NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-22-2025 6AM EST

Episode Date: January 22, 2025

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Donald Trump is starting his second term as president. What will his administration do and what policies will it promote? On the NPR Politics Podcast, we'll break down what the new administration does and explain why it matters. Listen to the NPR Politics Podcast every day. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman. President Trump has issued another executive order, this time ending federal programs dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion.

NPR's Ayanna Archie reports employees of these programs have been put on paid administrative leave. The Trump administration is moving quickly to reevaluate federal DEI programs. Agencies have until this evening to tell employees in those programs that they will be placed on paid leave with benefits. They also have until then to remove all DEI references from websites and social media. Trump also wants agency employees

to let his administration know if there are any plans to conceal DEI initiatives through vague language. The president says these programs cause division, promote discrimination, and drain taxpayers' dollars. Agencies have until Thursday to report their compliance to the administration, and until the end of the month to come up with a broader plan to reduce the workforces for these programs.

Ayanna Archie, NPR News. Trump is also blaming the Federal Aviation Administration for hiring people with, quote, serious infirmities that could impact lifesaving duties. He insists there are people who want to work for the FAA but don't have a requisite disability or the right skin color. Trump has offered no evidence of his allegations. Trump's nominee to be defense secretary is rejecting fresh claims of misconduct.

Pete Hegseth is accused by his former sister-in-law in an affidavit of excessive drinking and of abusing one of his former wives. Hex's lawyer told NBC, Hex's former wife has never made these allegations. At least 22 democratically-led states and Washington, D.C. are suing the Trump administration over the president's executive order that aims to end birthright citizenship. That right is protected in the U.S. Constitution. From member station KUOW in Seattle, Scott Greenstone reports on Washington State's effort.

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said he's also filing an emergency order to block any federal agency from denying citizenship to babies born in Washington State. The president's executive order claiming to end birthright citizenship in the United States is plainly and obviously illegal. Washington state will not abide by such harmful and unjust action. Republicans in Washington state have claimed this lawsuit is a distraction. For NPR

News, I'm Scott Greenstone in Seattle. The ACLU has also sued the Trump administration over the birthright citizenship issue. President Trump is now threatening China with additional sanctions of 10 percent. He told reporters yesterday that is because China is sending fentanyl to Mexico and to Canada. He has already threatened those two countries with tariffs of 25 percent. All of these tariffs could take effect February 1st. Trump also says the European Union could get hit with tariffs, too. You're listening to NPR News. Forecasters say a winter storm is still pounding the southeast from northern

Florida to southern Virginia. Areas in between, from Jacksonville to Virginia Beach, could get about three inches of snow in all. Areas on the Gulf Coast got a lot more than that yesterday. The National Weather Service says New Orleans got eight inches of snow and nearby places got even more. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports the weather has affected travel and business. The Gulf South is seeing snow like it's never had before, prompting snowmen on the beach and people skiing down Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

But Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry warns treacherous conditions remain in a region not used to dealing with icy roads. Again, this winter wonderland that we're seeing right now is going to end and a hard freeze is going to begin. So the fun is going to come to a quick end. Government offices, schools and many businesses are closed. The storm has also disrupted shipping at the ports of Houston and New Orleans.

Debbie Elliott, NPR News. Firefighters are still working to control several wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The Clay Fire broke out yesterday in Riverside County, east of Los Angeles. That's 38 acres and nearly half contained. Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Jules Pfeiffer has died at his home in New York. According to his wife, he was 95. Pfeiffer worked for years for the Village Voice, but he was best loved for illustrating the beloved children's book, The Phantom Toolbooth. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.

The indicator for Plano Money is diving into the world of batteries. Not the kind you buy at the grocery store. We're talking really big batteries, the kind that can power thousands of homes. This technology came seemingly out of nowhere. We're digging deep into the battery industry in three back-to-back episodes. Listen to The Indicator from Planet Money podcast on NPR.