NPR News: 01-23-2025 10AM EST

Summary

Summary of NPR News Now – January 23, 2025, 10 AM EST

NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on the latest national and international developments in its episode released on January 23, 2025. Hosted by Korva Coleman, the five-minute briefing covered a range of topics from presidential pardons and immigration enforcement to economic indicators, entertainment highlights, and significant weather events.

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1. Presidential Pardons and Legal Developments

President Trump's Defense of January 6th Pardons

President Donald Trump is steadfast in defending his decision to pardon individuals charged and convicted for their roles in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. In a recent statement, Trump emphasized the breadth of his pardons, which four years ago included approximately 1,500 individuals involved in the Capitol riot.

Rearrest of a Pardoned Individual

Tom Dreisbach of NPR reported on a significant development involving one of the pardoned individuals. Daniel Ball, who was allegedly active during the January 6th attack, has been rearrested on new gun charges. During the riot, Ball is accused of throwing an explosive device that injured multiple police officers and later a piece of wood at law enforcement. His initial case was pending until Trump granted him clemency. Despite his release, Ball's criminal history, which includes multiple felonies such as domestic violence and resisting law enforcement, has led to his current legal troubles.

"Federal prosecutors in Florida say he illegally possessed a gun, even though he had a criminal record for multiple felonies," reported Dreisbach at [00:31].

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2. Immigration Enforcement and Local Cooperation

ICE Operations and Local Law Enforcement Responses

Tom Homan, the Trump administration’s border czar, announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are actively conducting immigration actions across the country. While some counties and cities have expressed resistance to assisting ICE in enforcing federal immigration laws, numerous law enforcement agencies have pledged their cooperation.

Sheriff Chuck Jenkins on ICE Collaboration

Sheriff Chuck Jenkins of Frederick County, Maryland, highlighted his department's longstanding collaboration with ICE over the past six years. He assured that ICE targets specific criminal elements rather than broader populations.

"They have criminal targets. They have gang members they're going to target. They have public safety threats to target. They've said nothing about going into schools or hospitals or any what we call safe places," said Jenkins at [01:36].

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3. Federal Emergency Management Agency and Economic Updates

President Trump's Critique of FEMA

In a recent address to Fox News, President Trump questioned the future of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its ability to respond to disaster relief requests, particularly concerning California's application for fire disaster aid. He accused Democrats of mismanaging FEMA but acknowledged the potential for federal assistance to states in times of crisis.

Stock Market and Airline Industry Turbulence

The stock market exhibited mixed responses with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by approximately 70 points in early trading. However, the airline industry faced challenges:

• American Airlines Losses: American Airlines anticipates losses in the current quarter, struggling to regain business travelers who have been deterred by the airline's reduced perks and discounts.

• Costco's Shareholder Vote: Investors at Costco's annual meeting are set to vote on a proposal from a conservative think tank that challenges the retailer's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Costco's board has defended its DEI programs, encouraging shareholders to reject the proposal.

Unemployment Claims Slight Increase

New applications for unemployment benefits saw a marginal rise, with 223,000 individuals filing for jobless aid last week.

"American Airlines says it expects to lose money in the current quarter," reported Scott Horsley at [01:36].

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4. Entertainment and International News

Academy Awards Nominations Announced

The nominees for the annual Academy Awards have been unveiled, with Netflix's original musical Emilia Perez leading the pack with 13 nominations. The film, a Spanish-language production, delves into the life of a transgender woman amidst the backdrop of Mexican drug-related crimes. It competes in the Best Picture category alongside titles such as Brutalist, A Complete Unknown Conclave, Dune Part 2, I'm Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked.

Thailand Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage

In a landmark decision, Thailand became the first country in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage through the enactment of the Marriage Equality Act. Michael Sullivan reported from Chiang Rai:

"A mass wedding organized by the group Bangkok Pride was staged at the upscale Siam Paragon Mall, where the country's prime minister declaring on social media that today the rainbow flag is proudly flying over Thailand," Sullivan noted at [03:48].

The legislation redefines marriage in Thailand's civil code and grants married same-sex couples inheritance and adoption rights. This achievement marks a significant victory for LGBTQ+ activists who have advocated for this change for over a decade, culminating in bipartisan support during the 2023 general election.

