NPR News: 01-22-2025 9AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now Episode: NPR News: 01-22-2025 9AM EST
Release Date: January 22, 2025
Host: Korva Coleman
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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Immigration Tensions in Chicago

Key Points:

• Potential Immigration Raids: The Trump administration has signaled possible major immigration raids targeting sanctuary cities, with Chicago identified as a potential focus.
• Governor JB Pritzker's Stance: Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is committed to safeguarding state residents, including those residing in the U.S. illegally. He emphasizes the impact of these threats on both undocumented and documented immigrants.

Notable Quotes:

• JB Pritzker (00:44): “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.”

Additional Details:

• Chicago City Council's Action: Last week, the Chicago City Council vetoed an ordinance that would have permitted local police to collaborate with federal immigration authorities, aiming to maintain the city's sanctuary status.

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Administration’s Crackdown on DEI Programs

Key Points:

• Executive Orders Targeting DEI: President Trump has issued new executive orders to terminate federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs.
• Immediate Impact on Federal Employees: Federal employees involved in DEI initiatives have been placed on administrative leave, with directives to remove all DEI-related content from official channels.
• Rationale Behind the Decision: The administration argues that DEI programs foster division, promote discrimination, and are a financial burden on taxpayers.

Notable Quotes:

• Trump Administration Statement (01:30): Agencies must notify the administration about any intentions to obscure DEI initiatives and comply by removing DEI references from their platforms by the specified deadlines.

Additional Details:

• Compliance Deadlines: Agencies are required to report their adherence to these orders by Thursday and develop a comprehensive plan to decrease workforce involvement in DEI programs by the end of the month.

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Controversy Surrounding Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth

Key Points:

• Allegations of Misconduct: Pete Hegseth, President Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary, is facing new allegations from his former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, who accuses him of heavy drinking and abuse towards his ex-wife, Samantha.
• Contradictory Statements: During his confirmation hearing, Hegseth denied similar misconduct and sexual assault accusations. His attorney has disputed the new claims, stating that Samantha Hegseth never alleged abuse and confirmed her statements during the background check.

Notable Quotes:

• Danielle Hegseth (02:26): Provided an affidavit alleging Pete Hegseth's misconduct.
• Attorney Tim Parlatore (02:52): “Samantha Hegseth never alleged any abuse and actually signed court documents acknowledging there was no abuse.”

Additional Details:

• Legal Proceedings: The conflicting statements have put additional scrutiny on Hegseth's nomination, with NPR's Deirdre Walsh highlighting the ongoing dispute between the allegations and the defense presented by his legal team.

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Winter Storm Hits the Southeast and Wildfires in Los Angeles

Key Points:

• Unexpected Snow in Warm Climates: A significant winter storm is affecting the Southeast United States, bringing several inches of snow to areas unaccustomed to such weather. Notably, New Orleans experienced at least 8 inches of snow.
• Wildfire Containment Efforts: In Los Angeles, firefighters are battling multiple wildfires, including the Clay Fire in Riverside County, which has burned 38 acres and is nearly half contained.

Notable Quotes:

• Korva Coleman (03:11): “A winter storm continues to pound the Southeast... Firefighters are still working to control several wildfires in the Los Angeles area.”

Additional Details:

• Impact and Response: The unusual snowfall has disrupted daily life and infrastructure in cities like New Orleans, while the ongoing wildfires in LA pose challenges for local firefighting resources and emergency response teams.

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Scientific Insights: Chorus Waves and Space Radiation

Key Points:

• Understanding Chorus Waves: Recent research has shed light on chorus waves—bursts of radiation generated by charged electrons trapped in Earth's magnetic field.
• New Discoveries from Beijing Study: A study published in Nature by Chinese researchers identified chorus waves in areas of Earth's magnetic field that are weak and less uniform, enhancing our understanding of space radiation.

Notable Quotes:

• Regina Barber (03:56): “These waves are thought to be created from bunched up charged electrons trapped in Earth's magnetic field... This information could help protect satellites and other spacecraft from damage.”

Additional Details:

• Technological Implications: Insights into chorus waves are crucial for safeguarding satellites and spacecraft, as these waves can accelerate particles to nearly the speed of light, potentially causing significant damage to space-based technology.

