NPR News: 01-19-2025 5AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 19, 2025, 5 AM EST

NPR News Now delivers the latest updates in just five minutes. This summary encapsulates the key topics discussed in the January 19, 2025, episode, providing insights and notable quotes to keep you informed.

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1. Ceasefire in Gaza Comes Under Strain

Host: Giles Snyder

A fragile ceasefire in Gaza has experienced setbacks as a crucial roadblock was recently removed. The halt in hostilities was initially triggered after Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza, announced the release of three hostages—a move Israel deemed necessary to validate the ceasefire. However, Israeli officials dismissed the ceasefire as ineffective, continuing their military actions beyond the set deadline.

Notable Insight: Palestinian medical officials reported casualties, stating, "At least 19 people were killed in Israeli attacks this morning" [00:18].

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2. TikTok Service Suspended Following Supreme Court Ruling

Host: Giles Snyder
Reporter: Bobby Allen

TikTok users across the United States found the app inaccessible late last night, following a Supreme Court decision that upheld a law banning the popular social media platform. The Supreme Court ruled that TikTok's connections to China present a national security threat that outweighs the free speech rights of its 170 million U.S. users.

Notable Quotes:

• Bobby Allen reports, "Users started reporting it around 10:30 PM Eastern Time when people tried to open their TikTok apps" [00:57].
• Highlighting the uncertainty, Allen adds, "It's unclear how long TikTok will be unavailable" [00:57].
• Regarding potential interventions, he notes, "President-elect Donald Trump has promised to rescue the application. It's unknown how he might accomplish that" [00:57].

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3. National Guard Mobilized Ahead of Trump's Inauguration

Host: Giles Snyder
Interviewee: Major John Andani

In anticipation of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, nearly 8,000 National Guard troops from 40 states have been deployed to Washington, D.C. Major John Andani, commander of the D.C. Guard, emphasized the mission's focus on safety and smooth transition of power.

Notable Quotes:

• Major Andani states, "We have 7,800 guardsmen...support this effort. They are all here with one intent and one purpose, and that is to ensure a safe and successful and peaceful transition of power" [01:45].
• Andani expressed confidence in the security plans despite logistical changes, mentioning the ceremony's move indoors due to cold weather [01:59].

The inauguration will mark the first indoor ceremony at the U.S. Capitol since President Ronald Reagan's second-term oath in 1985. Religious leaders, including Franklin Graham and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, are slated to offer prayers, reflecting the administration's support base.

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4. Declassified British Government Documents Reveal MI5 Secrets

Host: Giles Snyder
Reporter: Lauren Freyer

Recent declassifications of British government documents have unveiled that MI5 withheld critical information from Queen Elizabeth II, including the revelation of a senior courtier acting as a Soviet spy in 1964. The courtier's espionage activities were kept secret for nine years to avoid causing the Queen undue stress.

Notable Insights:

• Lauren Freyer reports, "The man was later stripped of his knighthood" [03:35].
• Documents also reveal MI5's attempts to strengthen U.S.-British relations by lobbying for honorary recognitions for FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover during a Cold War spy scandal [03:35].

These revelations are set to be featured in an upcoming exhibition at Britain's National Archives, shedding light on historical intelligence operations and their impact on royal and international relations.

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5. NFL Conference Championships Pave the Way to the Super Bowl

Host: Giles Snyder

As the NFL gears up for the Super Bowl, the conference championships are intensifying. The Kansas City Chiefs secured their spot by defeating the Houston Texans and are set to face the winner of the Buffalo Bills versus Baltimore Ravens game. Meanwhile, Washington is preparing to compete for the NFC title, marking their first appearance in over three decades, following a victory against the favored Detroit Lions.

Key Matchups:

• AFC Title: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Winner of Buffalo Bills/Baltimore Ravens
• NFC Title: Washington vs. Los Angeles Rams or Philadelphia Eagles

Giles Snyder provides an overview of these pivotal games, highlighting the competitive landscape as teams vie for a chance to compete in the Super Bowl [04:19].

