NPR News: 01-13-2025 11AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – January 13, 2025 Morning Summary

Release Date: January 13, 2025 | Host: NPR

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1. Wildfire Warnings and Ongoing Fires in Los Angeles

Red Flag Warnings Issued: The National Weather Service has declared new red flag warnings for the Los Angeles area, signaling a "particularly dangerous situation" due to high winds. These winds are expected to gust up to 70 miles per hour, posing a significant threat of explosive fire growth.

Expert Analysis: Robert Clark, a fire behavior analyst for Cal Fire, highlighted the potential for rapid fire development despite current low activity levels. At [00:41], he stated:

“Even though you might not see activity on our fire currently or very isolated pockets, the possibility and the ability for fires to become active or new fire starts is high probability.”

Current Fire Status:

• Palisades Fire: Now 14% contained.
• Eaton Fire (Pasadena Altadena area): Approximately 33% contained.

Casualties and Recovery Efforts: At least 24 fatalities have been reported across California wildfires, predominantly in the Eaton Fire. Elise Hu reported on the tragic loss of two disabled individuals in Altadena:

"[…] both family members who died in the Eaton fire faced disabilities. Anthony Mitchell Sr., a 67-year-old amputee, and his son, Justin Mitchell, who had cerebral palsy, were waiting to be evacuated as flames approached their neighborhood." ([01:17])

Hajime White, Anthony Mitchell's daughter, shared her devastation:

“I just lost it. I started screaming, hollering my husband. He was like, what's wrong? What's wrong? I said, my dad and brother's gone.” ([01:35])

Search and recovery operations are underway, utilizing cadaver dogs to locate additional victims.

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2. Senate Confirmation Hearings for President Trump's Cabinet Nominees

The Senate has commenced confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees, focusing initially on key departments such as Justice, Defense, CIA, and State.

Defense Secretary Nominee – Pete Hegseth: Scheduled to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran, faces allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Despite controversies, Republican Senator Roger Marshall expressed confidence in the confirmations:

“All of Trump's picks, including Hegseth, will get confirmed. Yes, some of them are outside the box, but I do think we have…” ([02:10]–[02:35])

Other Nominees:

• Attorney General: Pam Bondi
• Secretary of State: Marco Rubio
• CIA Director: John Radcliffe

All nominees are expected to undergo committee hearings, after which the full Senate will vote, requiring a simple majority for confirmation.

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3. President Biden’s Upcoming Foreign Policy Speech

President Biden is slated to deliver a significant foreign policy address at the State Department this afternoon. The speech is anticipated to cover:

• Strengthening U.S. Alliances: Emphasizing reinforced ties with traditional allies.
• Enhancing U.S. Leadership: Outlining strategies to bolster American influence globally.

Details from Korva Coleman’s report:

“He's expected to discuss the work he's done to strengthen US ties with its allies and boost US leadership around the world.” ([02:53])

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4. North Korean Troop Involvement in Ukraine Conflict

South Korean authorities have reported significant North Korean military casualties in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Casualty Estimates:

• Killed: Approximately 300 North Korean troops.
• Injured: Around 2,700 troops.

Captures and Negotiations: At least two North Korean soldiers have been captured by Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed willingness to return these troops to North Korea, contingent upon assistance from North Korea's leadership in facilitating a prisoner exchange.

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5. Revising Alcohol Consumption Guidelines

In response to the U.S. Surgeon General's latest report on alcohol, there is a growing consensus among health experts to reevaluate current alcohol consumption guidelines.

Current vs. Proposed Guidelines:

• Traditional Advice: Up to one drink per day for women and two for men.
• New Recommendations:
  • Less than seven drinks per week ([04:09]).
  • Canadian Guidelines: No more than two drinks per week to minimize alcohol-related harms ([04:14]).

Health Risks: Dr. Ashish Dadwania of Northwestern University pointed out that even moderate drinking levels may increase the risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer, with as few as three to six drinks per week.

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6. Blue Origin’s Launch Scrub of New Rocket, New Glenn

Private space company Blue Origin has postponed its overnight launch attempt of the New Glenn rocket due to technical issues. Mission managers cited repeated technical resets of the launch clock before ultimately deciding to scrub the mission.

Current Status:

• Next Launch Date: Not yet scheduled.

