NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-23-2025 6PM EST

Episode Date: January 23, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Trump's controversial defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth has squeaked through a procedural vote in the Senate, making it likely he'll get the 51 votes needed for confirmation. Hegseth has faced allegations of excessive drinking and aggressive behavior towards women. NPR's Tom Bowman reports on what actions Hegseth might take. Clearly he's going to get rid of the diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at the Pentagon. And there's concern among the senior ranks at the Pentagon

that he may make personnel changes. He's been critical of the first woman to run the Navy, Admiral Lisa Frankeady. She could be out of a job. He's also basically said they want to bring their own people in. So that could mean, again, some military, senior military officers losing their jobs, who we just don't know at this point.

NPR's Tom Bowman critics have also cited Heg's lack of experience in running such a large complex organization. The Trump administration says it's rounding up more migrants accused of violent crimes that move part of a new effort to crack down on illegal immigration. But NPR's Brian Mann reports so far the number of arrests appear only slightly higher than under the Biden administration. Trump officials say they've arrested roughly 400 migrants with criminal records. Speaking on Fox News, White House adviser Stephen Miller said initial immigration operations have already arrested and removed what he called some of the most vicious criminals in this country.

But former acting director of U.S. immigration and customs, John Sandwig, told NPR enforcement actions carried out so far aren't a significant increase. I think these operations, this initial surge is business as usual. NPR found migrant arrests varied over time during the Biden administration. But federal agents were already arresting more than 100 migrants per day with criminal convictions or charges pending before Trump took office. Brian Mann, NPR News, New York. The Trump administration is revoking security protection for former Secretary of State Mike

Pompeo and former Iran envoy Brian Hook. As NPR's Ryan Lucas explains, it follows Trump's decision earlier this week to pull security detail for his one-time national security adviser, John Bolton. A person familiar with the situation told NPR the administration pulled the security protection for Pompeo and Hook on Wednesday. Mike Pompeo, Brian Hook and John Bolton had received security details from the U.S. government because of threats from Iran. Iranian officials have publicly stated they want to avenge the death of Qassem Soleimani, an Iranian general who was killed in a U.S.

drone strike during Trump's first term in office. The Justice Department charged an Iranian national in 2022 with plotting to kill Bolton. Iran also has plotted against Trump and the Biden administration beefed up Trump's security this past summer in light of those threats. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington. U.S. financial markets closed higher with the broad market notching another record high today in hopes of falling interest rates to the S&P up 32 points. You're listening to NPR.

The Supreme Court is reviving a requirement that millions of small businesses register with an arm of the Treasury Department under an anti-money laundering law. Justices today granted an emergency plea made in the final days of the Biden administration. The so-called Corporate Transparency Act was enacted in 2021 to crack down on the illicit use of anonymous shell companies to hide illegal drug proceeds and other ill-gotten gains. Under the rule upwards of 32.6 million small businesses must register personal information with Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FINCEN. The European Union has posted a record year for renewable energy, generating nearly half

its electricity from clean sources, as Meen Nicholson reports solar power overtook coal for the first time last year, trend accelerated by the European Green Deal which aims for zero carbon emissions by 2050. Growth in solar and wind-powered energy across the EU has boosted the share of renewables to 47% and solar energy is the bloc's fastest growing power source with an 11% share. These are the latest figures from a report released by climate think tank EMBA which show a marked decline in fossil fuel dependency. Coal now provides just 10% of Europe's energy and soaring gas prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine have accelerated the continent's transition to renewables. Europe's increasing

energy independence comes as President Trump is pulling the United States out of the Paris Agreement. For NPR News, I'm Esme Nicholson in Berlin. Oil fell 82 cents or barreled a 7460 to a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News.