NPR News: 01-05-2025 11PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – January 5, 2025

Released on January 6, 2025

---

Terror Attack in New Orleans

[00:18] Dale Willman reports on the tragic New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has identified Shamsuddin Jabbar as the perpetrator, who conducted the attack that resulted in 14 fatalities.

[00:36] Robbie Griffiths provides further insights:

• Jabbar visited New Orleans twice prior to the attack, specifically filming the French Quarter with hands-free smart glasses.
• His travels extended to Cairo, Egypt, and Ontario, Canada, last summer, though connections between these trips and the attack remain unclear.
• The FBI maintains that Jabbar acted alone, despite his ISIS-inspired motives.
• New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell announced the city is enhancing security measures ahead of upcoming events like Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl.

Notable Quote:

"Jabbar, who was inspired by the terrorist group ISIS to drive a truck into revelers in the early hours of New Year's Day, traveled to both Cairo and Ontario from his home in Houston last summer." – Robbie Griffiths [00:36]

---

President Biden's Final Weeks and Legacy Protection

[01:15] Dale Willman introduces the focus on President Joe Biden's strategies to safeguard his legacy as his term concludes amidst the impending transition to President Donald Trump.

[01:24] Mara Liasson elaborates on Biden's actions:

• Implementing legal measures to hinder Trump's ability to dismantle parts of his administration, including plans to fire tens of thousands of civil servants.
• Considering a preemptive pardon for former Representative Liz Cheney, who played a key role in the January 6 investigations, countering Trump's threats to incarcerate her.
• Proposing a permanent ban on oil and gas drilling in federal waters, which would require congressional approval to reverse.
• Informing Congress about an $8 billion weapons sale to Israel, marking another of Biden's final significant decisions.

Notable Quote:

"Biden is trying to Trump-proof his accomplishments." – Mara Liasson [01:24]

---

Impact of the Polar Vortex Across the United States

[02:04] Dale Willman highlights the severe weather conditions caused by a polar vortex affecting the central United States, leading to heavy snowfall, icy roads, and power outages.

[02:23] Sharon Kirschbaum, a transportation official, outlines the city's preparedness:

• Deployment of approximately 250 plows equipped for heavy and light snowfall.
• Initiation of salting and chemical treatments at noon.
• Commitment to continuous snow removal until the storm subsides.

Notable Quote:

"We have about 250 heavy and light plows that are queued up... we're going to work until it's done." – Sharon Kirschbaum [02:23]

---

Congressional Efforts Amidst Severe Weather and New York's Congestion Pricing

[02:38] Dale Willman reports that despite the harsh weather, Congress is proceeding to certify the results of the November presidential election. Concurrently, New York City has launched its new congestion pricing initiative aimed at reducing traffic and improving air quality.

Details on Congestion Pricing:

• Drivers entering downtown Manhattan during peak hours will incur a $9 toll.
• Revenue generated will fund repairs of the city's aging subway system and other public transit infrastructure.

Notable Quote:

"Under the plan, many drivers will pay $9 to drive into the busiest part of the city during peak hours." – Dale Willman [02:38]

---

Tribute to Richard Foreman, Avant-Garde Theater Icon

[03:31] Jeff London mourns the passing of Richard Foreman, a renowned playwright, director, and producer who died at 87 due to pneumonia complications. Foreman was a pivotal figure in the avant-garde off-Broadway scene.

Highlights of Foreman's Career:

• Founded the Ontological Hysteric Theater in 1968, located in New York's East Village.
• Known for innovative productions like "Dream Tantras for Western Massachusetts" and collaborations with composer Stanley Silverman.
• Received a MacArthur Grant at 58 and succeeded in mainstream venues, including a celebrated "Threepenny Opera" at Lincoln Center.

Notable Quote:

"Richard Foreman established his own Company in 1968 called the Ontological Hysteric Theater and located in the East Village." – Jeff London [03:31]

---

Box Office Highlights for Early 2025

[04:18] Dale Willman covers the latest box office standings:

• "Walt Disney's Mufasa" leads with $23.8 million, marking the Lion King prequel's third week.
• "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" holds the second spot after topping the charts for two weeks.
• Other films in the top five include "Nosferatu," "Moana 2," and "Wicked."
• The 2025 box office is experiencing a substantial increase, being 20% higher than the same period last year.

