NPR News Now: January 15, 2025, 11 AM EST
**1. National Politics: Trump’s Cabinet Confirmation Hearings
Korva Coleman opens the episode by reporting on the ongoing confirmation hearings in several Senate committees for President Elect Donald Trump's cabinet nominees. A key focus is on Pam Bondi, Trump's selection for the next U.S. Attorney General.
Pam Bondi emphasized her commitment to depoliticizing the Justice Department:
“[00:37] As the next attorney general of the United States, my overriding objective will be to return the Department of Justice to its core mission of keeping Americans safe and vigorously prosecuting criminals.”
Trump aims to end what he describes as the "weaponization of the Justice Department," a sentiment Bondi echoes, promising to reduce partisanship within the agency if confirmed.
In addition to Bondi, Trump’s nominees undergoing scrutiny include:
- Senator Marco Rubio for Secretary of State
- Former Congressman Sean Duffy for the Transportation Department
- Chris Wright, a former fossil fuel executive, for the Energy Department
2. National Security: Focus on the Southern Border
The confirmation hearings also spotlight Trump's incoming National Security Adviser, Mike Waltz, who identifies the southern border as the United States' most pressing national security issue.
Mike Waltz stated:
“[01:38] The open nature of the southern border is unacceptable and the incoming Trump administration intends to tackle that.”
An unnamed Trump Administration official further elaborated on their approach:
“[01:46] You're going to see a lot of action to close the border, to go back to the policies that we believe were working.”
Waltz highlighted strategies such as the "remain in Mexico" policy and collaboration with the Mexican government to strengthen border security. He also noted ongoing communications with Biden’s national security team to negotiate a hostage release and potential ceasefire in Gaza.
3. Local Impact: Los Angeles Firestorm Devastates Communities
A significant segment covers the severe wildfires in Los Angeles, resulting in at least 25 fatalities and extensive property damage since the previous week.
NPR’s Martin Acosti reports:
“[02:15] The two big fires, Palisades and Eaton, have destroyed thousands of homes, putting a huge strain on the Los Angeles housing market.”
Mayor Karen Bass has responded by issuing an emergency order aimed at freeing up approximately 1,200 housing units in the coming week. She appeals to landlords to maintain rent prices during this crisis:
“[02:51] The rents are too expensive to begin with, and the idea that somebody would gouge folks at this point in time, I think is shameful.”
Despite state laws limiting rent increases to no more than 10% during emergencies, Acosti notes that bidding wars persist for available housing:
“[02:59] State law prohibits increases of more than 10% during declared emergencies such as this, but that has not stopped bidding wars over some available housing.”
4. International Affairs: NATO Protects Undersea Cables
Korva Coleman details NATO’s initiative to safeguard vital undersea cables in the Baltic Sea region. The alliance is deploying ships, planes, and drones to patrol these critical waterways following damage to several power, gas, and telecommunications lines connecting Europe.
5. Healthcare: Last Day for Open Enrollment on Healthcare.gov
Selena Simmons Duffin highlights the urgency for eligible Americans to enroll in health plans as the open enrollment period on Healthcare.gov concludes at midnight.
Key points include:
- Increased availability of Obamacare plan options compared to previous years.
- Extra subsidies reducing monthly premiums, with some as low as $10, contingent on Congressional action to extend these benefits beyond the current year.
Simmons Duffin advises individuals to use their zip codes on Healthcare.gov to find suitable plans, emphasizing the deadline's significance:
“[03:43] The deadline to enroll in a plan on healthcare.gov is midnight.”
6. Legal Developments: Texas Sues Allstate Over Data Privacy Issues
The state of Texas has initiated a lawsuit against a subsidiary of insurance giant Allstate, alleging unauthorized tracking of motorists via cell phones and the subsequent sale of personal data to insurance companies without consent.
Allstate has responded by denying any illicit activities:
"[04:25] Allstate has released a statement and denied taking any illegal actions."
This case underscores growing concerns over data privacy and the legal ramifications for companies handling personal information.
This summary provides an overview of the key topics discussed in the NPR News Now episode released on January 15, 2025. For more detailed information, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.