NPR News: 01-10-2025 1AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – January 10, 2025, 1 AM EST

Host: Shea Stevens
Producer: NPR
Release Date: January 10, 2025

---

Wildfires Ravage Southern California

00:18 – 01:24

The episode opens with a grim update on the ongoing wildfires in Southern California. Over 9,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed, with more than half of these losses attributed to the Palisades Fire. Tragically, at least 10 fatalities have been reported. NPR's Kirk Sigler provides a detailed account, noting that close to 180,000 people are currently under evacuation orders in the LA basin. Out of the five major blazes burning in the region, two remain out of control.

Kirk describes the challenging firefighting conditions:
“The winds have died down some and there's a tinge of humidity in the air. It's a small piece of good news compared to the dusty, erratic gusts of the Santa Ana's blowing in from the desert.” [00:45]

The Santa Ana winds have been particularly destructive, fanning flames into densely populated urban areas. In an emotional interview, evacuee Will Cook shares his personal loss:
“I'm really sad about, you know, what it is. But I got what matters most and that's my kids.” [01:02]

The chaotic evacuation process has added to the stress for residents, with inaccurate text alerts causing confusion. At one point, authorities mistakenly sent out a city-wide evacuation order that was later retracted, further unsettling the population.

---

Sports Disrupted by Emergency

01:24 – 02:01

The severity of the wildfires has had a direct impact on local events. Notably, the playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Minnesota Vikings has been relocated from Southern California. The wild card game is now scheduled to be played approximately 400 miles away in Glendale, Arizona on Monday night, ensuring the safety of all involved and attendees.

---

Trump's Pending Sentencing and Legal Battle

01:24 – 02:15

In legal news, President-elect Donald Trump is set to be sentenced on Friday for his conviction of falsifying business records in 2016. The charges allege that Trump engaged in these activities to hide a past extramarital affair.

Judge Juan Merchan has refused to delay the sentencing, indicating that he will not impose jail time. Despite this, Trump is gearing up to appeal the decision. In his remarks, Trump expressed his frustration:
“Well, they called for an appeal and as you know, they acknowledge what the judge said about no penalty. And there's no penalty, but we're going to appeal anyway, just psychologically because frankly, it's a disgrace.” [02:01]

Trump continues to assert his innocence, maintaining that he did nothing wrong, as he faces the legal repercussions of his actions.

---

Farewell to Former President Jimmy Carter

02:15 – 03:13

The nation bids a final goodbye to Former President Jimmy Carter, who was laid to rest in Plains, Georgia. Sam Greenglass reports that Carter was buried in the small town where he had lived for nearly a century. The ceremony was a heartfelt event, with visitors and neighbors lining the main street, waving American flags to honor his legacy.

Terry Wooden, a local resident, reflects on Carter's impact:
“There are not a lot of resources, not a lot of attention and frankly, not a lot of hope sometimes. But to see someone who could come from the meager beginnings and be able to be one of the most powerful people in the world, you know, it just it says to them, you're not boxed in, that anything is possible.” [02:42]

TwigWooden adds that Carter’s story serves as a beacon of hope and possibility for the community, inspiring future generations. Carter's family hopes that his life story will continue to inspire, as reflected in the sentiment expressed by his granddaughter:
“She wanted to be here so she can tell her grandchildren about the man from Plains who became president.” [03:06]

---

Supreme Court to Hear TikTok Ban Delay Request

03:13 – 04:03

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Friday regarding whether to delay a government ban on TikTok. The ban, which was approved by Congress a year ago, is slated to take effect on January 19, coinciding with President-elect Trump's inauguration.

During his first term, Trump issued an executive order mandating that TikTok’s China-based parent, ByteDance, divest from the company or face a ban in the U.S. Now, he is requesting the high court to delay the enforcement of this decision, seeking more time to navigate the legal and political implications.

---

Cultural Intersection: Scientists Honor Jay Chou

03:13 – 04:40

In a unique fusion of science and pop culture, a Chinese scientist has named 16 newly discovered spider species after songs by Taiwan-born Mandopop artist Jay Chou. Professor Mi Xiaoqi from Tongren University in southwestern China credits Chou's influence for the popular and memorable names.

One such species is named after Chou's early hit single, “Starry Mood (Xingqing)”. This creative endeavor has garnered significant attention on Chinese social media, with users celebrating Professor Mi as "Jay Chou's ultimate fan." Mi expressed his hope that this initiative would bridge the gap between scientific research and the general public, fostering greater interest in conservation efforts.

Ashish Valentine, reporting from Taipei, highlights the positive reception and the potential for such initiatives to increase public engagement with science.

---

Record-Breaking Global Temperatures Predicted for 2024

04:40 – 04:57

Climate news paints a concerning picture as global temperatures soared to another record high last year. Forecasts from three government climate agencies in Europe and Japan indicate that 2024's average temperature will easily surpass the record heat experienced in 2023. This trend underscores the urgent need for international cooperation and aggressive climate action to mitigate the escalating impacts of global warming.

