NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-05-2025 1PM EST

Episode Date: January 5, 2025

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Noor Rahm, NPR News in Washington. In New Orleans, federal, state and local officials held a news conference this morning on their investigation into the attack early on New Year's Day. A man identified as Shamsuddin Jabbar drove a pickup truck into a crowd killing 14 people. He was shot dead by police. The FBI special agent in charge, Lyle Murthel, says Jabbar had visited New Orleans in October of 2024. He was in town at least two days.

During that time, Jabbar, using meta glasses, recorded a video as he rode through the French Quarter on a bicycle. He said meta glasses look like regular glasses, but allow the user to record video and photos and free. The largest joint military base in the nation is increasing security after the New Year's Day attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas.

Texas Public Radio's Jerry Clayton has more. The Pentagon has suspended the Trusted Traveler program which allowed some vehicles to pass through security gates at military installations without undergoing normal security screens. A social media post from Joint Base San Antonio states that 100 percent ID checks will be enforced for all personnel and visitors entering any JBSA location. All vehicle occupants must show ID. The suspension of the Trusted Traveler Program affects several military bases in the U.S. and comes in the wake of two attacks, one in New Orleans and another in Las Vegas on

New Year's Day. Both were carried out by persons connected to the U.S. military. JBSA employs around 90,000 military and civilian personnel. I'm Jerry Clayton in San Antonio. A major winter storm is sweeping across central U.S. with snow, ice and freezing temperatures. Blizzard warnings are posted in Kansas and Missouri. In Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quint Lucas says they're ready. This is not something that's unusual for us.

Major winter storms are a thing that we have. It doesn't mean that we are unserious about them. It does mean that we're realistic and our city will reopen in the days ahead. The National Weather Service warns people to avoid unnecessary travel. Joe Biden only has a few more weeks as president. And as NPR's Mar Eliason reports, he's trying to make it harder for Donald Trump to overturn his legacy. In the final days of his presidency, Biden is trying to Trump-proof his accomplishments.

He's created legal roadblocks to Trump's plan to fire tens of thousands of civil servants. And he's reportedly considering a preemptive pardon for former representative Liz Cheney, who led the investigation into the January 6th attacks. Trump has said he wants to put her in jail. Biden may also place a permanent ban on oil and gas drilling in federal waters. If Trump wanted to reverse that, he'd need congressional approval. And in another final act, Biden has reportedly notified Congress that the U.S. will sell $8 billion of weapons to Israel. Mara Liason, NPR News.

This is NPR News in Washington. The Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta will be open around the clock until Tuesday morning to give members of the public the chance to pay their last respects to Jimmy Carter, who is lying in repose. Carter is to lie in state this week at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington before his funeral Thursday morning at the National Cathedral. All the living former presidents are invited. President Biden is to deliver eulogy. The Golden Globes will be handed out in Hollywood tonight to honor last year's films, TV shows, and streaming series. NPR's Mandelie Del Barco reports, The New York Times named this year's host, Nikki Glaser, Comedian of the Year.

Nikki Glaser is known for roasting celebrities, like she famously did to star quarterback Tom Brady. You were tired, then you came back, and then you were tired again. I mean, I get it. It's hard to walk away from something that's not your pregnant girlfriend. It's tough. Hey. Glaser told late night host Jimmy Kimmel she'll be facing a room full of TV and movie stars

at the ceremony. Going into the Golden Globes, people are just like, be savage. Just destroy them. Like, people want blood. Glazer said that may not be her approach this time, but she will have to strike a balance between killing it in the room and being funny for audiences watching on CBS and Paramount Plus. Mandelita Albarco, NPR News.

The Supreme Court hears arguments Friday on the constitutionality of a law that could ban TikTok in the U.S. The law requires the popular app to break ties with its Chinese-based parent company, which the U.S. government sees as a national security risk. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington.