NPR News: 01-23-2025 6AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 23, 2025, 6AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman | Release Date: January 23, 2025

---

Immigration and Border Security

President Trump's Border Initiatives

In the early segment, Korva Coleman reports on President Trump's recent directives concerning U.S. immigration policy. Tom Homan, President Trump's appointed border czar, informed Fox News that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) teams are prioritizing public safety without initiating large-scale raids. However, President Trump has ordered the Pentagon to deploy an additional 1,500 U.S. troops to the southern border to support existing Border Patrol and National Guard units.

Quill Lawrence elaborates on the Pentagon's involvement, stating that the military personnel will assist in both ground operations and aerial surveillance. "Military airlift may also be used for deportation flights of more than 5,000 people detained by Customs and Border Protection near San Diego, California, and El Paso, Texas" (00:46). Additionally, troops will aid in constructing barriers to curb illegal crossings and smuggling activities. This move mirrors past deployments by both Presidents Biden and Trump during their respective terms.

FEMA and Disaster Relief under Scrutiny

President Trump's Critique of FEMA

In a subsequent report, President Trump addressed FEMA during a Fox News interview, casting doubt on the agency's effectiveness. He remarked, "FEMA is going to be a whole big discussion very shortly because I'd rather see the states take care of their own problems" (01:23). While acknowledging that the federal government can provide financial assistance during disasters, Trump criticized FEMA for obstructing state efforts. This statement arrives amid new wildfire outbreaks, specifically the Hughes Fire north of Los Angeles, which rapidly scorched 15 square miles in less than a day (02:01).

Judicial Response to Trump’s Pardons

Federal Judges Condemn January 6th Pardons

Sharp criticism has emerged from federal judges regarding President Trump's decision to pardon approximately 1,500 individuals implicated in the January 6th Capitol attack. NPR's Tom Dreisbach reports that District Judge Tanya Chutkin declared, "No pardon can change the tragic truth of what happened," emphasizing the severity of the events (02:23). Senior Judge Beryl Howell echoed these sentiments, referring to the rioters as "poor losers for the reaction to the 2020 election" and warned that pardoning them "raises the specter of future lawlessness."

Trump defends his actions by asserting that the pardoned individuals were "treated unfairly," including violent participants. Notably, one of the released individuals, Stuart Rhodes, founder of the far-right group Oath Keepers, was reported to be at Capitol Hill the previous day seeking meetings with lawmakers (03:05).

High School Shooting in Nashville

Deadly Incident at a Nashville High School

Tragedy struck in Nashville where a male student fatally shot a female classmate in the school cafeteria, with a third male student sustaining a grazed bullet wound. Authorities have yet to determine a motive or whether the victims were specifically targeted, as reported by Korva Coleman (03:17). The incident has prompted swift investigations by local law enforcement agencies.

Impeached South Korean President Faces Indictment

Yoon Song Yol Under Investigation for Insurrection

In international news, Impeached South Korean President Yoon Song Yol has been handed over to prosecutors facing insurrection charges. NPR's Anthony Kuhn provides details from Seoul, noting that Yoon has been detained for eight days without cooperating with anti-corruption investigators. Yoon contends that the prosecutors lack jurisdiction over insurrection-related matters. Investigators allege that Yoon orchestrated the deployment of special forces to parliament with orders to arrest lawmakers, a claim Yoon denies. "Yoon has refused to answer anti-corruption investigators' questions and argues that they have no authority to investigate cases involving insurrection" (03:40). The prosecutor’s office anticipates an indictment early next month, while a constitutional court trial is ongoing to determine the future of Yoon's impeachment.

Marriage Equality Achieved in Thailand

Historic Same-Sex Marriages Legalized

A landmark moment for LGBTQ+ rights occurred in Thailand as same-sex couples were officially married under the new Marriage Equality Act. Organized by Bangkok Pride, the grand wedding event took place at a local mall, marking the culmination of over a decade of advocacy by LGBTQ+ activists in Thailand. The legislation grants married same-sex couples significant rights, including inheritance and adoption, representing a major societal shift. Korva Coleman highlights the significance of this achievement, underscoring Thailand's progress towards inclusivity (04:32).

---

Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump (01:38): "FEMA is going to be a whole big discussion very shortly because I'd rather see the states take care of their own problems."

• District Judge Tanya Chutkin (02:23): "No pardon can change the tragic truth of what happened."

• Senior Judge Beryl Howell (02:23): "Allowing them to get away with their crimes raises the specter of future lawlessness."

---

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and developments reported in the January 23, 2025 episode of NPR News Now, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't tuned in.

