NPR News: 01-18-2025 12PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 18, 2025, 12 PM EST

Nour Rahm hosts the latest updates on national and international news, delivering critical information and insightful analysis.

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Donald Trump Inaugurated for a Second Term

[00:13] Donald Trump has been inaugurated as the President of the United States for a second term. As he returns to the White House, Trump faces the pressing challenge of addressing the nation’s debt ceiling. Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, announced to FOX News that the new administration is set to initiate immigration enforcement raids nationwide starting Tuesday.

Tom Homan [00:32]:

"We're telling ICE you're going to enforce immigration law without apology. You're going to constrain the worst first, public safety threats first. But no one's off the table. If they're in the country illegally, they got a problem."

Debt Ceiling Deadline Approaches

With the debt ceiling crisis escalating, President Trump must collaborate with Congress to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its obligations. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has indicated that the nation is on track to reach the debt ceiling by Tuesday, after which the government will implement extraordinary measures to extend its financial capacity until summer.

Rafael Nahm, NPR [01:00]:

"Debt fights are always tough and contentious. This one will test the partisan dynamics in new ways, too."

Trump’s administration faces the difficult task of either raising, suspending, or eliminating the debt ceiling, a move that contradicts many Republican campaign promises and presents significant political hurdles.

California Fires and Water Supply Myths

As wildfires continue to ravage California, misinformation regarding the state’s water supply has surfaced. Conspiracy theories claim that wealthy individuals like Stuart and Linda Resnick have hoarded water essential for firefighting efforts.

Julia Simon, NPR [02:06]:

"We did not run out of water."

NPR’s Julia Simon reports that contrary to these claims, Los Angeles has sufficient stored water. Experts explain that the primary issues hindering firefighting efforts were not water shortages but hurricane-force winds that prevented aerial water drops. Additionally, infrastructure challenges such as outdated water systems and inadequate hydrant functionality exacerbated the situation.

Stephanie Pinsell, UCLA [02:36]:

"Their groundwater is distinct and not germane to the problem."

Firefighters have made progress in containing the largest fire, the Paradise Fire, now 43% contained after burning over 23,000 acres. The Eaton Fire, also ongoing since January 7, has achieved 73% containment. The wildfires have resulted in at least 27 deaths and the destruction of over 10,000 homes and structures.

International Incidents and Conflicts

Ski Lift Collapse in Aragon, Spain A ski lift at a resort in Aragon collapsed today, resulting in the injury of dozens, with some sustaining serious injuries. Rescue operations are underway to free approximately 80 individuals trapped on the chairlift. Tragically, at least three people have lost their lives in the incident.

Missile Attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, endured a deadly missile attack by Russian forces early this morning. The assault included drones and Iskander ballistic missiles, causing significant destruction and casualties.

Joanna Kakisis, NPR [03:46]:

"One missile pounded a huge crater into a central district, setting ablaze cars and buildings, including the local McDonald's, a popular hangout."

The attacks resulted in at least three fatalities and a dozen injuries, with additional strikes in Zaporizhzhia causing further casualties. The recent escalation marks the second hostile strike on Kyiv this month, intensifying the ongoing conflict in the region.

TikTok Faces Potential U.S. Ban

The widely popular video app TikTok has announced its intention to cease operations in the United States tomorrow unless the Biden administration refrains from enforcing a pending ban. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre stated that the decision to enforce the ban will be deferred to the incoming Trump administration set to take office on Monday.

With approximately 170 million users in the U.S., the outcome of this decision could have significant implications for social media and digital communication platforms in the country.

Karine Jean Pierre, White House [04:25]:

"Given the timing of the ban, enforcement will be up to the incoming Trump administration."

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NPR News Now continues to provide concise and comprehensive coverage of the latest news, ensuring listeners stay informed on critical developments both domestically and internationally.

Transcript

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[Nour Rahm]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nour Rahm. Donald Trump becomes president for the second time on Monday. His border czar, Tom Homan, told FOX News last night the new administration is preparing to carry out immigration enforcement raids around the country starting on Tuesday.

[Tom Homan]

Well, we're telling ICE you're going to enforce immigration law without apology. You're going to constrain the worst first, public safety threats first. But no one's off the table. If they're in the country illegally, they got a problem.

[Nour Rahm]

When President Elect Trump returns to the White House on Monday, he'll face a critical task he had tried to avoid. He'll need to work with Congress to figure out what to do about the debt ceiling or the US will run out of cash to pay its bills. NPR's Rafael Nahm has more.

[Rafael Nahm]

The dead clock is ticking. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the US Is on track to hit its debt ceiling on Tuesday. The US Will then take what are called extraordinary measures to stretch out the government's cash and avoid a devastating default. Analysts say that could buy time until sometime in the summer. Last year, Trump had urged the previous Congress to abolish the debt ceiling, but lawmakers did not. So now Trump and the new GOP controlled Congress will need to raise, suspend or even get rid of the debt ceiling, something many Republicans campaign against. Debt fights are always tough and contentious. This one will test the partisan dynamics in new ways, too. Rafael Naom, NPR News.

[Nour Rahm]

As fires rage in California, conspiracy theories abound, fed by a reservoir that's empty for repairs and water systems that couldn't maintain adequate pressure so some hydrants didn't work. But as NPR's Julia Simon reports, the reality is LA has plenty of stored water.

[Julia Simon]

NPR spoke to half a dozen water and fire experts who say no municipal water systems are designed for fires this big. They say the issue was not a lack of water, but hurricane force winds that meant aircraft couldn't fly and and drop water on the blazes. A popular false narrative claims billionaires Stuart and Linda Resnick hoarded water on their California farms that could have been used to fight fires. Stephanie Pinsell, professor at ucla, says while the Resnicks use a lot of water.

[Stephanie Pinsell]

Their groundwater is distinct and not germane to the problem. We did not run out of water.

[Julia Simon]

Julia Simon, NPR News.

[Nour Rahm]

Firefighters are reporting some progress against the blazes. Officials say the largest, the Paradise Fire, is now about 43% contained. It's burned more than 23,000 acres since it broke out 11 days ago. The Eaton Fire that also began Jan. 7 is now about 73% contained. At least 27 people have died, and more than 10,000 homes and other structures have been destroyed. This is NPR News. A ski lift collapsed at a resort in the Spanish region of Aragon today. Local officials say dozens of people were injured, some seriously. About 80 people were trapped on the chairlift and are being rescued by public safety officials. At least three people were killed and at least a dozen more injured in Ukraine's capital Kyiv today after an early morning missile attack by Russian forces. NPR's Joanna Kakisis reports. Hearing the loud buzzing of drones over the city, followed by the sound of Ukraine's air defenses responding.

[Joanna Kakis]

It was the second deadly strike on Kyiv this month. Along with the drones, Russia launched four high speed Iskander ballistic missiles at the capital Cave. Before authorities could sound the air raid siren, one missile pounded a huge crater into a central district, setting ablaze cars and buildings, including the local McDonald's, a popular hangout. The attacks also damaged a water main, causing flooding. Meanwhile, in the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, another Russian strike injured 10 people. A previous strike this month on the city killed 13. Joanna Kakis, NPR News.

[Nour Rahm]

The popular video app TikTok says it will shut down in the US Tomorrow unless the Biden administration says it will not enforce a ban which goes into effect then. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre has said that given the timing of the ban, enforcement will be up to the incoming Trump administration, which takes office Monday. TikTok has 170 million users in the U.S. i'm Nora Rahm, NPR News.

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