NPR News: 01-24-2025 10PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now Summary: January 24, 2025, 10 PM EST

NPR News Now delivers the latest news in five minutes. Here’s a comprehensive summary of the January 24, 2025, episode.

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1. Senate Approves Defense Secretary Nominee Pete Hegseth

Host: Jack Spear
Reporter: Tom Bowman

The U.S. Senate has approved Donald Trump's contentious nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth. Breaking a 50-50 Senate tie, Vice President JD Volek cast the deciding vote, allowing Hegseth to secure the position despite significant opposition.

Tom Bowman reports that Pete Hegseth, an Army National Guard combat veteran and former Fox News host, diverges from traditional Defense Secretary backgrounds, which typically include high-ranking politicians, industry leaders, or military officials. Hegseth positions himself as a "change agent at the Pentagon," criticizing its alleged focus on "woke politics and diversity at the expense of war fighting" (00:45).

Hegseth has recently softened his stance on women in ground combat roles, asserting that women can serve in these positions if they meet standards. However, he controversially stated that the fitness requirements for women are lower and has promised a review of these standards (00:45).

2. Donald Trump's Response to Natural Disasters in North Carolina and California

Host: Jack Spear
Quote: Donald Trump (01:42)
Mayor: Karen Bass

President Donald Trump traveled to North Carolina and California to address the aftermath of recent natural disasters. In North Carolina, he met with residents affected by flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. In California, Trump visited areas devastated by the LA wildfires, vowing to collaborate with Governor Gavin Newsom on recovery efforts.

During his tour, Trump emphasized the severity of the damage, stating, “I don't think you can realize how rough it is, how devastating it is until you see it. I didn't realize. I mean, I saw a lot of bad things on television, but the extent of it, the size of it, we flew over it in a helicopter, we flew to a few of the areas, and it is devastation” (01:42).

Later, Trump proposed waiving federal permits to expedite rebuilding and criticized California's wildfire response. He also suggested eliminating FEMA, advocating for state-led disaster responses (02:03).

3. Ceasefire Extension in Lebanon Amid Israeli Withdrawal

Host: Jack Spear
Reporter: Michelle Kelman

The Trump administration is urging an extension of the ceasefire in Lebanon to provide Israel additional time to withdraw its troops from southern Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that the withdrawal depends on the Lebanese armed forces assuming control and pushing Hezbollah further north.

Michelle Kelman reports that President Trump’s national security spokesman, Brian Hughes, stated, “a short, temporary ceasefire extension is urgently needed” to prevent Hezbollah from threatening Lebanese civilians and neighboring regions in Israel (02:25). Hughes further noted that the administration aims to ensure the safe return of Israeli citizens to their homes in the north while supporting Lebanon’s new government (02:25).

4. Wall Street Update

Host: Jack Spear

Wall Street experienced a relatively quiet trading day, with stock indices slightly retracting from their record highs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 140 points, reflecting cautious investor sentiment (03:09).

5. Hamas to Release Additional Hostages

Host: Jack Spear

Hamas has confirmed the forthcoming release of four hostages over the weekend as part of a ceasefire agreement. These hostages are female soldiers captured under the longstanding conflict in Gaza. The ceasefire, which pauses the 15-month war, includes Israel’s release of 200 Palestinian prisoners. Among these prisoners are 120 militants serving life sentences for orchestrating deadly attacks. The four Israelis set for release have been held since the war commenced in October 2023 (03:09).

6. Minnesota Supreme Court Rules on House Control Dispute

Host: Jack Spear
Reporter: Clay Masters

The Minnesota Supreme Court has deferred the decision on who holds control of the Minnesota House, sending the matter back to the state’s legislative branch. This ruling comes amidst a standoff where Democrats have been boycotting the House session to contest power dynamics (04:00).

Clay Masters explains that the court sided partially with Democrats, agreeing with the Democratic Secretary of State and House leaders on what constitutes a quorum—68 out of 134 seats, just over 50%. However, the justices did not mandate a specific resolution to resolve the impasse, leaving the House in a legislative limbo for the past two weeks (04:00).

In November, Minnesota voters elected a split House with 67 Democrats and 67 Republicans. Complications arose when a judge disqualified one Democrat for residency issues. Consequently, Republicans have been conducting floor sessions and committee meetings without Democratic participation, exacerbating the deadlock (04:00).