---

Notable Quotes

• Will Cook on personal loss due to wildfires:
  “I'm really sad about, you know, what it is. But I got what matters most and that's my kids.” [01:02]

• Donald Trump on his sentencing appeal:
  “Well, they called for an appeal and as you know, they acknowledge what the judge said about no penalty. And there's no penalty, but we're going to appeal anyway, just psychologically because frankly, it's a disgrace.” [02:01]

• Terry Wooden on Jimmy Carter's legacy:
  “There are not a lot of resources, not a lot of attention and frankly, not a lot of hope sometimes. But to see someone who could come from the meager beginnings and be able to be one of the most powerful people in the world, you know, it just it says to them, you're not boxed in, that anything is possible.” [02:42]

---

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of the most pressing issues as of January 10, 2025. From the devastating wildfires in Southern California and their broad-reaching impacts, to significant legal developments involving former President Donald Trump, the network covers a spectrum of news that highlights both local and global concerns. The heartfelt farewell to Jimmy Carter and the innovative blending of culture and science with the naming of new spider species add depth to the day's reporting. Additionally, the alarming projections of global temperatures serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing climate crisis. NPR continues to deliver timely and in-depth news updates, ensuring listeners are well-informed on the critical events shaping our world.

Transcript

[TurboTax Representative]

This message comes from Intuit. TurboTax now taxes is matching with an expert backed by tech to get you the most money [e-mail] experts only available with TurboTax Live. See guarantee [e-mail] guarantees.

[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. More than 9,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed by wildfires burning in Southern California. More than half those losses were due to the Palisades fire. At least 10 fatalities have now been reported. NPR's Kirk Sigler reports that close to 180,000 people are under evacuation orders in the LA basin where two of five major blazes are burning out of control.

[Kirk Sigler]

The winds have died down some and there's a tinge of humidity in the air. It's a small piece of good news compared to the dusty, erratic gusts of the Santa Ana's blowing in from the desert. They've been fanning the flames into densely populated urban areas. Will Cook, evacuated from his apartment in Santa Monica.

[Will Cook]

I'm really sad about, you know, what it is. But I got what matters most and that's my kids.

[Kirk Sigler]

It's been chaotic and a whiplash of stress for Angelenos getting text alerts to evacuate and not always accurate. Authorities at one point even sent out a blast to the entire city, only to have to send out a follow up alerting it as a mistake. Kirk Sigler, NPR News, Los Angeles.

[Shea Stevens]

The playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Minnesota Vikings has been moved from Southern California because of the wildfire emergency. The wild card game will be played some 400 miles away in Glendale, Arizona, on Monday night. President elect Donald Trump will be sentenced on Friday for his conviction of falsifying business records in 2016, allegedly to hide a past extramarital affair. New York Judge Juan Merchan refused to delay the sentencing but has indicated that he will not impose jail time. Meanwhile, Trump has reacted to the US Supreme Court's refusal to delay the sentencing.

[Donald Trump]

Well, they called for an appeal and as you know, they acknowledge what the judge said about no penalty. And there's no penalty, but we're going to appeal anyway, just psychologically because frankly, it's a disgrace.

[Shea Stevens]

Trump maintains he did nothing wrong. Former President Jimmy Carter has been laid to rest in Georgia. WABE Sam Greenglass reports that Carter was buried in Plains where he lived for nearly a century.

[Sam Greenglass]

As the sun began to dip, visitors and neighbors waving American flags lined the main drag of this tiny downtown to say a final goodbye, some from faraway states, others closer to home. Terry Wooden says Carter means a lot to people in this isolated region where.

[Terry Wooden]

There are not a lot of resources, not a lot of attention and frankly, not a lot of hope sometimes. But to see someone who could come from the meager beginnings and be able to be one of the most powerful people in the world, you know, it just it says to them, you're not boxed in, that anything is possible.

[Sam Greenglass]

And she says she wanted to be here so she can tell her grandchildren about the man from Plains who became president.

[Shea Stevens]

Sam Greenglass in Plains, Georgia. This is npr. The Supreme Court will hear arguments Friday on whether to delay a government ban on the social media site TikTok. The ban, approved by Congress a year ago, is set to take effect on January 19, a day before President Elect Trump is inaugurated. During his first term, Trump issued an executive order requiring TikTok to divest from its China based Parent Bite Dance or be banned in the U.S. he's now asking the high court to delay its decision on the ban. A Chinese scientist has named 16 newly discovered spider species after songs by the Taiwan born mandapop artist Jay Cho, one of the influential singers. In Mandarin.

[Ashish Valentine]

That'S Starry Mood or Xingqing, one of Jay Chou's earliest hit singles. Now it's also the name of a newly discovered species of spider, thanks to Mi Xiaoqi, a professor at Tongren University in southwestern China. It's rare for a scientific paper to go viral, but that's exactly what happened when Mi's article about the new spider species got picked up on Chinese social media. Users are calling him Jay Chou's ultimate fan. Mi told Chinese state media he hoped this would bring scientific research closer to the public and hopefully help with conservation. For NPR News, I'm Ashish Valentine in Taipei.

[Shea Stevens]

Global temperatures soared to another record last year. Three government climate agencies in Europe and Japan say 2024's average temperature easily surpass 2023's record heat. I'm Shay Stevens. This is NPR News.

[TurboTax Representative]

Support for npr and the following message come from Boll and Branch. Change your sleep with Bolen Branch's airy blankets, cloud like duvets and breathable sheets. Feel the difference with 15% off your first [e-mail] with code NPR exclusions apply. See site for details.