NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-20-2025 2PM EST

Episode Date: January 20, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. A packed Capital One arena in Washington, D.C. sings along with a large TV image of country music star Carrie Underwood, who was actually at the U.S. Capitol when President Donald Trump was sworn in today as the nation's 47th president. The inaugural events were moved indoors because of the frigid cold, which meant the vast majority of people who'd arrived in town for the inauguration had to watch on screen at other indoor venues. But there was an exclusive crowd inside the Capitol. Ratunda, NPR's Barbara Sprunt, has more.

President Trump marked his historic comeback in an inaugural address that strongly resembled his campaign speeches, where he listed a litany of grievances about the previous administration and promised to restore American greatness. He spoke about the failed assassination attempt in July during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. But I felt then, and believe even more so now,

that my life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again. Trump called the election a mandate for his agenda and said he will declare a national emergency on the southern border and deport millions of immigrants without legal status. He also said he will impose tariffs on foreign goods and expand US drilling. Barbara Sprint and Peer News, Washington. Barbara Sprint Former President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons for members of his family he sought to shield from potential investigation or

prosecution during the Trump administration. He says his family has been subjected to threats and attacks to harm him. The Biden White House announced the pardons with just minutes left in President Biden's presidency after Biden was already at the Capitol for Trump's swearing in. Biden also issued last-minute pardons to former members of his administration, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, who oversaw the handling of the COVID pandemic. And PRS Jonathan Lambert has more. Fauci retired as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2022. He has not been charged with any crime, but he has been the target of politicized criticism

over the government's response to the pandemic, including receiving death threats. The preemptive pardon shields Fauci from any future federal prosecution. In a statement, Fauci expressed appreciation to Biden for the pardon, especially because even the threats have created intense distress for him and his family. He reiterated that he's committed no crime and that there are no possible grounds for investigating or prosecuting him.

Jonathan Lambert, NPR News. In other news, steady gains are being made today against the two most destructive wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The Cal Fire website says the Palisades Fire is at 59% containment. It has burned more than 23,000 acres. And the 14,000 acre Eaton Fire is now 87% contained. It's NPR. Three Israeli hostages were released from Gaza yesterday after being held for more than 15

months. More should be freed in the coming weeks as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. NPR's Kat Lonsdorf reports the road to recovery will be long and complex. Throughout the war, there has been little information available about how the hostages are being held, their condition, or even if they're alive. Israeli health providers have been working to come up with a plan on how to best treat them physically and mentally after they're released. Ofrit Shapira-Berman is a psychotherapist who has worked with many of the previously released hostages. She says with all the media attention and celebration, it can be hard at first to tell how much they're struggling.

I expect them to be in a state of euphoric shock at the beginning. And what we have experienced is that it takes time for the trauma to start showing up. Being released, she says, is just the beginning of healing. Kat Lonsdorf, MPR News, Tel Aviv. The 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.

Richards was a staunch activist for women's rights, including abortion rights. She guided Planned Parenthood through anti-abortion attacks from conservative elected officials and the first Trump administration's threats to withhold federal funding and to strike down the abortion rights decision Roe v. Wade, which the Supreme Court's conservative supermajority overturned in 2022.