NPR News: 01-19-2025 10PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 19, 2025, 10PM EST – Detailed Summary

Release Date: January 20, 2025
Host: Jeanine Hurst
Produced by: NPR

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1. President Elect Donald Trump's Victory Rally

Timestamp: 00:17 – 00:48

On the eve of his inauguration, President Elect Donald Trump delivered a fervent speech at a victory rally held in a Washington, D.C. arena. Addressing thousands of enthusiastic supporters, Trump emphasized his commitment to stringent border control measures.

Donald Trump (00:31): "By the time the sun sets tomorrow evening, the invasion of our borders will have come to a halt and all the illegal border trespassers will in some form or another be on their way back home."

Trump outlined his immediate agenda, which includes reversing bans on oil drilling, initiating mass deportations of individuals residing in the country without legal status starting the following week, and issuing a series of executive orders aimed at fulfilling his campaign promises.

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2. President Biden's Final Acts: Pardons and Commutations

Timestamp: 01:20 – 02:01
Reporter: Mara Liasson

As his administration draws to a close, President Joe Biden exercised his clemency powers by issuing pardons and commuting sentences for seven individuals, expanding his record of compassionate justice.

Mara Liasson (01:20): "With just hours left in his presidency, President Biden issued pardons for five people, most of them convicted of non-violent drug offenses."

Among the notable recipients are:

• Marcus Garvey: A posthumous pardon for the early 20th-century civil rights leader.
• Don Scott: The first Black Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Additionally, Biden commuted the sentences of two individuals serving long-term incarcerations, stating that they "would not have received under current law." The president underscored America's foundation on the principle of second chances, highlighting that his tenure included more pardons and commutations than any previous U.S. president.

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3. Hostage Exchange Between Israel and Gaza

Timestamp: 02:01 – 03:04
Reporter: Hadil Al Shalchi

In a significant development amid ongoing tensions, Israel has released approximately 90 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for three Israeli hostages previously held in Gaza. The hostages have been safely transported to Sheba Hospital near Tel Aviv.

Hadil Al Shalchi (02:14): "Emily Damari, Roni Gonin and Doran Steinbrecher, aged between 24 and 31, were all flown by helicopter to the Sheba Hospital just a couple of hours after they were released from Gaza."

Medical officials reported that all three women are in stable condition, with immediate reunification with their families being the top priority. Notably, Emily Damari sustained injuries during the attack by Hamas militants on October 7, resulting in the loss of two fingers from one hand.

The successful exchange marks the beginning of several planned hostage and detainee swaps anticipated to occur during an upcoming six-week ceasefire in Gaza. The release has been met with celebrations from friends, family, and supporters, although the uncertainty remains for other families awaiting the return of their loved ones from Gaza.

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4. Justice Department Sues Fayette County Over Voting Rights Violations

Timestamp: 03:04 – 03:56
Reporter: Jeanine Hurst

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated legal action against Fayette County in western Tennessee, alleging violations of the Voting Rights Act. The DOJ contends that the current voting district maps disproportionately dilute the electoral influence of Black residents, thereby infringing on federal law.

Jeanine Hurst (03:04): "The DOJ says the country's map of voting districts dilutes the votes of black residents in violation of federal law, and it's asking a federal court to order the county to draw a new voting map."

This lawsuit is one of three voting rights cases filed in the concluding days of the Biden administration, underscoring ongoing national concerns regarding equitable representation and the protection of minority voting rights.

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5. CDC Urges Testing for Bird Flu in Hospitalized Flu Patients

Timestamp: 03:56 – 04:35
Reporter: Scott Moscione

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a new advisory recommending that healthcare workers test all hospitalized flu patients for bird flu within 24 hours of admission. This guidance reflects growing apprehension about the potential for avian influenza to escalate.

Scott Moscione (03:56): "The CDC advisory underscores increasing concern over the potential for bird flu to spread."

Recent incidents heighten these concerns, including:

• A Louisiana man became the first U.S. casualty from bird flu earlier this month.
• Multiple cases of domestic cats contracting the virus through exposure to raw milk or contaminated pet food.

While the bird flu has not yet mutated to facilitate efficient human-to-human transmission, a study from Scripps Research suggests the virus may be nearing that capability. Additionally, a recent case in California involved a child contracting bird flu without any known contact with infected animals, further intensifying CDC's vigilance.

