NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-03-2025 11AM EST

Episode Date: January 3, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, on Korova Coleman, Congress begins a new term today. The House will start by voting for a new speaker. Current Speaker Mike Johnson has been endorsed by President-elect Trump as Republicans will hold a razor-thin margin in the chamber. NPS Claudia Grisales reports. On the Senate side, South Dakota Republican John Thune is poised to take over as majority leader. In the House, however, Speaker Mike Johnson

faces a razor-thin margin and plenty of party infighting that could derail plans for a smooth reelection, even as he carries President-elect Donald Trump's endorsement. To win, Johnson needs nearly all of his fellow Republicans to vote for him, even a few defections could cost him the gavel. With Democrats all expected to vote no, it could be a replay of his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, who saw 15 chaotic rounds of ballots before winning the speakership. Claudia Gonzalez, NPR News. The FBI now says the man who rammed his truck into a crowd of New Year's Eve revelers in New Orleans acted alone.

Officials say he'd pledged his allegiance to ISIS. Fourteen people were killed in the attack. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports New Orleans remains under heightened security. The site of the attack, Bourbon Street, is back open with new barricades and a heavy police presence in the French Quarter including the Louisiana National Guard. Proline vendor Kinsey Falk, pushing his cart along Canal Street, says he's just trying to keep going despite the tragedy.

You know, everybody's like up in arms and like on their toes and trying to figure out what's next. The FBI is calling the mass murder in New Orleans an act of terrorism and a premeditated and evil act. Debbie Elliott, NPR News, New Orleans. President Biden is officially blocking the sale of US steel to Japanese corporation Nippon Steel. NPR's Scott Horsley says today's decision is not a surprise because Biden has been saying for months he opposed

the sale. The president said in a statement that steel production and steel workers are the backbone of the nation and that's important for national security and for the nation's supply chains that a major share of steel production in the US remain under domestic ownership and domestic control. NPR's Scott Horsley reporting, Nip on Steel has released a statement saying it believes President Biden has sacrificed the future of American steel workers for his own political agenda. A vast winter storm is brewing for much of the U.S. The National Weather Service has posted storm advisories, warnings and watches from Washington State across the central U.S. to Pennsylvania. People in several

areas will get a lot of snow in the next few days and the coldest weather they've felt in years. You're listening to NPR. Palestinian rescue officials say an intensified round of Israeli strikes across Gaza has killed at least 70 people. Israel says in the past day it hit scores of Hamas targets across Gaza. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv with NPR producer Anas Baba in Gaza. Gunfire rings out in the distance in central Gaza. Producer Anas Baba reports from a hospital morgue. We can see the dead bodies are being stacked on the floor

and even on the stairs of the morgue outside. The Israeli military says it targeted about 40 Hamas positions. Also, Israel faced rocket fire from Gaza and Yemen. In Gaza, Rami Haddad witnessed a strike on his neighbor's home. It was a terrifying night. and Yemen. In Gaza, Rami Haddad witnessed a strike on his neighbor's home. He said, it was a terrifying night. We had hoped for a ceasefire this New Year. Israeli mediators are resuming ceasefire talks in Qatar. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. The U.S. Surgeon General has released a new advisory today about the direct link between

alcohol consumption and the increased risk of cancer. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer that's behind tobacco and obesity. He says there's a causal link between alcohol and seven types of cancer, including breast cancer and colorectal cancer. President Biden will present the Medal of Honor to seven U.S. Army soldiers today. They served in Korea and Vietnam. Six of these medals will be awarded posthumously. The soldiers are being honored for exceptional and valiant efforts in combat. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.