NPR News Now: January 20, 2025, 3 PM EST

Hosted by NPR

1. Inauguration of President Donald Trump

Lakshmi Singh opens the episode by reporting on the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States. Due to freezing temperatures, inaugural events were moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda, marking the first such occurrence since President Reagan's second inauguration in 1985.

2. President Trump's Inaugural Address and Immigration Policies

In his first speech, President Trump shifted the focus from inflation to immigration as the primary issue affecting Americans.

• Donald Trump ([00:54]) states:

  “They all said inflation was the number one issue. I said I disagree. I think people coming into our country from prisons and from mental institutions is a bigger issue for the people that I know. And I made it my number one. I talked about inflation, too. But, you know, how many times can you say that an apple has doubled in cost?”

Trump outlined a series of executive actions aimed at tightening border security. Lakshmi Singh details ten key executive orders, including:

• Declaring a national emergency at the border
• Ending the catch and release policy
• Reinstating the "Remain in Mexico" policy
• Requiring asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their U.S. immigration hearings
• Ending birthright citizenship

Lakshmi Singh ([01:11]) adds:

“Incoming White house officials preview 10 executive orders on border security, specifically that Trump had planned to sign today.”

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has vowed to challenge any actions they consider unconstitutional.

3. Public Reaction and Supporters Awaiting Trump

Despite the inauguration being held indoors, Frank Langford reports on the extensive turnout of Trump supporters braving 21-degree temperatures outside the Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C.

• Kathy Kallas, a Trump supporter from Pittsburgh, shares her perspective:

  “My grandparents were immigrants. Where they come from Croatia. Come into our country. Come in legally. We welcome you with open arms, abide by the laws.” ([02:11])

Significantly, Lakshmi Singh notes a 70% decrease in unauthorized border crossings over the past six months compared to the previous year, aligning with Trump's immigration policies ([02:18]).

4. International Response: Russian President Vladimir Putin Congratulates Trump

Lakshmi Singh transitions to international news, highlighting remarks from Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulating Trump on his presidency.

Charles Maynes reports:

“Putin said he welcomed Trump's desire to avoid a conflict with Russia that could lead to World War 3. He also said he was open to dialogue with Washington, including negotiations to end the conflict in Ukraine. The most important thing is to eliminate the main reason for the crisis, said Putin, adding he didn't want to see a temporary ceasefire that would allow parties to rearm and regroup, but rather a long term peace.” ([02:44])

Putin emphasized the need for:

• Ending Ukraine's pursuit of NATO membership
• Recognition of Russia's control over Ukrainian territories seized during the conflict

These statements reflect Russia's stance on the ongoing situation in Ukraine and its implications for international relations ([02:44]).

5. Additional News Highlights

Lakshmi Singh continues with a roundup of other significant news stories:

• Release of Israeli Hostages: Three Israeli hostages were freed from Gaza in a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, with more expected in the coming weeks after being held for over 15 days ([03:21]).

• FBI Director Paula Bate's Retirement: Paula Bate abruptly retired, leaving uncertainty over the interim leadership of the FBI as the Senate considers President Trump's nominee, Kash Patel, for the position ([03:21]).

• Reevaluation of Health Metrics: An international panel recommends moving beyond BMI (Body Mass Index) to more accurate measures of body composition and body fat, addressing the misclassification of athletes and individuals with stocky builds ([03:21]).

  Allison Aubrey reports:

  “Dr. Robert Kushner of Northwestern University, who was part of the Lancet Commission that made the recommendation, says it's time for a change.” ([04:33])

  He suggests alternative measurements such as waist circumference or DEXA scans for a more precise assessment of body fat ([04:40]).

• Stock Market Update: U.S. stocks saw gains with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up by 334 points, or three-quarters of a percent ([04:52]).

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provided a comprehensive overview of the day's top stories, from the historic inauguration of President Trump and his aggressive immigration agenda to international diplomacy with Russia, significant developments in cybersecurity leadership, health metric reforms, and positive movements in the stock market. Through detailed reporting and firsthand accounts, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the current political and social landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump ([00:54]): “They all said inflation was the number one issue. I said I disagree. I think people coming into our country from prisons and from mental institutions is a bigger issue for the people that I know. And I made it my number one."

• Kathy Kallas ([02:11]): “My grandparents were immigrants. Where they come from Croatia. Come into our country. Come in legally. We welcome you with open arms, abide by the laws.”

• Vladimir Putin ([02:44]): “I welcomed Trump's desire to avoid a conflict with Russia that could lead to World War 3... a long term peace.”

• Dr. Robert Kushner ([04:33]): “We are now recommending that individuals have another measurement obtained that more directly gets an estimate of body fat.”

This summary is based on the transcript from the NPR News Now episode released on January 20, 2025.