NPR News: 01-12-2025 3AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 12, 2025, 3AM EST - Detailed Summary

Released on January 12, 2025

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1. Los Angeles Wildfires Escalate

Host: Dale Willman

Medical officials in Los Angeles have reported a grim increase in the wildfire death toll, now rising to 16. Firefighters continue their strenuous efforts to control the sprawling blazes and safeguard residential areas.

Personal Impact: Kevin Jordan, a long-time resident of Altadena, shared his personal losses following the recent evacuation lift:

Kevin Jordan [00:40]: "Pretty much my whole life. My whole life. But my mom and my family just moved places and places. But this was like the safest home I ever been to."

Jordan lamented the destruction of his home, financial setbacks, and the tragic loss of his cat, highlighting the profound personal toll of the wildfires.

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2. Threat to Los Angeles' Cultural Landmarks

Reporter: Chloe Veltman

The relentless flames have now encroached upon LA's Mandeville Canyon, putting several cultural treasures at risk. The renowned Getty Center was among the latest institutions to face imminent danger, prompting immediate evacuation orders issued on Friday. Currently, the museum remains accessible only to emergency personnel, with no reported damages or personnel injuries.

Expert Insight: Michael Rogers, Getty’s Director of Facilities, emphasized the museum's preparedness:

Michael Rogers [01:23]: "We have a strong culture of safety within the institution. We think about emergencies and preparedness constantly."

Despite the Getty Center’s safety measures, other historic sites have not fared as well. Significant cultural landmarks destroyed include:

• Will Rogers' 1920s Ranch Home at Will Rogers State Historic Park
• Topanga Ranch Motel, formerly owned by William Randolph Hearst
• Zane Grey Estate, home of the esteemed Western novelist Zane Grey

Chloe Veltman concluded the segment, underscoring the widespread cultural losses due to the wildfires.

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3. GOP's Strategic Moves Ahead of Trump's Inauguration

Host: Dale Willman
Reporter: Amy Held

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume office, House Republicans are intensifying their strategic planning at Mar A Lago. These meetings aim to secure a Republican trifecta in Washington, focusing on key policy areas.

Key Policy Priorities:

• Immigration and Border Security
• Tax and Spending Cuts

Trump's Stance: Speaking to Republican senators, Trump underscored his result-oriented approach:

Donald Trump [02:06]: "We're looking at the one bill versus two bills, and whatever it is doesn't matter, we're going to get the result."

Despite these plans, Democrats remain a hurdle. Republicans are contemplating methods to bypass the filibuster, including the high-stakes reconciliation process, which would enable legislation passage with a simple majority.

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4. Special Counsel Jack Smith Resigns Amid Ongoing Investigations

Host: Dale Willman

In a significant development, Special Counsel Jack Smith has tendered his resignation from the Justice Department. This comes shortly after his team finalized a comprehensive two-volume report detailing two investigations into President-elect Donald Trump. The resignation announcement was made on Saturday, amidst ongoing legal debates over the extent of the report's public disclosure.

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5. Innovative Approaches to Prevent Ship-Whale Collisions

Reporter: Courtney Flatt, Richland, Washington

Marine collisions between large cargo ships and whales have long been a silent threat to marine life. Recent research published in the journal Science offers promising solutions to mitigate these devastating encounters.

Study Insights: The research integrated global shipping data with whale migration patterns, focusing on species such as blue, humpback, fin, and sperm whales. The findings indicate widespread risks across various oceanic regions.

Expert Commentary: Sean Hastings from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration highlighted existing mitigation efforts:

Sean Hastings [03:51]: "Voluntary programs off the California coast ask ships to slow down, and they've helped a lot."

The study suggests that slowing down just 2.6% of the ocean surface could effectively cover most identified whale-ship collision hotspots, presenting a feasible strategy for the shipping industry to adopt.

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6. Renewed Efforts Towards a Ceasefire Between Israel and Hamas

Host: Dale Willman

Ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas are underway this weekend in Qatar, marking a potential breakthrough in the 15-month-long conflict. Notably, the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency has been dispatched to facilitate these talks, indicating a serious commitment to achieving lasting peace.

International Pressure: The United States is actively urging Israel to agree to a new ceasefire before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration later this month. This diplomatic push underscores the global desire to stabilize the region ahead of the new administration's tenure.

