NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-22-2025 12AM EST

Episode Date: January 22, 2025

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OK, so does this sound like you? You love NPR's podcasts. You wish you could get more of all your favorite shows. And you want to support NPR's mission to create a more informed public. If all that sounds appealing, then it is time to sign up for the NPR Plus bundle. Learn more at plus.npr.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's pick to be defense secretary, is facing more allegations of misconduct. In a sworn statement to the Senate, his former sister-in-law accuses him of being abusive to his second wife.

NPR's Luke 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 in response to a request from Democratic Senator Jack Reed 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. Among the dozens of Biden-era executive orders that President Trump is revoking is one called the federal government agencies to promote voter registration. As NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports, Republican officials tried to turn the Biden order into a partisan flashpoint ahead of last year's election. Former President Joe Biden's 2021 order called for federal agencies to promote voter registration

in ways that are quote consistent with applicable law. It led to new voter registration guides from the government, mailers, updated websites, and programs such as Veterans Affairs facilities in Kentucky and Michigan distributing and helping eligible voters fill out registration forms. So President Trump says revoking that order is quote, the first of many steps United States federal government will take to repair our institutions unquote. Some Republican officials have claimed with no substantial evidence that through this now rescinded order, the Biden administration overstepped its authority and tried to generate more Democratic voters.

Anzalel Wong, NPR News. Weather forecasters say that the heavily damaged Southern California could get badly needed rain as soon as this weekend. It would help firefighters in their battle against the wildfires, but as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass explained, even a small amount of rain could create new challenges, including mudslides and toxic ash runoff. The action plan I have directed our city public works bureaus to implement includes the installation of barriers, debris removal, and diverting runoff from our stormwater system and into our sewer system where it can be treated. The mayor has issued an executive order to expedite the cleanup

of the areas and limit the environmental impact. Canada's outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the leader of oil-rich province of Alberta say they're confident they can avoid the 25 percent tariffs. President-elect Trump says he will impose on February the 1st. From Washington, this is NPR News. Garth Hudson, the last surviving member of the beloved Roots Rock Ensemble, the band has died. The Canadian musician was 87. NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento has an appreciation of his work. Garth Hudson played keyboard and saxophone, but it was his way of playing the Lowry organ and the clavinet as leading instruments that gave the band its signature churchy, post-psychedelic sound. The band got their start as the backing instrumentalists for Ronnie Hawkins and famously, Bob Dylan. But in 1968, they broke out with their debut solo album, Music from Big Pink.

After their official dissolution in 1976, Hudson continued playing with different iterations of the band for decades. He gave his first public performance in years in 2023 at a house concert in upstate New York. Writer Harry Hugh told NPR that Hudson quote, never lost that spark. Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR News. The new Trump administration has revoked secret service protection for former national security adviser John Bolton, who worked in the Trump administration from 2018 to 2019 but has become a fierce critic of President Trump and his views on foreign policy. Bolton was granted secret service protection during the Trump administration, the first one after Bolton was granted Secret Service protection during the Trump administration, the first one after Bolton received death threats from Iran and a member of that country's Revolutionary Guard was charged by the Justice Department with plotting to murder Bolton.

As is the case with all protectees, he has a dedicated team of agents guarding him around the clock. From Washington, this is NPR News. Support. What's in store for the music, TV, and film industries for 2025? We don't know, but we're making some fun, bold predictions for the new year. Listen now to the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR.