NPR News Now: January 21, 2025, 12 PM EST Summary
1. President Trump's Executive Actions
Timestamp: [00:13]
NPR's Lakshmi Singh opens the episode by highlighting President Donald Trump's first full day back in office. Following his inauguration, Trump swiftly signed a series of executive orders aimed at reversing policies implemented during the Biden administration and asserting his influence over the U.S. government.
Timestamp: [00:32]
Tamara Keith delves into one of Trump's most contentious executive orders: an attempt to terminate birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to individuals who are either in the country illegally or present legally but temporarily. Keith explains, "Birthright citizenship is written into the Constitution," emphasizing the legal challenges Trump's order might face.
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An unnamed commentator responds to the order, expressing strong disapproval: "Birthright, that's a big one."
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Keith further discusses Trump's admission of uncertainty regarding the legal viability of his order: "Trump admitted he doesn't know whether his order will hold up to legal challenge."
Timestamp: [00:57]
The commentator adds, "It's just absolutely ridiculous. But, you know, we'll see. We think it. We have very good ground," indicating confidence in opposing the order's legality.
This executive order was part of a broader package of actions signed by Trump in the Oval Office shortly after his inauguration, signaling his intent to make immediate and significant changes to federal policies.
2. Trump’s Pardons Related to January 6th
Timestamp: [01:12]
Lakshmi Singh reports that President Trump has taken decisive action regarding individuals charged in connection with the January 6th Capitol insurrection. Trump has pardoned, commuted the prison sentences, or pledged to dismiss cases for more than 1,500 individuals involved in the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol. This event, which occurred during the certification of the 2020 election results, resulted in multiple deaths and serious injuries, including those sustained by law enforcement officers tasked with securing the Capitol.
3. China's Reaction to U.S. Climate Policy Shifts
Timestamp: [01:45]
China's Foreign Ministry has expressed concern over Trump's immediate decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. NPR’s John Ruich reports on the Chinese government's stance:
Timestamp: [01:45]
"Climate change is a challenge for all of humanity. No country can stand aside or go it alone. China remains steadfast in its determination to combat climate change," stated John Ruich, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry. He added, "We will work with all parties to actively address the challenge and promote the transition to a green and low carbon future."
This statement underscores China's commitment to international climate efforts and its readiness to collaborate globally, despite the U.S. administration's policy reversal.
4. Severe Winter Storm Threatens the Gulf South
Timestamp: [02:01]
A significant winter storm is poised to impact the central and eastern United States, with extreme cold warnings extending from the Canadian border down to Texas. NPR’s Debbie Elliott provides an in-depth report on the situation:
Timestamp: [02:21]
Forecasts predict frigid temperatures and historic snowfall in the Gulf South, including 5 to 8 inches in New Orleans and up to 3.3 inches in Houston.
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Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has declared a state of emergency, warning, "We may have over 48 hours of constant below freezing temperatures along with extremely cold wind chills and what could possibly be near record amounts of snowfall in south Louisiana. This creates a very dangerous situation."
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Governor Landry urges residents to avoid travel and prepare for potential water and power outages, highlighting the severity of the impending storm.
5. Southern California Wildfires and Hubble's Andromeda Galaxy Survey
Timestamp: [03:06]
Lakshmi Singh transitions to economic and environmental news, noting that the Dow Jones Industrial Average has risen by 417 points at the last check.
a. Wildfire Threats in Southern California
Strong winds in Southern California are expected to peak today, posing a significant threat of igniting new wildfires across the region. Gusts ranging from 70 to 100 miles per hour, depending on the area, coupled with prolonged dry conditions, exacerbate the fire risk.
Recent weeks have seen the Palisades and Eaton fires, some of the most destructive and deadly in the area's history. Fire crews are actively working to expand containment lines for these blazes. Additionally, new fires have ignited near San Diego overnight, leading to evacuation orders as authorities strive to manage the escalating situation.
b. Hubble Space Telescope Completes Comprehensive Andromeda Survey
In astronomical news, the Hubble Space Telescope has successfully completed its most extensive survey of the Andromeda Galaxy to date. NPR’s Jonathan Lambert reports on this achievement:
Timestamp: [04:01]
"The spiral-shaped Andromeda Galaxy is the closest galaxy to our Milky Way, only about 2.5 million light-years away. That's made it tough for astronomers to construct a full picture of Andromeda because to see it, telescopes need to cover a relatively large swath of the sky," Lambert explains.
The survey, published in the Astrophysical Journal last week, involved adding approximately 100 million stars in the southern half of Andromeda. The Hubble telescope dedicated over a decade and around 1,000 orbits around Earth to capture the necessary images. This comprehensive data will aid scientists in reconstructing Andromeda's history, particularly its interactions and collisions with smaller galaxies, enhancing our understanding of galactic evolution.
Conclusion
This episode of NPR News Now covers a wide array of pressing topics, from the immediate actions of the newly reinstated Trump administration and international reactions to U.S. policy changes, to significant weather events affecting large regions of the United States and groundbreaking astronomical research. Notable quotes and detailed reports from correspondents provide listeners with a thorough understanding of the current events shaping the national and global landscape.