NPR News: 01-18-2025 1PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of January 18, 2025, 1 PM EST Episode

International Affairs

Ceasefire in Gaza

At the outset of the episode, Nora Ramm reports on a significant development in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas. A ceasefire in Gaza is slated to commence early the following day, following Israel's government approval of a deal reached with Hamas. Kat Lansdorf provides an in-depth update from Tel Aviv:

• Ceasefire Details: The ceasefire is set to begin at 8:30 AM local time. As part of the agreement, several Israeli hostages are expected to be released later in the day. In return, nearly 100 Palestinian detainees will be freed from Israeli prisons and relocated to the occupied West Bank.

• Ongoing Violence: Despite the ceasefire agreement, violence persists. According to Gaza Civil Defense, at least 122 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the deal's announcement, including numerous children. The Israeli military maintains that its operations target Hamas sites while striving to minimize civilian casualties.

• External Threats: Shortly after the deal's approval, missile sirens rang across Israel as the Houthi rebels from Yemen launched a missile, which the Israeli military successfully intercepted.

Conflict in Ukraine

Later in the episode, Nora Ramm transitions to the escalating tensions in Ukraine:

• Russian Strikes on Kyiv: Early that morning, Russian drones and missiles struck Ukraine's capital, Kyiv. These attacks resulted in at least three fatalities and dozens of injuries. This marks the second deadly strike on Kyiv within the month, with two missiles hitting before air raid sirens could be activated.

• Attacks on Zaporitsa: Additionally, Russian forces targeted the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporitsa, causing injuries to 10 individuals.

Domestic United States News

Inauguration of Donald J. Trump as the 47th President

A seismic shift in U.S. politics is highlighted as Donald J. Trump prepares to be sworn in as the nation's 47th president on Monday. Key points discussed include:

• Immigration Policy: Trump has declared that deporting unauthorized immigrants will be a top priority. Tom Homan, the incoming border czar, informed Fox News:

  “There will be immigration enforcement raids across the country starting Tuesday.”
  [01:16]

• Community Response: In anticipation of these enforcement actions, some communities are mobilizing to protect vulnerable populations. Jackson Potter, Vice President of the Chicago Teachers Union, emphasizes the protective stance for undocumented students:

  “We know Homeland Security agents will be sent here to strike. Fear in the hearts of our students and their families, and we are not standing for it.”
  [01:45]

Inauguration Ceremony Adjustments

Due to forecasted icy temperatures in Washington, the inauguration ceremony has been relocated indoors to the Capitol Rotunda, moving away from the traditional outdoor setting. Additionally, Trump's planned victory rally in Washington has also been moved inside to accommodate the weather conditions.

TikTok's U.S. Operations at Risk

A significant development in the tech and regulatory landscape was reported by Windsor Johnston:

• Potential Shutdown: TikTok has announced it will cease operations in the U.S. starting Sunday unless it receives clear assurances that the forthcoming ban will not be enforced. This ultimatum comes in the wake of the White House's decision to defer the app's future to the incoming Trump administration.

• Legislative Challenges: The proposed bipartisan law threatens TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, with forced divestiture of its U.S. operations or a complete cessation of services.

• Expert Opinion: Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, suggests that the optimal approach for Trump would be to collaborate with Congress to formulate an effective solution, stating:

  “The US the best thing that Trump could do is to work with Congress and say we're trying to have an effective solution. We don't want to cut off 170 million US users.”
  [02:42]

Middle Eastern Developments

Assassination of Iranian Judges

In a startling incident reported by Siavesh Ardalan of the BBC:

• Targeted Killings: Two senior judges from Iran's Supreme Court were assassinated in Tehran. These judges were notorious for their involvement in the persecution and massacre of the Islamic regime's opponents during the 1980s, 1990s, and beyond. A third judge was injured in the attack.

• Assassin's Identity: Details about the assailant remain scarce. State media claims the shooter was an infiltrator within Iran's judiciary, who reportedly killed himself following a past assassination attempt on Ali Razini nearly three decades ago.

Economic News

Janet Yellen's Final Moves as Treasury Secretary

As the United States approaches its debt limit, Janet Yellen makes critical decisions in her concluding acts as Treasury Secretary:

• Extraordinary Measures: Starting Tuesday, the Treasury Department will implement unprecedented actions, including suspending payments into specific accounts like the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, to address the looming financial shortfall.

