NPR News: 01-24-2025 5AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – January 24, 2025, 5AM EST

Host: Dave Mattingly

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President Trump's Visits Amidst Natural Disasters

Timestamp: [00:18]

President Donald Trump is set to travel to western North Carolina to assess the recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene, which caused extensive damage after making landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast in September. Additionally, Trump plans to visit Southern California, where firefighting teams are actively combating wildfires near Los Angeles.

Governor Gavin Newsom's Relief Efforts:

While in California, President Trump may meet with Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom has recently signed a substantial relief package worth $2.5 billion to support cleanup operations and provide shelter for those affected by the wildfires. However, tensions remain as Governor Newsom seeks additional funds to challenge the Trump administration in court over immigration policies.

Notable Quote:

An unnamed Trump supporter emphasized the administration's backing with confidence:

"I'm here for the long haul to support the president where we can, to defend our values where we must."
[01:05]

Trump has also threatened to withhold disaster aid from California over disputes concerning water policy, highlighting the ongoing friction between state and federal governments.

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Pentagon Nominee Pete Hegseth Faces Senate Hurdles

Timestamp: [01:21]

President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has advanced closer to Senate confirmation after clearing a procedural vote. However, the path ahead is rocky as two Republican senators have announced their intent to vote against his nomination.

Senatorial Opposition:

• Senator Lisa Murkowski (Alaska): Cited Hegseth's lack of experience and reports of excessive drinking and inappropriate behavior, questioning his character.

  "His lack of experience and reports about excessive drinking and other inappropriate behavior raise questions about his character."
  [01:40]

• Senator Susan Collins (Maine): Expressed doubts about Hegseth's capability to lead the Defense Department and criticized his previous statements regarding women in combat roles, despite Hegseth's attempts to retract those comments.

  "She's not convinced his position has changed."
  [01:40]

NPR's Deirdre Walsh anticipates that Hegseth may still secure confirmation, primarily along party lines, despite the opposition.

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CIA Director Confirmation and Judicial Actions on Immigration

Timestamp: [02:28]

John Ratcliffe's Confirmation:

The Senate has confirmed John Ratcliffe as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with a vote of 74 to 25. Ratcliffe, a former Republican congressman from Texas, previously served as the Director of National Intelligence during Trump's administration, marking him as the first individual to hold both positions.

Judicial Overturns Trump’s Executive Order:

A federal judge in Seattle has blocked President Trump's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to migrants without legal status or those residing temporarily. The judge declared the order "blatantly unconstitutional," effectively halting its implementation.

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International Criminal Court Targets Taliban Leaders

Timestamp: [03:34]

ICC Prosecutor Seeks Arrest Warrants:

Prosecutor Karim Khan from the International Criminal Court (ICC) is pursuing arrest warrants for Taliban leaders in Afghanistan, specifically targeting Supreme Leader Haybattullah Khunzada and Supreme Court Head Abdul Hakim Haqqani. The charges include crimes against humanity related to gender-based persecution.

Impact on Afghanistan:

Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban has enforced severe restrictions on women's rights, including:

• Banning women from most professions.
• Prohibiting girls from attending schools beyond sixth grade.
• Restricting women from leaving their homes without a male guardian.

Human rights organizations have lauded the ICC's decision, emphasizing the need for accountability for the Taliban's oppressive actions.

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Sports Update: Djokovic Exits Australian Open

Timestamp: [04:19]

Novak Djokovic's Withdrawal:

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic was eliminated from the Australian Open after losing the first set 7-6 in his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev. Post-match, Djokovic revealed that he was suffering from a torn muscle in his left leg, a lingering issue from his quarterfinal victory over Carlos Alcaraz. This injury prevented him from contending for his 25th Grand Slam title.

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Wall Street’s Positive Momentum

Timestamp: [04:19]

The stock market experienced a robust day of trading, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average surging by 408 points, reflecting investor optimism and positive economic indicators.

