NPR News: 01-22-2025 7PM EST

Summary

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

Hosted by NPR's Jeanine Herbst

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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.

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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."

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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."

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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."

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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%.

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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.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Federal health agencies have been told to halt all external communications. In a memo, the acting head of the Health and Human Services Department department also told agencies, including the FDA and the CDC to refrain from issuing documents or guidance for now. NPR Selena Simmons Duffin has more.

[Selena Simmons-Duffin]

The memo was sent by acting Health Secretary Dr. Dorothy Fink. It instructs all health agencies to institute an immediate pause on external communication, including social media, until items can be reviewed by an appointee of the Trump administration. It asserts such a pause is, quote, consistent with precedent. The freeze on communications was first reported by The Washington Post. Dr. Georges Benjamin is the president of the American Public Health association and says he's giving the HHS team the benefit of the doubt.

[Jeanine Herbst]

They're simply trying to get their hands around the government. This is a big government, but it creates enormous confusion.

[Selena Simmons-Duffin]

He believes the communications pause could have been avoided if there had been a smoother transition between the Biden and Trump administrations. Selena simonstephen, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

President Trump is threatening to impose high levels of tariffs and sanctions on Russia if there's no deal to end the war in Ukraine. Ukraine NPR's Franco Ordonez reports Trump hauled out Russian President Putin by name today in a social media post.

[Franco Ordonez]

During his campaign, Trump repeatedly said he could settle the war between Russia and Ukraine in one day if he was elected president. Speaking to reporters this week, Trump said the Ukrainians want to make a deal.

[Steve Futterman]

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.

[Franco Ordonez]

In his social media post, Trump emphasizes that he's not looking to hurt Russia and that he's actually doing Putin a very big favor considering the number of Russian lives lost and the impact on the economy. In Trump's words, it's time to end the ridiculous war, adding, we can do this the easy way or the hard way, and the easy way is always better. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, the White House.

[Jeanine Herbst]

In California, a new fire has broken out north of Los Angeles, the Hughes fire. With mandatory evacuations, the fire started today and has grown to more than 5,000 acres. Steve Futterman has more from Castaic.

[Steve Futterman]

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. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Castella, California.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Wall street higher by the closing bell. The Dow up 130 points, Nasdaq up 252. This is NPR News. This week's Billboard charts are out, and Bad Bunny has the country's top album. NPR Stephen Thompson has more.

[Stephen Thompson]

It's no surprise that Bad Bunny's Debi Tirarmas photos is this week's top album. It just came out, and the Puerto Rican rapper and singer is one of the world's biggest pop stars. But when Bad Bunny topped the latest album's chart, he did it by the thinnest of margins, the album just behind him at number two, it's Lover Live in a 2019 recording released entirely via Taylor Swift's website. 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. Stephen Thompson, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Stellantis, which owns Chrysler and Jeep, says it plans to reopen an assembly plant in Illinois and increase production in other plants around the country. This as the automaker, whose headquarters are in Am Amsterdam, seeks to strengthen its U.S. manufacturing base and resolve ongoing disputes with the United Auto Workers union. The automaker says it will move forward with plans to build a new Dodge Durango SUV at a plant in Detroit. Stellantis also says it will make investments in its plants in Toledo, where it makes the Jeep Wrangler and the Gladiator models. US Futures contracts are trading lower at this hour. Dow futures down a fraction. Nasdaq futures are down about 0.1%. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News.

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