NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-21-2025 7PM EST

Episode Date: January 22, 2025

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This is Eric Glass. In this American life, sometimes we just show up somewhere, turn on our tape recorders, and see what happens. If you can't get seven cars in 12 days, you gotta look yourself in the mirror and say, holy, what are you kidding me? Like this car dealership, trying to sell its monthly quota of cars, and it is not going well. I just don't want one balloon to a car. Balloon the whole freaking place so it looks like I'm circus. Real life stories every week. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Pete Hegseth, President

Trump's pick for Defense Secretary, is facing more allegations of misconduct. In a sworn statement to the Senate, Hegseth's former sister-in-law accuses him of being abusive to his second wife. NPR's Lou Garrett reports. Danielle Hegseth, the former wife of Hegseth's brother, says the defense secretary nominee quote has an alcohol problem and was abusive to his ex-wife. In her affidavit, reviewed by NPR News, she says at times Hegseth's second wife hid in a closet from him out of fear. Danielle Hegseth submitted the affidavit in response to a request from Democratic Senator Jack Reid of Rhode Island.

The ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee called the affidavit, quote, disturbing and potentially disqualifying. On Monday, the committee endorsed Pete Hegseth's nomination along party lines, paving the way for a vote in the full Senate. A lawyer for Hegseth dismissed these allegations to NBC News. NPR has requested comment from Hegseth. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. Newly sworn in U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has hit the ground running today, meeting

with members of what's known as the Quad, which includes the U.S., Australia, India, and Japan. Rubio hosted his counterparts from the group at the State Department. According to analysts, the purpose of the meeting in part was to signal that countering Beijing would be a top priority of the Trump administration. The Trump administration is rolling back Biden era policies that limited where immigration enforcement officials can conduct arrests, more from MPR's Amanda Bastillo. Schools, places of worship and health care facilities were off limit for arrests of people suspected of being without legal status under a policy from former president Joe Biden.

Now, the acting secretary of Homeland Security has rescinded those guidelines, which the Trump administration says limits law enforcement from doing its job. It's not known yet how immigration enforcement agencies will ramp up operations. Trump orders are Tom Holman says officials are quote back and doing their job effective today. He told CNN in an interview still he declined to provide specific information. He met a bustio and PR news Washington in Los Angeles and surrounding areas red flag warnings continue as areas are being hit by a new wave of

powerful winds. Steve Futterman reports gusts in some mountain areas approached 90 miles an hour. The strong Santa Ana winds did not result in any new major outbreaks in Los Angeles. Fire crews were on alert. LA County Fire Chief Anthony Morrone was with one of them. This crew is going to be standing by ready to respond. In San Diego County three small fires did break out. The Lilac fire began burning just past one o'clock in the morning local time. Some evacuations were ordered. This wave of Santa Ana winds is expected to decrease, but another wave of Santa Ana's could come late Wednesday or Thursday. Forecasters say those winds may not be as strong. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

You're listening to NPR News. Israel's top general has resigned citing security and intelligence failures related to the surprise attack by Hamas that triggered the war in Gaza. The departure of the military leader adds to the pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces over the war and a long-delayed public inquiry that could affect his leadership. Even as a fragile ceasefire appears to be holding in Gaza, Israel has launched a significant and broad operation in the occupied West Bank against Palestinian militants. The world's wealthiest people are getting even wealthier. That's according to Oxfam International. The ZNPR's Maria Aspin reports no one's a trillionaire

yet but the anti-poverty group now predicts five trillionaires will exist within the next decade. Billionaire wealth and power is growing faster than ever. And Oxfam is raising the alarm about what this income inequality could mean for our society. Billionaires saw their wealth grow three times faster in 2024 than the year before. Meanwhile, the number of people living in poverty has barely changed since 1990. Oxfam published this report at a time when billionaire power over US politics is increasingly visible.

Several tech CEOs and other billionaires attended the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who has assembled the wealthiest US administration in history. Trump is also being advised by the world's wealthiest person, Elon Musk. Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York.

Crude oil futures prices move lower today after President Trump's declaration of an energy emergency oiled down $1.99 a barrel to $75.89 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. President Trump is News in Washington.