NPR News: 01-23-2025 1AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 23, 2025

Release Date: January 23, 2025
Episode: NPR News: 01-23-2025 1AM EST
Host: Dan Ronan
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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1. Presidential Interview and January 6th Pardons

In his first television interview since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump addressed several contentious issues, including his recent executive orders, the TikTok situation, and his administration's stance on former President Joe Biden.

Interview Highlights:

• Pardoning January 6th Defendants:
  President Trump defended his decision to pardon nearly all individuals charged in connection with the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Speaking with Fox's Sean Hannity, Trump elaborated on his rationale behind these pardons.
  Donald Trump at [00:36]:
  "I went through four years of hell. I spent millions of dollars in legal fees and I won. But I did it the hard way. It's really hard to say that they shouldn't have to go through it. Also, it is very hard to say."

• Criticism of the Biden Administration:
  Trump also criticized President Biden's handling of natural disasters, specifically the administration's response to hurricanes. Additionally, he made several misleading or false claims regarding foreign governments and U.S. prisons.

Reactions from Law Enforcement:

The pardons sparked significant backlash from various law enforcement groups and members of the U.S. Capitol Police. During a press conference on Wednesday, Metropolitan Police Officer Dan Hodges expressed his frustration and determination to continue safeguarding the Capitol.

Dan Hodges at [01:30]:
"Who attacked us on January 6th are free now. They can try it again and they'll know if they try it again in the next four years, they know they'll get pardoned again. But that doesn't matter myself. I'll be there if I'm needed. I'll do it all again. Members of the Capitol Police MPD will be there."

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2. Southern California Wildfires

Southern California continues to grapple with severe wildfire conditions, with ongoing efforts to control two major destructive fires.

Current Situation:

• Hughes Fire in Castaic:
  The Hughes Fire erupted late Wednesday morning in the northern LA County community of Castaic. Within hours, it expanded from a few dozen to several thousand acres, leading to evacuations and road closures.
  McKenna Sivertson reports from [02:07]:
  "The Hughes fire broke out late Wednesday morning in the northern LA county community of Castaic. It jumped from a couple dozen acres to a few thousand in a matter of hours, prompting evacuations and road closures."

• Weather Conditions and Forecast:
  The region remains under red flag conditions due to severely dry weather and strong winds, expected to persist into Friday. However, relief could be on the horizon with forecasts predicting widespread rain and cooler temperatures over the weekend. While most areas are expected to receive under half an inch of rain, there's a minor risk of thunderstorms that could cause debris flows, especially in recently burned areas.

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3. Financial Markets Update

On Wednesday, U.S. financial markets closed positively across all major indices.

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Increased by nearly 131 points.
• Nasdaq Composite: Rose by 252 points.

This upward trend reflects investor optimism amid ongoing economic developments.

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4. Legislative Developments

a. Lake and Riley Act Passed

The House of Representatives has successfully passed the Lake and Riley Act, now awaiting President Trump's signature. Named in honor of Georgia nursing student Riley Lake, who was tragically murdered in February of the previous year by a Venezuelan national without legal status in the U.S., the legislation aims to strengthen immigration enforcement.

• Key Provisions:
  The act grants federal immigration officials the authority to deport individuals without legal status, even if they are detained for minor offenses such as theft or shoplifting.

• Bipartisan Support:
  The legislation garnered wide support, passing both the House and Senate by significant margins, reflecting a bipartisan consensus on immigration issues.

b. Songwriters Hall of Fame 2025 Inductees Announced

The Songwriters Hall of Fame revealed its 2025 class of inductees, showcasing a diverse array of talent across various music genres.

Sydney Madden reports at [03:54]:
"George Clinton, Ashley Gormley, Rodney Darkchild, Jerkins, Mike Love, Tony Macaulay, and three members of the Doobie Brothers—Michael McDonald, Tom Johnston, and Patrick Simmons—have officially been added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. This is the first class since 2017 to include no women on the list. Songwriters like Janet Jackson and Sheryl Crow were nominated but didn't make the cut this year. The new honorees will be inducted on June 12 at a ceremony in New York City."