Korva Coleman provided the update:

“Mission managers said they're checking a technical issue. The managers kept resetting the launch clock before finally deciding to scrub the attempt. No new launch date has been set.” ([04:31])

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Notable Quotes and Attributions

• Robert Clark (Cal Fire):

  “Even though you might not see activity on our fire currently or very isolated pockets, the possibility and the ability for fires to become active or new fire starts is high probability.” ([00:41])

• Hajime White (Victim's Daughter):

  “I just lost it. I started screaming, hollering my husband. He was like, what's wrong? What's wrong? I said, my dad and brother's gone.” ([01:35])

• Dr. Ashish Dadwania (Northwestern University):

  “Some research points to an increased risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer, with as little as three to six drinks per week.” ([04:14])

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and updates from the NPR News Now episode aired on January 13, 2025. For detailed information, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full podcast episode.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The National Weather Service has issued new red flag warnings about winds in the Los Angeles area. This bulletin is called a particularly dangerous situation. Some winds could gust up to 70 miles per hour. Forecasters say the winds won't be as powerful as those that fueled the LA firestorm last week, but they could trigger explosive fire growth. Robert Clark is a fire behavior analyst for Cal Fire.

[Robert Clark]

Even though you might not see activity on our fire currently or very isolated pockets, the possibility and the ability for fires to become active or new fire starts is high probability.

[Korva Coleman]

The Palisades fire to the west of Los angeles is now 14% contained. The Eaton Fire in the Pasadena Altadena area is about a third contained. California authorities say at least 24 people have died in the wildfires. Most of the deaths in the Los Angeles county blazes have come in the Eaton fire. Elise Hu reports on two victims who perished in Altadena.

[Elise Hu]

Both family members who died in the Eaton fire faced disabilities. Anthony Mitchell sr. Was a 67 year old amputee. His son, Justin Mitchell, who also died in the fire, had cerebral palsy. The family says the pair were waiting to be evacuated as flames reach their neighborhood. Hajime White is Anthony Mitchell's daughter.

[Hajime White]

I just lost it. I started screaming, hollering my husband. He was like, what's wrong? What's wrong? I said, my dad and brother's gone.

[Elise Hu]

Crews have begun search and recovery operations using cadaver dogs to locate any additional victims. For NPR News, I'm Elise Hu in Los Angeles.

[Korva Coleman]

The Senate starts confirmation hearings this week for nominees to President elect Trump's Cabinet. Trump's choices to lead the Justice Department, Defense Department, CIA and the State Department are among the first to appear before Senate committees. NPR's Luke Garrett has more.

[Luke Garrett]

On Tuesday, Pete Hegseth, Trump's choice for defense secretary, will take questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee. Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran, has been meeting with senators for weeks as he faces allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct. Despite this, Republican Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas tells Fox News that all of Trump's picks, including Hegseth, will get confirmed. Yes, some of them are outside the.

[Robert Clark]

Box, but I do think we have.

[Luke Garrett]

The vote on Wednesday. Attorney general nominee Pam Bondi, Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio and CIA director nominee John Radcliffe all face Senate committee hearings. Once the committees advance the nominees, the full Senate will then vote on each candidate who need a simple majority for confirmation. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

President Biden is scheduled to deliver a major foreign policy speech this afternoon at the State Department. He's expected to discuss the work he's done to strengthen US Ties with its allies and boost US Leadership around the world. On Wall street, the dow is up 151 points. This is NPR. South Korean authorities say they believe about 300 troops from North Korea have been killed in combat in Ukraine. They say South Korea's spy agency estimates another 2,700 have been injured. At least two North Korean troops have been captured by Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he's willing to return them to North Korea if North Korea's leader helps set up a prisoner exchange. On the heels of the US Surgeon general's report on alcohol, many experts support revising the current guidelines for alcohol. NPR's Alison Aubrey reports. Scientists and doctors are reviewing the evidence to better understand the risks of alcohol.

[Dr. Ashish Dadwania]

If you choose to drink alcohol, the standard advice has long been to limit consumption to up to one drink a day for women, two for. But many experts now say this amount of daily drinking may be too high. Dr. Ashish Dadwania of Northwestern University is among them.

[Alison Aubrey]

My guidelines would be drinking less than seven drinks a week.

[Dr. Ashish Dadwania]

Some research points to an increased risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer, with as little as three to six drinks per week. In Canada, the recommendations are that people should consume no more than two drinks per week to avoid alcohol related harms. Alison Aubrey, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The private space company Blue Origin scrubbed its overnight launch of its new rocket, the new Glenn. Mission managers said they're checking a technical issue. The managers kept resetting the launch clock before finally deciding to scrub the attempt. No new launch date has been set. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

[Carvana]

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.