NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-24-2025 11AM EST

Episode Date: January 24, 2025

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On NPR's Wild Card podcast, comedian Michelle Butoh says she's glad she ignored the people who told her to lose weight. I'm just going to show you what it looks like to love my body, my double chin, my extra rolls, okay? My buckets of thighs! Sauce on the side, you can't afford it. I'm Rachel Martin. Michelle Butoh is on the Wild Card podcast, the show where cards control the conversation. on the Wild Card podcast, the show where cards control the conversation. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman.

The anti-abortion March for Life gets underway this hour in Washington, D.C. with a concert. This year's event will feature Vice President Vance as a speaker. President Trump has offered clemency to several anti-abortion activists. They've been jailed for blocking women's clinics that provide abortions.

I just signed a pardon and in the pardon we released 23 people that were unjustly put in having to do with pro-life and they will be released and they'll be out very shortly. Trump spoke at the White House this morning as he left for North Carolina. He's going to Asheville to review Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. After his North Carolina visit Trump will then fly to Los Angeles. He's going to Asheville to review Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. After his North Carolina visit Trump will then fly to Los Angeles. He's going to review efforts to fight the devastating wildfires in the region. These have killed at least 28 people. California Governor Gavin Newsom has approved new disaster aid for Los Angeles from member station KQED Garmsrady Hasmorn. Newsom signed a $2.5 billion relief package that will fund cleanup and sheltering those

affected by the fires. But the governor also wants to spend more money to fight the Trump administration in court over issues like immigration. I'm here for the long haul to support the president where we can, to defend our values where we must. Trump is threatened to withhold disaster aid from California over disagreements on water policy. For NPR News, I'm Guy Marzorotti in San Jose. In the Middle East, Hamas has identified four female Israeli soldiers who are supposed to be released tomorrow. This is

part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel. The agreement also calls for Israel to release about 200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. The ceasefire deal has halted fighting in Gaza since last weekend. The Trump administration has revoked security protection for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former Iran envoy Brian Hook. As NPR's Ryan Lucas reports, this comes after President Trump decided to pull the 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.

On Wall Street, stocks are lower. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is down nearly 100 points at 44,471. This is NPR. The Trump administration says it has arrested hundreds of criminal migrants who are in the U.S. illegally. One of the raids happened in Newark, New Jersey yesterday. The city's mayor is holding a press conference this hour. The mayor says federal agents also wrongfully detained American citizens yesterday.

A pause on pandas that has been unbearable for some is finally over. Two giant pandas are now available for public viewing in the nation's capital. NPR's Amy Held reports they are on a 10-year loan from China. Bao Li and Qing Bao are out of quarantine and in the spotlight. After a three-month wait and an 8,000-mile trip from China, they now stand, or clumsily climb, or roll around ready to make their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo. Their return after China recalled earlier furry ambassadors marks a reboot of panda diplomacy. For those who can't make it to DC, the panoply of panda antics is on digital

display via the giant panda cam. People are bamboozled by the roly-poly big-eyed cuteness. Such clips have drawn in millions of viewers. China's also loaned two other giant pandas to the U.S., both at the San Diego Zoo, as a gesture of goodwill. Seems panda appeal is pretty black and white. Amy Held, NPR News. Men's tennis star player Novak Djokovic suddenly withdrew from the Australian Open Tennis Tournament today. He lost the first set in his match, but he stopped and walked off the court. Djokovic said that a leg injury that has plagued him throughout the tournament has prevented him from continuing.

I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.