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

Episode Date: January 23, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. A judge in Seattle has temporarily blocked President Trump's executive order that ends birthright citizenship in the United States. The Trump administration argues that states do not have the right to sue because they're not the ones who would lose citizenship. According to the Constitution, every person born in the U.S. is an American citizen. In the meantime, the Trump administration is moving ahead with its crackdown on illegal immigration. The Pentagon will soon deploy

about 1,500 troops to the southern border. NPR's Jimena Bustillo reports Congress has also passed the Lincoln-Riley Act, which makes it easier to detain and deport anyone in the U.S. without legal status if they've been charged with a crime. The bill makes it easier for federal immigration authorities to detain and deport anyone without legal status for crimes like shoplifting, assaulting a police officer, or causing bodily harm to another person. The bill is named after a Georgia woman who was killed last year by a Venezuelan man who

was in the U.S. without legal status. Supporters argue that this will increase public safety. Opponents say the measure bypasses due process. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski says she will not vote to confirm President Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon. Former Army National Guard officer Pete Hegseth is one of Trump's most controversial nominees. Hegseth is facing a number of allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. The Senate is set to hold a procedural vote on his nomination later today. Airline stocks hit some turbulence today.

NPR's Scott Horsley reports that follows a downbeat forecast from one of the nation's biggest carriers. Despite a strong showing at the end of last year, American Airlines says it expects to lose money in the current quarter. The company's struggling to win back business travelers who were turned off on American trim, 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 retailers diversity efforts, Costco's board is defending the DEI program and urging shareholders to reject the measure. Scott Horsley in PR News, Washington. Researchers across the nation are raising concerns about the National Institutes of Health canceling key meetings. NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin reports the Trump administration has directed federal health officials to halt all public communications. NIH is the largest public funder of biomedical

research in the world. It invests more than 40 billion dollars in research every year, and it gathers together scientists outside the agency into what are called study sections to help them figure out how to spend that money, what research is the most important to fund. That's NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin reporting. This is NPR News. The Oscar nominations are making headlines around the world but have resonated stronger than ever in Brazil. For the first time a Brazilian film was nominated for three Oscars. Julia Carneiro reports from Rio de Janeiro.

That was the reaction in a leading newsroom in Rio to the Oscar nominations echoing cheers across the country. The film I'm Still Here received nominations for best picture, best leading actress, and best international feature film. Fernanda Torres is the second Brazilian ever nominated for best actress. The first was her mother, Fernanda Montenegro, 25 years ago. Torres' performance earned her the Golden Globe for best actress in drama and Brazilians are now rooting for an Oscar. Directed by Valter Salles, I'm Still Here is based on the true story of a family shaken by a

disappearance during Brazil's military dictatorship. For NPR News, I'm Julia Carneiro in Rio de Janeiro. Search and rescue operations continue in parts of Indonesia after torrential rain slammed the area on Monday. At least 21 people have been killed by severe flooding and landslides on the main island of Java. Waters from flooded rivers rip through a number of villages in the central part of the province, burying homes, downing power lines, and uprooting trees. Scientists say that landslides in the region

could become more frequent as climate change increases rainfall. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington. Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now Plus at plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org.