NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-03-2025 5PM EST

Episode Date: January 3, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President-elect Donald Trump has been scheduled for sentencing in his New York criminal case. The date will be just 10 days before he's sworn in as president for a second time. More from NPR's Amanda Bastille. New York Judge Juan Murchon ordered the sentencing hearing to take place on January 10th. In his order, Murchon said he will not be sentencing Trump to jail, a possibility legal scholars have long said was unlikely. Still, he said that because Trump does not have presidential immunity in this case,

and the jury had delivered its verdict after weighing testimony and evidence, a sentence should be served ahead of Trump's inauguration. Trump's legal team spent months attempting to dismiss the case altogether and argued that he had presidential immunity. Last month, Murchon denied the immunity. If Trump is not sentenced before inauguration, Murchon says it may have to wait until Trump is out of office. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, New York. Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana gaveling the 119th session of Congress to order today after two GOP dissenters reversed course, Johnson winning the necessary 218 votes to retain

the speaker's gavel. Remarks after today's vote, Johnson promised to push President-elect Donald Trump's America first agenda. The path of prosperity has long been paved with policies that put America and Americans first and that is what we will champion in the 119th Congress. While Johnson prevailed deep divisions remain within the GOP ranks House Minority Leader, Keem Jeffries easily was re-elected by Democrats pledging to work with Republicans on issues ranging from border security to the economy. President Joe Biden formally blocked a nearly $15 billion deal for Nippon Steel of Japan to purchase U.S. steel. As NPR's Franco Ordonez reports, Biden

says it's his responsibility to ensure America has a strong steel industry. In one of his final major acts as president, Biden rejected the takeover deal of the Pennsylvania-based company over national security concerns. He wrote in a statement that steel production and the steel workers who produce it are the backbone of our nation, and without them the nation is less strong and less secure. The proposed deal turned into a hot political issue. Biden took the unusual step to weigh in on the deal. He sided with union workers and said the company should remain in US hands.

President-elect Donald Trump has also said he would block the sale. Franco, Ordoñez, NPR News. The northeast and mid-Atlantic regions are bracing for what's expected to be an icy, wintery blast over the weekend into early next week. Meteorologists forecasting a snow and ice storm to be followed by frigid temperatures. The state could hit the eastern two-thirds of the country, reaching perhaps as far south as Florida.

Stocks jumped on Wall Street today, the Dow up 339 points. This is NPR. New car sales reached a five-year high in 2024 as the auto industry continues to recover from pandemic sales lows. Sales for the year gone by expected to be near 16 million units, the highest level since 2019. Automakers are hoping those strong numbers continue into the new year, fueled by higher inventories, increased incentives and demand for more hybrid vehicles. The French and German foreign ministers have made their first visit to Damascus since rebels overturned the former Assad regime and established a new government.

MBR's Diya Hadid reports from Damascus. A video of the meeting between the ministers and Syria's new ruler, Ahmad al-Sharah, was widely shared online. That's partly because Sharah, a conservative Muslim, politely declined to shake the hand of Germany's female foreign minister. Ahead of her trip, Anna-Lena Baerbach said in a statement that the EU will offer support to Syria and that the bloc expects Syrians from all minorities and religious groups to have a role in the country's politics.

Shadr is urging Western countries to lift sanctions once imposed to punish the former Assad regime. Some foreign policy experts also call on Western countries to offer a swift roadmap to international recognition. They say delays will embolden hardliners. Deah Hadid, NPR News, Damascus. Apples Home and Consumers grabs some snacks and log on to its Apple TV Plus streaming service which will be offering for free this weekend. Experts calling it something of a smart promotion as Apple looks to boost its subscriber base.

Today's promotion will give viewers a taste of what's behind Apple's paywall. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.