NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-01-2025 5AM EST

Episode Date: January 1, 2025

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Do you make resolutions in January? We do. Specifically, we make pop culture resolutions. We also check in on what we resolved to do this last year. Did we catch up on all those classic movies or finally write that novel? Find out on the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Amy Held. The 119th Congress convenes Friday, with the House set to elect a new speaker. Mike Johnson is running to keep his position. But as NPR's Windsor Johnston reports, it's unclear whether he has the support. Many House Republicans are concerned about keeping the majority for the second half of

Donald Trump's term in office. And some have said that Speaker Johnson is not up for that task. Republican Congressman Chip Roy says Johnson doesn't have enough support in the lead-up to Friday's vote. We need to have the conference get together so that we can get united. There are a lot of great members of Congress. Mike's a friend, and maybe he can answer the call and he can deliver an agenda and a plan. Byron Donalds is a good man and a good friend.

I nominated him two years ago. President-elect Donald Trump says Johnson has his complete and total endorsement. The Louisiana Republican needs 218 votes to retain the speakership. Windsor-Johnston, NPR News, Washington. Worldwide revelers have welcomed 2025 with fireworks, confetti and embraces. Crowds in New York City's Times Square stuck it out in heavy rain to watch the ball drop. Rebecca Weiner is the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism. She told CNN that a lot of preparation goes into the night.

Rebecca Weiner, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism There are so many officers who are here to protect all the crowds. Some you see, some you don't. All of our aerial resources, people on the ground. We have radiation, chem-biode, detection equipment. We have our bomb sweeps, our canines, our heavy weapons teams, everybody here to ensure that the night goes off without a hitch.

And that appears to have been what happened. Hawaii was the last state to welcome in the new year just a short time ago. Investors on Wall Street are also celebrating the end of a solid year for the financial markets. NPR's Maria Aspin reports all the major US stock indexes soared in 2024. The artificial intelligence boom sent tech stocks soaring. Big tech companies are investing billions of dollars in AI and in the hardware that will power it from chip companies like Nvidia.

And 2024 was a good year for the overall economy. Inflation cooled, unemployment remained low, and the Federal Reserve cut interest rates three times this fall. Investors rejoiced, but inflation-weary consumers continued to feel the hangover of high prices. Investors also welcomed the election of Donald Trump. But some of the President-elect's promised policies, especially tariffs and mass deportations, risk reigniting inflation. Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York. Trading on Wall Street is closed for New Year's Day.

The S&P 500 ended the year up more than 23%. This is NPR News. Ukraine has stopped the flow of Russian gas running through its country. Kyiv refused to extend a five-year transit deal following Russia's full-scale invasion nearly three years ago. That deal expired today. The European Commission says it has already reduced its dependence on Russian oil and that it has enough capacity to cope.

Today is packed with college football, including three games in the playoffs. NPR's Russell Lewis has this preview of the quarterfinals. The day's first contest pits Texas against Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. The Sun Devils snagged one of the four buys in the playoffs, while Texas advanced to this game with a victory over Clemson. The Rose Bowl, host of the day's second quarterfinal, is a rematch of Big Ten Powers Oregon and The Ohio State University. The top ranked Ducks are unbeaten this season, including a one-point win over the Buckeyes. The third quarterfinal is in New Orleans. The Southeastern Conference champion

Georgia Bulldogs will take on Notre Dame, which cruised over in-state rival Indiana to reach the Sugar Bowl. This is the first year of the 12-team playoff, which expanded from four teams. The semifinals begin next week. Russell Lewis, NPR News. Blake Lively has sued. It ends with us director Justin Baldoni and others tied to the film she starred in,

alleging harassment and a coordinated smear campaign. That federal suit was filed hours after Baldoni sued the New York Times for libel for its story last month detailing her allegations. Lively had filed a civil rights complaint. The film's studio denies the allegations. And you're listening to NPR News.