NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-05-2025 11AM EST

Episode Date: January 5, 2025

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Noor Ram. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Ram. Members of the public are paying their respects to the late former president, Jimmy Carter. Carter will lie in repose at the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta through Tuesday morning. NPR's Stephen Fowler reports. Carter's first funeral service Saturday was held in front of staff members who worked at his presidential library and his nonprofit Carter Center, where he spent more than 40 years after the White House fighting to advance democracy

and advance public health goals. His grandson, Jason Carter, said their work honors his legacy. We will spend this week celebrating this incredible life and a life that I think we can all agree is as full and powerful as any life can be. As someone said, it's amazing what you can cram into a hundred years. Carter will lie in repose until Tuesday before traveling to Washington, D.C. for services at the U.S. Capitol and Washington National Cathedral.

Stephen Fowler, NPR News, Atlanta. Tomorrow is January 6, the day Congress counts the electoral votes and certifies the winner of the presidential election. Four years ago, supporters of Donald Trump disrupted the proceedings by storming the Capitol. NPR's Mara Liason says no one expects trouble this time. Well, for one thing, the Capitol has been fortified like it wasn't in 2021, and it's gonna be very hard for any large numbers of people to make their way into the building.

But the other bigger reason is that there's no belief among Democrats that the election was stolen Vice President Kamala Harris will be presiding over the joint session of Congress tomorrow and instead of spreading false rumors or lies About a rigged election or stolen election as Trump did four years ago She has conceded that she was defeated. NPR's Marla Iason. Senator Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut says he plans to reintroduce legislation to protect children's on social media this session. Molly Ingram from Member Station WSHU has more. Blumenthal first introduced the Kids Online Safety Act with Tennessee Senator Marcia Blackburn in 2022. It overwhelmingly passed the Senate last summer, but House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to call a vote in the House, citing free speech concerns.

Blumenthal says the bill would impose a duty of care on social media companies as well as force them to let users opt out of algorithms and strengthen their privacy settings. We need to pass the Kids Online Safety Act to give parents tools and young people controls so that addictive, destructive content on bullying, eating disorders, self-harm can be stopped. Mollie Ingram, NPR News, Fairfield, Connecticut. A major winter storm is sweeping across the central U.S. with snow, ice, and freezing temperatures.

Blizzard warnings are posted in Kansas and Missouri. Forecasters expect the storm will reach the mid-Atlantic states today into tomorrow. This is NPR News. The Italian Prime Minister made an unannounced visit to Florida last night to meet with President-elect Donald Trump ahead of his return to the White House. The BBC's Sasha Schlifter has more. Giorgia Maloney is clearly a lady after Donald Trump's heart. He described her as a fantastic woman who had taken Europe by storm. According to U.S. media, the two had dinner and watched a film. Such naturally

good relations with Donald Trump is rare for a major European leader, so many of Miss Meloni's fellow prime ministers will be hoping she could help avert a trade war with America. Danielle Pletka The film Amelia Perez leads nominations for this year's Golden Globes Awards. NPR's Mandelid Del Barco reports it could also make transgender history at the ceremony tonight. The Spanish language musical and drama Emilia Perez is the story of a Mexican drug cartel leader transitioning as a woman. It's up for 10 Golden Globes, including best motion picture, musical or comedy, best director for Jacques G Gaudillard and best original score.

Carla Sofia Gascon plays the title role and could become the first openly transgender actress to win a Golden Globe in the film category. Co-star Zoe Sardana and Selena Gomez are contenders for the supporting actress award. Gomez also performed one of the film's nominated songs. And then we have the