• Call to Action: In her correspondence, Yellen urges Congress to raise the debt limit to prevent a government default and maintain the nation's credit standing. She underscores the urgency of Congressional action:

  "We must act swiftly to avoid a catastrophic default and protect the full faith and credit of the United States."
  [04:15]

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of pivotal global and domestic events shaping early 2025. From the fragile ceasefire in Gaza and escalating conflicts in Ukraine to significant political transitions in the United States and unsettling developments in Iran, the broadcast delivers critical insights and firsthand reports. Economic concerns under the final tenure of Janet Yellen further highlight the intricate challenges facing the nation. Notable statements from key figures like Jackson Potter and Carl Tobias offer depth to the unfolding narratives, ensuring listeners are well-informed on these pressing issues.

Transcript

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[Nora Ramm]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. A ceasefire in Gaza is set to go into effect early tomorrow. Israel's government voted overnight to approve a deal with Hamas reached this week. NPR's Kat Lansdorf has more from Tel Aviv.

[Kat Lansdorf]

The ceasefire is scheduled to begin at 8:30am local time. Later in the day, several Israeli hostages are expected to be released. In exchange, nearly 100 Palestinian detainees will be released from Israeli jails and into the occupied West Bank. The ceasefire deal comes after more than 15 months of war in Gaza. However, the fighting continues for now. At least 122 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since the deal was announced, including many children, according to Gaza Civil Defense. The Israeli military says it's been targeting Hamas sites and trying to avoid civilians. Only hours after Israel's government approved the deal, sirens sounded across the country. Houthis launched a missile from Yemen. According to the military, it was intercepted. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Nora Ramm]

Donald J. Trump will be sworn in Monday as the nation's 47th president. He has said a top priority will be deporting people who are in the US without authorization. The incoming border czar, Tom Homan told Fox News last night there will be immigration enforcement raids across the country starting Tuesday. Some communities are getting ready. The vice president of the Chicago Teachers Union, Jackson Potter, says undocumented students will be protected.

[Jackson Potter]

We know Homeland Security agents will be sent here to strike. Fear in the hearts of our students and their families, and we are not standing for it.

[Nora Ramm]

Icy temperatures are expected in Washington for the inauguration. The swearing in ceremony will be held inside the Capitol Rotunda instead of outside on the steps. A Trump victory rally in Washington tomorrow is also being moved inside. The popular social media site TikTok says it will go dark in the US Starting tomorrow unless it receives assurances that the law banning the app won't be enforced. NPR's Windsor Johnston reports.

[Windsor Johnston]

TikTok says it will pull the plug on Sunday unless it's given more clarity from the Biden administration regarding the ban. The White House on Friday said it's leaving the future of the app in the hands of the incoming Trump administration. Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, says Trump has several options to keep the app running in.

[Carl Tobias]

The US the best thing that Trump could do is to work with Congress and say we're trying to have an effective solution. We don't want to cut off 170 million US users.

[Windsor Johnston]

The bipartisan law would force TikTok's Chinese owned parent company, ByteDance, to divest its ownership or cease operating in the U.S. windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

[Nora Ramm]

This is NPR News in Washington. Russian drones and missiles struck the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, early this morning. Officials say at least three people were killed and at least a dozen more were wounded. It was the second deadly strike on Kyiv this month. Two missiles hit the city before authorities could sound the air raid siren. Russian forces also struck the city of Zaporitsa in southern Ukraine, injuring 10 people. Irania state media reports that two senior judges have been killed at the Iran's Supreme Court in the capital, Tehran. Another judge was injured. The BBC's Siavesh Ardalan has more.

[Siavesh Ardalan]

Both judges who were killed were notorious for their role in the persecution and massacre of the Islamic regime's opponents throughout the 80s, 90s and beyond. However, not much is known about the person who shot them and why. State media have reported that the assassin was an infiltrator within Iran's judiciary. He is said to have killed himself immediately after one of the victims, Ali Razini, had survived an assassination attempt some 30 years ago.

[Nora Ramm]

Siyavash Ardalan, reporting for the BBC. In one of her last acts as treasury secretary, Janet Yellen says her department will begin taking extraordinary measures Tuesday as the nation nears the debt limit. This includes not paying into certain accounts, such as the Civil Service Retirement and disability Fund, to make up for the money shortfall. It's not clear how long those measures will last. In her letter, Yellen again urged Congress to raise the debt limit to avoid a government default and to protect the full faith and credit of the United States. I'm Nora Rammed, NPR News in Washington.

[Carvana]

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