NPR News Now: January 23, 2025, 7 PM EST

Hosted by NPR's Jeanine Herbst

1. Federal Health Agencies Ordered to Pause External Communications

Introduction by Jeanine Herbst (00:19): NPR's Jeanine Herbst opens the episode by highlighting a significant development within the federal health sector. Federal health agencies have been instructed to halt all external communications amidst an administration transition.

Details by Selena Simmons-Duffin (00:42): Selena Simmons-Duffin reports that acting Health Secretary Dr. Dorothy Fink issued a memo directing agencies, including the FDA and CDC, to immediately pause all external communications, including social media posts. This pause is mandated until communications can be reviewed by a Trump administration appointee. The memo claims that this action is "consistent with precedent."

Expert Insight by Dr. Georges Benjamin (01:09): Dr. Georges Benjamin, President of the American Public Health Association, comments on the directive: "They're simply trying to get their hands around the government. This is a big government, but it creates enormous confusion."

Analysis by Selena Simmons-Duffin (01:14): Selena further adds that Dr. Benjamin believes the communication freeze might have been avoided with a smoother transition between the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump administration.

2. President Trump Targets Russia Over Ukraine Conflict

Report by Jeanine Herbst (01:23): Shifting to international affairs, Jeanine Herbst reports that President Trump is threatening to impose substantial tariffs and sanctions on Russia if a deal to end the war in Ukraine isn't reached. This marks a notable escalation in Trump's approach to the ongoing conflict.

Campaign Promises Examined by Franco Ordonez (01:38): Franco Ordonez provides context by recalling Trump's 2016 campaign promise where he claimed, "I could settle the war between Russia and Ukraine in one day if I was elected president." In recent statements to reporters, Trump asserts, "The Ukrainians want to make a deal."

Quote from Steve Futterman (01:49): Steve Futterman shares insights from Ukrainian perspectives: "President Zelensky would like to have peace. He's told me that very strongly he'd like to have peace, but it takes two to tango. We'll see what happens."

Trump's Stance Clarified by Franco Ordonez (01:57): In his social media post, Trump emphasizes his intent not to harm Russia. He states, "I'm actually doing Putin a very big favor considering the number of Russian lives lost and the impact on the economy." Trump adds, "It's time to end the ridiculous war. We can do this the easy way or the hard way, and the easy way is always better."

3. Rapid Spread of the Hughes Fire in California

Initial Report by Jeanine Herbst (02:22): Jeanine Herbst updates listeners on the escalating Hughes Fire north of Los Angeles. The fire, which began on the day of the broadcast, has already consumed over 5,000 acres, leading to mandatory evacuations.

On-the-Ground Update by Steve Futterman (02:36): Steve Futterman provides a firsthand account from Castaic, California: "This fire in Castaic is spreading very rapidly. The location where we're at, we're near one of the main hotspots right now. The location where I was standing two minutes ago before fire crews told me to leave that spot is now in flames. There's nothing really stopping this fire. The wind gusts of, we're told around 30, up to 40 miles an hour wind gusts are moving the fire very rapidly. This is very dry brush, and there's really nothing stopping it right now."

4. Wall Street Gains and Billboard Chart Toppers

Market Update by Jeanine Herbst (03:10): As the trading day concludes, Wall Street shows positive momentum with the Dow up by 130 points and the Nasdaq rising by 252 points. Additionally, NPR highlights current trends in the music industry.

Billboard Charts Insights by Stephen Thompson (03:26): Stephen Thompson reports that Bad Bunny's album "Debi Tirarmas Photos" has clinched the top spot on the Billboard charts for the week. This achievement comes despite a narrow margin, trailing only Taylor Swift’s "Lover Live." He notes, "Lover Live in Paris is no longer available for sale and it's not on streaming services, so its run on the pop charts is destined to be a short one. But for now, it's the number two album in the country."

5. Stellantis Expands U.S. Manufacturing Footprint

Business News by Jeanine Herbst (04:12): In the automotive sector, Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler and Jeep, announces plans to reopen an assembly plant in Illinois. This move is part of the company's strategy to bolster its U.S. manufacturing base and address ongoing disputes with the United Auto Workers union.

Details on Production Enhancements: Stellantis revealed intentions to initiate production of a new Dodge Durango SUV at its Detroit plant. Additionally, the company plans significant investments in its Toledo facilities, where popular models like the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator are produced.

Market Reaction: Following the announcement, U.S. futures contracts show a slight downturn with Dow futures decreasing marginally and Nasdaq futures dipping by approximately 0.1%.

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on January 23, 2025. For more detailed coverage, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.