NPR News: 01-24-2025 3PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 24, 2025, 3PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Source: NPR News

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President Trump Targets FEMA and Offers Conditional Aid to States

In today’s top story, President Donald Trump announced plans to sign an executive order aimed at “reform[ing], overhaul[ing] or possibly close[ing] the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)” (00:12). Citing FEMA’s perceived inefficiency, Trump criticized the agency as “too slow and bureaucratic” (00:12). He emphasized that states should manage their own natural resources, asserting that “they know best what they need” (00:38).

During his visit to North Carolina, Trump toured areas devastated by Hurricane Helene, highlighting the “catastrophic flooding” that resulted in “266 deaths” and widespread destruction (00:38). He is now set to travel to California to assess wildfire damage and meet with Governor Gavin Newsom. However, Trump stipulated that federal aid to California would be contingent upon the state implementing voter ID laws and relaxing environmental regulations. He criticized California’s wildfire response, pointing out the “lack of water and fire hydrants” (00:38).

Federal Judge Restricts Oath Keepers Leader’s Access to Washington D.C.

In related news, Ryan Lucas reports that federal Judge Amit Mehta has barred Stuart Rhodes, the founder of the far-right Oath Keepers extremist group, from entering Washington, D.C. without court approval (01:29). Rhodes, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, had his 18-year sentence commuted by President Trump to time served, leading to his release from prison (01:29). Judge Mehta described Rhodes as an “ongoing threat to the country”, underscoring the seriousness of his restrictions (01:29).

Minnesota's State House Control in Legal Limbo

Minnesota faces political turmoil as both Republicans and Democrats vie for control of the state House amidst ongoing legal challenges. Dana Ferguson explains that the November election resulted in a tie, but Democrats subsequently lost a seat due to a residency challenge (02:24). Republicans argue they hold the majority and should thus lead legislative sessions, prompting Democrats to boycott these meetings (02:24).

The Minnesota Supreme Court is currently deliberating on challenges brought forward by House Democrats and the Secretary of State. Chief Justice Natalie Hudson acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating, “What we have is a co-equal branch of government that is completely dysfunctional” (02:52). The court faces three potential paths: maintaining the current power structure, striking it down, or forging an alternative solution (02:58).

President Trump Removes Federal Security for Dr. Anthony Fauci

In a significant development, President Trump has terminated the federal security detail for Dr. Anthony Fauci, the renowned infectious disease expert who advised him during the COVID-19 pandemic (03:07). Fauci now manages his own security arrangements. This move follows a trend of former Trump aides who have become vocal critics of the administration having their federal protection revoked, despite ongoing threats to their safety (03:07).

Anniversary of Alexei Navalny’s Death Highlights Kremlin’s Repression

As the first anniversary of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death approaches, NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley reports on the continued repression by the Kremlin. Navalny’s lawyer, Olga Mikhailova, currently residing in Paris, revealed that the Russian government is relentless in “seeking revenge by punishing Navalny's lawyers” (03:51). Recently, three of Navalny’s lawyers received multi-year sentences for their association with him, branding Navalny as an extremist (03:51).

Mikhailova, who narrowly escaped prosecution by being abroad during the October 2023 arrests, expressed her deepest regret: “being unable to convince Navalny not to return to Russia from Germany, where he'd been recovering from a poisoning” (03:51). Navalny was arrested upon landing in Moscow in January 2021 and died in prison two years later, amplifying international concerns over human rights in Russia (03:51).

Wall Street Dips Amid Economic Uncertainty

On the financial front, Wall Street is experiencing a downturn with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping by 150 points and the Nasdaq falling by 116 points (04:41). This decline reflects broader economic uncertainties impacting investor confidence.

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Market Update:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: -150 points
• Nasdaq Composite: -116 points

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For more detailed updates and continuing coverage, visit npr.org.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump says he will sign an executive order to reform, overhaul or possibly close the Federal Emergency Management Agency, fema, saying it's too slow and bureaucratic.

[Dana Ferguson]

We're getting the Corps of the Army Corps of Engineer Engineers also. You need your river banks fixed, you need a lot of roads fixed and we're going to get it done in rapid time.

[Jeanine Herbst]

He says states need to take care of their own natural resources and they know best what they need. Trump made the comments in North Carolina earlier today, where he toured the months long recovery from the remnants of Hurricane Helene. Catastrophic flooding destroyed homes and buildings and killed 266 people. Trump is now heading to California where he will tour wildfire damage in and around Los Angeles and meet with Governor Gavin Newsom. He says he will provide aid to that state, but only only if California implements voter ID and loosens its environmental laws. Trump has criticized state lawmakers over the wildfire response and the lack of water and fire hydrants. In la, a federal judge is barring the founder of the far right Oath Keepers extremist group from entering Washington, D.C. stuart Rhodes was also prohibited from entering the U.S. capitol without the court's approval. NPR's Ryan Lucas has more.

[Ryan Lucas]

Oath Keepers founder and leader Stuart Rhodes was convicted by a federal jury of seditious conspiracy in connection with the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 by a mob of Trump supporters. US District Judge Amit Mehta sentenced Rhodes to 18 years in prison and called him an ongoing threat to the country. On Monday, after taking office again, President Trump commuted Rhodes sentence to time served and since his release from prison, Rouge was spotted at the U.S. capitol. Now Judge Mehta has issued an order prohibiting Rhodes and seven other Oath Keepers convicted in connection with the Capitol riot from entering Washington, D.C. or the U.S. capitol building or grounds without first obtaining the court's permission. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Minnesota state politics are in turmoil as both Republicans and Democrats say they should control the state House while a legal challenge plays out. Minnesota Public Radio's Dana Ferguson has more.

[Dana Ferguson]

Republicans and Democrats came out of the November election in a tie, but Democrats have since lost a seat to a residency challenge. Republicans argue that they have a majority and should be able to use it. Democrats have boycotted to stop legislative sessions. The Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday in a pair of challenges from House Democrats and the secretary of state. Chief Justice Natalie Hudson said the court faces a difficult situation.

[Olga Mikhailova]

What we have is a co equal branch of government that is completely dysfunctional.

[Dana Ferguson]

The court could agree to strike the current power structure, let it stand or go another direction. For NPR News, I'm Dana Ferguson in St. Paul.

[Jeanine Herbst]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Dana. President Trump has ended the federal security detail for Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious disease expert who advised him on the pandemic. And he says he wouldn't feel any responsibility if Fauci were harmed. Fauci is the latest in a string of former Trump aides turned critics to see their federal protection canceled despite ongoing threats to their lives. Fauci has reportedly now hired his own security detail. The first anniversary of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's death is coming up in February. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. Navalny's head lawyer now lives in Paris, where she spoke to a small group of mostly Russian expats.

[Olga Mikhailova]

Olga Mikhailova was Navalny's lawyer for 616 years. She told the group the Kremlin continues to seek revenge by punishing Navalny's lawyers. Last week, three of his lawyers were given multi year sentences for associating with Navalny, whom the Russian government has called an extremist. Michailova escaped that fate because she was outside of Russia on vacation when the arrests were made in October 2023. She has since been granted asylum in France. Mikhailova says her biggest regret is being unable to convince Navalny not to return to Russia from Germany, where he'd been recovering from a poisoning. He was arrested at the Moscow airport upon Landing in January 2021 and died in prison two years later. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Wall street is trading lower. The dow is down 150 points. Nasdaq down 116. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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