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now offered a comprehensive overview of significant national and international events, from President Trump's ongoing disaster response efforts and political maneuvers to pivotal Senate confirmations and judicial actions impacting immigration policy. Additionally, the program highlighted crucial international justice movements against the Taliban and provided updates on major sports events and financial markets, ensuring listeners are well-informed on a breadth of current affairs.

Transcript

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[Dave Mattingly]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. President Trump is expected to travel to western North Carolina today to get a look at Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. The storm's torrential rains did widespread damage in the region after coming ashore along Florida's Gulf coast in September. Trump is also planning to travel to Southern California, where crews continue to battle wildfires near Los Angeles. Guy Marzirotti with member station KQED says Trump may meet with Governor Gavin Newsom while in California.

[Guy Maserati]

Newsom signed a $2.5 billion relief package that will fund cleanup and sheltering those affected by the fires. But the governor also wants to spend more money fight the Trump administration in court over issues like immigration.

[Unnamed Trump Supporter]

I'm here for the long haul to support the president where we can, to defend our values where we must.

[Guy Maserati]

Trump has threatened to withhold disaster aid from California over disagreements on water policy. For NPR News, I'm Guy Maserati in San Jose.

[Dave Mattingly]

President Trump's nominee to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, is a step closer to Senate confirmation. His his nomination cleared a procedural vote yesterday. Two Republican senators have announced they will vote against Hegseth's nomination when it reaches the full Senate. NPR's Deidre Walsh says that's likely.

[Deirdre Walsh]

Later today, Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski announced she could not support Hegseth, citing his lack of experience and reports about excessive drinking and other inappropriate behavior that raise questions about his character. A second GOP senator, Susan Collins of Maine, also plans to vote no. She she raised doubt about him leading the large department and his previous comments about women serving in group combat roles. Hegseth backtracked on those, but Collins says she's not convinced his position has changed. Hegseth is not expected to get any support from Democrats, but he can afford to lose as many as three GOP votes. Hegseth appears likely to be confirmed as secretary of defense, mostly along party lines. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News, the Capitol.

[Dave Mattingly]

The Senate has confirmed the president's pick to serve as director of the CIA. John Ratcliffe's nomination was approved by a vote of 74 to 25, with many Democratic senators joining Republicans to support him. Ratcliffe is a former Republican congressman from Texas who worked as director of national Intelligence during Trump's first term in office. He's the first person to have held both jobs. A federal judge in Seattle is blocking President Trump's executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship for children born to migrants in the U S who are without legal status or in the country temporarily. The judge called the order blatantly unconstitutional. This is NPR News from Washington. A prosecutor with the International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for leaders of the Taliban in Afghanistan, as Omkar Khandekar reports. Human rights groups are applauding that decision, saying the Taliban should be held accountable for the persecution of women in the country.

[Omkar Khandekar]

ICC Chief prosecutor Karim Khan says he is seeking arrest warrants for Taliban Supreme Leader Haybattullah Khunzada and the head of its Supreme Court, Abdul Hakim Haqqani. He accuses them of crimes against humanity for gender based persecution. The Taliban has not yet responded to the allegations. Since seizing power In Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban has clamped down on women's freedoms. The group has banned women from working in most professions, girls from attending schools beyond grade six, and females from leaving their homes without a male guardian. It's unclear how an arrest might be made, considering the group's supreme leader lives largely in seclusion in Kandahar. Omkar Khandekar, NPR News, Mumbai.

[Dave Mattingly]

Novak Djokovic is out at this year's Australian Open tennis tournament. The 10 time tournament champion walked off the court today after losing 7, 6 in the first set of his semifinal match. He was up against Alexander Zverev. Later, at a news conference, Djokovic cited pain in his left leg from a torn muscle suffered in his quarterfinal victory over Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic was seeking his 25th Grand Slam title. Wall street is coming off a positive day of trading. The Dow added 408 points yesterday. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News, in Washington.

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