NPR News Now: January 20, 2025, 2AM EST

Released on January 20, 2025

International Affairs

Israel and Gaza Hostage Exchange

In a significant development amidst ongoing tensions, Israel has released approximately 90 Palestinians as part of a new Gaza ceasefire. This move follows the earlier release on Sunday by Hamas of three Israeli women who had been held hostage since the October 7, 2023, attack. These women, aged between 24 and 31, were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza City, an area severely impacted by sustained Israeli bombardment (00:17). Aya Batrawi of NPR elaborated:

"Now they were actually handed over to the ICRC in Gaza City. This is an area cut off from southern Gaza and it faced some of the most sustained Israeli bombardment in the war." (00:32)

Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

With the ceasefire now in place, over 600 trucks carrying humanitarian aid are currently en route to Gaza. Officials report that the enclave has suffered extensive destruction due to prolonged conflict, highlighting the urgent need for aid delivery (00:58).

United States Politics

President Biden’s Historic Pardons

As his presidency draws to a close, President Joe Biden has exercised his clemency powers to pardon or commute the sentences of seven individuals, adding to what is now the most extensive list of pardons in U.S. history. Mara Liasson of NPR reported that among those pardoned are:

• Marcus Garvey: The early 20th-century civil rights leader, pardoned posthumously.
• Don Scott: The first Black Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.
• Two individuals whose sentences were commuted after serving decades, whom Biden stated "would not have received under current law."

President Biden emphasized the importance of second chances in his statement:

"America is a country built on the promises of second chances." (01:19)

This action underscores Biden's commitment to criminal justice reform and his administration's focus on addressing non-violent offenses.

Donald Trump’s Executive Actions

In a contrasting move, President-elect Donald Trump has announced his intention to issue an executive order aimed at pausing the federal ban on TikTok. According to NPR's Luke Garrett, this comes despite existing federal laws mandating the separation or banning of the Chinese-owned app due to national security concerns. Trump asserted:

"TikTok is a fantastic app. It's something that 170 million Americans enjoy and we're confident that we can save TikTok. But also protect Americans' data and protect them from influence." (02:11)

However, this stance faces opposition within his party. Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas has defended the TikTok ban, citing ongoing national security risks (02:36).

Additionally, Trump has declared his intention to release classified documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Despite making similar promises during his first term, he did not follow through due to concerns from the intelligence community. The implications of this announcement remain to be seen (02:52).

Natural Disasters

Wildfires in Southern California

The Palisades Fire near Los Angeles is now over 50% contained, but firefighting efforts continue as strong Santa Ana winds are forecasted to return on Monday. Elise Hu of NPR detailed the situation:

"Another round of extreme Santa Ana winds are expected to blow in Southern California, where two of its largest wildfires, Palisades and Eaton, continue to burn." (03:29)

The National Weather Service has issued a rare red flag warning, anticipating wind gusts up to 80 miles per hour. The combination of these winds and the critically dry conditions—stemming from a lack of rain since April—creates a dangerous environment for fire spread:

"...the critically dry fuel... gives the recipe for critical fire conditions." (03:54)

Meteorologist Rich Thompson highlighted the urgency of the situation, emphasizing the continued threat posed by the impending weather patterns.

Humanitarian Concerns

The Case of Austin Tice

The mother of American journalist Austin Tice, who has been held captive in Syria since 2012, remains hopeful for his release following the recent overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad. Deborah Tice, Austin's mother, is actively seeking meetings with Syria's new leaders to obtain information and secure her son's freedom. Austin Tice is currently 43 years old, and his prolonged captivity has drawn international attention and concern (04:03).

Sports Highlights

• Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens: In a thrilling game that remained undecided until the final two minutes, the Buffalo Bills triumphed over the Baltimore Ravens with a score of 27-25. Josh Allen shined with two rushing touchdowns, while Baltimore's Mark Andrews made a crucial drop during a two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game with 1:33 left on the clock. Additionally, Jalen Hurts contributed significantly with a 44-yard scoring run.

• Philadelphia Eagles vs. LA Rams: The Philadelphia Eagles secured a victory against the LA Rams with a score of 28-22, paving their way to the NFC Championship slated for next Sunday. The Rams struggled with turnovers, ultimately succumbing to the Eagles' strategic gameplay (04:03).

This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key discussions and updates featured in the NPR News Now episode released on January 20, 2025. For more detailed information, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.