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5. Weather and Natural Disasters

Winter Storm Impacting Gulf Coast and Southeastern US

A recent winter storm has wreaked havoc across the Gulf Coast and southeastern United States, bringing unexpected sleet, freezing rain, and significant snowfall to areas not typically prone to such weather. Notable impacts include:

• New Orleans: Received over 8 inches of snow, a rare occurrence for the city.
• Alabama and Mobile: Heavy snow accumulation led to structural damage, including a roof collapse in Mobile due to the weight of the snowfall.

Recovery efforts are underway as communities assess and address the extensive weather-related damages.

"The Gulf coast and the southeastern US are recovering from this week's winter storm," reported Korva Coleman at [04:32].

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This episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a succinct yet comprehensive overview of pressing issues, developments, and events shaping the national and international landscape on January 23, 2025.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump is continuing to defend his pardon of all the people charged and convicted in the January 6th attack on the U.S. capitol. Four years ago, he pardoned about 1500 people. Now NPR's Tom Dreisbach reports. One of the men Trump freed has been rearrested on gun charges.

[Tom Dreisbach]

During the January 6 attack on the Capitol, Daniel Ball allegedly threw an explosive device which ricocheted off a police officer's helmet and exploded, causing multiple injuries. Later, he allegedly threw a piece of wood at police officers protecting the Capitol. His case was pending when Trump ordered Ball freed as part of his blanket clemency for January 6th defendants. But then Ball was rearrested on unrelated charges. Federal prosecutors in Florida say he illegally possessed a gun, even though he had a criminal record for multiple felonies, including domestic violence, battery by strangulation and resisting law enforcement by violence. Tom Dreisbach, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The Trump administration's border czar, Tom Homan says immigration actions are underway now by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Some counties and cities say they won't help ICE officers carry out federal immigration law. But scores of law enforcement agencies around the country say they plan to work with ice. That includes the sheriff of Frederick County, Maryland, Chuck Jenkins. He says he has worked with ICE for six years.

[Chuck Jenkins]

I've met with my local ICE officials. I've met with the state level people. I've met with the local ICE officers. And to my listen, my understanding is this. They have criminal targets. They have gang members they're going to target. They have public safety threats to target. They've said nothing about going into schools or hospitals or any what we call safe places.

[Korva Coleman]

He spoke with NPR's Morning Edition. President Trump is questioning the future of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and what might happen to California's request for fire disaster relief aid. Speaking to Fox News, Trump claimed Democrats have mismanaged fema. He did say the federal government could help states with disaster. Money stocks opened mix today as airlines hit some turbulence. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrial average rose about 70 points in early trading despite a.

[Scott Horsley]

Strong showing at the end of last year. American Airlines says it expects to lose money in the current quarter. The company is struggling to win back business travelers who are turned off when American trim perks and discounts the news weighed on other airline stocks, even though rival carriers have offered more upbeat forecasts. Costco is holding its annual meeting, and investors are expected to vote on a proposal from a conservative think tank challenging the retailer's diversity efforts. Costco's board is defending the DEI program and urging shareholders to reject the measure. New applications for unemployment benefits inched up last week as 223,000 people applied for jobless aid. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, the Dow is now up nearly 100 points. This is NPR. Nominees for this year's Academy Awards have been announced. The Netflix musical Emilia Perez leads the way with 13 nominations. It's a Spanish language film about a transgender woman and Mexican drug crimes. It's up for best picture along with the brutalist a Complete Unknown Conclave, Dune Part 2 I'm still here, Nickel Boys, the Substance and wicked Same sex couples across Thailand officially tied the knot today as the country's Marriage Equality act took effect. Michael Sullivan reports. Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia to pass such legislation.

[Michael Sullivan]

A mass wedding organized by the group Bangkok Pride was staged at the upscale Siam Paragon Mall, where the country's prime minister declaring on social media that today the rainbow flag is proudly flying over Thailand. The country has long enjoyed a reputation for tolerance, despite being a relatively conservative Buddhist majority. Nation activists have been battling for more than a decade for the bill's passage, which came only after two major political parties backed it in the 2023 general election. The bill changes the definition of marriage in Thailand's civil code and also gives married same sex couples inheritance and adoption rights. For NPR News, I'm Michael Sullivan in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

[Korva Coleman]

The Gulf coast and the southeastern US Are recovering from this week's winter storm. It dropped sleet, freezing rain and many inches of snow in surprising areas such as New Orleans. That city got more than 8 inches of snow in Alabama, the weight of the snow collapsed roof in Mobile. You're listening to npr.

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