NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-19-2025 11AM EST

Episode Date: January 19, 2025

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Every weekday, Up First gives you the news you need to start your day. On the Sunday story from Up First, we slow down. We bring you the best reporting from NPR journalists around the world, all in one major story, 30 minutes or less. Join me every Sunday on the Up First podcast to sit down with the biggest stories from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Rahm. A ceasefire is now in effect in Gaza after 15 months of war between Israel and Hamas.

Three Israeli women were released a short time ago. The Israeli military says the Red Cross confirms it's received the hostages in Gaza and is transferring them to Israel. The three had been kidnapped on October 7, 2023, in the Hamas-led attack that started the war. They've been identified as Romy Gonin, Doron Steinbrecher, and Emily Demary, who also has British citizenship. The ceasefire also calls for the release of hundreds of Palestinians detained in Israel. Under the agreement, humanitarian aid will begin to flow into Gaza. NPR's Aya Petraoui has more.

Dozens of trucks have entered Gaza today, with many more expected to enter once Egypt's border with Gaza, the Rafah crossing, opens in the coming days as well. And Gaza needs everything right now, from temporary field hospitals to be built, to more food kitchens to distribute meals. They need tents for people to sleep in, winter clothes, even fuel just to keep water pumps running so people can have clean water to drink. NPR's Aya Batraoui reporting. President Biden is using his clemency power to pardon or commute the sentences of seven more people, adding to an historic roster. NPR's Mara Liason reports.

With just hours left in his presidency, President Biden issued pardons for five people, most of them convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, but one of them given posthumously was for Marcus Garvey, the early 20th century civil rights leader. Another is Don Scott, who was the first black speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. President Biden also commuted the sentences of two people serving decades long sentences. Biden said they would not have received under current law. In a statement, the president said America is a country built on the promises of second chances.

Biden has made more pardons and commutations than any other president in U S history. Mara Liason, NPR News. IRS Commissioner Danny Warfold says he'll resign tomorrow when President-elect Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated. NPR's Rafael Nam has more on the story. Warfold said in a letter to employees, it was time to leave three years before his term expires.

Trump has picked former Republican Congressman Billy Long from Missouri as the next head of the IRS. Under warfall, the IRS received billions of dollars in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. The IRS has been using the money to modernize its antiquated IT systems. It also introduced a direct filing system and tried to improve the agency's customer service. And the IRS increased its enforcement against wealthy tax evaders. Republicans, however, have been trying to claw back the funding provided to the IRS. Rafael Nam, NPR News. This is NPR News in Washington. President-elect Trump is in Washington for celebrations ahead of his inauguration tomorrow.

He's scheduled to lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery today and address a rally of supporters downtown. The rally has been moved indoors because of cold weather. Trump will also take the oath of office tomorrow inside the Capitol rotunda instead of outside on the steps. It's the first time the ceremony is being held inside since Ronald Reagan was sworn into office for his second term in 1985. Several religious leaders who've supported Trump are among those slated to offer prayers

during his inauguration. NPR's Jason DeRose has more. Jason DeRose Franklin Graham, the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham, is scheduled to give the invocation before Trump swearing in. Graham has been a vocal supporter of Trump during each of his runs for office. Also praying at the beginning of the ceremony, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Catholic Archbishop of New York. Scheduled to offer the benediction at the end is Rabbi Ari Berman, the president of Yeshiva University, along with several other clergy from around the U.S., including Imam Husham al-Husseini from Dearborn, Michigan.

Al-Husseini is among the Muslim leaders who campaigned for Trump last year, in part to punish Democrats for supporting Israel's war against Hamas. Jason DeRose, NPR News. Fire officials in Los Angeles say the largest of the wildfires burning since January 7th is now about 52% contained. The Palisades fire has burned more than 23,000 acres. The National Weather Service says strong winds are expected to return tomorrow. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News.

Lately on the NPR News.