7. Crude Oil Prices Slightly Up

Host: Jack Spear

Crude oil futures saw a minor increase, with prices rising by 4 cents to $74.66 per barrel in New York (04:47).

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For more detailed coverage and updates, visit NPR News Now.

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Timestamps:

• 00:45 – Pete Hegseth's background and qualifications
• 01:42 – Trump's comments on disaster devastation
• 02:03 – Trump's proposals on rebuilding and FEMA
• 02:25 – Ceasefire extension details
• 03:09 – Hostages release and Wall Street update
• 04:00 – Minnesota House control dispute
• 04:47 – Crude oil prices

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

In Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Donald Trump's embattled nominee for defense secretary has been approved by the Senate. With Vice President JD V breaking a 5050 tie, Pete Hegseth was dodged by doubts about his qualifications, as well as allegations of sexual assault, public drunkenness and financial mismanagement of two veterans nonprofits. Morphin NPR's Tom Bowman.

[Tom Bowman]

Those who have led the Department of defense since 1947 have come from the highest ranks of politics, industry or the military. Pete Hegseth is an Army National Guard combat veteran and former Fox News host, but he calls himself someone with dust on his boots who will be a change agent at the Pentagon, a place he claims has focused on woke politics and diversity at the expense of war fighting. Of late, Hickseth has changed his long held stance against women in ground combat, saying women can serve in those roles as long as they meet the standards. But he says the fitness requirements are lower for women and has vowed a review. Tom Bowman, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

President Donald Trump traveled to North Carolina and California today. North Carolina, Trump talking to residents who suffered losses due to flooding the remnants of Hurricane Hurricane Helene. And in California, Trump promised to work with Governor Gavin Newsom to respond to the LA wildfires. After a tour. Trump said the damage was far worse close up.

[Donald Trump]

I don't think you can realize how rough it is, how devastating it is until you see it. I didn't realize. I mean, I saw a lot of bad things on television, but the extent of it, the size of it, we flew over it in a helicopter, we flew to a few of the areas, and it is devastation.

[Jack Spear]

Speaking later with first responders and LA Mayor Karen Bass, Trump proposed waiving federal permits to allow people to rebuild more quickly. Trump has criticized California's response to the wildfires and earlier today talked about eliminating FEMA and letting states handle response. The Trump administration is calling for an extension to a ceasefire in Lebanon to give Israel more time to pull out. NPR's Michelle Kelman reports.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Israeli troops were due to leave southern Lebanon by this weekend, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says this will depend on the Lebanese armed forces taking over parts of southern Lebanon and pushing Hezbollah further north. President Trump's national security spokesman, Brian Hughes, says the goal is to ensure that Hezbollah does not have the ability to threaten the Lebanese people or their neighbors in Israel to achieve that, he says, quote, a short, temporary ceasefire extension is urgently needed. His written statement adds that President Trump is committed to ensuring that Israeli citizens can safely return homes in the north, while also supporting Lebanon's new government. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Jack Spear]

A mostly quiet trading day on Wall street with stocks coming off a bit from their record highs. The dow is down 140 points. This is NPR. Four more hostages will be released by the militant group Hamas over the weekend. Hamas confirming the hostages set to be released tomorrow are female soldiers under a ceasefire deal. It has paused the 15 month long war in Gaza. Israel would release 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the four, including 120 militants serving life sentences after being convicted of carrying out deadly attacks. The four Israelis have been held since the start of the war in Gaza in October of 2023. The Minnesota Supreme Court today tossed the question of who controls the Minnesota House back to the state's legislative branch. Democrats have been boycotting the opening weeks of a session over a power fight. Member station Minnesota Public Radio claim Masters.

[Clay Masters]

Reports the order is a partial win for Democrats because justices on Minnesota's high court agreed with the Democratic secretary of state and the party's leaders in the House over what constitutes a quorum. That's 68 members out of the chamber's 134 seats, just over 50% of the entire chamber. Justices declined to go further and order a specific resolution to the impasse that's kept the Minnesota House in limbo for the last two weeks. In November, voters elected a split House of Representatives with 67 Democrats and 67 Republicans. But a judge ordered one Democrat could not take his seat because he did not properly live in the district he planned to represent. Republicans have been holding floor sessions and committees without Democrats present. For NPR News, I'm clay masters in St. Paul.

[Jack Spear]

Crude oil futures prices moved slightly higher today. Oil up 4 cents a barrel to 74, 66 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

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