NPR News Now: January 19, 2025

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Release Date: January 19, 2025
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

1. President-Elect Trump's Immigration Raids

Timestamp: [00:19]

Jeanine Herbst opens the episode with a report on the incoming administration's stringent immigration policies. According to Tom Homan, the new administration is preparing to initiate large-scale immigration raids across multiple cities starting next week. Homan emphasizes the administration's commitment by stating:

“We’re telling ICE you’re going to enforce the immigration law without apology. You're going to public, you're going to concentrate on 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.”
— Tom Homan, [00:47]

These raids are aligned with President-elect Donald Trump's priority to remove criminals from the country, as he mentioned in an interview with ABC News.

Additional Context: The Wall Street Journal reported that these immigration enforcement actions are scheduled to continue throughout the week. The administration plans to empower ICE by lifting previous restrictions, enabling more aggressive operations against undocumented individuals.

2. Severe Weather Prompts Indoor Inauguration

Timestamp: [00:58 – 02:12]

The episode transitions to weather forecasts predicting the coldest temperatures of the season hitting much of the United States over the weekend. Marc Chouinard from the National Weather Service highlights:

“A lot of the country from like the Rockies on eastward are going to get into the well below normal temperatures starting Sunday and then kind of lasting into the coming week.”
— Marc Chouinard, [01:09]

Due to these harsh conditions, President-elect Trump announced that the inauguration ceremony will take place indoors at the Capitol rotunda to ensure the safety of attendees. Tamara Keith reports:

“Trump said in a social media post he wanted to spare people from dangerous conditions and encouraged supporters to watch the proceedings from a large arena downtown.”
— Tamara Keith, [01:30]

This marks the first indoor inauguration since 1985 when President Ronald Reagan held his ceremony in the rotunda amidst freezing temperatures.

3. International Tensions in Lebanon Amid Ceasefire

Timestamp: [02:12 – 03:14]

French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Secretary-General António Guterres are currently in Lebanon to address the fragile ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israeli forces. Emily Fang reports:

“French President Emmanuel Macron said, ‘we need a total withdrawal of the Israeli army,’ referring to their continued occupation of some southern Lebanese villages.”
— Emily Fang, [02:24]

Secretary-General Guterres added:

“Israel's occupation in Lebanon must stop because their presence, as well as recent Israeli strikes inside Lebanon, violate a UN Security Council resolution.”
— Antonio Guterres, [02:24]

The Lebanese military is striving to remove Hezbollah weapons from the south to comply with the ceasefire, a process complicated by logistical challenges and international coordination issues.

4. DOJ Accuses Walgreens of Prescription Irregularities

Timestamp: [03:14 – 04:11]

The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Walgreens, alleging that the pharmacy chain knowingly filled millions of prescriptions without verifying their legitimacy. This practice has reportedly resulted in significant opioid overdoses. The DOJ claims Walgreens pressured pharmacists to dispense medications despite clear red flags indicating unlawful prescriptions. Walgreens, however, defends its practices and shifts its public image towards popular culture by promoting superhero-themed movies and TV shows.

5. Hollywood Embraces the Superhero Boom in 2025

Timestamp: [04:11 – 04:55]

Eric Deggans highlights the surge in superhero content for 2025, positioning it as the "year of the superhero." Marvel Television has unveiled a trailer for Daredevil Born Again, signaling a revitalized action-packed series on Disney Plus. An unnamed source commented:

“I was raised to believe in grace, but I was also raised to believe in retribution.”
— Unnamed Source, [04:21]

In addition to Daredevil, other franchises such as Captain Brave New World, Fantastic Four, First Steps, and a new iteration of Superman are set to launch. These efforts by Marvel and DC aim to rejuvenate their franchises and attract audiences back to theaters and streaming platforms for major releases.

Conclusion:

This episode of NPR News Now provided a comprehensive update on significant national and international events, from the incoming administration's immigration strategies and unprecedented inauguration plans due to severe weather, to international efforts to stabilize Lebanon and major legal actions against a leading pharmacy chain. Additionally, the segment on Hollywood's dedication to superhero narratives underscores the cultural zeitgeist of 2025.

Note: Advertisements and non-content sections were omitted to focus on the core news topics.