NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-22-2025 11AM EST

Episode Date: January 22, 2025

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This message comes from Wondery. In the past decade, Boeing has been involved in a series of scandals and deadly plane crashes that have dented the company's once sterling reputation. Can anything save the company's reputation now? Listen to Business Wars wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington on Corva Coleman, President Trump is defending his pardons of about 1,500 people who were convicted or accused of involvement in the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

He was given many years in jail. I thought it was very excessive. And at least the cases that we looked at, these were people that actually love our country, so we thought a pardon would be appropriate. But police organizations and those who were hurt by the rioters say Trump's decision to pardon criminals is wrong. Tim Hayfe was the lead investigator for the House committee that examined the attack. If you accept the premise that criminal sanctions deter criminal conduct, then it's a short

step that the excuse of criminal behavior through these pardons actually encourages criminal behavior. He spoke to NPR's Morning Edition. One former D.C. police officer who was badly hurt in the riot reportedly says he's now seeking protective orders against the five men who pleaded guilty to violently attacking him on January 6th. President Trump invited three executives to the White House yesterday to announce a new venture known as Stargate and Pierce Chairman Keith reports it's a large investment in

artificial intelligence infrastructure. The CEOs of SoftBank, OpenAI and Oracle said 10 massive data centers that will be used to run AI technology are already under construction in Texas and more could be possible. They praised Trump and he in turn praised the multi-billion dollar investment. This monumental undertaking is a resounding declaration of confidence in America's potential under a new president. Let me be a new president. I didn't say it. They did. Trump has a history of inviting executives to make splashy announcements like this one

at the White House, though they haven't always lived up to the hype. Tamara Keith, NPR News, The White House. TAMARA KEITH, NPR NEWS ANCHOR Mexico has launched a new app for Mexican nationals who are facing deportation or detention in the U.S. Arizona public media's Paola Rodriguez reports it explains their legal rights and steps to take in emergencies. The console app also contains a button for users to alert their emergency contacts and officials at the nearest consulate if they're facing detention. Rafael Marcelo Durazo heads the Mexican Consulate in Tucson, Arizona, and says the app comes at a time when calls from Mexican nationals are flooding their call center. The app is making easier the access to communicate with the consulates anytime,

but particularly now that so many people are concerned about what is going to mean all the migratory changes that the new administration has announced. On Monday alone, the consulate received over 1,500 calls about what to do amid mass deportation concerns. For NPR News, I'm Paola Rodriguez in Tucson. On Wall Street, the Dow is up nearly 50 points. The Nasdaq is up nearly 250 points. You're listening to NPR. Winter storm warnings have now been lifted for the southeast U.S.

Snow, ice, and freezing rain fell on the region this week. New Orleans was surprised by at least eight inches of snow. At one point, the Louisiana Gulf Coast was under blizzard warning. The world's wealthiest people are getting even wealthier, according to the anti-poverty group Oxfam International. No one is a trillionaire yet, but NPR's Maria Aspin reports the group predicts that 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.S. administration in history.

Trump is also being advised by the world's wealthiest person, Elon Musk. Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York. Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York. Streaming provider Netflix says it's going to raise its monthly prices for customers. People who take the service with commercials will see their subscription go up a dollar to nearly $8 a month. People who get the ad-free standard version of Netflix will pay nearly $2.50 more at nearly $18 a month. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.

On NPR's Wild Card podcast, comedian Michelle Butoh says she's glad she ignored the people who told her to lose weight. I'm just gonna show you what it looks like Canadian Michelle Butoh says she's glad she ignored the people who told her to lose weight. I'm Rachel Martin. Michelle Butoh is on the Wild Card Podcast, the show where cards control the conversation.