NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-16-2025 12PM EST

Episode Date: January 16, 2025

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Lyle from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. In the final days of the Biden administration, outgoing Secretary of State Antony Blinken is delivering his final press briefing. His Q&A with reporters began with the development of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. At the start of his remarks today, Blinken was repeatedly heckled. In our democracy. 300 reporters in Gaza were on the receiving end of your bombs. Why did you keep the bombs flowing? Though world leaders have announced a ceasefire agreement, Israel says it is not a done deal. Aaron David Miller, a former peace negotiator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, spoke

with NPR about what he makes of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stance. This deal could have been concluded four months ago. The basic framework is the same. The reason it wasn't, primarily, I think, is because the organizing principle of Benjamin Netanyahu's world's sustained power, and he prioritized, quote unquote, total victory over Hamas, which he has not succeeded in attaining, rather than returning the hostages. Erin David Miller, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. President Biden delivered his formal farewell to the nation from the Oval Office last night.

Here's NPR's Deepa Sivaram. With just five days left in office, Biden gave real remarks from behind the Resolute Desk, a location typically reserved for the most important presidential speeches. He talked about the progress the country has made since the middle of the COVID pandemic when he took office four years ago, but he also shared concerns about the direction the country is moving in.

An oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead. Biden also suggested safeguards for artificial intelligence, reforms on the tax code for billionaires, and term limits for Supreme Court justices.

Deepa Sivaram, NPR News, Washington. As crews in Southern California continue battling wildfires, officials in and around Los Angeles are warning businesses not to price gouge fire victims. Here's NPR's Martin Costey. During emergencies, California law bans price hikes of more than 10% on products such as food, gas, and rent, which is especially volatile now that so many houses have been lost. LA County District Attorney Nathan Hockman is warning businesses not to price gouge. Not only are you going to be looking at criminal penalties, you will be looking at civil penalties,

and as importantly, your company's name will get out there. You will be publicly shamed. Governor Gavin Newsom has also signed an order temporarily banning unsolicited offers to buy fire-affected real estate at below market prices. That's meant to protect distressed owners from selling out too cheaply. Martin Kosty, NPR News, Los Angeles. The Dow is up 36 points. You're listening to NPR News. Conan O'Brien is the recipient of this year's Mark Twain Prize for American humor. NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports that Kennedy Center says O'Brien is a master of invention and reinvention.

Conan O'Brien has been doing comedy since college when he was president of the Harvard Lampoon. He wrote for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. He briefly hosted The Tonight Show and spent 11 years hosting Conan on TBS. On his podcast, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, he made fun of his Irish head. You leave a gourd in the sun long enough.

Get a Conan. And then winter comes and you have yourself a Conan. Other Mark Twain Prize recipients include Richard Pryor, Ellen DeGeneres, and Kevin Hart. O'Brien will pick up his award at a gala at the Kennedy Center in March. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News. Target's reporting record high sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, two of the busiest buying periods of the 2024 holiday season, in large part because of discounts.

The Minneapolis-based retail giant is still facing investor concerns about profit margins, which sent shares down nearly 3% this morning. But Target expects its comparable sales through January will be 1.5% higher than its previous projection of flat growth. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 26 points at last check at 43,247. The S&P is up slightly it's at 59.57 and the Nasdaq is down 43 points at 19,467. You're listening to NPR News.