NPR News: 01-20-2025 11PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now Episode: NPR News: 01-20-2025 11PM EST | Release Date: January 21, 2025

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Presidential Pardon Updates: Trump Forgives January 6 Defendants

In a significant move, former President Donald Trump has issued pardons to over 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the violent January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. NPR's Tom Dreisbach reports that this unprecedented action effectively ends the prison sentences for every defendant involved in the day’s insurrection.

Tom Dreisbach [00:41]: "Trump has given nearly all of those defendants an unconditional pardon, except for just 14 who are getting commutations."

The pardon spree covers those who actively engaged in violent actions, including assaults on police officers using weapons such as pepper spray, stun guns, and hockey sticks. Despite President Trump's assertion that the defendants were "treated horribly," most individuals had previously pleaded guilty to their charges.

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Biden's Final Acts: Pardoning Family Members

In a controversial and unprecedented decision, President Joe Biden has preemptively pardoned several members of his own family before leaving office. NPR's Asma Khalid sheds light on this unusual move.

Asma Khalid [01:30]: "The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that they did anything wrong, but it's a sign of the distrust Biden has for the new administration."

Biden’s pardons include his brother James and his wife, his sister Valerie and her husband, along with his other brother Francis. He cited ongoing "unrelenting attacks and threats" against his family as the rationale. This action follows Biden’s earlier pardon of his son Hunter for gun and tax-related convictions, highlighting a pattern of familial leniency that contrasts with his public commitment to the rule of law.

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Marco Rubio Confirmed as Secretary of State

The Senate has unanimously confirmed Florida Republican Marco Rubio as the next U.S. Secretary of State. NPR's Michelle Kellerman provides insights into Rubio's forthcoming role and priorities.

Michelle Kellerman [02:19]: "Marco Rubio has been a hawkish voice in the Senate on China, and in his confirmation hearing, he described China as a potent and dangerous adversary."

Rubio is set to assume his position as early as Tuesday, where he will engage with foreign ministers from India, Japan, and Australia as part of the Quad alliance. This partnership is pivotal in the Pacific region, aimed at countering China's growing influence. Rubio emphasized the necessity for the United States to bolster its domestic industrial base to reduce dependency on Chinese goods, reflecting his strategic approach to foreign policy.

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Severe Weather Alerts: Winter Storm and Fire Risks

A dangerous winter storm is set to impact a broad swath of the United States, spanning from Texas through the Gulf states and into the Southeast. NPR reports that the majority of the nation is experiencing frigid temperatures, posing significant challenges.

Firefighters in Southern California are particularly on high alert as extreme weather conditions re-emerge, potentially exacerbating wildfire risks. Meteorologists forecast wind gusts reaching up to 70 miles per hour along the coast, with even higher speeds anticipated in the mountains and Los Angeles foothills through Tuesday.

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MLK Day Celebrations Amid Political Tensions

Communities across the United States commemorated Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy amidst the presidential inauguration festivities. Brian Bull from Eugene, Oregon, reports on the annual MLK Jr. Celebration held on MLK Boulevard.

Damond Hawkins [04:09]: "If we were fighting for diversity, equity and inclusion before, it didn't matter if Kamala Harris was in office or Donald Trump in office. We were gonna still have to fight for diversity, equity and inclusion."

Approximately 300 individuals braved below-freezing temperatures to participate in the event. Damond Hawkins of the Eugene Springfield NAACP expressed resilience in the face of President Trump's rollbacks on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, emphasizing that the fight for these values transcends political administrations. The celebration featured parades, speeches, and musical tributes honoring Dr. King's civil rights contributions.

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In Memoriam: Cecil Richards

The news also marks the passing of Cecil Richards, the former President of Planned Parenthood, who succumbed to brain cancer at the age of 67. Richards, a prominent figure who steered the organization through some of its most challenging periods, was honored posthumously with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November. She was the daughter of the late Texas Governor Ann Richards, highlighting her influential legacy in both political and social spheres.

