NPR News: 01-08-2025 4PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 8, 2025, 4PM EST

NPR News Now delivers the latest headlines in a concise, five-minute format. In the January 8, 2025, episode released at 4 PM EST, host Lakshmi Singh covers a range of pressing topics, from devastating wildfires in California to developments in federal monetary policy, legal challenges facing former President Donald Trump, changes in Girl Scouts' cookie lineup, and a snapshot of the U.S. stock market.

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1. California Wildfires Escalate Amid Fierce Santa Ana Winds

[00:20]

California is grappling with an intensifying wildfire season, exacerbated by Santa Ana winds reaching speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. These conditions have led to the rapid expansion and multiplication of fires across the state, resulting in two fatalities so far.

Lakshmi Singh, NPR's host, reported:

"California is enlisting the help of the National Guard to fight wildfires being driven by at times 100 mile hour Santa Ana winds."

Kirk Sigler, on the ground in Pacific Palisades, provided a vivid picture of the situation:

"I'm standing kind of by a roadblock, looking at a long line of cars presumably still trying to get out. It's a very tense situation, very smoky situation and still not a lot known."

The fires have notably impacted Ventura and Los Angeles counties with significant blazes such as the Eaton fire burning over 10,000 acres and the Palisades fire surpassing 11,000 acres.

Climate Expert Insight: Park Williams, a hydroclimatologist at UCLA, explained the underlying causes:

"They're bringing very dry air from the deserts of the western United States down to sea level, and they have the power to dry out vegetation very quickly, just like a blow dryer." [01:57]

Williams attributed the severity of the wildfires to a combination of extreme climate and weather events over the past two years, noting that wildfire seasons are now starting earlier and ending later due to rising temperatures and reduced rainfall.

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2. Federal Reserve's Outlook on Inflation and Interest Rates

[02:29]

The Federal Reserve maintains optimism that inflation will continue to subside throughout the year. However, the pace of this decline remains uncertain.

Scott Horsley, reporting for NPR, highlighted key points from the Fed's latest policy meeting:

"Officials still anticipate the inflation rate will fall to their 2% target, but warn that process may take longer than previously expected." [02:36]

The decision to reduce interest rates in December was narrowly decided, and further rate cuts are approached with caution. External factors, such as potential tariffs and immigration limits proposed by President-elect Donald Trump, could introduce unforeseen upward pressure on prices. Nevertheless, Fed officials are monitoring the resilient job market closely and await the upcoming December job gains report to guide future decisions.

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3. Donald Trump's Legal Maneuvering Amid Conviction

[03:16]

Former President Donald Trump is actively seeking intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court to prevent imminent criminal sentencing. This comes after a New York appeals court declined his request to delay proceedings in his hush money case.

Trump was convicted last May on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment made during the 2016 presidential campaign to an adult film actress. This conviction marks a historic moment as Trump becomes the first former U.S. president to be found guilty of felony crimes.

With Trump's scheduled return to office looming in less than two weeks, the legal battles add a complex layer to the upcoming transition.

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4. Girl Scouts to Retire Less Popular Cookie Flavors

[03:16]

Netta Ulaby, NPR reporter, covered a light-hearted yet noteworthy update from Girl Scouts USA. The organization announced the retirement of two cookie flavors that failed to achieve bestseller status: Toast Yays and Scout S'mores.

"Do not worry. Your Thin Mints and your peanut butter patties are safe." [04:06]

Alexis Gibson, a TikTok reviewer, nostalgically commented on the retiring flavors:

"Oh my God, this tastes like childhood." [04:28]

The Toast Yays, featuring a French toast flavor, and Scout S'mores, inspired by the classic campfire treat, were introduced in 2021 and 2017, respectively. Their discontinuation reflects Girl Scouts' ongoing efforts to streamline their product offerings and focus on customer favorites.

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5. U.S. Stock Markets Close Mixed

[04:48]

In the financial markets, the Dow Jones Industrial Average edged up by over 100 points, signaling investor optimism. In contrast, the NASDAQ experienced a slight decline, dropping by 10 points. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 saw a modest increase of 9 points.

Lakshmi Singh summarized:

"U.S. stocks ended the day Mix the Dow closed up more than 100 points. The NASDAQ was down 10. The S&P was up 9 points." [04:48]

This mixed performance reflects varying investor sentiments across different sectors, highlighting the complex dynamics currently influencing the financial landscape.

