NPR News Now: January 28, 2025, 7 AM EST

Host: Kristen Wright
Produced by: NPR
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

1. President Trump's Executive Orders on the US Military

Time Stamp: 00:17

President Donald Trump has issued four new executive orders concerning the United States Military, significantly impacting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within the Armed Services.

• Termination of DEI Programs: The orders mandate the cessation of DEI initiatives, stating that "no individual or group within our armed forces should be preferred or disadvantaged on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, color or creed" (Ayanna Archie, 00:31).

• Implementation Timeline: Defense Secretary Pete Tegseth has been given three months to present all current DEI programs and offices within the Defense Department. Additionally, he must submit a comprehensive plan within 30 days to comply with the new directives.

• Educational Restrictions: The orders prohibit military instruction on "gender ideology" and assertions that foundational American documents are "racist or sexist."

• Previous Actions: This move follows last week's executive order that eliminated DEI programs across the federal government and placed employees in these offices on paid leave.

Notable Quote:

"No individual or group within our armed forces should be preferred or disadvantaged on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, color or creed." — President Donald Trump (00:31)

2. Justice Department Actions Against Employees Investigating the President

Time Stamp: 01:15

The acting Attorney General is taking steps to dismiss several Justice Department employees involved in criminal investigations into President Trump.

• Termination Letters: According to James McHenry, the terminating letters cite that these employees "can't be trusted to faithfully implement the president's agenda."

• Trump's Future Meetings: President Trump announced plans to meet with leaders from Israel and India soon, highlighting his ongoing political maneuvers while aboard Air Force One.

3. President Trump's Upcoming Meetings with Israel and India

Time Stamp: 01:40

While en route on Air Force One, President Trump discussed his imminent meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• Meeting with Netanyahu: Scheduled for the near future, this meeting comes at a critical juncture amid a "fragile ceasefire hostage deal." Trump emphasized his stance on the Gaza situation:

  "Palestinians ought to move out of Gaza to areas that are, quote, safer and maybe more comfortable." — President Donald Trump (01:56)

• Meeting with Modi: Expected in February, the meeting aims to strengthen the already close relationship between Trump and Modi, focusing on trade and immigration issues.

Notable Quote:

"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is coming to the United States to meet very soon." — President Donald Trump (01:40)

4. Tech Stocks and China's AI Development Impacting the Market

Time Stamp: 02:22

Investors are closely monitoring the tech sector as stocks experienced a significant downturn following reports of a new Chinese AI model, Deep Seek.

• Deep Seek Development Costs: The AI model was developed for under $6 million, a stark contrast to American models like ChatGPT, which have cost hundreds of millions or even billions to develop.

• Market Reaction: Shares of chip company Navidea plummeted by nearly $600 billion in market value during pre-market trading. However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq showed signs of recovery today.

• Analyst Insights: Experts caution that the low development cost figure for Deep Seek might be misleading, as it potentially excludes expenses related to developing various versions that culminated in the current model.

Notable Quote:

"Deepseek says that it spent under $6 million to make this thing that's tiny relative to the hundreds of millions of dollars that others are investing, even billions." — Sean Ruich (02:40)

5. Climate Change's Impact on Temperature-Related Mortality in Europe

Time Stamp: 03:00

A recent study published in Nature Medicine highlights how human-driven climate change is altering the balance between heat-related and cold-related mortality in Europe.

• Changing Temperature Extremes: Climate change has increased the number of dangerously hot days while reducing the number of severe cold days. This shift threatens to increase overall mortality rates as heat poses new and amplified health risks.

• Health Implications: Excessive heat can lead to heatstroke, heart attacks, and mental health issues, among other medical problems. Traditionally, cold weather has caused more deaths in many regions, but the trend is reversing.

• Call to Action: Scientists warn that without rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the dangers of climate change will intensify, making it imperative to mitigate these effects swiftly.

Notable Quote:

"Because climate change is likely to balloon the risks of heat, the scientists write it's a warning to cut greenhouse gas emissions quickly to keep climate change from getting even more dangerous." — Alejandra Barunda (03:34)

6. Wildfires in Southern California and Whole Foods Workers' Unionization Efforts

Time Stamp: 04:10

• Wildfires: The three largest wildfires in Southern California are now over 95% contained. Rain has moved out of the area, preventing the expected major mudslides.

• Unionization at Whole Foods: Workers at a Philadelphia Whole Foods store voted in favor of joining the United Food and Commercial Workers union by a margin of 130 to 100. This marks the first unionization effort within the Amazon grocery chain.

  • Workers' Demands: The employees are seeking higher wages and more affordable healthcare benefits.

  • Next Steps: The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) must certify the results, and Amazon may choose to challenge the ballots.

Notable Quote:

"Employees of the Center City supermarket voted in favor of joining the United Food and Commercial Workers union yesterday by a margin of 130 to 100." — Kristen Wright (04:10)

Final Note: This episode of NPR News Now provided a comprehensive overview of significant political, economic, and environmental developments both within the United States and internationally. From executive orders affecting military policies to the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and the pressing challenges of climate change, the program encapsulated pivotal moments shaping the current global narrative.

This summary excludes advertisements, sponsor messages, and non-content sections to focus solely on the informative segments of the podcast.