NPR News: 01-26-2025 9PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 27, 2025, 9 PM EST Summary

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Episode Release Date: January 27, 2025

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1. Israel-Hamas Ceasefire and Hostage Release

Timestamp: 00:19

Jeanine Herbst opens the episode with breaking news about a significant development in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Qatar has brokered a deal to release Arabel Yehud, a civilian caught in the recent standoff, along with five other hostages. Additionally, Palestinians will be permitted to return to their homes in northern Gaza after being blocked for two days.

• Israeli Response: The Israeli Prime Minister’s office, under Benjamin Netanyahu, announced the agreement via the social media platform X. "Hamas has agreed to release Yehud and five other hostages," the statement read, emphasizing the thaw in tensions.

• President Trump's Comments: Trump's recent remarks aboard Air Force One stirred controversy as he referred to the Gaza Strip as a "real mess and a demolition site." He suggested that Jordan and Egypt could accommodate Palestinians from Gaza, a move that has raised fears of potential displacement. “Resettling people outside Gaza could be temporary or long term,” Trump stated at 00:58.

• Hamas’ Stance: In response, senior Hamas figure Besim Naim condemned Trump's proposal. "Palestinians endured war with Israel in order to stay on their land and will not accept any proposals," Naim asserted, calling for the blockade on Gaza to be lifted to facilitate reconstruction.

2. U.S. Immigration Enforcement Escalation in Chicago

Timestamp: 01:43

Jeanine Herbst reports on a nationwide surge in immigration enforcement, highlighting intensified actions in Chicago. High-ranking Trump administration officials, including border czar Tom Holman and acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bovey, have led this enforcement push.

• Collaborative Efforts: According to ICE’s post on X, agents from multiple agencies—including DHS, FBI, DEA, and ATF—are coordinating these efforts. This marks a continuation of President Trump's long-promised mass deportations strategy.

• Florida’s Legislative Response: Concurrently, Florida’s state legislature is convening a special session at Governor Ron DeSantis’s behest to address illegal immigration. The session aims to implement measures such as requiring local officials to assist in deportations or face suspension.

  • Governor DeSantis’s Position: DeSantis emphasized the severity of the issue. “You can view me as like a dog that's got you on the ankle on immigration. I am not just going to let go,” DeSantis declared at 02:52.

  • Legislative Pushback: However, Republican leaders within Florida's legislature are resistant, deeming the special session premature. Despite this, DeSantis remains steadfast in his commitment to enforce stringent immigration controls.

3. Asian Markets Overview

Timestamp: 03:06

Jeanine Herbst provides a brief update on the performance of Asian financial markets:

• Japan’s Nikkei: Declined by approximately 0.5%.
• Hong Kong’s Hang Seng: Rose by about 0.8%.

This mixed performance reflects the current volatility and diverse economic factors influencing the region’s markets.

4. Historic Achievements at the X Games

Timestamp: 03:33

NPR’s Joe Hernandez celebrates unprecedented feats at the X Games in Aspen, where two athletes successfully landed the 23.40 trick for the first time in history during snowboarding and skiing events.

• Hiroto Ogiwara: The 19-year-old Japanese snowboarder executed the move on Friday, expressing immense joy post-landing. “I had never been that happy and that it felt like it took every ounce of energy I had,” Ogiwara shared.

• Miro Tabanelli: Following closely, 20-year-old Italian skier Tabanelli replicated the achievement in a ski competition, marking a significant milestone in the sport.

Both athletes secured gold medals in their respective events, underscoring their exceptional skill and dedication.

5. Box Office Weekend Highlights

Timestamp: 04:12

Jeanine Herbst wraps up with the weekend’s box office report, noting a quieter performance compared to previous weeks:

• Top Spot: Flight Risk

  • Revenue: $12 million
  • Details: Directed by Mel Gibson and starring Mark Wahlberg, this Lionsgate thriller follows a pilot working as an air marshal pursued across Alaska.

• Second Place: Mufasa the Lion King

  • Revenue: $8.7 million
  • Details: In its sixth weekend, this Walt Disney film has grossed $626 million globally.

