NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-23-2025 2AM EST

Episode Date: January 23, 2025

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Okay, 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. In his first broadcast interview since taking office, President Trump strongly suggested he would like to reorganize the Federal Emergency Management Agency and give many of its duties back to state governments instead of having them handled on a federal level. FEMA is going to be a whole big discussion very shortly because I'd rather see the states take care of their own problems.

Speaking with Fox, Trump also repeated unsubstantiated claims that fish conservation efforts in northern California are responsible for fire hydrants not working in Los Angeles. Trump also said he may withhold federal emergency aid unless California changes its water policies. The leaders of Europe's two largest economies, France and Germany, met today in Paris to try to consolidate their policies in the face of the new Trump administration. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports

the Franco-German counterparts have differed on many issues in recent years, which has slowed down decision-making at the EU. French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe must be strong, united and ready to defend its own interests and values as it faces Trump's America. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz underlined that Europe is a huge and powerful economic market with 450 million citizens. Now France and Germany need to project unity as the EU struggles to respond with one voice to threats of tariffs.

The EU's export-oriented economies are weighed down by high energy costs due to Russia's war on Ukraine and a slowdown in trade with China The last thing Europe wants is a new trade war with the US Eleanor Beardsley in Pierre news Paris in Wilmington, North Carolina the National Weather Service called for up to six inches of snow Meteorologists are still tallying the totals, but parts of the city got about four inches Rachel Keith with member station WHQR has more. When families woke up this morning a white blanket appeared. Eight-year-old Ellie Scarborough says it's really fun. I'm sliding with like soft boards. And while the fun continues as Wilmington hasn't seen over four inches of snow in 24 years. The

National Weather Service says threats from the storm will continue. They expect the snow to melt throughout the day, quickly refreezing at night, leading to icy roadways. Drivers should exercise caution and avoid driving if possible. Conditions are expected to clear by Thursday. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Keith in Wilmington. President Trump has picked Secret Service agent Sean Curran to be the next director of the Secret Service. He was on the detail in Butler, Pennsylvania and brought Trump into a car after the shooting. You're listening to NPR News.

As we've been reporting, a rare winter storm in the deep South has a lot of snow still on the ground. Up to nine inches of snow has fallen in some places that may see snow only once in a decade. From Georgia Public Broadcasting, Grant Blankenship has the story. Snow lasting well into Tuesday night meant by Wednesday morning, interstates 75 and 475 were closed in central Georgia,

and some drivers were left stuck on the side of the road. But there was fun to be had in Macon's in town neighborhood for those on foot. One, two. Like Kyle Davis and his son Ward. It was Ward's first snow ever, and Kyle says it's not like he sees snow much either. I don't know if I've ever been in Macon when it's snowed.

What? I'm right out of here. Okay, we'll slide again. We'll slide again, get your sign. Roads in much of Georgia and the South are expected to be treacherous at least into Thursday. For NPR News, I'm Grant Blankenship in Macon, Georgia. A new Department of Justice memo released Wednesday

said state and local government leaders who do not cooperate with an increased immigration enforcement efforts could face federal prosecution. The three-page document was sent to all DOJ employees from the acting Deputy Attorney General Imo Bove as it seeks to realign the department's positions with the new Trump administration executive orders on immigration policy. The acting AG said that the U S attorneys should investigate and potentially prosecute officials who stand in the way of immigration authorities on Wall

Street markets closed the day up. All three indexes were up in positive trading. This is NPR news support for in it's a new year. and according to Pew, 79% of resolutions are about one thing, health. But there are so many fads around how to keep ourselves healthy. On It's Been a Minute, I'm helping you understand why some of today's biggest wellness trends are, well, trending. Like, why is there protein in everything? Join me as we uncover what's healthy and what's not on the It's Been a Minute podcast from NPR.