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

Episode Date: January 23, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. A federal judge in Seattle has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's effort to limit birthright citizenship. NPR's Martin Costi reports the court order applies nationwide. This lawsuit by Oregon, Arizona, Illinois, and Washington State is one of several brought against Trump's effort to curb the right of citizenship for anyone born on U.S. soil, as laid out in the 14th Amendment. In a packed courtroom in downtown Seattle, Judge John Kunauer told the Justice Department

lawyer that the Trump policy is clearly unconstitutional. Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown welcomed the judge's skepticism. To hear the judge from the bench say that in his 40 years as a judge, he has never seen something so blatantly unconstitutional sets the tone for the seriousness of this effort. The court order temporarily bars the administration from enforcing its restriction on birthright citizenship. Martin Costi, NPR News, Seattle. In a vote of 74 to 25, the Republican-led Senate has confirmed the nation's next director

of the CIA. Senate Democrats who voted against the nomination of John Ratcliffe cited concerns that he wouldn't be able to stand up to the Trump administration. During his confirmation hearings, Ratcliffe pledged to keep politics out of decisions involving intelligence. Ratcliffe was narrowly confirmed as the director of national intelligence during President Trump's first term in office. Marco Rubio is preparing to set off on his first foreign trip as secretary of state next week. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports Rubio was scheduled to travel

to Central America. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce says the Secretary is making it a priority to work with countries in the Western Hemisphere. If we're going to be safe and prosperous and in good shape, Bruce tells reporters, we have to have an interest in our neighbors in South and Central America. She says Secretary of State Rubio recognizes that. The trip is expected to include a stop in Panama where officials have protested President Trump's talk about the U.S. taking back the

Panama Canal. Secretary Rubio is also expected to visit Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic to talk about migration and supply chains. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. Purdue Pharma, the company behind the drug Oxycontin, has agreed to increase its financial contribution to resolve mass opioid litigation. New York State Attorney General Letitia James made the announcement earlier today. This will help communities heal from the devastating losses are wrought by addiction and this will support treatment and recovery programs across New York and the nation. The deal includes more than seven billion dollars to pay for drug treatment and recovery programs.

On Wall Street the Dow was up 324 points. This is NPR. Emergency crews in Southern California are working to contain a new fire that has broken out in the mountains north of Los Angeles. Fire Chief Anthony Moroney says more than 50,000 people are under evacuation orders or warnings. The National Weather Service has extended the red flag warning through 10 a.m. on Friday for most of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The Hughes fire has scorched more than 10,000 acres. After several fire-related delays, the motion picture Academy Oscar nominations have been announced. NPR's Bob Mandello reports the unorthodox musical, Emilia Perez, leads the best picture parade. Emilia Perez leads the Best Picture Parade.

Emilia Perez is a French and Spanish language gangster musical about trans identity. It led a field of unorthodox films with 13 nominations including Best Picture, another musical Wicked Part One, and the three and a half hour epic The Brutalist about immigrant trauma followed with ten nominations each. Joining them in the Best Picture race are the Vatican thriller Conclave and the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown with 8 nominations each, and the sex worker rom-com Enora with 6. Also in the running, the sci-fi epic Dune Part II, the body horror film The Substance,

the Spanish language drama I'm Still Here, and The Nickel Boys, set in a racist reform school. The Oscars telecast will be hosted by Conan O'Brien on March 2. Bob Mandela, NPR News. Stocks are trading mixed on Wall Street at this hour, the Dow up 331 points, the Nasdaq down 47. This is NPR. 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.