---

Timestamps:

• 00:46: Quill Lawrence on Pentagon's border support
• 01:23: President Trump's comments on FEMA
• 02:01: Wildfires north of Los Angeles
• 02:23: Federal judges on Trump's pardons
• 03:05: Release of Stuart Rhodes
• 03:17: Nashville high school shooting
• 03:40: Impeached President Yoon's indictment
• 04:32: Thailand’s marriage equality act

Transcript

[Warby Parker Advertisement]

This message comes from Warby Parker. What makes a great pair of glasses at Warby Parker? It's all the invisible extras without the extra cost, like free adjustments for life. Find your [e-mail] or visit one of their hundreds of stores around the country.

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump's border czar says immigration actions have started in some parts of the US Tom Homan told Fox News Immigration and Customs Enforcement teams are prioritizing public safety, but there is no of any large ICE raids. Separately, President Trump has directed the pentagon to send 1500 additional U.S. troops to the southern border. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports. They'll support Border Patrol and National Guard troops who are already deployed there.

[Quill Lawrence]

A Pentagon statement announced that the ground personnel will support operations along the border with Mexico as well as helicopters and intelligence analysts to support detection and monitoring efforts. The statement said military airlift may also be used for deportation flights of more than 5,000 people detained by Customs and Border Border Protection near San Diego, California and El Paso, Texas. Troops will also assist in the construction of barriers to stop illegal border crossings and smuggling. And the Pentagon said additional deployments are expected. Both President Biden and President Trump during his first term sent active duty troops to the border. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

President Trump was interviewed on Fox News last night. He's questioning the future of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and and what might happen to California's request for fire disaster relief aid. Trump is claiming that Democrats have mismanaged fema.

[Donald Trump]

FEMA is going to be a whole big discussion very shortly because I'd rather see the states take care of their own problems.

[Korva Coleman]

He did say that the federal government could help states with money in disaster, but Trump claims FEMA gets in the way. FEMA previously had run a site that debunked false claims about the agency's disaster relief efforts. The president's remarks come as new wildfires.

[NPR News]

Break north of Los Angeles.

[Korva Coleman]

The Hughes fire that started Yesterday has scorched 15 square miles in less than a day. Some federal Judges in Washington, D.C. are sharply criticizing Trump's decision to pardon some 1500 people convicted or accused of participating in the attack on the U.S. capitol. NPR's Tom Dreisbach reports.

[Tom Dreisbach]

The judges at the Washington, D.C. federal courthouse handled all of the January 6th cases. Now, some of those judges have used legal filings to push back against Trump's pardons and defend their handling of these cases. District Judge Tanya Chutkin said, quote, no pardon can change the tragic truth of what happened or she said, whitewash, the terror of that day. Senior Judge Beryl Howell described the rioters as, quote, poor losers for the reaction to the 2020 election. She said allowing them to get away with their crimes raises the specter of future lawlessness. Trump has defended his pardons and commutations for even violent rioters by saying that they were treated unfairly. Tom Dreisbach, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

One of the released prisoners is Stuart Rhodes, the founder of the far right Oath Keepers. He was on Capitol Hill yesterday hoping to meet with lawmakers.

[NPR News]

You're listening to npr.

[Korva Coleman]

Officials in Nashville are investigating yesterday's deadly high school shooting. Authorities say a male student shot and killed another female student in the school cafeteria. A third male student was grazed, apparently by a bullet. Nashville police don't have a motive yet for the shooting. It's not immediately clear if the victims were targeted.

[NPR News]

Investigators in South Korea have turned over.

[Korva Coleman]

Impeached President Yoon Song Yol to prosecutors. They're seeking his indictment on insurrection charges. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul that Yoon has been in detention for eight days.

[Anthony Kuhn]

Yoon has refused to answer anti corruption investigators questions and argues that they have no authority to investigate cases involving insurrection. Investigators say they've secured evidence that Yun committed insurrection by deploying special forces to parliament and ordering them to arrest lawmakers. Yun denies this, but military and intelligence officials say they received these orders directly from Yoon and then disobeyed them. Only prosecutors can indict Yun, which they're expected to do early next month. Meanwhile, a constitutional court trial is in progress which will decide whether to uphold or overturn Yoon's impeachment by Parliament. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.

[NPR News]

In Thailand, same sex couples were officially married today. The country's Marriage Equality act has gone into effect. The group Bangkok Pride organized a huge wedding event today at a mall. LGBTQ activists have worked for more than a decade in Thailand to pass a marriage equality law. It gives married same sex couples inheritance and adoption rights. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

[NetSuite Advertisement]

This message comes from NetSuite by Oracle, the number one Cloud ERP, bringing accounting, financial management, inventory and HR into one platform. Download the CFO's guide to AI and machine learning for free at netsuite. Com STORY.