NPR News: 01-06-2025 10AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – January 6, 2025, 10AM EST

On January 6, 2025, NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on the latest developments shaping the United States and the international landscape. This summary encapsulates the key topics discussed, providing insights into political events, severe weather conditions, economic movements, and noteworthy global interactions.

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Presidential Electoral Certification

Congressional Action on the 2020 Election

In a historic moment reminiscent of January 6, 2021, Congress convened to count the electoral votes and officially certify the 2020 presidential election results favoring Donald Trump. This process marks the first presidential certification since the tumultuous events of 2021 when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol.

Expert Insight on Democratic Processes

Rick Pildis, an election law expert at NYU, emphasized the significance of the day:
“Today will be an extraordinary day for American democracy,” (00:41)

Pildis further highlighted the symbolic importance of the date:
“January 6th is the date, if there is one date at which we witness the peaceful transfer of power,” (00:48)

Vice President Kamala Harris, serving as the president of the Senate, is overseeing the certification despite losing the election. This certification is conducted under new guidelines established in 2022 designed to prevent disruptions in the process. Miles Parks from NPR News provided detailed coverage from Washington.

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Severe Winter Storm Impacts

Storm Conditions Across the Central and Eastern US

A formidable winter storm is wreaking havoc across the central and eastern regions of the United States, with winter storm warnings and advisories in effect from Missouri to New Jersey. The National Weather Service's lead forecaster, Bob Oravec, reported extremely low temperatures and significant snowfall:

“Low temperatures on Monday morning still pretty cold across the middle part of the country, as low as -15 across International Falls, Minnesota,” (01:33)

Oravec added that temperatures east of the Rockies are expected to remain below average for the next two days, while areas west of the Rockies might experience above-average temperatures.

Power Outages and Emergency Responses

The storm has led to widespread power outages, affecting over 112,000 customers in Virginia and nearly 90,000 in Kentucky, as reported by PowerOutage.US. In response to last week's attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, President Biden traveled to the city to offer condolences to affected families. The White House confirmed the president’s visit to mourn the fourteen fatalities and numerous injuries caused by the attack.

Community Support Initiatives

In a show of solidarity, the NFL, along with the New Orleans Saints and team owner Gail Benson, pledged a donation of one million dollars to support the victims of the Bourbon Street attack.

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Economic Developments: US Steel and Market Movements

Legal Battle Over US Steel’s Sale to a Japanese Consortium

US Steel is engaged in a legal struggle to defend its $15 billion sale to a Japanese steelmaker against President Biden’s intervention on national security grounds. Scott Horsley from NPR News detailed the lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, where US Steel and its Japanese partners allege that the president’s actions infringed upon their due process rights and disrupted a fair regulatory review.

“They say the president was trying to curry favor with the steelworkers union, which opposed the deal,” (02:39)

The lawsuit also targets the international president of the steelworkers union and Cleveland Cliffs, a rival steelmaking company, for allegedly attempting to derail the transaction. US Steel remains steadfast in its commitment to uphold the sale.

Stock Market Reaction

Following the legal developments, the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw a significant uptick, rising by 260 points in early trading and eventually up by 280 points, reflecting positive market sentiment amidst the corporate legal battles.

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Canadian Political Landscape

Justin Trudeau’s Political Future Under Scrutiny

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to hold a news conference addressing his political future amidst mounting pressure. Members of the Canadian Liberal Party are observing declining poll numbers, raising concerns about the party’s prospects in upcoming elections after nearly a decade in power. NPR’s coverage highlights the potential shifts in Canada’s political environment and Trudeau’s leadership trajectory.

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Elon Musk’s Controversial Remarks on UK Government

Criticism of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Elon Musk has sparked controversy with his comments targeting the British government, specifically Prime Minister Keir Starmer. In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Musk labeled the UK government as a “tyrannical” ally and accused Starmer of mishandling a longstanding child sex abuse scandal involving convicted British Pakistani men.

“[Keir Starmer] should go to prison,” (04:02) Musk falsely claimed that Starmer failed to prosecute child rapists, despite Starmer’s role as a top prosecutor during the time of the scandal.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Rebuttal

Keir Starmer responded emphatically to Musk’s allegations:
“That are spreading lies and misinformation as far and as wide as possible, they're not interested in victims. They're interested in themselves,” (04:28)

International Repercussions

These statements have raised concerns among Britons regarding potential implications for U.S. policies, especially with Musk anticipated to hold a role in the incoming President Trump administration. Lauren Frayer from NPR News reported from London on the anxieties stirred by Musk’s vitriolic remarks and the subsequent rebuke from the British Prime Minister.

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Vatican Appointment in Washington, D.C.

