NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-04-2025 4AM EST

Episode Date: January 4, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. House Speaker Mike Johnson was re-elected to that post on Friday, but it did not come easily, as NPR's Claudia Grisales tells us. There were originally three holdouts among the Republicans, including Thomas Massey of Kentucky, and with a narrow majority, that's all it took to briefly gum up the Republican efforts. Massey, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, and Keith Self of Texas were nos. That triggered a series of negotiations off the floor extending the time for this first-round

ballot to more than an hour before Johnson was finally able to flip Self and Norman to yeses, sealing the deal. President Joe Biden formally blocked a nearly $15 billion deal for Nippon Steel of Japan to purchase U.S. steel. As MPR's Frank 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 U.S. hands. President-elect Donald Trump has also said he would block the sale. Franco, Ordoniez, NPR News. Israel says its team of negotiators is resuming talks about a ceasefire deal

in the war with Hamas. Talks have stalled with both sides accusing the other of failing to deal in good faith. NPR's Kerry Kahn reports. The on-again off-again negotiations appear to be back on. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized negotiators to return to Doha. Israel blames Hamas for the stalled talks mediated by Egyptian, Qatari, and U.S. officials. Egyptian authorities familiar with the negotiations told NPR that several sticking points remain, including Hamas demanding written guarantees for Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza and a permanent end to the war. Israel insists the ceasefire be temporary. Meanwhile, Israel has launched punishing airstrikes throughout

Gaza, leading to scores of deaths in the past two days, according to Palestinian health officials. Israel says it's bombing Hamas targets. Kari Kahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Severe winter weather is about to hit much of the eastern two-thirds of the country. Meteorologists say a polar vortex will cover the region starting later today and will bring moderate to heavy snow. And that will be followed by a week of frigid temperatures with thermometers reaching as much as 25 degrees below normal.

The S&P 500 finished up 1.2 percent on Friday. It was the index's first gain since Christmas. In its best day in almost two months, the Dow was up 0.8 percent. This is NPR News. President-elect Donald Trump will be sentenced on January 10th in connection with his hush money conviction last year. New York Judge Juan Mershon has indicated he will likely sentence Trump to what's known as an unconditional discharge.

That means the case would be closed without jail time, a fine, or probation. A federal judge in New Jersey has rejected that state's appeal to block a congestion pricing plan for New York City. Bruce Conviser has more. Barring a last-minute reprieve from an appeals court, New York City's congestion pricing toll is set to take effect on Sunday. The first of its kind plan in the U.S. would charge drivers for entering Manhattan below

60th Street. The original fee was set at $15, but following a groundswell of opposition was recently reduced to $9. Advocates for the plan say it will raise 15 billion dollars in the coming years. That money would go towards improving the city's public transit system. Opponents have called it a money grab for the transportation authority, and they question whether the fee will reduce traffic or simply shift it to other areas in and around the city. Legal challenges are likely to continue even if the plan goes into effect on

Sunday, but experts say stopping the plan goes into effect on Sunday, but experts say stopping the plan once it starts will be much more difficult. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Convyser in Greenbrook, New Jersey. Lincoln Payer ran for a 73-yard touchdown with less than three minutes remaining to help Texas State hold off North Texas in the first responder bowl in Texas on Friday. The Bobcats won 30 to 28. In Charlotte, meanwhile, Darius Taylor ran for 113 yards in the TD and threw for his score as well as Minnesota beat Virginia Tech 24 to 10. Elijah Spencer had six catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns for the Golden

Gophers. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.