NPR News: 01-06-2025 12PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 6, 2025, 12 PM EST

On this episode of NPR News Now, listeners are brought up to speed with the latest developments in American politics, international leadership changes, severe weather impacts, entertainment achievements, public health concerns, and significant economic news. Here's a comprehensive summary of the key discussions and insights covered in the broadcast.

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1. Presidential Election Certification

Timeframe: 00:25 - 01:05

Overview: Congress is set to convene for a joint session to officially certify Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 presidential election. This certification process, a constitutional requirement, follows a turbulent four-year period marked by the January 6th insurrection, where Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol to contest then-President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

Key Highlights:

• Rick Pildis, an election law expert at NYU, emphasizes the significance of the day: “Today will be an extraordinary day for American democracy” [00:50].
• Vice President Kamala Harris, serving as the President of the Senate, is tasked with overseeing the electoral certification. This marks her role in certifying an election outcome that was not in her favor, a first under the newly implemented 2022 guidelines designed to fortify the process against disruptions [01:05].

Notable Quote:

"January 6th is the date, if there is one date, at which we witness the peaceful transfer of power." – Kamala Harris [00:56]

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2. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Step Down

Timeframe: 01:22

Overview: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his decision to resign, citing the selection of a new leader by the Liberal Party as the catalyst for concluding his leadership tenure. Trudeau made this announcement outside his official residence, signaling a significant transition in Canadian politics.

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3. Severe Winter Storm Hits the East Coast

Timeframe: 01:22 - 01:50

Overview: A formidable winter storm is wreaking havoc across the East Coast, bringing blizzard conditions that are severely disrupting daily life. Joel Rose reports extensive travel delays, infrastructure damage, and power outages affecting millions.

Key Highlights:

• Transportation Disruptions: Thousands of flights, particularly around Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, have been canceled or delayed. Amtrak has also canceled dozens of trains on the Northeast Corridor.
• Road Conditions: In Kansas, over 1,000 vehicles are stranded on interstates due to heavy snowfall, with Kansas City International Airport recording a record-breaking 11 inches of snow.
• Power Outages: The storm has left hundreds of thousands without electricity from Missouri to Virginia, illustrating the widespread impact of the weather system.

Notable Quote:

“Heavy snow and plunging temperatures are creating dangerous travel conditions from the Great Plains to the East Coast.” – Joel Rose [01:50]

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4. Demi Moore's Triumph at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards

Timeframe: 02:28 - 02:51

Overview: At the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, actress Demi Moore secured her first-ever award, winning Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her role in the film "The Substance." The movie explores the journey of a 50-year-old actress who, after facing unemployment, turns to a drug that enhances her persona.

Key Highlights:

• Acceptance Speech: Moore reflected on personal growth and self-worth, attributing her success to embracing her inherent value rather than external validation.

Notable Quote:

“You will never be enough, but you can know the value of your worth if you just put down the measuring stick. And so today I celebrate this as a marker of my wholeness and of the love that is driving me and for the gift of doing something I love.” – Kamala Harris [02:51]

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5. Stock Market Updates

Timeframe: 03:10

Overview: The U.S. stock markets showed positive movement, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by 353 points (over 0.75%), the Nasdaq up by 1.7%, and the S&P 500 increasing by 1.2%. This uptick comes amidst various economic and political developments discussed in the episode.

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6. Norovirus Outbreaks Surge Across the United States

Timeframe: 03:10 - 04:20

Overview: There is a noticeable rise in norovirus outbreaks nationwide, attributed to increased holiday travel and inadequate hand hygiene practices. Yuki Noguchi delves into the challenges posed by this highly contagious gastrointestinal illness.

Key Highlights:

• Transmission Factors: Norovirus spreads through contaminated fresh produce, unwashed hands, and surfaces like kitchen counters. Its resilience makes it particularly challenging to control in close-quarter environments such as hospitals, daycares, kitchens, and long-term care facilities.
• Prevention Measures: Frequent handwashing with soap and water is recommended, as hand sanitizers are often ineffective against the virus. Additionally, individuals afflicted by norovirus are advised to abstain from caregiving and food preparation for at least 48 hours after symptoms subside to curb further transmission.