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6. Box Office Update: One of Them Days Tops Weekend Sales

Timestamp: 04:35 – 04:57
Reporter: Jeanine Hurst

In the entertainment sector, the buddy comedy One of Them Days has emerged as the weekend's box office leader, grossing an estimated $11.6 million in ticket sales. The film, produced by Sony and rated R, was made on a relatively modest budget of $14 million, signaling a strong return on investment.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content segments from sponsors such as Home Instead and Warby Parker have been excluded to focus solely on the news content.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the January 19, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, providing a comprehensive overview for those who did not listen to the broadcast.

Transcript

[Home Instead]

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[Jeanine Hurst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Hurst. On the eve of his inauguration, President Elect Trump addressed a victory rally at an arena in Washington, D.C. tonight, telling the thousands of supporters he he means business.

[Donald Trump]

By the time the sun sets tomorrow evening, the invasion of our borders will have come to a halt and all the illegal border trespassers will in some form or another be on their way back home.

[Jeanine Hurst]

Trump also says he plans to reverse bans on oil drilling, enact mass deportations of people in the country without legal status. That's said to be starting next week. And he says he will issue lots of executive orders. Meanwhile, thousands of supporters are in the nation's capital capitol to celebrate the inauguration, which was moved inside because of cold temperatures that are expected for tomorrow. President Biden is using his clemency power to pardon or commute the sentences of seven more people, adding to a historic roster. And Pierce Mara Liasson has more.

[Mara Liasson]

With just hours left in his presidency, President Biden issued pardons for five people, most of them convicted of non violent drug offenses. But one of them given posthumously was for Marcus Garvey, the early 20th century Civil rights leader. Another is Don Scott, who was the first black speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. President Biden also commuted the sentences of two people serving decades long sentences Biden said they would not have received under current law. In a statement, the president said America is a country built on the promises of second chances. Biden has made more pardons and commutations than any other president in U.S. history. Mara Liasson, NPR News.

[Jeanine Hurst]

Israel has released around 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees from its jails. This in exchange for three Israeli hostages held in Gaza who are now at a hospital in Israel. NPR's Hadil El Shalti has more from the hospital.

[Hadil Al Shalchi]

Emily Damari, Roni Gonin and Doran Steinbrecher, aged between 24 and 31, were all flown by helicopter to the Sheba Hospital outside of Tel Aviv just a couple of hours after they were released from Gaza. Doctors here said that the three women are in stable condition and their priority was to be reunited with their families. Photos of Damari showed that she had two fingers missing from one hand. Israeli officials said her hand was wounded on October 7 when she was attacked by Hamas militants. Friends and family of the three women gathered in the hospital, some draped in Israeli flags. Bystanders cheered and danced as the ambulances carrying the women drove by. In a statement released by Damari's mother, she said that while the nightmare was over for her daughter, the wait for the other families waiting for their loved ones to come out of Gaza is still impossible. Hadil Al Shalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jeanine Hurst]

It's the first of several hostage and detainee exchanges set to take place during an expected six week ceasefire in Gaza. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The Justice Department is suing Fayette county in western Tennessee, alleging it's violating the Voting Rights Act. The DOJ says the country's map of voting districts dilutes the votes of black residents in violation of federal law, and it's asking a federal court to order the county to draw a new voting map. This is one of three voting rights lawsuits filed in the final days of the Biden administration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging health care workers who are treating hospitalized flu patients to test for bird flu within 24 hours of admission. Scott Mesioni of member station WYPR has more.

[Scott Moscione]

The CDC advisory underscores increasing concern over the potential for bird flu to spread. Earlier this month, a Louisiana man became the first person in the US to die of the disease. There are also multiple reports of domestic cats contracting the virus after being exposed to raw milk or contaminated pet food. The bird flu has still not mutated to the point of human to human transmission and therefore remains a low threat to most of the US Population. However, a recent study from Scripps Research shows the virus may be getting close to that capability. Capability. The CDC's concern over bird flu rose after a child in California contracted the disease late last year without any known contact to infected animals. For NPR News, I'm Scott Moscione.

[Jeanine Hurst]

A quiet weekend at the box office. The buddy comedy One of Them Days debuted in the top spot with an estimated $11.6 million in ticket sales. The R rated Sony release cost only $14 million to produce. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[Warby Parker]

This message comes from Warby Parker. What makes a great pair of glasses at Warby Parker? It's all the invisible extras without the extra cost, like free adjustments for life. Find your [e-mail] or visit one of their hundreds of stores around the country.