Cardinal Robert McElroy Named as New Archbishop

In a significant development for the Catholic Church, Pope Francis announced the appointment of Cardinal Robert McElroy from San Diego as the new archbishop for the Washington, D.C. archdiocese. He is set to succeed Cardinal Wilton Gregory, who is retiring. This leadership change marks an important transition within the Church’s hierarchy in the nation’s capital.

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Market Update

Wall Street Performance

Throughout the day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average exhibited robust performance, closing the session up by 300 points. This surge reflects investor confidence amidst ongoing economic and political events, including the legal proceedings involving US Steel and the broader market dynamics.

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Conclusion

The January 6, 2025, episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a detailed overview of pivotal events affecting democracy, weather-related challenges, economic struggles, and international relations. From the solemn certification of electoral votes and the impact of severe winter storms to intricate legal battles in the steel industry and geopolitical tensions stirred by influential figures like Elon Musk, the episode encapsulated a wide array of issues shaping the current landscape.

Transcript

[Korva Coleman]

Okay.

[NPR Host]

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News. I'm Korva Coleman. Congress will meet this afternoon to count electoral votes and officially certify the 2020 election for Donald Trump. As NPR's Miles Parks reports, it's the first presidential certification since 2021, when Trump supporters violently overtook the Capitol.

[Rick Pildis]

Today will be an extraordinary day for American democracy, says Rick Pildis, an election law expert at NYU.

[Election Law Expert]

January 6th is the date, if there is one date at which we witness the peaceful transfer of power.

[Rick Pildis]

As president of the Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris will oversee the electoral certification today for an election she lost. It is the first certification done under new guidelines passed in 2022 that make it more difficult to disrupt the process. Miles Parks, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

A major winter storm is striking parts of the central and eastern US Winter storm warnings and advisories are posted from Missouri to New Jersey. Some areas are getting several inches of snow and blustery winds. National Weather Service lead forecaster Bob Oravec says says temperatures in some areas have been frigid.

[Bob Oravec]

Low temperatures on Monday morning still pretty cold across the middle part of the country, as low as -15 across international or across northern Minnesota International Falls. But generally over the next two days, temperatures east of the Rockies are going to be below average, and then temperatures west of the Rockies will be above average.

[Korva Coleman]

The storm has cut power to many people from Missouri to southern Maryland. The tracking site Poweroutage US says that more than 112,000 customers in Virginia don't have electricity. Almost 90,000 are out in Kentucky. President Biden is going to New Orleans today. The White House says he'll mourn with families who lost loved ones in last week's attack on Bourbon Street. Fourteen people were killed and dozens of others wounded in the attack. Meanwhile, the NFL, the New Orleans Saints and Saints team owner Gail Benson say they're donating a million dollars to support the victims. Stocks opened higher this morning as US Steel goes to court to salvage its sale to a Japanese steel maker. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 260 points in early trading.

[Scott Horsley]

U.S. steel and its Japanese have been pursuing legal remedies after President Biden moved to block the sale on national security grounds. In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington. The companies accused the president of violating their due process rights and interfering with a good F regulatory review. They say the president was trying to curry favor with the steelworkers union, which opposed the deal. U.S. steel is headquartered in the politically important swing state of Pennsylvania. A separate lawsuit targets the international president of the steelworkers union and a rival steelmaking company, Cleveland Cliffs, for trying to scuttle the 15 billion dollar sale. US Steel says it remains committed to defending the transaction. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, the dow is up 280 points. This is NPR. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is holding a news conference later this morning. He's expected to discuss his political future. Trudeau has been under pressure to quit as members of his Canadian Liberal Party track polls that suggest they could lose an election. The Liberal Party has governed Canada for nearly a decade. In a post on X today, Elon Musk called the government of Britain a key U.S. ally, quote, tyrannical. Musk's timeline on X has been filled with vitriol for British politicians in recent days. That's worried Britain's and prompted a rebuke from the prime minister. NPR's Lauren Frayer reports from London.

[Lauren Frayer]

Elon Musk has been fixated on a child sex abuse scandal from about 15 years ago in which gangs of mostly British Pakistani men were convicted of grooming mostly white British girls. The far right seized on this. Musk has falsely accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who was a top prosecutor at the time, failing to go after child rapists, and he wrote that Starmer should go to prison. Asked about this, Starmer told reporters those.

[Keir Starmer]

That are spreading lies and misinformation as far and as wide as possible, they're not interested in victims. They're interested in themselves.

[Lauren Frayer]

Britons are worried about what this row might mean for U.S. policy, with Musk slated for a role in the incoming President Trump's White House. Lauren Fryer, NPR News, London.

[Korva Coleman]

Pope Francis is naming a new archbishop for the Washington, D.C. archdiocese. It's Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego. He would succeed Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory, who is retiring again. On Wall street, The Dow's up 300 points. It's NPR.

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