Notable Quote:

“Norovirus is a gastrointestinal illness and is the most common cause of diarrhea and vomiting.” – Yuki Noguchi [03:34]

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7. US Steel and Nupon Steel Legal Battle Over Merger

Timeframe: 04:20 - 05:03

Overview: U.S. Steel and Japan's Nupon Steel have initiated legal action against the federal government for obstructing their $14 billion merger. Additionally, they are suing rival steelmaker Cleveland Cliffs and the president of the steelworkers union for attempts to derail the consolidation.

Key Highlights:

• Government Intervention: President Biden issued an executive order last Friday to block the takeover, citing national security concerns and emphasizing the necessity of keeping U.S. steel production under domestic control.
• Political Stance: President-elect Donald Trump, who is poised to assume office in the coming weeks, also opposes the merger, aligning with U.S. Steel's position.
• Market Reaction: Despite the ongoing legal disputes, major stock indices are performing well, with the Nasdaq up by 1.7%, the S&P 500 by 1.2%, and the Dow Jones surpassing a 0.75% increase.

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This episode of NPR News Now encapsulates significant moments shaping both national and international landscapes, highlighting the intricate interplay between politics, weather, health, entertainment, and economics.

Transcript

[NPR Host]

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. In one hour, Congress gathers for a joint session to finalize President elect Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 election. The constitutional process of certifying the vote takes place four years after many Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol to stop the count to certify then President elect Joe Biden.

[Rick Pildis]

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

[Kamala Harris]

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.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his intention to step down after the Lib Party selects a new leader, marking the end of his tenure as the country's leader. He shared his much anticipated decision this morning outside his official residence. A massive winter storm system is bringing blizzard conditions to parts of the East coast today. NPR's Joel Rose reports. A storm is disrupting school, work and transportation.

[Joel Rose]

Heavy snow and plunging temperatures are creating dangerous travel conditions from the Great Plains to the East Coast. Thousands of flights were canceled or delayed, with the highest percentages at airports around Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. And Amtrak canceled dozens of trains on the Northeast Corridor. The storm also left a trail of destruction across the Midwest and the South. Hundreds of thousands of customers were without power from Missouri to Virginia. In Kansas, over 1,000 cars were stranded on the road after snowfall trapped them on the interstate. Kansas City International Airport saw a record 11 inches of snow on Sunday. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

At the 2025 Golden Globe Awards last night, actor Demi Moore won her first ever award. She took home the trophy for best actress in a musical or comedy for her role in the Substance. The movie is about a 50 year old actress who, after losing her job, takes a drug that's supposed to turn her into an enhanced version of herself. Accepting the award, Moore recall the advice a woman once gave her, which she believes matches the message of the film.

[Kamala Harris]

Just you will never be enough, but you can know the value of your worth if you just put down the measuring stick. And so today I celebrate this as a marker of my wholeness and of the love that is driving me and for the gift of doing something I love.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Audio of Demi Moore, courtesy of Golden Globes, LLC and Dick Clark Productions, LLC. The Dow is up 353 points, or more than 3/4 of a percent. This is NPR News. Across the United States, outbreaks of norovirus are spiking. NPR's Yuki Noguchi reports. Holiday travel and lack of hand washing helped it spread.

[Yuki Noguchi]

Norovirus is a gastrointestinal illness and is the most common cause of diarrhea and vomiting. Even tiny amounts of virus can then transmit through fresh produce, unwashed hands or surfaces like kitchen counters. It's particularly difficult to eliminate, especially in environments like hospitals, daycares, kitchens and long term care facilities where people are in close quarters or are sharing food. Hand sanitizer is often not enough to kill the virus, so experts recommend frequent washing of hands with soap and water to prevent spread. For those who are already sick, experts recommend refraining from caregiving and food preparation for at least 48 hours after symptoms disappear. Yukinoguchi, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. steel and Japan's Nupon Steel are suing the federal government for blocking their merger. They've also filed suit against rival steelmaker Cleveland Cliffs and the president of the steelworkers union for attempting to scuttle the $14 billion deal. Last Friday, President Biden issued an order to block the takeover of U.S. steel as a matter of national security. He says U.S. steel needs to remain under domestic control. President Elect Donald Trump, who is set to return to office in weeks, also opposes the merger. The Nasdaq is up 1.7%. The S&P has risen 1.2% and the Dow also up more than three quarters of a percent. This is NPR News.

[Rick Pildis]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app, by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.