delta Airlines from Atlanta followed closely in on-time performance metrics.

Despite a significant computer malfunction last summer that resulted in thousands of flight cancellations, Delta Airlines maintained a strong record, outperforming other U.S. carriers. This accomplishment underscores Delta's operational efficiency and commitment to reliability in the aviation sector.

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This episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a thorough overview of pivotal events shaping both national and international landscapes, offering insights into political dynamics, economic decisions, and societal issues.

Transcript

[NPR Host]

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[Louise Schiavone]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. The House of Representatives of the 119th Congress been gaveled into order.

[Speaker of the House]

The House will be in order.

[Louise Schiavone]

The chair lays before the House, a communication from the speaker. With that, lawmakers went into recess to return at this hour and take up the matter of electing this session. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has the endorsement of President Elect Trump as he heads into elections for speaker and he says he's confident he will hold on to the gavel.

[Speaker of the House]

This election is not just about one person. It's about moving forward with the America first agenda. The the mandate was given by the American people, by the electorate. President Trump got 77 million votes. The House Republicans got almost 75 million. It's a record number. They are expecting us to get to work.

[Louise Schiavone]

With the margins tied in Congress 219 Republicans to 215 Democrats, the challenge is significant. Data points. While they still make up an overwhelming majority, the number of congressional members who identify themselves as Christian has declined. NPR's Jason Deros takes this Christians comprise.

[Jason DeRose]

About 87% of this Congress, a higher portion than the U.S. population. Pew Research says about 62% of Americans overall identify as Christian. Members of Congress are far more likely than the population in general to identify as religious. Nearly 3 in 10Americans say they're either atheist, agnostic or nothing in particular, While less than 1% of the house and Senate identify that way. Other data points, Jews will make up 6% of Congress while being only about 2% of the US population. Muslims and Hindus, meanwhile, will each account for less than 1% of the incoming Congress. Jason DeRose, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

The White House says President Biden will travel to New Orleans on Monday to meet with people affected by the New Year's Day attack in the city that killed 14 people. Biden says that he will meet with the community and meet with officials on the ground. President Biden has formally blocked a nearly $15 billion deal for Nippon Steel of Japan to purchase U.S. steel. As NPR's Franco Ordonez reports, Biden says it is his responsibility to ensure America has a strong steel industry.

[Franco Ordonez]

In one of his final major acts as president, Biden rejected the takeover deal of the Pennsylvania based company over national security concerns. He wrote in a statement that steel production and the steel workers who produce it are the backbone of our nation, and without them, the nation is less strong and less secure. The proposed deal turned into a hot political issue. Biden took the unusual step to weigh in on the deal. He sided with union workers and said the company should remain in US Hands. President elect Donald Trump has also said he would block the sale. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

Wall street. At last checked, the dow is up 260 points. This is NPR News. Police in Southern California say two people died yesterday in an afternoon crash of a small plane into the roof of a sprawling furniture manufacturing building. The dead were believed to have been on the plane. Several people inside the building were injured. Federal regulators are investigating. In South Korea, investigators and police tried and failed to arrest impeached South Korean President Yoon Song Yawl today. They were blocked by Yoon's security detail. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports. Yoon is accused of insurrection stemming from his botched call for martial law one month ago.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Around 150 police and investigators tried to execute an arrest warrant at Yoon's residence. Friday morning. A crowd of Yoon supporters rallied outside. The investigators got past a military unit guarding the residents, but Yoon's security detail wouldn't let them in on the grounds that there were military secrets inside. Both sides accused the other side of obstructing justice and abusing their powers. There's no precedent to go by as no sitting South Korean president has ever been arrested. Investigators left after a six hour long standoff and will consider their next move. The arrest warrant is valid until Monday. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.

[Louise Schiavone]

The most on time airline in the world is Aeromexico. According to data company Cirium. In 2024, 87% of Aeromexico's flights arrived on time, just behind Aeromexico for on time performance. Saudi Arabian Airlines, Saudia and Atlanta based Delta Airlines. A computer snafu last summer caused thousands of flight cancellations, but Delta still outperformed other U.S. airlines. This is NPR.

[Franco Ordonez]

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