NPR News: 01-06-2025 4PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 6, 2025, 4PM EST – Detailed Summary

Live from Washington, D.C., NPR's "News Now" delivered a comprehensive update on the latest national and international developments. Hosted by Lakshmi Singh, the episode covered significant political events, severe weather impacts, legal battles involving major corporations, tragic incidents, and highlights from the entertainment industry.

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1. Certification of the 2024 Presidential Election

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Reporter: Miles Parks

In a pivotal moment for American democracy, Congress officially certified the 2024 presidential election results, confirming Donald Trump's victory. Unlike the contentious proceedings of four years prior, the certification process was marked by routine and calm.

Key Points:

• Unprecedented Unity: This election saw unprecedented bipartisan cooperation, with no Republican lawmakers objecting to the results—a stark contrast to the 2020 certification where over 100 Republican lawmakers raised objections.

• Vice President's Role: Vice President Kamala Harris, acting as the President of the Senate, smoothly oversaw the electoral vote counting.

Notable Quote:

Kamala Harris (01:02): "Donald J. Trump of the state of Florida has received 312 votes. Kamala D. Harris of the state of California has received 226 votes."

Trump is slated to be inaugurated on January 20th, marking a significant transition in leadership.

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2. Severe Winter Storm Impacts the Washington, D.C. Area

Host: Lakshmi Singh

As the certification of Trump's victory was finalized, the Washington, D.C. region grappled with a severe winter storm, resulting in heavy snowfall, power outages, and tragic losses.

Key Points:

• Snowfall: Snow totals are expected to reach up to a foot by the evening. Snowplows were actively clearing roads, with residents like Michael Lippen engaging in spontaneous snowball fights amid the chaos.

• Power Outages and Casualties: Hundreds of thousands from Missouri to Virginia experienced power outages. The storm has unfortunately claimed at least four lives.

• Public Safety Measures: Both public and private sector employees were advised to stay home, and schools remained closed to ensure safety.

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3. President Biden's Final Duties Amidst Tragedy

Host: Lakshmi Singh

In one of his concluding acts as President, Joe Biden visited New Orleans to offer solace to families affected by a recent terror attack.

Key Points:

• New Year's Day Terror Attack: A coordinated attack saw a vehicle plow into a crowd, resulting in 14 fatalities. The perpetrator, inspired by ISIS, was neutralized by law enforcement.

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4. TikTok’s Legal Battle Reaches the Supreme Court

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Reporter: Bobby Allen

The fate of the popular social media platform TikTok hangs in the balance as the case escalates to the Supreme Court.

Key Points:

• Legal Arguments: TikTok's lawyers are challenging a Congressional law passed in April that threatens to ban the app unless it severs ties with China. The Justice Department defends the law as essential for national security.

• Public Reaction: Users are responding by sharing tips on using virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass potential bans or migrating to alternative platforms.

Notable Quotes:

Katie Khans and Jaclyn Couch (02:56): "So basically, if TikTok gets banned in the United States, you can use a VPN and set your VPN's location in a different country to still use TikTok as long as TikTok is available in that country. Like, are we going to YouTube? Because I don't want to go to Instagram."

• Trump's Stance: President Elect Donald Trump has pledged to save TikTok but has yet to provide details on his approach.

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5. Tragic Attack on an Israeli Bus in the West Bank

Host: Lakshmi Singh

A bus transporting Israelis in the occupied West Bank was the target of a deadly attack, escalating tensions in the region.

Key Points:

• Casualties: The attack resulted in the deaths of at least three individuals, with several others wounded.

• Response: The Israeli Prime Minister has vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable. Although Hamas has not officially claimed responsibility, they have lauded the act.

• Regional Tensions: The incident follows reports from the Palestinian health ministry indicating that Israeli forces have killed two Palestinians in the West Bank, further inflaming the volatile situation.

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6. Legal Action Over U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel Merger

Host: Lakshmi Singh

In a significant move, U.S. steel giant and Japan's Nippon Steel have initiated legal action against the U.S. federal government over a blocked merger.

Key Points:

• Merger Details: The proposed $15 billion merger aimed to consolidate two major industry players. However, President Biden intervened last Friday, citing national security concerns as the reason for blocking the takeover.

• Opposition Across the Board: Notably, this blocking move has garnered bipartisan disagreement, with President Elect Trump also opposing the merger.

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7. Golden Globes Surprise: Demi Moore's First Acting Award

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Reporter: Mandalita del Barco

The entertainment world was abuzz as Demi Moore made a remarkable achievement at the Golden Globes.

Key Points:

• Historic Win: After 45 years in the industry, Demi Moore secured her first acting award, winning Best Female Actor in a Film, Musical, or Comedy for her role in the horror film "The Substance."

