NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-19-2025 1AM EST

Episode Date: January 19, 2025

NPR News: 01-19-2025 1AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Donald Trump promised to change Washington, D.C., a place where there's an old saying that personnel is policy. That's why we have created a new podcast called Trump's Terms, where you can follow NPR's coverage of the incoming Trump administration, from his cabinet secretaries to political advisors and top military leaders, to understand who they are, what they believe, and how they'll govern. Listen to Trump's Term terms from NPR. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman.

We're now less than 30 minutes away from the planned start of the ceasefire in Gaza. The hope is that the break in fighting will lead to an end to the deadly fighting between Israel and Hamas. MPHR's Greg Meyre is in Tel Aviv. He says it'll be the start of what will be a long and tenuous effort. A lot more food and medicine should start flowing

into Gaza in the coming days, but it's important to understand this will be a long and tenuous effort. A lot more food and medicine should start flowing into Gaza in the coming days, but it's important to understand this will be a very drawn-out process. The first phase stretches for six weeks and Hamas will only release 33 of the 98 hostages during this period. Israel will scale back its troop presence in Gaza, but it won't remove all its forces until later. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, says the ceasefire in Gaza will not begin until Israel has received a list of the hostages set to be released from Hamas. As fires continue to burn in California, conspiracy theories about water access have been flooding social media.

They say water was scarce because the reservoir is empty for repairs and the water systems couldn't maintain adequate pressure because some hydrants didn't work. But as NPR's Julia Simon reports, LA actually has plenty of stored water. NPR spoke to half a dozen water and fire experts who say no municipal water systems are designed for fires this big. They say the issue was not a lack of water but hurricane force winds that meant aircraft couldn't fly and drop water on the blazes. A popular false narrative claims billionaire Stuart and Linda Resnick hoarded water on their California farms that could have been used to fight fires.

Stephanie Pincel, professor at UCLA, says while the Resnicks use a lot of water, their groundwater is distinct and not germane to the problem. We did not run out of water. Julia Simon, NPR News. Residents of Washington, D.C. gathered Saturday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. with an annual peace walk. The trek took place two days before the official holiday, and Donald Trump's presidential inauguration, also just two days away, loomed large at the gathering.

For Member Station WAMU, Sarah Y. Kim reports. — Reverend George Gilbert Jr. says the event is not just about Dr. King's birthday. — We still have to fight the fight of the civil rights movement of the 60s. — Gilbert says Trump is a mouthpiece for racists who encourages right-wing extremists and that there's uncertainty about how Trump

might tighten control over local government. Still, Gilbert says he's hopeful. Saturday's event was both a call to action and celebration of Southeast D.C., which hosts the event each year. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Wai Kim in Washington. The video app TikTok shut down late Saturday, but President-elect Donald Trump says he'll most likely give the company 90 more days to work out a possible sale. A federal law now bans TikTok in the U.S. unless the company's China-based parent company

sells it to another company. The government has argued that the app presents a potential national security threat. You're listening to NPR News. France's president and the UN secretary general are both in Lebanon this week during the last days of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. NPR's Emily Feng has more from Beirut. French President Emmanuel Macron said, quote, we need a total withdrawal of the Israeli army, referring to their continued occupation of some southern Lebanese villages.

The United Nations' Antonio Guterres said Israel's occupation in Lebanon, quote, must stop because their presence, as well as recent Israeli strikes inside Lebanon, violate a UN Security Council resolution. He added, though, that Hezbollah arms still being found in southern Lebanon are also violations. The Lebanese military is racing to clear the south of Hezbollah fighters and weapons by the end of January as required under the ceasefire which ended nearly 14 months of war. A senior member of the Ceasefire Implementation Committee told NPR the challenge of removing Hezbollah weapons has been compounded by physical distances and coordinating among

different countries. Emily Fang and Peer News, Beirut. Jaden Daniels threw for two touchdowns as the Washington commanders stunned the Detroit Lions Saturday, 45-31. They now move into the NFC Championship game for the first time since they won the Super Bowl 33 years ago. Travis Kelsey meanwhile caught seven passes for 117 yards and a touchdown. As the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Houston Texans 23 to 14 they advanced to the AFC Championship game. Jack McGlynn got his first national team goal on Saturday as the U.S. men's soccer team beat Venezuela 3 to 1 in a friendly match.

Both teams were missing their regular starters. The first two U.S. goals took place late in the first half. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News. Consider this is a daily news podcast and lately the news is about a big question. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.