NPR News: 01-14-2025 5PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 14, 2025, 5 PM EST

Hosted by NPR, this episode of NPR News Now delivers the latest updates across national and local headlines, offering in-depth coverage and expert insights.

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1. Senate Confirmation Hearings: Pete Hegseth’s Defense Secretary Nomination

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamp: [00:24]

The Senate has commenced confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth. Hegseth, a military veteran and former Fox News host, faces intense scrutiny from Democratic members of the committee.

Criticism from Democrats:
Senator Jack Reed: "We must acknowledge the concerning public reports against you. A variety of sources, including your own writings, implicate you with disregarding the laws of war, financial mismanagement, racist and sexist remarks about men and women in uniform, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment and other troubling issues."
Timestamp: [00:44]

Hegseth responded to the allegations by asserting his readiness and resilience:
Pete Hegseth: "I'm not a perfect person, but redemption is real. And God forged me in ways that I know I'm prepared for."
Timestamp: [01:11]

He further contended that he is the target of a "smear campaign by the media" and promised sobriety if confirmed. The hearings reveal a division along party lines, with Republicans largely defending Hegseth's qualifications, while Democrats question his conduct and suitability to lead the Pentagon.

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2. Los Angeles Battles Renewed Wildfires Amid High Winds

Host: Elise Hu
Timestamp: [01:42]

Los Angeles is grappling with renewed wildfires as powerful winds, reaching speeds of 50-70 mph, continue to challenge firefighting efforts. The Palisades and Eaton blazes, the two largest fires, have devastated nearly 60 square miles—comparable to the size of Washington, D.C.—displacing hundreds of thousands and claiming at least 24 lives.

LA County Sheriff Robert Luna:
"I don't want people to start thinking everything's okay now. Everything's not okay yet. We'll get there. We'll get there together. But again, the wind's blowing and it's going to continue to blow."
Timestamp: [02:02]

Despite crews gaining containment over the major fires, LA officials emphasize the ongoing threat. A dusk-to-dawn curfew remains in effect for areas under evacuation orders to ensure public safety as efforts to control the wildfires persist.

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3. Florida Legislature Pushes Back on Governor DeSantis’s Immigration Special Session

Host: Danielle Pryor
Timestamp: [02:31]

In Florida, tensions rise as the state legislature resists Governor Ron DeSantis's call for a special session focused on illegal immigration. Governor DeSantis sought this session to address the proposed mass deportations outlined by President-elect Trump.

Legislative Leaders’ Response:
Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton, both Republicans, deemed the special session "premature and irresponsible." They highlighted that the regularly scheduled session in March will cover immigration issues, arguing that an untimely special session could "impair or impede the success of Trump's immigration reform." While the governor has the authority to convene the special session, legislators may choose not to file any legislation during it. The special session is slated to begin on January 27th.

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4. Loss of Arnold Schoenberg’s Music Scores in LA Wildfires

Host: Jeff London
Timestamp: [03:20]

The Palisades fire in California has resulted in the destruction of approximately 100,000 non-original music scores by the renowned 20th-century composer Arnold Schoenberg. These invaluable materials were housed in a building behind the home of Schoenberg’s son, Larry, which was also lost in the blaze.

Jeff London Reports:
Arnold Schoenberg, an Austrian-born composer who settled in Southern California in the 1930s to escape Nazi persecution, was a pioneer of atonal music. In 1965, his heirs established Belmont Music to publish his scores and license performances. While no original scores in Vienna were lost, the destruction of performance materials poses challenges for upcoming concerts featuring Schoenberg’s work. Belmont Music is now working to create digital versions of the lost materials to preserve the composer’s legacy.

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5. FDA Proposes Enhanced Nutrition Labeling for Packaged Foods

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamp: [04:28]

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has unveiled a proposal to revise nutrition labels on packaged foods and beverages. The new rule would mandate that manufacturers display levels of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugar prominently on the front of product packaging, supplementing the existing nutrition information typically found on the back.