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Prince Harry Settles Lawsuit Against Murdoch’s Tabloids

Key Points:

• Resolution of Privacy Invasion Claims: Prince Harry and a senior British lawmaker have reached a settlement with Rupert Murdoch's tabloids, which had accused them of phone hacking and privacy breaches.
• Avoidance of Damaging Trial: The settlement prevents a trial in London that was anticipated to expose potentially harmful evidence against Murdoch and tabloid executives.

Notable Quotes:

• Korva Coleman (04:32): “The settlement of the lawsuit ends the chance of a trial in London that was expected to reveal evidence that might have been damaging to Murdoch and some of the tabloid exam executives.”

Additional Details:

• Legal and Public Relations Impact: This settlement closes a significant chapter in the long-standing tussle between British tabloids and the royal family, highlighting issues of media ethics and privacy rights.

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now delivered a concise yet comprehensive overview of pressing national and international issues, ranging from immigration policies and administrative changes under the Trump administration to high-profile legal settlements and scientific advancements. Listeners are kept informed with timely updates, expert reports, and critical insights into the evolving news landscape.

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Note: Advertisements, sponsor messages, and non-content segments have been omitted to focus solely on the substantive news topics discussed in the episode.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. There's no word yet of any major immigration raids that are expected to target sanctuary jurisdictions. Trump administration officials have said that Chicago could be one of the cities targeted. From member station wbez, Mawa Iqbal reports. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is vowing to protect state residents who are in the U.S. illegally.

[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.

[JB 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.

[Korva Coleman]

One of President Trump's new executive orders is ending federal programs dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion. As NPR's Ayanna Archie reports, federal employees of the programs have been put on administrative leave.

[Ayanna Archie]

The Trump administration is moving quickly to reevaluate federal DEI programs. Agencies have until this evening to tell employees in those programs that they will be placed on paid leave with benefits. They also have until then to remove all DEI references from websites and social media. Trump also wants agency employees to let his administration know if there are any plans to conceal DEI initiatives through vague language. The president says these programs cause division, promote discrimination and drain taxpayers dollars. Agencies have until Thursday to report their compliance to the administration and until the end of the month to come up with a broader plan to reduce the workforces for these programs. Ayanna Archie, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

President Trump's nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, is facing new misconduct acc. His former sister in law, Danielle Hegseth, has signed an affidavit alleging he drank heavily and abused his former wife, Samantha. At his confirmation hearing, Hegseth rejected similar misconduct and sexual assault accusations. NPR's Dear de Walsh says Hegseth's lawyer is contradicting the new allegations.

[Deirdre Walsh]

NPR reached out to his attorney, Tim Parlatore. He has not responded. But Parlatori told NBC, which first reported on this affidavit, that Samantha Hegseth, the ex wife, never alleged any abuse and actually signed court documents acknowledging there was no abuse. And she affirmed that as part of Hegseth's background check.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Deirdre Walsh reporting. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. A winter storm continues to pound the Southeast. There are winter storm warnings up from northern Florida to South Carolina. These warmer climates are getting several inches of snow. Yesterday, New Orleans was stunned by at least 8 inches of snow. Firefighters are still working to control several wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The Clay Fire broke out yesterday in Riverside county, east of LA. It's 38 acres and nearly half contained. Researchers say they're learning more about the bursts of radiation in space. NPR's Regina Barber explains. These are called chorus waves.

[Regina Barber]

That sound isn't from Star Trek. It's an audio clip created from radiation coming 100,000 miles above Earth's surface. These waves are thought to be created from bunched up charged electrons trapped in Earth's magnetic field. These rising and lowering waves of radiation have been studied for the past 70 years, and a new study from Beijing, China, published in the journal Nature was the first to find these waves at this location, where Earth's magnetic field is weak and less uniform. This information could help protect satellites and other spacecraft from damage, since chorus waves can accelerate particles to close to the speed of light. Regina Barber, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Britain's Prince Harry and a senior British lawmaker have reached a settlement against tabloid newspapers owned by billionaire Rupert Murdoch. They had accused the papers of hacking their phones and invading their privacy. The settlement of the lawsuit ends the chance of a trial in London that was expected to reveal evidence that might have been damaging to Murdoch and some of the tabloid exam executives. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, in Washington.

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Support for this podcast and the following message come from arm. ARM CEO Rene Haas discusses leadership and the role of AI in national security with the head of Palantir's defense business, Mike Gallagher. In the latest episode of Tech Unheard, available on all podcast platforms.