NPR News: 01-24-2025 12PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now

Episode: NPR News: 01-24-2025 12PM EST
Release Date: January 24, 2025
Host: Jeanine Herbst
Source: NPR

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Vice President JD Vance to Speak at Annual March for Life

[00:13]
Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to address Washington's annual March for Life, a significant gathering of anti-abortion activists. The event unfolds against a backdrop of conservative dominance in the White House, Congress, and a majority on the Supreme Court.

[00:33]
Sarah McCammon highlights President Trump's acknowledgment of his influence in appointing Supreme Court justices who played a key role in overturning Roe v. Wade. However, Trump has delivered mixed signals regarding support for new federal abortion restrictions.
“President Trump has bragged about his role in choosing Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade,” McCammon reports.

[00:58]
Carvana Advertisement (Skipped as per instructions)

[01:06]
In addition to Vice President Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are also slated to speak at the march, signaling a unified conservative stance on the issue.

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President Trump's First Week: Disaster Response and DEI Policy Overhaul

[01:14]
President Trump concludes his inaugural week with visits to regions affected by recent natural disasters. In Asheville, North Carolina, he assesses the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, which resulted in the destruction of numerous homes and the tragic loss of at least 266 lives.

During his visit, Trump announced plans to sign an executive order aimed at reforming, overhauling, or eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, though specific details remain undisclosed. He then traveled to California to evaluate the ongoing wildfire damages. In North Carolina, Trump proposed that federal aid for California would be contingent upon the state's support for voter ID laws and environmental law reforms.

[01:58]
Tom Bowman elaborates on the administration's stance regarding DEI initiatives:
“These programs have been seen as pretty effective in bringing more women and minorities into the ranks at all levels. President Biden chose the first woman admiral, Lisa Franchetti, to run the Navy, as well as the first black defense secretary, Lloyd Austin. But Donald Trump and his defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, have dismissed these programs as woke and divisive.”
Bowman notes that the Trump administration has discontinued DEI programs across the federal government, including the military, labeling them as unnecessary and polarizing.

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Israel Supreme Court Delays Media Access to Gaza

[02:23]
In ongoing developments in the Middle East, Israel's Supreme Court has once again postponed its decision on granting journalists access to Gaza. This decision affects the ability of international media to report from the conflict zone.

[02:32]
Kat Lansdorf provides further insights:
“Israel's Foreign Press Association, of which NPR is a member, filed the latest petition to lift the ban on outside media. Last September, the court gave the state of Israel a deadline to respond to that petition. The state has requested that deadline to be moved back five times. It's now set for early February.”
Lansdorf explains that earlier in the war, the Supreme Court rejected a similar petition citing security concerns. As a result, foreign journalists have been restricted to highly controlled environments with the Israeli military, while Palestinian journalists present on the ground continue to provide most of the reporting from Gaza.

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US Tennis Star Ben Shelton Exits Australian Open

[03:10]
American tennis sensation Ben Shelton has been eliminated from the Australian Open, falling to Italy's defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinals. This marks Shelton's best performance at the tournament, reaching the men's final four for the first time in over a decade.

[03:29]
Cristina Kucola reports that Shelton, the first American to achieve this milestone in the men's singles since Andy Roddick in 2009, was narrowly defeated by Sinner after an intense match. Sinner will advance to the final to compete against Germany's Alexander Zverev, who secured his spot following Novak Djokovic's retirement from the semifinals due to injury.

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US Housing Market Sees 30-Year Low in Existing Home Sales

[04:11]
The US housing market is experiencing a significant downturn, with existing home sales dropping to just over 4 million in 2024—the lowest in three decades. High mortgage rates and limited inventory are major contributing factors.

The National Association of Realtors reported a modest 2% increase in sales for December, with the median selling price hovering just above $400,000. Concurrently, Freddie Mac revealed that the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has slightly decreased compared to the previous week.

Furthermore, President Trump, addressing business leaders in Davos, emphasized his intention to advocate for reduced interest rates to stimulate the housing market and broader economic activity.

