NPR News: 01-25-2025 8AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – January 25, 2025, 8AM EST

Hosted by NPR

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U.S. Presidential Activities and Wildfire Response

Giles Snyder opens the episode with President Donald Trump's scheduled rally in Las Vegas, following his recent tour of wildfire-affected areas in Southern California. Trump, arriving from North Carolina, expressed a strong desire to "overhaul or even possibly get rid of FEMA" (00:16). NPR's Asma Khalid reports on Trump's pointed criticism of California's wildfire response. Despite political tensions, California Governor Gavin Newsom and President Trump briefly set aside differences to discuss cooperation upon Trump's arrival. Trump toured the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, assuring federal support while simultaneously criticizing the local water management system. He mentioned an executive order aimed at redirecting more water from Northern California to the south, a move experts argue is unrelated to firefighting efforts (00:36).

Defense Secretary Confirmation

Later, Giles Snyder covers President Trump's interaction with reporters following the Senate's confirmation of Pete Hegseth as the new Secretary of Defense. Trump expressed satisfaction with the confirmation: “We're very happy about that and we appreciate everybody's vote” (01:13). The confirmation came after Vice President J.D. Vance broke a 50-50 tie in the Senate vote. Notably, three Republican senators—Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, Maine's Susan Collins, and Kentucky's Mitch McConnell—voted against Hegseth. Senator McConnell criticized Hegseth by stating he "failed to demonstrate that he could effectively lead an organization as large as the Pentagon" (01:23; 01:25).

Immigration Policy Overhaul

The Trump administration is intensifying its immigration crackdown by granting authorities broader powers to expel migrants admitted under Biden's temporary programs. Joel Rose explains that Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman signed a memo providing a "roadmap to begin removing migrants" from two specific Biden-era programs: the CBP One app, which allowed migrants to schedule asylum appointments at ports of entry, and another program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (02:05). Over 1.4 million migrants benefited from these programs under humanitarian parole, which critics argue was unlawful. Immigrant advocates express fear that those fleeing dangerous situations may be forcibly returned (02:05).

Ceasefire in Israel and Palestine

Internationally, Giles Snyder reports joyous reactions in Tel Aviv as Hamas released four female Israeli soldiers as part of a ceasefire agreement intended to pause 15 months of conflict. However, the deal is under scrutiny as Israel accuses Hamas of violating the agreement by not releasing a civilian hostage. Israel has also declared that displaced Palestinians will remain barred from returning to northern Gaza until these disputes are resolved (02:43).

U.S. Freezes Foreign Assistance

The U.S. State Department has expanded President Trump's executive action to freeze foreign assistance for 90 days. A memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlines a suspension of foreign aid, with exceptions made for military assistance to Israel and Egypt, as well as emergency food programs. This memo also imposes a stop-work order on existing contracts and grants for humanitarian and development projects. Giles Snyder notes that the U.S. remains the world's largest international aid donor despite these cuts (02:43).

Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Kate Bartlett provides an update on the escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Rebels from the M23 group are rapidly advancing towards Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu, a region rich in minerals and marred by decades of violence. Recent days have seen the capture of several towns and the assassination of a military governor. President Felix Tshisekedi has cut short his attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos to address the crisis. Bartlett reports that UN Peacekeeping forces are actively engaging the rebels, who the DRC government and the UN allege are supported by Rwanda—a claim Rwanda denies. The conflict has forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee, and foreign nationals are being urged to evacuate (03:55).

Sports Highlight: Grand Slam Tennis

In sports, Giles Snyder announces a significant achievement in tennis. American Madison Keys has claimed her first Grand Slam title by defeating two-time defending champion Irina Sabulinka in the women's final. This victory marks the first Grand Slam tournament champion of the year. Additionally, Snyder previews the men's final scheduled for the following day, featuring defending champion Jannik Sinner against Alexander Zverev (04:32).

