NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-20-2025 5AM EST

Episode Date: January 20, 2025

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Usher, Yo-Yo Ma, Boy Genius, Shaka Khan, Billie Eilish, Weird Al, one thing all these big stars have in common, they've all played behind NPR's Tiny Desk. And if you enter NPR's Tiny Desk Contest between now and February 10th, you could be next. Unsigned musicians can find out more and see the official rules at npr.org slash tiny desk contest. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. and npr.org.tinydeskcontest. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. The ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas is now in its second day.

Aid trucks are moving into Gaza, and the first prisoner exchange has been completed. About 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been released from Israeli jails and into the occupied West Bank in exchange for three Israeli hostages being held in Gaza as part of that ceasefire deal that went into effect yesterday. MPR's Kat Lonsdorf was in Ramallah when the released Palestinians arrived. Hundreds of Palestinians gathered at a traffic roundabout in a Ramallah suburb where detainees were set to be released. The mood was celebratory. Families bundled up in winter coats, waving Palestinian flags, and vendors

selling sweets and balloons. The crowd waited in the cold for hours, long into the night, when finally buses pulled up and the detainees got out. Several young men, still wearing what appeared to be Israeli prison uniforms, were hoisted onto other men's shoulders. Onlookers chanted, God is great, greeting them. This was the first of several hostage and detainee exchanges set to take place during an expected six-week ceasefire in Gaza. Negotiations to

extend the deal should begin in coming weeks. Kat Lonsdorf, NPR News, Ramallah. The next release of hostages and prisoners is set for this coming weekend. President-elect Donald Trump spoke to thousands of supporters at a rally last night in downtown Washington, D.C. I'm thrilled to be back with so many friends, supporters and true American patriots on the eve of taking back our country. That's what we're going to do, take back our country. Trump will be sworn in as president shortly afternoon today. He'll be taking his oath of office indoors in the Capitol rotunda because of the frigid weather that has DC and much

of the country in its grip. Trump has promised a series of executive orders on his first day, telling his audience last night that those convicted in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol will be very happy. The popular video sharing app TikTok is back after President-elect Trump said he'll sign an executive order to pause the ban. NPR's Luke Garrett reports. TikTok went dark and then came back online this weekend following Trump's promise to sign an executive order Monday that would pause the ban. Trump's incoming national security adviser Mike Walz tells CNN. It is a fantastic app. It's something that 170 million Americans enjoy. And we're confident

that we can save TikTok, but also protect Americans' data and protect them from influence. Federal law requires that TikTok be split from its Chinese-based owner, ByteDance, or be banned because of national security concerns. Despite Trump's support for the app, Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas defended the TikTok ban on Sunday. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. And from Washington, you're listening to NPR News. from Washington, you're listening to NPR News. The Palisades fire near Los Angeles is now more than 50% contained, but as crews continue

their efforts to corral the fire, NPR's Elise Hugh reports on the return of strong winds today. Another round of extreme Santa Ana winds are expected to blow in Southern California, where two of its largest wildfires, Palisades and Eaton, continue to burn. The National Weather Service has issued another rare red flag warning and says there's a potential for wind gusts up to 80 mph in L. A. Meteorologist Rich Thompson from the National Weather Service combined with the critically dry fuel out there since we haven't had any rain since last April here. That gives you the recipe for critical fire

other conditions. Santa Ana winds are forecasted for the Los Angeles area through Thursday for NPR News. I'm Elise Hugh in Los Angeles with winds expected to pick up again today in Southern California. The National Weather Service is warning of dangerously cold weather for much of the country. The service has highs from the Rockies to the East Coast will be up to 30 degrees below the January average with wind chills below 0 reaching as far south as Oklahoma in the Tennessee Valley Snow sleet and freezing rain are expected along the Gulf Coast in the southeast NFL playoffs down to the conference championships in the AFC the Buffalo Bills advanced to the title game with a

27 to 25 win over the Baltimore Ravens of Bills will to the title game with a 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens. The Bills will play the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs next Sunday for the AFC title. The NFC championship will feature the Philadelphia Eagles against the Washington Commanders. The Eagles advance with a 28-22 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. This is NPR News. The indicator for play of money is diving into the world Angeles Rams. This is NPR News.