NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-04-2025 9AM EST

Episode Date: January 4, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Ceasefire talks and the war between Israel and Hamas are resuming again. The negotiations taking place in Qatar stalled in recent weeks with both sides blaming each other for the lack of a deal. NPR's Kerry Kahn reports that one Hamas leader says a deal is needed, though, as soon as possible. In a rare video statement in English posted on social media, senior Hamas leader Bassem Naim says Palestinians in Gaza are suffering greatly under endless Israeli airstrikes.

He called for a permanent ceasefire now to secure and deliver the necessary needs to confront the tragic circumstances especially in the face of the cold winter season. Israel says Hamas is holding up a deal and has not released a full list of hostages it is holding in Gaza, along with other demands. It says any ceasefire must be temporary. National Security Advisor John Kirby says the U.S. will stay engaged in the talks

until President Biden leaves office later this month. Carrie Cahn in PR News, Tel Aviv. The U.S. will stay engaged in the talks until President Biden leaves office later this month. Carrie Cahn in PR News, Tel Aviv. Back in New York, the judge overseeing President-elect Donald Trump's hush money case says Trump will likely face no penalties. But the judge has set a date for sentencing, and Piers Jimenez-Pastillo reports that Trump will be sentenced just 10 days before he's sworn in as president for a second time. New York Judge Juan Marchhon ordered the sentencing hearing

to take place on January 10th. In his order, Mershon 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. Investigators believe Wednesday's Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas is not connected to

the deadly New Year's attack in New Orleans. The FBI says the decorated Army combat veteran found in the truck was likely struggling with PTSD and other issues. Six days of funeral observances begin today for former President Jimmy Carter. Crowds are expected at the Carter Center in Atlanta today, and to accommodate them, the center CEO Paige Alexander says organizers are preparing to assist with transportation. We're trying to make it as easy as possible for people to come and pay their final respects. For me, he was probably the most consequential president of my time.

Carter will lie in repose at the Carter Center before his ceremonies move to Washington, D.C. Next week, he will then lie in state at the U.S. Capitol before his funeral service Thursday at Washington's National Cathedral. And from Washington, this is NPR News. A major winter storm will get going by this evening. Forecasters say widespread heavy snow and significant ice likely in parts of Kansas and Indiana. Strong winds could lead to blizzard conditions in the central plains. A storm is in forecast to move into the eastern two-thirds of the country over the next several days. At a White House ceremony this afternoon,

President Biden is to award the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Nineteen people are to receive it, including Hillary Clinton, George Soros, and Denzel Washington. The creator of the popular children's show, Thomas the Tank Engine in Friends, has died. Brett Elcroft was 81 years old. NPR's Neda Ulibi reports. The show, first known as Thomas and Friends, premiered in England in 1984. It was about a cheeky little moon-faced train engine with big expressive eyes. Britt Alcroft did not invent the character. She based it on a British book series for kids from the 1940s.

But Alcroft made Thomas a worldwide phenomenon. Thomas began going faster and faster. Whee! He whistled as he rushed through Henry's tunnel. The original narrator was Ringo Starr. The show spun off into movies, toys, and more toys. The brand was bought by Mattel in 2012. Alcroft developed a number of children's shows for British television.

Her death was announced on behalf of her family by a friend, Brandon Cardy, who'd spent years making a documentary about Thomas the Tank Engine's diehard fans. Neda Ulupi, NPR News. And I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News. Wait, wait, don't tell me. Fresh air? Up first. NPR News Now, Planet Money, Ted Radio Hour, ThruLine, the NPR Politics Podcast, Code Switch, Embedded, Books We Love, Wildcard... are just some of the podcasts you can enjoy sponsor-free with NPR+. Get all sorts of perks across more than 20 podcasts with the bundle option.

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