NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-14-2025 10AM EST

Episode Date: January 14, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The Senate confirmation hearing has opened for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary. The chair of the Armed Services Committee, Mississippi Republican Senator Roger Wicker, says Hegseth, a former Fox News host, is an excellent choice. This nomination is unconventional. The nominee is unconventional, just like that New York developer who rode down the escalator in 2015 to announce his candidacy for president.

But ranking committee member, Rhode Island Democrat Jack Reed says Hegseth may be the wrong choice because of allegations about his past behavior. We must acknowledge the concerning public reports against you. A variety of sources, including your own writings, implicate you with disregarding the laws of war, financial mismanagement, racist and sexist remarks about men and women in uniform, alcohol abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other troubling issues. Hickseth is waiting to deliver his opening remarks. Forecasters say the Los Angeles area will get powerful new wins today.

Fire crews are still working on the Palisades and Eaton fires. Some estimates say the insured losses will be more than $20 billion. NPR's Greg Allen reports that threatens efforts to stabilize California's troubled insurance market. California recently adopted regulations allowing companies to set higher rates while also requiring them to write more policies in fire prone areas. Amy Bach with consumer group United Policyholders worries this will set back those efforts. You know just psychologically this this disaster couldn't have come at a worse time in terms of insurance executives renewed confidence in doing business in this state.

Analysts say insurance companies have enough reserves to cover the losses. If the state created a plan that covers many in Palisades and Altadena runs out of money though, policyholders throughout the state may see a special assessment to make up the shortfall. Greg Allen, NPR News, Los Angeles. The US Supreme Court says it will not block a lawsuit in Hawaii. It aims to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for damages caused by climate change. NPR's Michael Copley reports dozens of similar cases have been filed against the oil and gas industry.

Honolulu is suing fossil fuel companies and state court for allegedly misleading the public about the dangers their products pose to the Earth's climate. Honolulu says it's suffering as a result from things like flooding and more extreme storms and heat waves. Oil companies argued the emissions causing climate change are a national matter and that lawsuits like Honolulu's belong in federal court. The Supreme Court's decision not to hear the industry's appeal allows Honolulu's case to move forward. An industry group called the American Petroleum Institute said it's disappointed by the decision and that climate change is an issue for Congress to deal with, not the courts. Michael Copley, NPR News.

On Wall Street, the Dow is up 130 points. This is NPR. NPR has learned that negotiators are close to a ceasefire deal for Gaza. The talks are happening in Qatar. A proposed agreement would reportedly see an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian detainees. It would include a six-week pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas and further talks about the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

South Korea's Constitutional Court opened impeachment hearings of President Yun Sang-yol today. This is related to his short-lived declaration of martial law last month. But it appears Anthony Kuhn reports from Seoul the hearing was quickly adjourned because Yun failed to show up. The hearing lasted for all of four minutes

before being adjourned until Thursday. If Yun doesn't attend then, the trial will go ahead without him. Meanwhile, police and investigators met with members of Yoon's security detail ahead of an expected second attempt to arrest Yoon on insurrection charges. Security detail agents blocked a first attempt. Police asked them to cooperate with a second attempt. The security agents didn't promise to do that, but said they would try to avoid a physical

clash with police and investigators. Separately North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, their second launch so far this year. Anthony Kuhn in PR News, Seoul. A new competitor may try to purchase U.S. Steel. The CEO of U.S. company Cleveland Cliffs is expressing interest in the storied American company. President Biden has blocked the sale of U.S. steel to Japanese corporation Nippon Steel. He

says it was on grounds of national security. This is NPR.