Rationale Behind the Proposal:
Health regulators believe that making key nutritional information more visible will empower consumers to make better-informed, health-conscious choices. If enacted, these labeling changes could take effect as soon as 2028, marking a significant shift in how nutritional information is presented to the public.

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and developments covered in the January 14, 2025, episode of NPR News Now. For those who missed the live broadcast, these sections provide a detailed overview of the pressing issues and stories shaping our world today.

Transcript

[Unknown Speaker]

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Senate confirmation hearings started on Capitol Hill today. First up, President elect Trump's pick for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth. The military vet and former Fox host got intense criticism from Democrats ranking committee member Senator Jack Reed.

[Unknown Speaker]

We must acknowledge the concerning public reports against you. A variety of sources, including your own writings, implicate you with disregarding the laws of war, financial mismanagement, racist and sexist remarks about men and women in uniform, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment and other troubling issues.

[Jeanine Herbst]

But Hegseth says if confirmed, he won't drink, and he says he's the victim of a smear campaign by the media.

[Unknown Speaker]

I'm not a perfect person, but redemption is real. And God forged me in ways that I know I'm prepared for.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Most Republicans defended him, while many Democrats focused on his conduct and whether he has the experience needed to lead the pentagon. With some 3 million employees and a nearly $850 billion budget, high winds have returned to LA, where crews are still working to knock down the wildfires that displaced hundreds of thousands and killed at least 24. At least Hugh has more powerful winds.

[Elise Hu]

Are expected to be in the range of 50-70 mph. This comes as firefighters have gotten more containment over the two largest fires, the Palisades and Eaton blazes, which have burned a combined 60 square miles. That's an area nearly the size of Washington, D.C. lA County Sheriff Robert Luna said the community should stay on alert.

[Unknown Speaker]

I don't want people to start thinking everything's okay now. Everything's not okay yet. We'll get there. We'll get there together. But again, the wind's blowing and it's going to continue to blow.

[Elise Hu]

A dusk to dawn curfew remains in effect for areas under evacuation orders. For NPR News, I'm Elise Hu in Los Angeles.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Florida state Legislature is pushing back against the governor's call for a special session on illegal immigration. Central Florida Public Media's Danielle Breyer has more.

[Danielle Pryor]

Hours after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called a special session to address President Elect Trump's proposed mass deportations, the legislature's leaders described the plan as, quote, premature and irresponsible. In a letter to fellow legislators. Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton, who are both Republicans, said the regularly scheduled session in March will already address immigration and said that an ill timed special session now could, quote, impair or impede the success of Trump's immigration reform. The governor ultimately asked the say in whether a special session will be held, but Florida legislators could refuse to file any legislation during that special session. The special session is expected to start January 27th. For NPR News, I'm Danielle Pryor in Orlando.

[Jeanine Herbst]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Around 100,000 music scores, non original, by the 20th century composer Arnold Schoenberg have been destroyed in the Palisades fire in California. Jeff London reports. They were stored in a building behind the home of the composer's son, Larry, which was also destroyed.

[Jeff London]

The Austrian born composer settled in Southern California in the 1930s after fleeing the Nazis, where he continued to write his groundbreaking atonal music. In 1965, Arnold Schoenberg's heirs created Belmont Music, which published the composer's scores and licensed performances of his work. But that material, along with irreplaceable memorabilia, was destroyed in the fire. No original scores were lost there in Vienna, but the loss of performance materials could affect many planned concerts of Schoenberg's work. Belmont Music plans to create digital versions of the material. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The Food and Drug Administration is proposing a new rule for nutrition labels on packaged food and drinks. The FDA wants food manufacturers to be required to display the levels of saturated fat, sodium and added sugar on the front of the package, in addition to putting it on the standard nutrition label on the back. Health regulators say if consumers can see that kind of nutrition information on the front, they will be more likely to make health conscious decisions. If this rule goes through, the new labeling could happen as soon as 2028. I'm Janine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

[Unknown Speaker]

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