Notable Quote:

"Less than a week into the New Year, the 2025 box office is already up about 20% over the same week last year." – Dale Willman [04:18]

---

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights presented in the January 5, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, providing a comprehensive overview for listeners and non-listeners alike.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor]

This message comes from Noom. Using psychology and biology to build personal meal plans to fit your lifestyle, taking into account dietary restrictions, medical issues and other personal needs. Sign up for your trial [e-mail] live from NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

I'm Dale Willman. The FBI says the man who carried out the New Year's Day terror attack in New Orleans visited the city twice beforehand and and he recorded video of the area he ended up targeting. As NPR's Robbie Griffiths reports, FBI agents also said that he visited Egypt and Canada the year before the attack, which killed 14 people.

[Robbie Griffiths]

In a press conference on Sunday, the FBI said that Shamsuddin Jabbar traveled to New Orleans twice in recent months, filming in the city's French Quarter using hands free smart glasses. Agents also revealed that Jabbar, who was inspired by the terrorist group ISIS to drive a truck into revelers in the early hours of New Year's Day, traveled to both Cairo and Ontario from his home in Houston last summer. It is not yet clear if those trips were connected to the attack. Agents still believe Jabbar, who was killed by police soon after the attack, was acting alone. New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell said the city, which is soon set to host Mardi Gras events and the super bowl, is bringing in experts to assess security. Robbie Griffiths, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Joe Biden only has a few more weeks as president. And as NPR's Mara Liasson reports, he's trying to make it harder for incoming President Donald Trump to overturn his legacy.

[Mara Liasson]

In the of his presidency. Biden is trying to Trump proof his accomplishments. He's created legal roadblocks to Trump's plan to fire tens of thousands of civil servants. And he's reportedly considering a preemptive pardon for former Representative Liz Cheney, who led the investigation into the January 6 attacks. Trump has said he wants to put her in jail. Biden may also place a permanent ban on oil and gas drilling in federal waters. If Trump wanted to reverse that, he'd need congressional approval. And in another final act, Biden has reportedly notified Congress that the US will sell $8 billion of weapons to Israel. Mara Liasson, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

A polar vortex has been pounding the central portion of the US this weekend, bringing heavy snow and ice that's been shutting down highways and cutting off power in some areas. Now that storm is reaching into the Mid Atlantic region. Washington, D.C. is expecting as much as a foot of snow overnight. But transportation official Sharon Kirschbaum, they're ready for us.

[Sharon Kirschbaum]

We have about 250 heavy and light plows that are queued up. Our team started today at noon with all the salting and chemical treatment. And as soon as the snowflakes start, we give it about 2 inches and then we put the plows down and we're going to work until it's done.

[Dale Willman]

Congress, meanwhile, will be braving the weather to meet to certify the presidential election results from last November. New York City's new congestion pricing plan got underway today. That program requires a toll for drivers who enter the center of Manhatt, Manhattan. Under the plan, many drivers will pay $9 to drive into the busiest part of the city during peak hours. It's meant to reduce traffic gridlock and to improve the city's air quality. The money raised through the toll will be used to fix the city's aging subways and other public transit systems. You're listening to NPR News. OB Award winning playwright, director and producer Richard Foreman died on Saturday in New York City of complications from pneumonia. He was 87 years old. As Jeff London reports, Forman was a fixture of the avant garde off Broadway.

[Jeff London]

A theater kid from Scarsdale, New York, and educated at Brown and Yale, Richard Foreman established his own Company in 1968 called the Ontological Hysteric Theater and located in the East Village. He created mini epics on stages frequently bisected by strings and poles with titles like Dream Tantras for Western Massachusetts and My Head Was a Sledgehammer. He frequently collaborated with composer Stanley Silverman, Blueberry Strawberry. At the age of 58, Forman was awarded a MacArthur Grant. He also worked in more mainstream venues, including a well received version of the Threepenny Opera at Lincoln Center. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.

[Dale Willman]

Walt Disney's Mufasa ruled North American box offices this weekend, bringing in $23.8 million for moviegoers. It's the Lion King prequel's third week in movie theaters. Sonic the Hedgehog 3, meanwhile, came in second after having spent the past two weeks in the number one spot. Nosferatu came in third, while Moana 2 and Wicked rounded out the top five in the movie theaters. Less than a week into the New Year, the 2025 box office is already up about 20% over the same week last year. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

[NPR Sponsor]

This message comes from Warby Parker. What makes a great pair of glasses at Warby Parker? It's all the invisible extras without the extra cost, like free adjustments for life. Find your [e-mail] or visit one of their hundreds of stores around the country.