NPR News: 01-29-2025 6PM EST

Summary

Rescinding of Controversial Federal Assistance Pause

Timestamp: [00:19]
Host Jack Spear opens the episode by reporting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is rescinding its controversial order that called for a temporary pause on federal assistance. The order had previously caused significant confusion within Washington and nationwide, as federal agencies grappled with understanding the specifics of President Trump's directive.

Timestamp: [00:32]
Mara Liasson elaborates on the issue, stating, “Now the Trump administration has abandoned the blanket temporary federal funding freeze.” Instead, the administration has directed the heads of all executive departments to consult their general counsel concerning the implementation of President Trump's other executive orders, which involve cutting specific funding for numerous programs. Liasson highlights that this move underscores the tensions within Trump’s broader strategy to expand presidential powers while reducing constitutional checks and balances, particularly hindering Congress's authority over federal budgeting and expenditure.

Introduction of the Lackan Riley Act and Stricter Immigration Enforcement

Timestamp: [01:20]
President Trump has signed the Lackan Riley Act, a significant legislative measure aimed at expanding deportation capabilities. As NPR's Amanda Bastillo reports, this law arrives amidst Trump's promises of tougher immigration enforcement.

Timestamp: [01:30]
Ximena Bustillo provides details on the act, explaining that it directs federal immigration authorities to detain and deport individuals without legal status who are charged with specific crimes. These crimes include minor theft or shoplifting, assaulting a law enforcement officer, or crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

Timestamp: [01:46]
In support of the legislation, Ximena Bustillo asserts, “It's a landmark law that we're doing today. It's going to save countless innocent American lives.”

Timestamp: [01:53]
However, the measure faces criticism from immigration advocates who argue that it limits due process. They also cite research indicating that immigrants are less likely to commit crimes compared to U.S.-born citizens, challenging the necessity and fairness of the law.

Commerce Department Leadership and Antidepressant Debate

Timestamp: [02:05]
Shifting focus to departmental leadership, Jack Spear reports that President Trump has nominated billionaire financier Howard Lutnick to lead the Commerce Department. Lutnick has indicated that if confirmed, he plans to sell all his business holdings within 90 days. This statement was made during his hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Additionally, the GOP-led Senate has confirmed Lee Zeldin to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and today’s hearings also saw nominations for the Health and Human Services secretary.

Timestamp: [02:36]
In a separate segment, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made controversial claims suggesting that antidepressant drugs may be as addictive as heroin. NPR's Brian Mann addresses these assertions by noting Kennedy's history as a long-term heroin user without medical training and points out that his claims contradict existing research.

Timestamp: [02:48]
Kennedy stated, “People, including members of my family, who've had a much worse time getting off [SSRIs] than they did getting off heroin.”

Timestamp: [02:52]
Brian Mann counters by emphasizing that heroin is highly addictive in nearly all users, whereas a study published in The Lancet found that significant withdrawal symptoms from antidepressants affect only about 1 in 35 users. This evidence strongly disproves Kennedy's comparison between antidepressants and heroin addiction.

President Trump’s Interest in Purchasing Greenland

Timestamp: [03:11]
Jack Spear shifts to an international topic, reporting on President Trump's repeated expressions of interest in buying Greenland, a territory that is part of Denmark and officially not for sale. This proposition could potentially lead to conflicting claims from allies, notably the United Kingdom.

Timestamp: [03:34]
Lauren Frayer from Imperial explains the historical context, noting that in 1917, the U.S. signed a treaty recognizing Denmark's claim to Greenland, with Britain's involvement—at the time, Canada, Greenland’s closest neighbor, was under British control.

Timestamp: [03:56]
Tom Hoyam, a former Danish official and Greenland expert, adds that during the 1917 treaty negotiations, Britain asserted a claim stating that if Denmark were to ever sell Greenland, the United Kingdom would have the first right to purchase it or be consulted.

Timestamp: [04:01]
However, Lauren Frayer clarifies, “Any British right of first refusal is not in the 1917 treaty, and the UK government tells NPR it has no plans to exercise it.” Nonetheless, she mentions that if Trump pursues the purchase, he might still need to consult Britain first, despite the lack of a formal obligation.

Implementation and Impact of New York City's Congestion Pricing

Timestamp: [04:17]
In domestic news, New York City's congestion pricing policy came into effect last month. This policy imposes a $9 toll on motorists entering the city below 60th Street during peak periods, with trucks and buses charged more—over $21.

The impact of this policy has been significant:

• Transit officials report that there are approximately one million fewer vehicles entering the busiest areas of Manhattan since the program's implementation.
• There has been a substantial increase in subway ridership, both during the workweek and on weekends, indicating a shift towards public transportation.