Notable Quotes:

Demi Moore (04:30): "And as I was at kind of a low point, I had this magical, bold, courageous, out of the box, absolutely bonkers script come across my desk called The Substance, and the universe told me that you're not done."

• Significance: Moore's win is seen as a testament to her enduring talent and resilience in Hollywood, challenging long-held perceptions about aging actresses in the industry.

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8. U.S. Stock Market Recap

Host: Lakshmi Singh

The day's trading saw mixed results across major U.S. stock indices.

Key Points:

• Nasdaq: Experienced a notable rise, closing up by 243 points.

• Dow Jones: Faced a downturn, declining by 25 points.

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NPR News Now provided listeners with a succinct yet comprehensive overview of today's critical events, blending political developments, societal issues, and cultural highlights to inform and engage.

Transcript

[Lakshmi Singh]

Okay.

[NPR Announcer]

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Congress has certified the 2024 election election for Donald Trump. NPR's Miles Parks reports. The proceedings were routine and calm, a clear contrast to four years ago.

[Miles Parks]

In 2021, more than 100 Republican lawmakers objected to the presidential election results, all motivated by Donald Trump's lies about the election process. This time around, not a single lawmaker objected during the certification. As president of the Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris oversaw the counting of the electoral votes and the certification of the election. She lost.

[Kamala Harris]

Donald J. Trump of the state of Florida has received 312 votes. Kamala D. Harris, Kamala D. Harris of the state of California has received 226 votes.

[Miles Parks]

Trump will be inaugurated in two weeks on January 20th. Miles Parks, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

As Trump's victory was certified, the Washington, D.C. area was busy digging out of heavy snow. Snowplows like the sound of this one, courtesy of Kevin Donahue, were in full force. So was Snowplay, D.C. resident Michael Lippen getting pelted in a snowball fight. Snow totals could reach up to a foot by tonight. Hundreds of thousands of people from Missouri to Virginia were hit with power outages. At least four deaths were reported as well. Many public and private sector employees were advised to remain home. Schools were closed. President Biden will carry out one of his final duties as consoler in chief. This hour, the outgoing leader visits New Orleans to meet with families directly affected by the New Year's Day terror attack in the city. A man plowed his vehicle into a crowd. Authorities say The ISIS inspired US national killed 14 people before he was killed by police. TikTok will be going to the supreme court this week. NPR's Bobby Allen reports. The viral video app is asking the court to overturn a law that could ban the service in two weeks.

[Bobby Allen]

Lawyers for TikTok are hoping the high court will strike down a law Congress passed in April outlawing TikTok unless it cuts ties with China. But the Justice Department is expected to tell the Supreme Court the law is a necessary national security measure. Tiktokers, meanwhile, are going viral with videos about downloading virtual private networks or about moving to other platforms.

[Katie Khans and Jaclyn Couch]

So basically, if TikTok gets banned in the United States. You can use a VPN and set your VPN's location in a different country to still use TikTok as long as TikTok is available in that country. Like, are we going to YouTube? Because I don't want to go to Instagram.

[Bobby Allen]

That's TikTok users Katie Khans and Jaclyn Couch. President elect Donald Trump has vowed to save TikTok, but he has not explained how. Bobby Allen, NPR News, from Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This is NPR News. A bus carrying Israelis in the occupied west bank came under attack today. At least three people died. Several others were wounded. The prime minister of Israel vowed to punish those responsible. Gaza's Hamas has not claimed responsibility, but it praised the attack, which took place a day after the Palestinian health ministry said Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in the West Bank. U.S. steel and Japan's Nippon Steel are now suing the U.S. federal government for blocking their roughly $15 billion merger. Last Friday, President Biden issued an order to block the takeover of U.S. steel as a matter of national security. President Elect Trump also opposes the merger. Hollywood handed out its annual golden globes last night. NPR's Mandalita del Barco was there, and she reports on one of the surprises of the ceremony.

[Mandalita Del Barco]

Actress Demi Moore plays an aging Hollywood star chasing her youth in the horror film the Substance. Moore surprised everyone at the Golden Globes and herself when she won as best female actor in a film, musical or comedy. She told the crowd this was her very first acting award after 45 years in the business.

[Demi Moore]

And as I was at kind of a low point, I had this magical, bold, courageous, out of the box, absolutely bonkers script come across my desk called the Substance, and the universe told me that you're not done.

[Mandalita Del Barco]

With the Golden Globes kicking off awards season, Demi Moore is no longer being underestimated. Mandalit Del Barco, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks end the day mix. The Nasdaq closed up 243 points. The Dow is down 25. It's NPR News.

[NPR Announcer]

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