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Stay informed with NPR News Now for concise and comprehensive updates on the latest events shaping our world.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

I'm Giles Snyder. A roadblock that delayed a ceasefire from taking effect in Gaza has been lifted. The pause in fighting began a short time ago after the Hamas militant group released the names of the three hostages it plans to released today. Israeli officials had said they did not consider the ceasefire valid until Hamas did so and continued to attack targets in Gaza after the deadline passed. Palestinian medics say at least 19 people were killed in Israeli attacks this morning. TikTok has gone dark for users across the US a service no longer available following the Supreme Court upholding a law banning it. Here's more from NPR's Bobby Allen.

[Bobby Allen]

Users started reporting it around 10:30pm Eastern Time when people tried to open their TikTok apps. They received a pop up that said, sorry, TikTok isn't available right now. The message stated the company took the app offline following a law banning the viral video app. The blackout follows the Supreme Court last week upholding the law, justices found that TikTok's China ties posed a national security threat that does not supersede the free speech of millions of Americans who use the app. It's unclear how long TikTok will be unavailable to its 170 million US users, but President elect Donald Trump has promised to rescue the appointment. It's unknown how he might accomplish that. Bobby Allen, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

Thousands of National Guard troops from dozens of states are in Washington, D.C. ahead of tomorrow's inauguration ceremony of President elect Donald Trump. Major John Andani is the commander of the D.C. guard.

[Major John Andani]

Right now, we have 7,800 guardsmen from all across 40 states supporting this effort. They are all here with one intent and one purpose, and that is to ensure a safe and successful and peaceful transition of power.

[Giles Snyder]

General Andani says the Guard troops will assist state and federal law enforcement and that he remains confident in security plans despite the decision to move the inauguration ceremony indoors because of the expected plunge in temperatures. The ceremony is to be held inside the U.S. capitol for the first time since President Ronald Reagan took the oath of office in 1985 for a second term. A number of religious leaders who have supported President elect Trump are among those slated to offer prayers during his inauguration in Pierce. Jason derose has more on that.

[Jason DeRose]

Franklin Graham, the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, is scheduled to give the invocation before Trump's swearing in Graham has been a vocal supporter of Trump during each of his runs for office. Also praying at the beginning of the ceremony, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Catholic archbishop of New York. Scheduled to offer the benediction at the end is Rabbi Ari Berman, the president of Yeshiva University, along with several other clergy from around the US Including Imam Husham al Husseini from Dearborn. Michig al Husseini is among the Muslim leaders who campaigned for Trump last year in part to punish Democrats for supporting Israel's war against Hamas. Jason DeRose, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

And you're listening to NPR News. Previously classified British government documents show Britain's MI5 kept information from the queen and tried to curry favor with the FBI. Those are some of the revelations from a trove of archives that have been declassified, as NPR's Lauren Freyer reports from London.

[Lauren Freyer]

In 1964, one of Queen Elizabeth's senior courtiers, her private art collector, confessed to being a Soviet spy, but the monarch wasn't told for nine years. AIDS apparently saw no advantage and didn't want to worry her. The man was later stripped of his knighthood. This is one of several tidbits in a trove of documents declassified ahead of an upcoming exhibition at Britain's National Archives. Other documents show how British secret agents lobbied for an honorary knighthood for J. Edgar Hoover, the notorious FBI director, and then tried to get him listed in a who's who almanac to boost his ego and US British relations after another Cold War spy scandal. Lauren Freyr, NPR News, London.

[Giles Snyder]

On the way to the NFL Super bowl, the conference championships are taking shape this weekend. Two more games are on tap today after the Kansas City Chiefs and the washing. The Chiefs beat the Houston Texans last night and will play the winner of today's game between the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens, the commanders who will play for the NFC title for the first time in more than 30 years. After beating the super bowl favorite Detroit Lions, Washington will play either Los Angeles Rams or the Philadelphia Eagles. I'm Jahel Snyder, NPR News.

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