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NPR News Now continues to provide timely updates on the most critical and engaging stories shaping our world. For those who missed this episode, the detailed coverage offers a comprehensive overview of today's significant events.

Transcript

[St. Jude Children's Research Hospital]

This message comes from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Active and retired federal employees and military staff can support St. Jude during the 2024 Combined Federal Campaign. Visit stjude.org cfc and donate now using the code 10560.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. California is enlisting the help of the National Guard to fight wildfires being driven by at times 100 mil hour Santa Ana winds. The fires now linked to two deaths are exploding in size and multiplying. The Cal Fire website's listing a fifth fire that broke out this morning in Ventura County. The others are burning across Los Angeles County. They include the Eaton fire that's ballooned to more than 10,000 acres, and the Palisades fire that's topped 11,000 acres. NPR's Kirk Sigler is in Pacific Palisades.

[Kirk Sigler]

I'm standing kind of by a roadblock, looking at a long line of cars presumably still trying to get out. Is there's been more evacuations and ash in the air. Right now. It's really thick with smoke. At one point, like a lot of people's headlights are on. I just talked to a guy who came out who had to leave. He had been staying behind, defying evacuation orders because he was trying to douse hot spots. And then early this morning the water ran out and so he figured it wasn't safe. So it's a very tense situation, very smoky situation and still not a lot known. But he did tell me that there is destruction everywhere in Pacific Palisades.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Kirk Sigler reporting. NPR's Windsor Johnston spoke with a climate expert at the University of Southern California, closely monitoring the conditions.

[Park Williams]

Park Williams is a hydroclimatologist in the Department of Geography at ucla. He says the Santa Ana winds are fueling the wildfires like an atmospheric blow dryer.

They're bringing very dry air from the deserts of the western United States down to sea level, and they have the power to dry out vegetation very quickly, just like a blow dryer.

Williams says the wildfires are likely tied to a sequence of extreme climate and weather events over the last two years in the LA region. Experts say wildfire season has been starting earlier and ending later because of rising temperatures and a lack of rain. Windsor Johnston, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Fed policymakers expect inflation will continue to cool this year, but NPR Scott Horsley reports the pace of that progress is uncertain.

[Scott Horsley]

Minutes from the Fed's most recent policy meeting show the decision to cut interest rates in December was a close call, and policymakers expect to proceed cautiously on cutting rates any further. Officials still anticipate the inflation rate will fall to their 2% target, but warn that process may take longer than previously expected. President elect Donald Trump's threats to impose widespread tariffs and strict limits on immigration could put more upward pressure on prices, but Fed officials note the timing and magnitude of those effects is still unknown. The central bank is keeping a close eye on the job market, which so far has been resilient. We'll get a report on December's job gains later this week. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This is NPR. President elect Donald Trump is now turning to the U.S. supreme Court to shield him from criminal sentencing this Friday after a New York appeals court declined to delay the next phase of Trump's hush money case. Last May, a New York state jury found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. The case involved a hush money payment to an adult film actress during the 2016 presidential election campaign. The Republican became the first former president convicted of felony crimes. Trump is set to return to office in less than two weeks. Girl Scouts USA says it is retiring to cookie flavors. NPR's Netta Ulaby reports. The flavors are not among the organization's bestsellers.

[Netta Ulaby]

Do not worry. Your Thin Mints and your peanut butter patties are safe. The two flavors being discontinued are ones you may not even have heard of. Toast Yays have a French toast flavor. And Scout s'mores are based on the classic campfire treat. They were introduced in 2021 and 2017, respectively. They will disappear from the Girl Scout lineup after.

[Alexis Gibson]

Oh my God, this tastes like childhood.

[Netta Ulaby]

Alexis Gibson loved the Tostie cookies when she reviewed them on TikTok in 2023. Dozens of girl Scout cookie varieties have been introduced and retired since the Scouts first started selling them nationally in the 1920s. Neta Ulibi, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks ended the day Mix the Dow closed up more than 100 points. The NASDAQ was down 10. The S&P was up 9 points. You're listening to NPR News.

[St. Jude Children's Research Hospital]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to npr news now +@ +npr.org that's +npr.org.