• Additional Entrants:

  • One of Them Days – $8 million (second weekend)
  • Sonic the Hedgehog 3 – $5 million
  • Moana 2 – $4 million

These figures highlight the current trends and audience preferences in the movie industry.

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This episode of NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive overview of pressing international conflicts, domestic policies, economic indicators, sporting milestones, and entertainment news, providing listeners with a well-rounded snapshot of current events.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Qatar says a deal has been reached to release Arabel Yehud, a civilian who was at the center of a standoff between Israel and Hamas when she wasn't released with for female soldiers yesterday, and allow Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. That's according to the Associated Press. Israel accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire deal, but now the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media site X Hamas has agreed to release Yehud and five other hostages and that Palestinians will now be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza. Thousands were blocked for two days from getting into the north. President Trump says he wants Jordan and Egypt to take in Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. His comments on board Air Force One this weekend raised concerns about Palestinian displacement. NPR Zaya Batrawi has more.

[Zaya Batrawi]

Trump called the Gaza Strip a real mess and a demolition site, adding that resettling people outside Gaza could be temporary or long term. In response to Trump's comments, senior Hamas figure Besim Naim said Palestinians endured war with Israel in order to stay on their land and will not accept any proposals, even he said, if seemingly well intentioned. Under the guise of reconstruction, he called for the blockade on Gaza to be lifted so residents can rebuild. Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and against Hamas destroyed most buildings and homes, with entire families still buried under the rubble. El Botraoui, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Federal law enforcement agencies began ramped up immigration enforcement in Chicago today as top Trump administration officials, including border czar Tom Holman and acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bovey, visited the city. In a Post on X, U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, says agents from DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are there. This is part of President Trump's long promised mass deportations. And Florida state legislature meets tomorrow in a special session called by Governor Ron DeSantis to take up measures aimed at curbing illegal immigration. NPR's Greg Allen reports. Republican leaders are pushing back, calling the session premature.

[Greg Allen]

President Trump has expressed support for Florida's special session on a series of enforcement measures, including one that would require local officials to help carry out deportations or face suspension. Governor DeSantis wants to make it a state crime to enter the US Illegally and to require people to show proof of immigration status before sending money abroad. Republican leaders in Florida's legislature have indicated they may take no action this week, but DeSantis says he'll keep the pressure on.

[Joe Hernandez]

You can view me as like a as like a dog that's got you on the ankle on immigration. I am not just going to let go.

[Greg Allen]

Lawmakers say they will deal with immigration and other issues in their regular session in March. Greg Allen, NPR News, Miami.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Asian markets are trading in mixed territory at this hour. The Nikkei in Japan down about a half percent the Hang Seng in Hong Kong up about 0.8%. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Two athletes competing at the X Games in Aspen this weekend Both landed at 23:40 for the first time in history. As NPR's Joe Hernandez reports, the record setting tricks happen during snowboarding and skiing events.

[Joe Hernandez]

To complete a 23:40, athletes have to rotate six and a half times in midair and then land, which is exactly what happened at the X Games twice. First, it was 19 year old Japanese snowboarder Hiroto Ogiwara who landed the trick on Friday. He said afterward that he had never been that happy and that it felt like it took every ounce of energy he had. Then one day later, 20 year old Italian skier Miro Tabanelli became the first person to pull off the move during a ski competition. Both Ogiwara and Tabanelli won gold in their respective events. Joe Hernandez, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

On a quiet weekend at the box office, Flight Risk debuted in the top spot with a modest $12 million in ticket sales. The Lionsgate thriller directed by Mel G. Gibson, stars Mark Wahlberg as a pilot flying as an air marshal and a fugitive across Alaska. In second place, Walt Disney's Mufasa the Lion King, in its sixth weekend with $8.7 million. That film has made $626 million globally so far. In third place, the comedy One of them Days with 8 million in its second weekend. That's rounding out the top five, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 with $5 million and Moana 2 with $4 million. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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