NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-03-2025 2PM EST

Episode Date: January 3, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. Speaker Mike Johnson has fallen short in the first ballot for Speaker of the House, the new Congress. With members of the House voting publicly one by one, Johnson felt two votes shy of the 218 votes needed to win the gavel for this new congressional term. The first vote tally was 216 for Johnson, 215 for Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. Congressman Peter Aguilar of California nominated Jeffries. The incoming administration must also recognize that while my colleagues on the other side

of the aisle are divided and while compromise remains a dirty word for so many, Congress won't be able to keep the lights on, let alone pass anything of substance, without the buy-in and blessing of House Democrats and Hakeem Jeffries. Currently, it falls to Johnson to sway two members of his own party to support him as President-elect Trump has for Speaker of the House, additional voting is to follow. President Biden awards the Medal of Honor today to seven U.S. Army soldiers who served during Korea and Vietnam. NPR's Lexi Shapil has more. The nation's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, is awarded to service

members demonstrating exceptional valor in combat. Six men will receive the award posthumously, including Private First Class Charles R. Johnson, who was killed in a nighttime attack in Korea in 1953 after risking his life to administer first aid to his fellow soldiers. Johnson's efforts are credited with saving the lives of as many as 10 people. Captain Hugh R. Nelson, Jr. was killed in Vietnam in 1966 after rescuing a soldier injured in a helicopter crash.

The White House says all seven men receiving the Medal of Honor today displayed quote, gallantry and intrepidity in their service. Lexisha Piddle, NPR News, Washington. Companies would be encouraged to build more climate friendly hydrogen plants under new tax credits the Biden administration finalized today. NPR's Jeff Brady reports that currently most hydrogen is made from burning methane, but these credits encourage cleaner energy.

Hydrogen is seen as a climate solution for facilities like steel and fertilizer plants and for trucks and ships. Instead of burning fossil fuels that release climate warming greenhouse gases, hydrogen emits only water when burned. A variety of cleaner production methods are eligible for tax credits under the rules, including renewable and nuclear energy. Tens of billions of dollars are at stake, and companies have been waiting for the final rules

to begin construction. Republicans could still alter or even eliminate the incentives when they assume control of the federal government later this month. Jeff Brady, NPR News. JetBlue Airways has incurred a $2 million penalty for operating multiple chronically delayed flights. The Department of Transportation says it's the first time for such a fine. A million would be

paid to the U.S. government. The other half would go to compensate affected consumers. The Dow is up 324. This is NPR. Syria's new education minister has backtracked on changes to the country's curriculum after a widespread outcry by educators there. NPR's Diya Hadid reports from Damascus. The changes announced by Minister Nadir El-Qadri on Facebook on January 1st sought to shift Syria's curriculum from one that focused on national pride to one that is far more Islamic. Those changes triggered widespread fury among Syria's non-Muslim minorities and by many educators.

Following the outcry, the education minister backtracked, saying most of the changes would be referred to committees. But that may not be enough to alleviate concerns by many secular, liberal and non-Muslim Syrians about the future direction of their country. Syria's Assad regime was toppled in early December by rebels led by the conservative Muslim group HTS. Dhiya Hadid, NPR News, Damascus. Forecasters say a polar vortex is en route to the eastern two-thirds of the U.S., bringing with it strong snow and ice storms followed by brutally cold weather. A hard freeze could

hit as far south as Florida, while states near the Canadian border are expected to see temperatures of around zero. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is calling for cancer warnings on alcohol. Murthy says alcohol is responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer in the U.S. and 20,000 cancer deaths annually. He's proposing that the risk be clearly labeled on drinks consumed in the U.S. and 20,000 cancer deaths annually, he's proposing that the risk be clearly labeled on drinks consumed in the United States. Bottles of beer, wine, and liquor already carry warning labels about the risk of birth defects when a pregnant woman consumes alcohol.

I'm Louise Chiavone, NPR News.