NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-24-2025 7PM EST

Episode Date: January 25, 2025

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Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have outlined their plans to slash the federal workforce with the help of a team of quote small government crusaders. What's in store for federal workers and how are they planning for change? This January 1A's.gov series guides you through various government agencies and the people working for you. Listen to the 1A podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The Trump administration is giving immigration authorities broad new powers to quickly expel

migrants temporarily admitted to the country under some Biden-era programs. There were also expulsions under President Biden and there has not been a huge ramp up yet, as NPR's Joe Rosa reports, that could change. The White House says yesterday ICE arrested over 500 migrants with criminal records. Under President Biden in 2024, ICE arrested an average of about 200 migrants a day with criminal records or charges pending. But former ICE officials I've spoken to say so far this is largely business as usual. What has changed sharply is the communication strategy. This administration is talking a lot more about enforcement because that is what its

supporters want to hear. But that said, it is still very early and we are seeing with this memo the Trump administration is building the machinery to remove a lot more people, even if we're not totally seeing that in the numbers just yet. NPR's Joe Rose. President Trump after an earlier stop in North Carolina, has now arrived in California to view some of the damage from the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. Accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, the president was greeted by California Governor

Gavin Newsom at the airport. Tremendous numbers of lives have been affected. A lot of real estate's been affected. Nobody's ever probably seen anything like this. You could almost say since the Second World War, when you think of it. I mean, anything like this. You can almost say since the second world war. What do you think of it? I mean nothing like this has happened. While Trump and Newsom have sparred in the past,

there seemed to be little animosity. Trump earlier today said he's considering getting rid of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in favor of providing federal funding and letting states handle disasters themselves. The annual March for Life rally drew tens of thousands of people to the nation's capital today. NPR's Windsor Johnston reports this year's demonstration comes a day after President

Trump pardoned nearly two dozen anti-abortion activists who were convicted of illegally blockading a reproductive health clinic in Washington, D.C. 19-year-old Chloe Morton traveled to the march from Lebanon, Ohio. She says the reelection of Donald Trump and a Republican-led Congress will bring change. With the trifecta, there can be a lot that can become done in these next few years. I think there's a lot of hope now. Scott Tanner from Arlington, Virginia, says he hopes President Trump takes a stronger stance when

it comes to banning abortion at the federal level. I thought maybe he was hedging a little bit during the campaign. I thought maybe he was playing chess when everyone else was playing checkers. In a video addressed to the march, President Trump cheered the protesters on and once again took credit for the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe vs. Wade. Windsor-Johnston, NPR News, Washington. Mostly quiet trading day on Wall Street with stocks coming off a bit from their record highs. The Dow fell 140 points. The Nasdaq was down 99 points. The S&P 500 fell 17 points.

You're listening to NPR. The U.S. government is trying to extradite a private investigator from the UK for his alleged role in a hacking campaign that targeted American climate activists. A lawyer for the private investigator said in a London courtroom the hacking operation her clients accused of leading was allegedly ordered by a lobbying firm working for ExxonMobil. Here's Michael Copley reports. A lawyer for the private investigator said the US is trying to prosecute her client

for a hacking operation allegedly commissioned by DCI Group, a public affairs firm in Washington DC that represented ExxonMobil. The private investigator is Amit Forlitt. He's previously denied ordering or paying for hacking. The Justice Department didn't respond to a message seeking comment. A British lawyer representing the US said Forlitt allegedly worked for a D.C. public

affairs firm, which allegedly represented one of the world's biggest oil and gas companies. DCI and Exxon declined to comment on being mentioned in court. Both have denied being involved in hacking. Michael Copley, NPR News. Pets are part of the family, too, and that's what appears to be prompting New York City Councilmembers' legislation. It would allow New Yorkers to take paid sick leave to care for their pets and service animals. City Councilmember Sean Abruin introduced the bill, saying, quote, when you take care

of your animals, you're taking care of yourself, too. It would not add days to already mandated New York State sick leave, but simply give people more flexibility. As estimated by the Department of Health and Human Services, but simply give people more flexibility. As estimated by the Department of Health and Human Services, 68 percent of U.S. households have a pet. Critical futures prices close slightly higher, up four cents a barrel to settle at $74.66 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. What's in store for the music, TV, and film industries for 2025? We don't know, but we're making some fun, bold store for the music, TV, and film industries for 2025?

We don't know, but we're making some fun, bold predictions for the new year. Listen now to the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR.