NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-23-2025 10AM EST

Episode Date: January 23, 2025

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Americans are living longer than ever before. On the Sunday story from Up First, we look at a growing number of people using these extra years to find new meaning. You get to the point where you start asking, what did you do in your life that was significant? A look at the transformative power of human passion and finding your purpose in the third act of life. Listen now on the Up First podcast from NPR.

Live from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kora Va'Koelman. President Trump is continuing to defend his pardon of all the people charged and convicted in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol four years ago. He pardoned about 1,500 people. Now, NPR's Tom Drysbock reports one of the men Trump freed has been rearrested on gun charges. During the January 6th attack on the Capitol, Daniel Ball allegedly threw an explosive device, which ricocheted off a police officer's helmet and exploded, causing multiple injuries. Later, he allegedly threw a piece of wood at police officers protecting the Capitol.

His case was pending when Trump ordered Ball freed as part of his blanket clemency for January 6th defendants. But then Ball was re-arrested on unrelated charges. Federal prosecutors in Florida say he illegally possessed a gun even though he had a criminal record for multiple felonies, including domestic violence battery by strangulation and resisting law enforcement by violence. Tom Dreisbach, NPR News. The Trump administration's border czar, Tom Homan, says immigration actions are underway

now by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Some counties and cities say they won't help ICE officers carry out federal immigration law. But scores of law enforcement agencies around the country say they plan to work with ICE. That includes the sheriff of Frederick County, Maryland, Chuck Jenkins. He says he has worked with ICE for six years. I've met with my local ICE officials.

I've met with the state level people. I've met with the local ICE officers. And to my, listen, my understanding is this, they have criminal targets. They have gang members are gonna target. They have public safety threats to target. They've said nothing about going into schools or hospitals or any what we call safe places.

He spoke with NPR's Morning Edition. President Trump is questioning the future of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and what might happen to California's request for fire disaster relief aid. Speaking to Fox News, Trump claimed Democrats have mismanaged FEMA. He did say the federal government could help states with disaster money. Stocks opened mixed today as airlines hit some turbulence. NPR's Scott Horsley reports the Dow Jones industrial average rose about 70 points in early trading. Despite a strong showing at the end of last year, American Airlines says it expects to lose money in the current quarter.

The company is struggling to win back business travelers who were turned off when American trimmed perks and discounts. The news weighed on other airline stocks, even though rival carriers have offered more upbeat forecasts. Costco is holding its annual meeting, and investors are expected to vote on a proposal from a conservative think tank. Challenging the retailer's diversity efforts. Costco's board is defending the DEI program and urging shareholders to reject the measure.

New applications for unemployment benefits inched up last week as 223,000 people applied for jobless aid. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. On Wall Street, the Dow was now up nearly 100 points. This is NPR. Nominees for this year's Academy Awards have been announced. The Netflix musical, Emilia Perez, leads the way with 13 nominations. It's a Spanish-language film about a transgender woman

and Mexican drug crimes. It's up for Best Picture, along with Anora, the Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Dune Part II, I'm Still Here, Nickel Boys, The Substance, and Wicked. Same-sex couples across Thailand officially tied the knot today as the country's Marriage Equality Act took effect. Michael Sullivan reports Thailand is the first country in Southeast Asia to pass such legislation.

A mass wedding organized by the group Bangkok Pride was staged at the upscale Siam Paragon Mall, with the country's Prime Minister declaring on social media that today the rainbow flag is proudly flying over Thailand. The country has long enjoyed a reputation for tolerance despite being a relatively conservative Buddhist-majority nation. Activists have been battling for more than a decade for the bill's passage, which came only after two major political parties backed it in the 2023 general election. The bill changes the definition of marriage in Thailand's civil code and also gives married

same-sex couples inheritance and adoption rights. For NPR News, I'm Michael Sullivan in Chiang Rai, Thailand. The Gulf Coast and the Southeastern U.S. are recovering from this week's winter storm. It dropped sleet, freezing rain and many inches of snow in surprising areas such as New Orleans. That city got more than eight inches of snow. In Alabama, the weight of the snow collapsed a roof in Mobile. You're listening to NPR. Wait, wait, don't tell me. Fresh air? Up listening to NPR.