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Notable Quotes:

• Gavin Newsom on Cooperation with Trump: “For a few minutes, they put politics aside and spoke of cooperation” (00:36)
• Mitch McConnell on Hegseth’s Confirmation: “He failed to demonstrate that he could effectively lead an organization as large as the Pentagon” (01:25)
• Giles Snyder on Madison Keys’ Victory: “This is NPR News” (04:32) – emphasizing the significance of the event.

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This detailed summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the January 25, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, providing a comprehensive overview for those who have not listened to the full broadcast.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

In Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. President Trump is due to hold a rally in Las Vegas today after touring wildfire damage yesterday in Southern California. Trump arrived in Los Angeles from North Carolina, where he spoke about wanting to overhaul or even possibly get rid of FEMA. NPR's Asma Khalid reports Trump has been.

[Asma Khalid]

Sharply critical of California's response to the fires. But when he landed, Democratic Governor of California Gavin Newsom met Trump on the tarmac and for a few minutes, they put politics aside and spoke of cooperation. Trump toured the damage in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacific Palisades and said the area would have the support of the federal government. At the same time, he criticized to the local water management system and spoke about an executive order to allow more water from the northern part of the state to Southern California. Experts say though, fighting fires is not related to that issue. Asma Khalid, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

President Trump spoke with reporters in Los Angeles last night, shortly after the Senate confirmed Pete Hexseth to be the new defense secretary. We just heard that we have a.

[Asma Khalid]

Great secretary of defense.

[Giles Snyder]

We're very happy about that and we appreciate everybody's vote. Hagseth confirmation came after Vice President J.D. vance broke a 5050 tie. Three Republican senators joined Democrats in voting against Hegseth, including Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins of Maine and Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, who released a statement after the vote saying Hegseth failed to demonstrate that he could effectively lead an organization as large as the Pentagon. Trump administration giving immigration authorities broad new powers to quickly expel migrants who were temporarily admitted to the country by the Biden administration. And Pierce Joel Rose reports it's part of a broader immigration crackdown.

[Joel Rose]

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman signed a memo that appears to give immigration authorities a roadmap to begin removing migrants who are temporarily admitted to the country under two Biden era programs. They include the CBP1 app, which allowed migrants to schedule appointments at ports of entry to begin their asylum claims, and another program for migrants from Cuba, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. More than 1.4 million migrants were admitted to the US under the two programs, which depend on an authority known as humanitarian parole. Critics said those programs were themselves unlawful. Now, immigrant advocates fear that people who fled from dangerous places may be forced to go back Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

[Giles Snyder]

Overseas, cheers went up today in Tel Aviv's hostage square as Hamas released four female Israeli soldiers as part of the ceasefire deal that has paused 15 months of fighting. In exchange, Israel is to release 200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. However, Israel is accusing Hamas of breaching the ceasefire deal by not releasing a civilian hostage. As expected. Israel says displaced Palestinians will not be allowed to return to northern Gaza until the matter is settled. This is npr. The State Department has issued an expansion on President Trump's executive action to freeze foreign assistance for 90 days. A memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday orders a pause and foreign aid. It makes exceptions for military aid to Israel and Egypt and emergency food programs. The memo includes a stop work order for any existing contracts or grants for humanitarian and development projects. The US Is the world's biggest international aid donor. Rebels are rapidly advancing on a provincial capital in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Kate Bartlett reports that UN Troops are fighting back as hundreds of thousands of civilians flee M23.

[Kate Bartlett]

Rebels have taken several towns in recent days and also killed a military military governor as they advance towards Goma, the capital of mineral rich North Kivu Province, which has been wracked by violence for three decades. President Felix Tsekeddi cut short his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos and returned home to deal with the escalating crisis. Meanwhile, US and other foreign nationals have been urged to leave the city. UN Peacekeeping forces say they are engaged in intense combat with the rebels who the DRC government and UN Say are backed by neighboring Rwanda. Rwanda denies the allegations. For NPR News, I'm Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg.

[Giles Snyder]

The first Grand Slam tennis tournament of the year has a new champion. American Madison Keys upset two time defending champion Irina Sabulinka in the women's final today, winning her first Grand Slam tennis title. The men's final is tomorrow with defending champion Jannik Sinner playing Alexander Zverev. I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News.

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