NPR News Now: January 20, 2025

Release Date: January 20, 2025
Host: Dale Willman
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

1. Release of Three Israeli Hostages by Hamas

Timestamp: [00:17]

Dale Willman opens the episode with significant news from the Middle East. Three Israeli women, who had been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, were freed and safely returned to Israel. This release was part of a broader ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.

Timestamp: [00:36]
Greg Myhre reports from Tel Aviv, detailing the chaotic scene in Gaza City where the women were released. Masked Hamas gunmen transported the hostages in a van to a crowded square filled with Palestinians. The Red Cross took custody of the women before handing them over to the Israeli military for their journey back to Israel.

Notable Quote:
"The women, ages 24 to 31, were all able to walk on their own, but there was no word on their overall condition," Myhre noted, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding their wellbeing post-release.

These exchanges between Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners are expected to continue for several weeks, as both sides work towards stabilizing the fragile ceasefire.

2. Donald Trump's Inauguration Moved Indoors Due to Extreme Cold

Timestamp: [01:18]

President-elect Donald Trump announced a significant change to his inauguration plans, moving the event indoors in response to plummeting temperatures in Washington, D.C. This marks the first time in 40 years that the inauguration will be held inside the Capitol.

Timestamp: [01:39]
Amy Held provides further details, explaining that President Joe Biden, members of Congress, and other select guests will attend the inauguration in the Capitol rotunda. The venue has a capacity of 600 people, a stark contrast to the originally planned 250,000 attendees.

Timestamp: [01:53]
Luke Griffin, a local resident, expressed disappointment:
"We would show up. We're prepared. We've got gloves and hats and scarves and coats. We're ready to go."
Despite the public's anticipation, the harsh weather forecast led to mass cancellations, leaving most plans to witness the inauguration in person unfulfilled.

Additional Details:
Capitol Police officials stated that the west front of the U.S. Capitol, the traditional location for inaugurations, was inaccessible due to safety concerns. Consequently, Trump directed attendees to watch the proceedings at DC's Capital One Arena, which can accommodate up to 20,000 people. He also mentioned a personal appearance post-inauguration at the venue.

3. Justice Department Files Voting Rights Lawsuit in Tennessee

Timestamp: [02:23]

The Department of Justice has initiated a lawsuit against Fayette County in western Tennessee, alleging that the county's voting district map undermines the collective power of Black voters. This legal action contends that the redistricting plan violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by preventing Black voters from having an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their preference.

Timestamp: [02:38]
Hansi Lo Wang elaborates on the issue:
"About a half hour east of Memphis sits Fayette County, where the Justice Department argues voting is racially polarized and the redistricting plan for the county Commission violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by not giving Black voters an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice."

The DOJ is seeking a federal court order for Fayette County to redesign its voting map. This lawsuit is one of three similar cases filed by the federal government, raising concerns among voting rights advocates. There is apprehension that the incoming Trump administration may deprioritize such cases, potentially weakening protections against racial discrimination in voting.

4. India Launches Battlefield Tourism in Border Villages

Timestamp: [03:11]

In an unconventional move, India has unveiled its latest tourism initiative dubbed "battlefield tourism," focusing on over 70 border areas where Indian soldiers have historically engaged with counterparts from Pakistan and China over the past eighty years. These regions, often nestled in the challenging terrains of the Himalayas, were previously off-limits to civilians.

Timestamp: [03:24]
Omkar Kandekar reports:
"India's Defence Ministry has launched a website and mobile app to promote the tourism of more than 70 border areas where Indian soldiers have clashed with their counterparts in Pakistan and China over the last eight decades."
Army Chief Upendra D. Vivedi stated that this initiative aims to support residents of border villages, many of whom have migrated due to limited employment opportunities. Analysts believe that encouraging habitation in these regions will mitigate the risk of encroachment, particularly around strategic areas like Indochina.

5. Bob Dylan’s "Mr. Tambourine Man" Lyrics Auction and Movie Sales Report

Timestamp: [04:06]

In cultural news, the draft lyrics to Bob Dylan's iconic song "Mr. Tambourine Man" fetched over half a million dollars at a recent Nashville auction. The sale also included various memorabilia related to Dylan, such as photographs, sheet music, one of his guitars, and an oil painting. Celebrating his illustrious career, the 83-year-old Nobel Prize-winning singer remains a significant influence in music and popular culture. Additionally, Dylan is the subject of an upcoming movie, further cementing his legacy.

Shifting to the film industry, a surprising entry emerged at the box office: the Palmer buddy comedy "One of Them Days" secured the top spot over the weekend, grossing $11.6 million in North American theaters. This R-rated film eclipsed Disney’s "Mufasa: The Lion King," which took second place with substantial earnings, while the horror movie "Wolfman" rounded out the top three with $10.6 million in sales. Despite these successes, the holiday period has been notably slow for movie sales, marking it as one of the sluggish Martin Luther King Jr. Holidays since 1977.

This summary provides an overview of the key topics discussed in the January 20, 2025, episode of NPR News Now. For more detailed information, please refer to the full podcast episode.