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5. Local Crime Update

In San Antonio, a shooting incident on Wednesday night resulted in injuries to four police officers. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack, emphasizing the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in maintaining public safety.

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Stay Informed:
For continuous updates and comprehensive news coverage, tune into NPR News Now.

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This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key topics discussed in the NPR News Now episode released on January 23, 2025. Notable quotes are included with speaker attributions and timestamps to provide context and depth to the reported events.

Transcript

[Dan Ronan]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. In his first television interview since returning to the White House, President Trump discussed his executive orders, TikTok and former President Joe Biden. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports. Trump defended pardoning nearly all the defendants charged in connection with the January 6th attack.

[Sean Hannity]

In a wide ranging interview with Fox's Sean Hannity, President Trump explained his thinking behind those pardons. He also cited his own legal battles and compl about the unfairness of President Biden's preemptive pardons of his family and allies.

[Donald Trump]

I went through four years of hell. I spent millions of dollars in legal fees and I won. But I did it the hard way. It's really hard to say that they shouldn't have to go through it. Also, it is very hard to say.

[Sean Hannity]

That Trump also criticized the Biden administration's response to hurricanes and repeated several misleading or false claims about foreign governments their prisons into the U.S. franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

Some law enforcement groups and individual members of the U.S. capitol Police and other departments are reacting angrily to the news that people connected to the January 6th attack have been granted pardons and commutations. Along with some members of Congress, they held a news conference Wednesday. Metropolitan Police Officer Dan Hodges, the people.

[Dan Hodges]

Who attacked us on January 6th are free now. They can try it again and they'll know if they try it again in the next four years, they know they'll get pardoned again. But that doesn't matter myself. I'll be there if I'm needed. I'll do it all again. Members of the Capitol Police MPD will be there.

[Dan Ronan]

Crews continue to make progress on two destructive wildfires that continue to burn in Southern California. In Los Angeles county, this comes as another wind whipped fire broke out earlier threatening homes north of Los Angeles. From member station the laist, McKenna Sivertson reports.

[McKenna Sivertson]

The Hughes fire broke out late Wednesday morning in the northern LA county community of Castaic. It jumped from a couple dozen acres to a few thousand in a matter of hours, prompting evacuations and road closures. The region is still dealing with severely dry conditions and strong winds with red flag conditions extending into Friday. But relief may be in sight with widespread rain and cooler temperatures in the weekend forecast. Most places are expected to get under half an inch of rain, but there is a small chance of thunderstorms which could trigger debris flows if it downpours on any of the recent burn areas. For NPR News, I'm McKenna Sivertson in Los Angeles.

[Dan Ronan]

Markets on Wednesday closed the day in positive territory. All three of the indexes were up. The Dow gained nearly 131 points. The Nasdaq added 252. You're listening to NPR. The House of Representatives has passed and sent to President Donald Trump for his signature the Lake and Riley Act. It's named after the Georgia nursing student who was murdered in February of last year by a Venezuelan man who was in the United States without legal status. He was later found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. The measure will allow federal immigration officials to obtain and deport people without legal status, even if they're being held on a minor charge, such as theft or shoplifting. The legislation passed both the House and Senate by wide margins. With bipartisan support. The Songwriters hall of Fame has announced its 2025 inductees Wednesday, spanning a number of genres of music of country, funk, rock and bubblegum pop. Here's NPR Music's Sydney Madden.

[Sydney Madden]

George Clinton, Ashley Gormley, Rodney Darkchild, Jerkins, Mike Love, Tony Macaulay, and three members of the doobie brothers, Michael McDonald, Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons have officially been added to the Songwriters hall of Fame. This is the first class since 2017 to include no women on the list. Songwriters like Janet Jackson and Sheryl Crow were nominated but didn't make the cut this year. The new honorees will be inducted on June 12 at a ceremony in New York City. Sydney Madden, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

Police in San Antonio say four police officers were wounded Wednesday night in a shooting. You're listening to NPR News. Support for NPR.