NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-24-2025 5AM EST

Episode Date: January 24, 2025

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Donald Trump is starting his second term as president. What will his administration do and what policies will it promote? On the NPR Politics Podcast, we'll break down what the new administration does and explain why it matters. Listen to the NPR Politics Podcast every day. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. President Trump is expected to travel to western North Carolina today to get a look at Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. The storm's torrential rains did

widespread damage in the region after coming ashore along Florida's Gulf Coast in September. Trump is also planning to travel to southern California, where crews continue to battle wildfires near Los Angeles. Guy Marzerati with member station KQED says Trump may meet with Governor Gavin Newsom while in California. 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 has threatened to withhold disaster aid from California over disagreements on water policy. For NPR News, I'm Guy Marzorotti in San Jose. President Trump's nominee to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, is a step closer to Senate confirmation. His nomination cleared a procedural vote yesterday. Two Republican senators have announced they will vote against Hegseth's nomination when it reaches the full Senate. NPR's Deidre Walsh says that's likely later today.

Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski announced she could not support Hegseth, citing his lack of experience and reports about excessive drinking and other inappropriate behavior that raised questions about his character. A second GOP Senator, Susan Collins of Maine, also plans to vote no. She raised doubt about him leading the large department and his previous comments about women serving in group combat roles. Hegseth backtracked on those, but Collins says she's not convinced his position has changed. Hegseth is not expected to get any support from Democrats, but he can afford to lose

as many as three GOP votes. Hegseth appears likely to be confirmed as Secretary of Defense, mostly along party lines. Deirdre Walsh and PR News, The Capitol. The Senate has confirmed the president's pick to serve as director of the CIA. John Ratcliffe's nomination was approved by a vote of 74 to 25, with many Democratic senators joining Republicans to support him.

Ratcliffe is a former Republican congressman from Texas who worked as director of national intelligence during Trump's first term in office. He's the first person to have held both jobs. A federal judge in Seattle is blocking President Trump's executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship for children born to migrants in the US who are without legal status or in the country temporarily. The judge called the status or in the country temporarily. The judge called the order blatantly unconstitutional. This is NPR News from Washington.

A prosecutor with the International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for leaders of the Taliban in Afghanistan. As Omkar Khandekar reports, human rights groups are applauding that decision, saying the Taliban should be held accountable for the persecution of women in the country. ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan says he is seeking arrest warrants for Taliban Supreme Leader

Heber Tula Akhundzada and the head of its Supreme Court, Abdul Hakim Hakani. He accuses them of crimes against humanity for gender-based persecution. The Taliban has not yet responded to the allegations. Since seizing power in Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban has clamped down on women's freedoms. The group has banned women from working in most professions, girls from attending schools beyond grade 6 and females from leaving their homes without a male guardian.

It's unclear how an arrest might be made, considering the group's supreme leader lives largely in seclusion in Kandahar. Omkar Khandekar, NPR News, Mumbai. Novak Djokovic is out at this year's Australian Open Tennis Tournament. The 10-time tournament champion walked off the court today after losing 7-6 in the first set of his semifinal match. He was up against Alexander Zverev. Later at a news conference, Djokovic cited pain in

his left leg from a torn muscle suffered in his quarterfinal victory over Carlos Alcares. Djokovic was seeking his 25th Grand Slam title. Wall Street is coming off a positive day of trading. The Dow added 408 points yesterday. series. And right now NPR is looking for the next great undiscovered musician to perform behind the famous desk. Think you've got what it takes? Submit a video of you playing an original song to the Tiny Desk Contest by February 10th. Find out more and see the official rules at npr.org slash tiny desk contest.