Timestamp: [04:35]
Additionally, on the economic front, crude oil futures prices experienced a brief uptick but ultimately declined by $1.15 per barrel, settling at $72.62 per barrel. This movement reflects the ongoing fluctuations in the energy markets.

Timestamp: [04:58]
Jack Spear concludes the news segment from Washington, encapsulating the day's major developments.

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now on January 29, 2025, delivered a concise yet comprehensive overview of significant political, economic, and social developments. From the Trump administration's shifting federal assistance policies and immigration law reforms to international territorial ambitions and urban policy implementations, listeners were provided with detailed insights and balanced perspectives, underscored by expert analysis and factual reporting.

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The Office of Management and Budget is rescinding its controversial order calling for a pause on federal assistance.

[Mara Liasson]

The order had caused confusion in Washington and chaos around the country as federal agencies struggled to understand exactly what the White House wanted them to do and which programs were and were not covered by the memo. Now the Trump administration has abandoned the blanket temporary federal funding freeze. Democracy Forward says the administration has told the heads of all executive departments to contact their general councils if they have questions about how to implement President Trump's other executive orders, cutting specific funding for many programs. The conflict demonstrates the tensions inherent in Trump's larger effort to expand the powers of the presidency and diminish constitutional checks and balances, including Congress's ability to control how the federal government raises and spends money. Mara Liasson, NPR News, the White House.

[Jack Spear]

President Trump has signed the Lackan Riley Act, a measure that may expand who can be deported. As NPR's Amanda Bastillo explains, the law comes as Trump is promising stricter immigration enforcement.

[Ximena Bustillo]

The first law of Trump's new term in office directs federal immigration enforcement to detain and deport those without legal status charged with certain crimes, including minor theft or shoplifting, assault of a law enforcement officer or crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury of another person.

[Jack Spear]

It's a landmark law that we're doing today. It's going to save countless innocent American lives.

[Ximena Bustillo]

The measure has been criticized by immigration advocates who say it limits due process, and they say research shows immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S. born citizens. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

President Trump's choice to lead the Commerce Department, billionaire financier Howard Lutnick says if confirmed, he'll sell all his business holdings within 90 days. Lutnick making his remarks during a hearing before members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. Separately, the GOP led Senate has confirmed Lee Zeldin to head the EPA during a Senate confirmation hearing today to serve as Health and Human Services secretary. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Said antidepressant drugs may be as addictive as heroin claim contradicted by research. More from NPR's Brian Mann.

[Brian Mann]

Kennedy was himself a heroin user for more than a decade and lacks medical training, but he's long been a critic of antidepressant medications often referred to as SSRIs. During testimony, Kennedy said this I know.

[Ximena Bustillo]

People, including members of my family, who've.

[Jack Spear]

Had a much worse time getting off.

[Brian Mann]

Of SSRIs than they did than people have getting off of heroin. That claim doesn't match the science. Heroin is highly addictive in almost all users, but a study published in the medical journal the Lancet last summer found significant withdrawal symptoms only affect about 1 in 35 people who use antidepressants. Brian Mann, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

On Wall street, the dow is down 136 points today. This is NPR. President Trump keeps repeating his desire to buy the strategic Arctic territory of Greenland, which is part of Denmark and not for sale. But even if it, Trump could face a competing claim from one of America's closest allies. Imperial's Lauren Freyr is more from London.

[Lauren Frayer]

In 1917, when the US signed a treaty recognizing Denmark's claim to Greenland, Britain was involved, too, because Canada, Greenland's closest neighbor, was British back then. Tom Hoyam is a former Danish official and Greenland expert who says Britain made its own claim during those treaty talks, that if Denmark ever sold Greenland, then.

[Ximena Bustillo]

United Kingdom had the first right to buy it or to be consulted.

[Lauren Frayer]

Any British right of first refusal is not in the 1917 treaty, and the UK government tells NPR it has no plans to exercise it. But technically, if Trump wants to buy Greenland, he might have to ask Britain first. Lauren Frayer, NPR News, London.

[Jack Spear]

New York City's so called congestion pricing policy went into effect last month. It basically charges motorists coming into the city below 60th Street a $9 toll during peak periods, trucks and bus more than $21. Perhaps not surprisingly, transit officials say there are about a million fewer vehicles entering the busiest part of Manhattan since the program got underway, say it's also resulted in a sizable uptick in subway ridership both during the week and on weekends. Crude oil futures prices, after briefly moving higher, move the other direction today. Oil down $1.15 a barrel settled at $72.62 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.

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