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Notable Quotes

• Sarah McCammon at [00:33]: “President Trump has bragged about his role in choosing Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.”
• Tom Bowman at [01:58]: “These programs have been seen as pretty effective in bringing more women and minorities into the ranks at all levels. President Biden chose the first woman admiral, Lisa Franchetti, to run the Navy, as well as the first black defense secretary, Lloyd Austin. But Donald Trump and his defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, have dismissed these programs as woke and divisive.”
• Kat Lansdorf at [02:32]: “Israel's Foreign Press Association, of which NPR is a member, filed the latest petition to lift the ban on outside media. Last September, the court gave the state of Israel a deadline to respond to that petition. The state has requested that deadline to be moved back five times. It's now set for early February.”

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from NPR News Now's episode on January 24, 2025, providing a comprehensive overview for listeners and those who missed the broadcast.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Vice President Vance is scheduled to address the annual March for Life today in Washington. As NPR's Sarah McCammon reports, this year's gathering of anti abortion activists comes at a time when conservatives control the White House, Congress and they hold a majority on the Supreme Court.

[Sarah McCammon]

President Trump has bragged about his role in choosing Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. But since then he's offered mixed messages about whether he'd support new federal restrictions, as some activists are calling for Trump's vice president. J.D. vance is set to address the march in person, his first public appearance since the inauguration. Here's Vance at the Ohio March for life in 2023 for the millions of.

[Carvana]

Babies as yet unborn in this country, we are going to fight for you step of the way. There are many steps to take it. I'll be right there walking with you.

[Sarah McCammon]

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are also scheduled to speak. Sarah McCammon, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

President Trump is capping off his first week in office with visits to areas devastated by natural disasters. He's in Asheville, North Carolina, now to view damage from the remnants of Hurricane Helene that wiped out scores of homes and left at least 266 people dead. He says he will sign an executive order to reform, overhaul or get rid of female without providing details. Later, he heads to California to survey damage from the ongoing wildfires. While in North Carolina, he said he would support aid for California if they backed a voter ID law and reformed their environmental laws. And the Trump administration has nixed dei, or diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the federal government, including the military. NPR's Tom Bowman has more.

[Tom Bowman]

These programs have been seen as pretty effective in bringing more women and minorities into the ranks at all levels. President Biden chose the first woman admiral, Lisa Franchetti, to run the Navy, as well as the first black defense secretary, Lloyd Austin. But Donald Trump and his defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, have dismissed these programs as woke and divisive. Another thing they question is extremist activity.

[Jeanine Herbst]

NPR's Tom Bowman, Israel's Supreme Court has again postponed a decision on whether or not to allow journalists access to Gaza. NPR's Katlonsdorf has more.

[Kat Lansdorf]

Israel's Foreign Press association, of which NPR is a member, filed the latest petition petition to lift the ban on outside media. Last September, the court gave the state of Israel a deadline to respond to that petition. The state has requested that deadline to be moved back five times. It's now set for early February. Early in the war, the Supreme Court rejected another petition from the fpa, citing security concerns. Outside journalists have only been allowed access to Gaza during the war on highly controlled embeds with the Israeli military. Throughout the war, reporting from Gaza has largely come from Palestinian journalists who were already inside when the war began. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jeanine Herbst]

This is NPR News. U.S. tennis star Ben Shelton is out of the Australian Open, going down to defending champion Janik Sinner of Italy in the semifinals. As Christina Kagoglia reports, Shelton was the first American to reach the men's final four in more than a decade.

[Cristina Kucola]

Ben Shelton got off to a quick start with an early break in the opening game against men's world number one Jannik Sinner, only for the Italian to take the first set in a tie break, eventually defeating the 22 year old American 766262. This was Shelton's best result at the Australian Open, having reached the quarter finals two years ago. Andy Roddick was the last American to get this far in the men's singles in 2009. Jannik Sinner will now face Germany's Alexander Zverev in Sunday's final. The world no. 2 advanced after Serbia's Novak Djokovic retired from their semi final match due to injury. For NPR News, I'm Cristina Kucola in Melbourne.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Sales of existing homes in the US fell to the lowest level in 30 years in 2024 with just over 4 million homes sold. This is high mortgage rates and low inventory continue. The national association of Realtors says sales in December rose just over 2% with the median selling price at just over $400,000. Meanwhile, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate on a 30 year fixed rate loan is now, and that's slightly lower than it was a week ago. Meanwhile, President Trump told business leaders in Davos yesterday he'll demand interest rates come down. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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