NPR News: 01-06-2025 11PM EST

Summary

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NPR News Now: January 7, 2025, 11 PM EST

Host: Giles Snyder
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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1. President Biden Addresses New Orleans After Tragic Truck Attack

Timeframe: [00:16] – [01:14]

President Joe Biden visited New Orleans to offer his condolences and support to the families affected by last week's tragic truck attack in the French Quarter, which claimed 14 lives. Speaking from St. Louis Church, a location merely blocks away from Bourbon Street where the attack transpired, Biden emphasized national solidarity.

“I am here to grieve with the victims' families, and they should know they are not alone, that the nation is grieving with them. I know New Orleans will bounce back.”
— President Joe Biden [00:36]

During the prayer service, President Biden lit a candle in honor of the victims, underscoring the city's resilience and strength in the face of adversity. Prior to the service, he and First Lady Jill Biden visited a makeshift memorial on Bourbon Street, adorned with flowers and candles, paying their respects and showing unwavering support.

“And if there's one thing we know, New Orleans finds strength and resilience.”
— Arisha Moyes [00:54]

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2. Congressional Certification of Trump's Election Victory Conducted with Heavy Security

Timeframe: [01:14] – [02:17]

The formal certification of President-elect Donald Trump's victory in the November election proceeded smoothly on Monday, overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris. However, heightened security measures were in place due to the traumatic events of four years prior, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol.

Former Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gunnell shared his feelings of betrayal following Trump's reelection and the administration's stance on pardoning January 6th rioters.

“All these elected officials. They don't care about the officers like people like myself that put their lives on the line to protect them.”
— Aquilino Gunnell [01:59]

Gunnell expressed his dismay over lawmakers, whom he defended during the 2021 Capitol attack, now supporting Trump's plan to pardon those convicted for their actions that day.

“Trump has said he would pardon rioters convicted of assaulting police because they were convicted by a, quote, very tough system.”
— Aquilino Gunnell [02:07]

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3. Escalating Drone Attacks in Southern Ukraine Targeting Civilians

Timeframe: [02:17] – [03:13]

In southern Ukraine, particularly in Kherson, local officials report an increase in Russian drone attacks aimed deliberately at civilians. These assaults have intensified since last summer, resulting in hundreds of casualties each month. Disturbingly, some Russian soldiers have openly boasted about these attacks on social media.

NPR's Brian Mann reported that residents like 68-year-old Natalia Savchenko have been direct targets. During an attack, citizens scramble to find any form of shelter.

“When it happens, you look for anywhere to hide. We run under the trees or into a shed or garage. My God, anywhere we could find.”
— Natalia Savchenko [02:32]

Despite the Kremlin's denial of targeting civilians, labeling it a war crime, evidence and testimonies suggest otherwise. Russian soldiers’ social media posts indicate a stark disregard for civilian lives in Kherson.

“Anyone in Kherson is considered fair game.”
— Russian Soldiers (via social media) [02:32]

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4. Severe Winter Storm and Windstorm Threats Across the United States

Timeframe: [03:13] – [04:06]

A powerful winter storm continues to wreak havoc from Missouri to North Carolina and Virginia, causing widespread power outages. The eastern two-thirds of the United States brace for several days of extreme cold due to a polar vortex descending from the Arctic.

Simultaneously, Southern California faces another threat from an impending destructive windstorm. The National Weather Service warns of gusts reaching up to 80 miles per hour in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties starting Tuesday, significantly increasing the risk of wildfires.

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5. Comprehensive Review of Obesity Drugs Reveals Efficacy and Common Side Effects

Timeframe: [04:06] – [04:52]

Obesity treatments remain a focal point in healthcare, with Wegovia and Zepbound leading the market. However, they are not the only options available. Recent research from McGill University in Montreal has conducted a thorough review of 26 randomized controlled trials encompassing 12 different obesity medications, including several yet to receive approval.

Key findings indicate that all reviewed drugs were effective in weight management, though their potency varied. Common side effects included gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. These side effects were generally mild to moderate and tended to subside over time as dosages were adjusted.

“There were no head to head studies of the drugs included in the review, which limited its findings.”
— Arisha Moyes [04:45]

Lead author Arisha Moyes noted the absence of direct comparative studies between the different medications, which somewhat constrains the comprehensive understanding of their relative efficacies and safety profiles.

