NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-20-2025 12PM EST

Episode Date: January 20, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Donald Trump is back. Inside the U.S. Capitol rotunda, Trump is close to being sworn in as the nation's 47th president. His second term will mark an unprecedented comeback for the president since two impeachments during his first term, his 2020 election loss, several major court battles, a historic criminal conviction, and two assassination attempts. God Bless America played inside the Capitol. Rotunda distinguished guests included former

presidents, members of Congress, and dignitaries gathered. Seating space was tight. The event was moved indoors in anticipation of dangerously cold weather today. Hundreds of thousands more supporters were forced to watch the swearing in from other indoor venues, whether or not they had inaugural tickets. But inside of Pack Capital, one arena nearby, the crowd cheered as they watched Trump on large screens. President Trump, who is currently being sworn in as we speak, first arrived at the Capitol alongside President Biden, where they passed reporters

as they entered the rotunda. Good morning, sir. How are you this morning? Good morning, everybody. Good morning. Thank you. President Trump, how do you feel? President Biden? Well. They traveled over from the White House, where the Bidens greeted the Trumps this morning, keeping with longstanding American tradition reflecting the peaceful transfer of power.

Biden reportedly shared he'd also left Trump a letter in the Oval Office but didn't share what he wrote. Trump said he planned to take scores of executive actions today, including 10 related to immigration. NPR's Joel Rose reports that according to a call with incoming White House officials this morning, The Trump administration is expected to declare a national emergency at the southern border. Incoming White House officials say that would allow the administration to deploy members of the armed forces and National Guard to southern border. Incoming White House officials say that would allow the administration to deploy members of the armed forces and National Guard to the border. The incoming

officials say the White House also intends to end birthright citizenship and close the border to anyone without legal status, including people seeking asylum. Those are among the most ambitious proposals, which are all but certain to be challenged in court. Trump also plans to bring back some policies from his first term, restarting border wall construction, pausing refugee resettlement, and reinstating remain in Mexico, which forced asylum seekers to wait south of the border while their claims are adjudicated. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington. And President Donald Trump has just been sworn in as the nation's 47th president.

Moments before Vice President J.D. Vance was also sworn in as the nation's 47th president. Moments before Vice President J.D. Vance was also sworn in and the entire event is taking place indoors inside the Capitol Rotunda. From Washington, this is NPR News. President Biden in his final moments of office pardoned several of his family members, James B. Biden, Sarah Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John T. Owens, and Francis W. Biden, saying that they have been, quote, subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats that he does not foresee ending. Biden also commuted a life sentence on Native American activist Leonard Peltier, convicted

in 1977 of killing two FBI agents. In other news, a former president of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards, has died. According to a statement from her family, Richards passed away this morning following her battle with brain cancer. She was 67 years old. The mother of American journalist Austin Tice, who went missing in Syria 12 years ago, is now back in Syria herself. Deborah Tice says she still believes her son's alive and as NPR's Emily Fang reports, she's looking for new clues to his whereabouts.

Last December, rebels ousted Syria's former dictator, and Tice has been trying to work with Syria's new government to find her son Austin. He went missing after being taken at a checkpoint in the Damascus suburbs in 2012. Deborah Tice met with Syria's current de facto leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, for about three hours during her visit. Al-Sharaa himself was imprisoned by American forces for five years. And he wants to work. He wants to work for all the family so that they can be reunited. Tice said Al-Sharah pledged to help her find her son and she says the new Trump administration is also in touch with her.

Emily Fang, NPR News, Damascus. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.