Security Developments in Syria: Amidst these discussions, media reports from Syria have shed light on successful thwarting of an Islamic State (IS) attack on a Shiite shrine in a Damascus suburb. Authorities arrested IS members who were in the planning stages of the assault, preventing potential casualties at a site previously targeted in similar attacks on Shiite pilgrims.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and updates presented in the January 12, 2025 episode of NPR News Now, providing a comprehensive overview for those who did not listen to the original broadcast.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Medical officials in Los Angeles say the death toll in the wildfires there has risen to 16. Firefighters are still struggling to control the blazes and to protect people's homes. Kevin Jordan lives in Altadena and returned there after an evacuation order was lifted. He lost his home, his money and his cat. Jordan says he's lived in the area.

[Kevin Jordan]

Pretty much my whole life. My whole life. But my mom and my family just moved places and places. But this was like the safest home I ever been to.

[Dale Willman]

Flames, meanwhile, have now also reached into LA's Mandeville Canyon. The fires in Los Angeles have already threatened or destroyed parts of the city's cultural landscape. And as NPR's Chloe Veltman reports, the Getty center is among the latest landmarks to be facing danger.

[Chloe Veltman]

The Getty center issued evacuation orders on Friday. The famed art museum is currently open only to emergency staff. So far, the property remains undamaged and the personnel safe. Trees and vegetation burned on Tuesday at the centre's coastal sister museum, the Getty Villa. Collections and staff are unharmed. Michael Rogers is the Gettys director of facilities.

[Dale Willman]

We have a strong culture of safety within the institution. We think about emergencies and preparedness constantly.

[Chloe Veltman]

Other cultural landmarks have already been destroyed in these fires. The casualties include the actor Will Rogers 1920s ranch home at Will Rogers State Historic park, the Topanga Ranch Motel once owned by William Randolph Hearst and the Zane Grey estate, home to the great western novelist Zane Grey. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Just over a week before President elect Donald Trump takes office, groups of House Republicans are visiting Mar A Lago this weekend for meetings. As NPR's Amy Held reports, the GOP is strategizing over just how to push through its priorities as they prepare to.

[Amy Held]

Take the trifecta of power in Washington. The GOP has a lot of issues they want to address, like immigration and border security, tax and spending cuts, and they want Trump to weigh in on how to prioritize and structure them. He met with Republican senators on Capitol Hill earlier this week and said he cares less about process, more about results.

[Dale Willman]

We're looking at the one bill versus two bills, and whatever it is doesn't matter, we're going to get the result.

[Amy Held]

Not if Democrats have their way. Republicans are considering tools to get around a filibuster, including the high risk, high reward reconciliation process that would allow for a simple majority to pass legislation. Amy Held, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Special counsel Jack Smith has resigned his position from the Justice Department. Smith and his team this weekend completed a two volume report that documented two investigations that the group made into President elect Donald Trump. His resignation was announced on Saturday and comes as legal fighting continues over just how much of the report will be made public. You're listening to NPR News. Ships that transport everything from coffee cups to clothes across the ocean are often so large no one notices when they collide with a whale. But new research could help reduce those collisions. Northwest Public Broadcasting's Courtney Flatt explains whales.

[Kevin Jordan]

Often get killed by oceangoing ships. So research published in the journal Science combined worldwide shipping data with whale migration routes. The study looked at blue humpback fin and sperm whales. It found they're at risk all over.

[Advertiser]

Wherever you have coastlines, port and migratory.

[Amy Held]

Animals is where you have this conflict.

[Kevin Jordan]

That's Sean Hastings. He's with the national oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Hastings says voluntary programs off the California coast ask ships to slow down, and they've helped a lot. The study found most whale ship hotspots could be covered if the shipping industry put the brakes on 2.6% of the Ocean surface.

[Dale Willman]

Courtney.

[Kevin Jordan]

For NPR News, I'm Courtney Flatt in Richland, Washington.

[Dale Willman]

Cease fire talks between Israel and Hamas are continuing this weekend in Qatar. In a sign of progress, the head of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency has been sent to those talks. There's been just one ceasefire in the 15 months of fighting. The US is pressuring Israel to agree to another ceasefire before President elect Donald Trump is inaugurated later this month. Media reports from Syria say the new government has stopped an attack by members of the Islamic State on a Shiite shrine in a Damascus suburb. The shrine has been the site of past attacks on Shiite pilgrims. The report says that IS members were arrested as they were planning the attack. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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