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Notable Quotes

• President Joe Biden: “I am here to grieve with the victims' families, and they should know they are not alone, that the nation is grieving with them. I know New Orleans will bounce back.” [00:36]

• Arisha Moyes: “And if there's one thing we know, New Orleans finds strength and resilience.” [00:54]

• Aquilino Gunnell: “All these elected officials. They don't care about the officers like people like myself that put their lives on the line to protect them.” [01:59]

• Aquilino Gunnell: “Trump has said he would pardon rioters convicted of assaulting police because they were convicted by a, quote, very tough system.” [02:07]

• Natalia Savchenko: “When it happens, you look for anywhere to hide. We run under the trees or into a shed or garage. My God, anywhere we could find.” [02:32]

• Arisha Moyes: “There were no head to head studies of the drugs included in the review, which limited its findings.” [04:45]

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provided a comprehensive overview of critical events impacting the national and international landscape. From President Biden's heartfelt address in New Orleans, the continued political tensions surrounding the 2024 election certification, the harrowing drone attacks in Ukraine, severe weather threats across the United States, to advancements in obesity treatment—all these stories underscore the multifaceted challenges and resilience characterizing early 2025.

For those unable to listen to the episode, this summary captures the essence of the key discussions, notable insights, and the overarching narratives that shape our current world.

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Transcript

[Advertiser]

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[Giles Snyder]

From NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. President Biden has told New Orleans that it is not alone. Biden spoke Monday evening at a cathedral in the city's historic French Quarter paying tribute to the victims of last week's New Year's truck attack that killed 14 people. Sampir's deepest Shivaram reports.

[Deepa Shivaram]

At St. Louis Church in New Orleans, just blocks from where the Bourbon street attack took place, Biden lit a candle during the prayer service honoring the victims. He said he was here to grieve with the victims families and they should know they're not alone, that the nation is grieving with them. Biden said he knows New Orleans will bounce back.

[Arisha Moyes]

And if there's one thing we know.

[Giles Snyder]

New Orleans defense finds strength and resilience.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Before attending the service, the president and first Lady Jill Biden visited a makeshift memorial adorned with flowers and candles on Bourbon street where the attack took place last week. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News, New Orleans.

[Giles Snyder]

Congress's formal certification of President elect Donald Trump's victory in the November election went off without a hitch Monday. But the reading of the electoral results from the states presided over by Vice President Kamala Harris was conducted under heavy security because of what happened four years ago when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol. NPR's Tom Dreisbach reports. An officer who was assaulted that day says he feels betrayed in the aftermath of Trump's reelection.

[Aquilino Gunnell]

Former Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gunnell was repeatedly assaulted during the Jan. 6 attack. Gannell told NPR he cannot reconcile how lawmakers whom he defended that day can now support Trump's plan to pardon January 6th rioters.

[Giles Snyder]

All these elect officials. They don't care about the officers like people like myself that put their lives on the line to protect them.

[Aquilino Gunnell]

Trump has said he would pardon rioters convicted of assaulting police because they were convicted by a, quote, very tough system. Tom Dreisbach, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

Overseas now to southern Ukraine, where local officials say Russians are using drones to hunt and kill civilians. Some Russian soldiers appear to be bragging about the attacks on social media. As NPR's Brian Mann reports, officials in.

[Brian Mann]

Kherson say attacks that appear to deliberately target civilians escalated last summer and are now a daily occurrence, killing and wounding hundreds of residents in recent months. Natalia Savchenko, who's 68 years old, told NPR she was targeted by a drone. When it happens, you look for anywhere to hide. We run under the trees or into a shed or garage. My God, anywhere we could find. The city of Kherson has been fiercely contested throughout the war. The Kremlin says Russia doesn't target civilians, which would be a war crime. But in social media posts, Russian soldiers warn that anyone in Kherson is considered fair game. Brian Mann, NPR News, Kherson.

[Giles Snyder]

This is NPR News. Power outages from that winter storm that's been dumping snow and ice stretch from Missouri to North Carolina and Virginia. And forecasters say the eastern two thirds of the country will be dealing with several bone chilling days courtesy of the polar vortex that has plunged south from the Arctic. Officials in Southern California are preparing for another round of powerful winds with forecasters warning of what they're calling a life threatening destructive windstorm. The National Weather Service says gusts could reach 80 miles per hour across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties beginning Tuesday, raising the risk for wildfires. Wegovia and Zepbound are the biggest names in obesity drugs right now, but they're not the only game in town. Now new research looks at a range of studies about them to draw some big picture conclusions. Here's NPR's Sidney Lupkin reporting.

[Arisha Moyes]

Researchers at McGill University in Montreal conducted a review of 26 randomized controlled trials of 12 different obesity drugs. These included Wegovy and Zepbound, as well as several new not yet approved drugs. The review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found all the drugs worked, though their potency varied. Lead author Arisha Moyes says common side effects across the board tended to be nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation.

[Advertiser]

It occurred when they were escalating the dose of the drug and they were mild to moderate. And very few of these side effects actually required treatment, discontinuation by the patient, and they seemed to diminish over time.

[Arisha Moyes]

There were no head to head studies of the drugs included in the review, which limited its findings. Sidney Lupkin, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

And I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.

[Advertiser]

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