NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-23-2025 3AM EST

Episode Date: January 23, 2025

NPR News: 01-23-2025 3AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan.

In his first broadcast interview since taking office, President Trump has harsh words of criticism for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, and the way it provides disaster relief. Speaking with Fox, Trump said he believes that state governments are better suited to provide assistance after hurricanes, tornadoes and floods, and he pointed to the state of Oklahoma where he says officials there are doing a great job. I love Oklahoma, but you know what, if they get hit with a tornado or something, let Oklahoma fix it. You don't need, and then the federal government can help them out with the money. What do you... The FEMA is getting in the way of everything. Friday Trump plans to visit two disaster sites in Hurricane Ravage, North Carolina, and then

visit fire-damaged California. Federal agencies put workers in diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility offices on paid leave Wednesday as part of President Trump's efforts to end those programs. NPR's Andrea Shue reports. In several sweeping executive orders, President Trump has called DEIA programs illegal, immoral, and discriminatory. The Office of Personnel Management gave federal agencies till the end of the business day to begin shutting down offices running such programs. By the end of the month, federal agencies must submit plans to lay people off.

It's not clear how many people could be affected by this order. Rob Schreiver was OPM's acting director under former President Biden. Given the broad brush that they have painted, it's potentially very large numbers of people. Agencies have also been directed to terminate DEIA-related contracts. Andrea Hsu, NPR News. Israel launched a new operation in the occupied West Bank with arrests and deaths reported among Palestinians there. But 50 miles away in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, a ceasefire deal appears to be holding for a fourth day.

NPR's Aya Batrani has more. From the southern city of Rafah to the edges of northern Jabalia, the Gaza Strip lies in ruins, the result of more than a year of war and sustained Israeli airstrikes. Palestinians are able to see now what's left of their homes in areas Israeli forces have withdrawn from. But there's little reprieve here. Entire neighborhoods have been leveled, turning cities into gray mounds of rubble as far as the eye can see. Gaza's health ministry says more than 47,000 people were killed by Israeli fire in the war.

Local health officials say they've recovered around 150 bodies from the rubble and decay of different parts of Gaza since the ceasefire began Sunday. And they estimate more than 10,000 bodies remain missing under the rubble. Aya Batraoui, NPR News. A fast-moving wildfire north of Los Angeles is prompting evacuation orders for more than 50,000 people. This is frames spread across the mountains near the Katostik Lake area. From Washington, you're listening to NPR News. The newly pardoned oath keepers founder Stuart Rhodes met on Capitol Hill with at least one Republican member of Congress and he defended his actions on January the 6th, taking no

responsibility in the violence that halted the certification of the 2020 election. His surprise visit took place just hours after the House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the formation of a special panel to investigate the riot and review the work of the select committee that was formed in the aftermath of the attack. New York's Governor Kathy Hochul has become the latest state leader to propose a cell phone ban in public schools. As NPR's Joanaachit Mehta reports, at least two other dozen school districts

have enacted similar bans. Starting next fall, students in the state of New York may have to give up their cell phones while they're at school. Governor Hockel says the ban is based in part on research that shows the damaging effects of phones and social media on children's mental health. Kids are being besieged with addictive algorithms, toxic social media, and cell phones

that just can be so manipulative that it becomes addictive like a drug. The approach is gaining bipartisan traction. At least 24 states have enacted or proposed restrictions on phones during school hours. The New York State United Teachers Union has endorsed Hocal's proposal, which would require legislator approval before going into effect. Janaki Mehta, NPR News. Police in San Antonio

say four officers were wounded Wednesday night by gunfire when officers responded to a suicide in progress that turned into a barricade situation. From Washington, this is NPR News. I'm Dan Ronan. Support for