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Market Update: Wall Street Observes MLK Holiday

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Wall Street remained closed, affecting pre-market trading activities. As the nation reflects on Dr. King's legacy, U.S. futures are showing mixed signals in response to the holiday observance.

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the major news developments covered in the January 21, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, providing listeners with detailed insights into presidential pardons, political appointments, severe weather conditions, community celebrations, and significant obituaries.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Donald Trump has issued pardons to more than 1,500 people charged in connection with a violent January 6, 2021 attack on on the U.S. capitol. As NPR's Tom Dreisbach reports, Trump's action ends the prison sentence for every defendant who attacked police on that day.

[Tom Dreisbach]

On January 6, 2021, a mob of Trump supporters violently stormed the Capitol, some using weapons like pepper spray, a stun gun, a hockey stick and stolen riot batons that they used to attack and beat police officers. More than 100 officers were injured following the insurrection. The Justice Department brought charges against more than 1500 people. Now Trump has given nearly all of those defendants an unconditional pardon, except for just 14 who are getting commutations. That smaller group will be released from prison but still have a felony on their records. Trump said the January 6 defendants had been treated horribly, though most of them pleaded guilty. Tom Dreisbach, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

In his final moments as president, Joe Biden preemptively pardoned several members of his own family. NPR's Asma Khalid reports on that unusual move.

[Asma Khalid]

In a statement, Biden wrote that his family had been subjected to, quote, unquote, unrelenting attacks and threats that he does not foresee ending and therefore he was pardoning his brother James and his wife, his sister Valerie and her husband, along with his other brother Francis. He said the issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that they did anything wrong, but it's a sign of the distrust Biden has for the new administration. This despite Biden's longstanding avowal of respect for the rule of law. Late last year, Biden issued a sweeping pardon of his son Hunter, who had been convicted of gun and tax related crimes. Asma Khalid, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

The Senate has unanimously confirmed Florida Republican Marco Rubio to be the next secretary of state. And as NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports, Rubio is expected to be on the job as soon as Tuesday.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Once he's sworn in, Rubio is expected to dive into work, hosting foreign ministers from India, Japan and Australia at the State Department. The group, known as the Quad, is a key partnership in the Pacific and part of the US Efforts to counter China's influence. The three ministers are in Washington for Trump's inauguration. Marco Rubio has been a hawkish voice in the Senate on China, and in his confirmation hearing, he described China as a potent and dangerous adversary. He said the US Needs to build up its domestic industrial base so that Americans won't have to depend so much on goods from China. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

Most of the nation is experiencing dangerous cold temperature. A winter storm is threatening to blanket areas from Texas through the Gulf states and into the Southeast. You're listening to NPR News. Firefighters in Southern California are bracing for the return of extreme weather conditions that could fuel more fires. Forecasters are predicting wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour along the coast and higher gusts in the mountains and the Los Angeles foothills through Tuesday. Today wasn't just about the presidential inauguration. Across the United States, communities also celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. S legacy. Brian Bull of member station KLCC reports from Eugene, Oregon.

[Brian Bull]

On MLK Boulevard, roughly 300 people lined up in below freezing temperatures for the annual MLK Jr. Celebration in March. Damond Hawkins of the Eugene Springfield NAACP said President Trump's push to roll back DEI initiatives neither surprises nor discourages black Americans.

[Damond Hawkins]

If we were fighting for diversity, equity and inclusion before, it didn't matter if Kamala Harris was in office or Donald Trump in office. We were gonna still have to fight for diversity, equity and inclusion. That's just what the battle is in our country, right?

[Brian Bull]

Marchers paraded through Eugene before more speakers and music honoring King's civil rights legacy. For NPR News, I'm Brian Bull in Eugene, Oregon.

[Shea Stevens]

Former Planned Parenthood President Cecil Richards has died following a bout with brain cancer. Richards led the organization through some of its most tumultuous years. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November. Cecil Richards was the daughter of late Texas Governor Ann Richards. She was 67 years old. WALL street was closed today in observance of the King Holiday and pre market trading. US Futures are mixed. This is NPR News.

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