NPR News: 01-22-2025 12PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 22, 2025, 12 PM EST

Hosted by NPR

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Department of Justice Targets Immigration Enforcement Obstruction

[00:13] Lakshmi Singh reports that the Department of Justice is mobilizing federal prosecutors nationwide to investigate any state or local efforts obstructing the Trump administration's immigration enforcement initiatives. A newly surfaced internal memo, referenced by multiple news outlets, reveals targeted cities, including Chicago, for potential mass deportation raids.

[00:47] Mawa Iqbal of WBEZ highlights Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker's commitment to protect undocumented residents. Governor Pritzker expressed uncertainty about concrete plans from President Trump and emphasized the fear gripping Chicago’s immigrant communities.

[01:06] Governor Pritzker stated, “I was in businesses yesterday that were relatively empty because people are afraid to show up, because even documented immigrants, even citizens who are from another country but now are citizens of the United States have relatives who are undocumented. They're afraid.” [01:06]

[01:22] The Chicago City Council recently vetoed an ordinance that would have authorized Chicago police to collaborate with federal immigration authorities, further underscoring the city's resistance to federal deportation efforts.

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Administration Halts Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Programs

[01:33] Lakshmi Singh reports that the Trump administration has ordered all federal employees in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) roles to be placed on paid leave by 5 PM EST. This directive follows President Trump's executive orders aimed at ending DEI programs within the federal government.

[01:46] Representative James Comer, Chair of the House Oversight Committee, commented to CNN, “President Trump and I, and I think at least 50% of Americans, feel that this is a duplicative service within the federal government, an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.” [01:46]

[01:57] The administration's directive requires federal agencies to begin reduction in force actions against DEI staffers, signaling a significant shift in federal workplace policies.

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Escalating Conflict in the Middle East

[01:57] Alongside domestic issues, international tensions persist as Israel engages in a new operation in the occupied West Bank, resulting in arrests and casualties among Palestinians.

[02:25] Ayah Batrawi provides a grim update on the Gaza Strip, where a fragile ceasefire with Hamas remains in effect for the fourth day. Gaza is devastated, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble from over a year of sustained Israeli airstrikes. The Health Ministry reports over 47,000 fatalities due to Israeli attacks, with approximately 150 bodies recovered since the ceasefire and an estimated 10,000 missing.

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Wildfire Threats and Environmental Concerns in Southern California

[03:08] Continuing, Lakshmi Singh informs listeners that Southern California remains under red flag warnings for critical fire danger, expected to persist through the next day. While anticipated weekend rains offer relief, they also bring new risks such as landslides and toxic ash runoff.

[03:08] Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has directed emergency crews to prepare for these potential hazards by reinforcing hillsides and installing barriers to safeguard communities affected by recent wildfires. She stated, “We are taking proactive measures to protect our neighborhoods from the aftermath of the fires and the challenges that the rains may bring.” [03:08]

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Challenges in Supporting Homeless Students in the Midwest

[03:57] Kevon Mansouri reports on the shortcomings of federal efforts to ensure homeless students have equal access to education in rural Midwest areas. An investigation by Midwest Newsroom reveals that many rural public schools lack the resources and capacity to identify and assist homeless students under the McKinney-Vento Act.

[04:17] Tara Bach, Missouri’s homeless education coordinator, explains, “Our urban school districts might have a team of people working on McKinney Vento. Those rural school districts probably just have one designated person, and it's probably also the superintendent or the principal or someone else holding other roles.” [04:17]

[04:30] Last year, the federal government allocated $129 million for McKinney Vento funding, yet rural districts continue to struggle with effectively utilizing these resources to support students facing housing instability.

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U.S. Stock Markets Rise

[04:41] In financial news, U.S. stocks are experiencing gains, with the NASDAQ climbing more than 300 points, marking a 1.5% increase. Lakshmi Singh notes, “U.S. stocks are trading higher this hour, with the NASDAQ now up more than 300 points, or 1.5%.” [04:41]

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, and outros to focus solely on the news content discussed during the episode.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Department of Justice is directing federal prosecutors across the United States to investigate state or local level obstruction of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement. According to a new internal memo cited by multiple news outlets. One of the cities the Trump White House is targeting for potential mass deportation raids is Chicago, as Mawa Iqbal of member station WBEZ tells us. Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker vowed to protect people residing in his state without legal status.

[Mawa Iqbal]

Pritzker says he still has not heard any concrete plans from President Trump. He reiterated at a press conference that people with criminal convictions who don't have legal status should be deported. However, he says the threat of deportation is looming over Chicago's immigrant neighborhoods, some of which he visited Monday.

[J.B. Pritzker]

I was in businesses yesterday that were relatively empty because people are afraid to show up, because even documented immigrants, even citizens who are from another country but now are citizens of the United States have relatives who are undocumented. They're afraid.

[Mawa Iqbal]

The Chicago City Council last week blocked an ordinance that would allow Chicago police to work with federal immigration authorities. For NPR News, I'm Mawa Iqbal in Springfield, Illinois.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The administration's ordering all federal employees in diversity, equity and inclusion roles be placed on paid leave by 5pm tonight. Eastern representative James Comer, chair of the House Oversight Committee, spoke to CNN about it.

[J.B. Pritzker]

President Trump and I, and I think at least 50% of Americans, feel that this is a duplicative service within the federal government, an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The move calls for agencies to develop a reduction in force action against the employees. Following President Trump's executive orders ending DEI programs in federal government, Israel has launched a new operation in the occupied west bank with arrests and deaths reported among palestinians. But about 50 miles away in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is holding for the fourth day. Here's NPR's Ayah Batrawi.

[Ayah Batrawi]

From the southern city of Rafah to the edges of northern Jabalia, the Gaza Strip lies in ruins, the result of more than a year of war and sustained Israeli airstrikes. Palestinians are able to see now what's left of their homes in areas Israeli forces have withdrawn from, but there's little reprieve here. Entire neighborhoods have been leveled, turning cities into gray mounds of rubble as far as the eye can see. Gaza's Health Ministry says more than 47,000 people were killed by Israeli fire in the war. Local health officials say They've recovered around 150 bodies from the rubble and decay of different parts of Gaza since the ceasefire began Sunday, and they estimate more than 10,000 bodies remain missing under the rubble. Aya Baltraawi, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

You're listening to npr. Red flag warnings for critical fire danger remain in effect in Southern California through tomorrow. The region's projected to get some badly needed rain this weekend as emergency crews still try to gain full containment of wildfires that caused widespread destruction over the last couple of weeks. But rain poses new threats, landslides and toxic ash runoff. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has ordered crews to begin preparations to help shore up hillsides and install barriers to better protect fire ravaged communities from runoff. A federal law ensuring homeless students have equal access to education is falling short in rural parts of the Midwest. Kevon Mansouri has details.

[Kevon Mansouri]

A Midwest Newsroom investigation found that rural public school districts struggle to identify homeless students who qualify for school services under the McKinney Vento Act. Part of the reason is a lack of funding and capacity to recognize housing instability. That can mean students staying at a hotel or on a friend's couch. Tara Bach is Missouri's homeless education coordinator.

[Tara Bach]

Our urban school districts might have a team of people working on McKinney Vento. Those rural school districts probably just have one designated person, and it's probably also the superintendent or the principal or someone else holding other roles.

[Kevon Mansouri]

Last year, the federal government allocated $129 million of McKinney Vento funding for homeless students in the U.S. for NPR News, I'm Kevon Mansori in St. Louis.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stocks are trading higher this hour, with the NASDAQ now up more than 300 points, or 1.5%. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.

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