NPR News Now: January 29, 2025, 1 PM EST

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Producer: NPR
Release Date: January 29, 2025

1. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Senate Confirmation Hearing

NPR Host Lakshmi Singh begins the episode by covering the intense Senate confirmation hearing of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the position of Secretary of Health and Human Services.

• Tense Exchanges with Democrats:
  Kennedy faced rigorous questioning from Democratic panel members who criticized his previous writings and actions. They accused him of endorsing harmful conspiracy theories and challenged his commitment to public health over political affiliations.

  Lakshmi Singh [00:15]: "Democrats on the panel have had tense exchanges with Kennedy. They cite Kennedy's books and actions in accusing him of embracing harmful conspiracy theories."

• Concerns Over Vaccination Stance:
  Democrats disputing his stance emphasized mistrust in his claims of not being anti-vaccine, raising alarms about potential policy shifts that could impact public health initiatives.

  Lakshmi Singh [00:15]: "They're disputing his claim that he is not anti vaccine and raised concerns that he will put politics and his support of President Donald Trump over the health and welfare of the US public."

• Republican Support:
  In contrast, Republican Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo of Idaho offered a more favorable view of Kennedy, highlighting the potential for reform in the federal healthcare system.

  Mike Crapo [00:58]: "Mr. Kennedy, if confirmed, you will have the opportunity to chart a new and better course for the federal approach to tackling both the drivers and the consequences of our ailing healthcare system. Your commitment to combating chronic conditions that drive healthcare costs will be critical to our success."

• Next Steps:
  Kennedy is scheduled for a second confirmation hearing with a separate committee the following day, indicating the ongoing scrutiny of his nomination.

  Lakshmi Singh [01:18]: "Kennedy faces a second confirmation hearing before a separate committee tomorrow."

2. Investigation into Former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley

NPR's Quill Lawrence reports on the Trump administration's investigation into Mark Milley, a retired four-star general and former Joint Chiefs Chairman.

• Security Detail Removed:
  The Pentagon has withdrawn Milley's security detail amidst escalating tensions and threats.

  Lakshmi Singh [01:18]: "The Trump administration is investigating former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley. The Pentagon has taken away Milley's security detail."

• Trump's Campaign Rhetoric:
  President Donald Trump had previously criticized Milley harshly during his campaign, even making extreme statements about his fate.

  Quill Lawrence [01:34]: "President Donald Trump railed against Milley on the campaign trail, even calling for the retired four star general to be executed after Milley criticized Trump."

• Accusations and Consequences:
  The Pentagon accused Milley of undermining the chain of command, leading to the stripping of his security clearance and potential reduction in his retirement rank pending an investigation by the Defense Department Inspector General—a position recently replaced by the Trump administration.

  Quill Lawrence [01:34]: "His security clearance was also stripped and Milley may have his rank reduced in retirement pending an investigation by the Defense Department inspector general."

3. Cancellation of Latin American and Caribbean Meeting on US Deportations

NPR's Zeta Peralta discusses the canceled meeting of Latin American and Caribbean nations aimed at addressing President Trump's deportation policies.

• Diplomatic Tensions:
  The meeting was initiated following a diplomatic dispute between the US and Colombia over deported Colombian migrants. Colombian President Gustavo Petro returned American military planes carrying these migrants, criticizing their treatment.

  Eder Palta [02:23]: "Colombian President Gustavo Petro turned back American military planes carrying deported Colombian migrants. He said the migrants were being treated inhumanely."

• Regional Responses:
  Honduran President Guillermara Castro, a leftist leader, called for an extraordinary session of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). However, she later canceled the meeting, accusing some member states of prioritizing other interests over regional unity.

  Eder Palta [02:23]: "Castro canceled the meeting. In a statement Castro said it was a shame that some member states put other interests above Latin American unity."

• US Position:
  The US claimed that President Petro had capitulated on the issue, prompting Castro's cancellation of the session.

  Eder Palta [02:23]: "But the US said Petro capitulated and then Castro canceled the meeting."

4. Stock Market Update

NPR Host Lakshmi Singh provides a brief overview of the current stock market trends.

• Market Declines:
  The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down by 161 points, sitting at 44,688. The broader Nasdaq has decreased by 1.2%, and the S&P 500 has fallen by approximately 0.75%.

  Lakshmi Singh [03:02]: "U.S. stocks are trading lower this hour. The Dow is down 161 points at 44,688. The Nasdaq has fallen 1.2%, the S&P 500 down roughly three quarters of a percent."

5. Google Maps Prepares for Geographical Name Changes

*NPR reports on Google Maps' compliance with potential name changes mandated by President Trump.

• Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America:
  Google Maps is ready to replace "Gulf of Mexico" with "Gulf of America" in its app following an executive order from President Trump. The company plans to use the names recognized by the US government, while maintaining the original name for users in Mexico and Mexico itself.

  Lakshmi Singh [03:18]: "Google Maps says it is prepared to replace Gulf of Mexico with Gulf of America on its app once President Trump's name change order takes effect."

• Mount Denali Renaming:
  In line with President Trump's directive, Google Maps will also reflect the renaming of Mount Denali to "Mount McKinley."

  Lakshmi Singh [03:18]: "The tech giant also plans to reflect President Trump's call to rename Mount Denali Mount McKinley."

6. OpenAI Investigates Chinese AI Startup DeepSeek

NPR's Bobby Allen delves into the controversy surrounding DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, and its alleged misuse of OpenAI's proprietary technology.

• DeepSeek's Claims:
  DeepSeek announced the development of a powerful chatbot, claiming it was created at a significantly lower cost compared to competitors, stirring concerns about technological competition between Silicon Valley and China.

  Bobby Allen [03:58]: "Deep Seek sent a shockwave through the AI industry this week when it said its powerful chatbot was developed at a much lower cost."

• Alleged Intellectual Property Theft:
  OpenAI alleges that DeepSeek covertly utilized the outputs of ChatGPT to train its AI model, effectively stealing intellectual property. This accusation comes amid ongoing lawsuits against OpenAI for copyright infringements related to data scraping for ChatGPT's development.

  Bobby Allen [03:58]: "The company says it is investigating what it believes as evidence that China based Deep Seek trained its AI model on the outputs of ChatGPT."

• Government and Industry Response:
  David Sacks, the White House's AI czar, expressed concerns that DeepSeek may have stolen OpenAI's technology, highlighting the broader implications for the AI industry.

  Bobby Allen [03:58]: "The White House's AI czar, David Sacks, said on Fox News that it is possible that Deepseek stole OpenAI's intellectual property."

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive update on significant political, technological, and economic developments. From the contentious confirmation of a key health official and high-stakes military investigations to international diplomatic tensions and cutting-edge AI disputes, the report encapsulates the multifaceted challenges facing the United States and its global interactions.

For more detailed updates, visit NPR News Now.