NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-25-2025 11PM EST

Episode Date: January 26, 2025

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This is Eric Glass. In this American life, sometimes we just show up somewhere, turn on our tape recorders, and see what happens. If you can't get seven cars in 12 days, you gotta look yourself in the mirror and say, holy, what are you kidding me? Like this car dealership, trying to sell its monthly quota of cars, and it is not going well. I just don't want one balloon to a car. Balloon the whole freaking place so it looks like I'm circus. Real life stories every week. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Amy Held. Oversight of most cabinet-level government agencies is in limbo after President Trump

fired at least 12 inspectors general. Tonight, Trump said firing them is a very common thing to do. But without providing a 30-day notice to Congress, Democrats say it is an apparent violation of federal law. Former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was sworn in as Homeland Security Secretary today, hours after the Senate confirmed her nomination. And Piers Jimena Bustillo reports. Piers Jimena Bustillo, NPR-CNNN-TV reporter Noem will oversee more than 260,000 federal employees.

In addition to overseeing agencies that deal with immigration, Homeland Security works with the nation's intelligence agencies to prevent terrorist threats. During her confirmation hearing, Noem repeatedly sought to link questions about national security to the U.S. border with Mexico. As we all agree that the number one threat to our homeland security is the southern border. Noem is set to work closely with White House officials to carry out Trump's plans, many of which have already been laid out through executive actions. These include increasing resources for deportations, changes to asylum laws, and more.

Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington. Trump's decision to end what's known as DEI in the federal government could ripple into the private sector. NPR's Maria Aspin reports. In 2020, after George Floyd was murdered, corporate America made a lot of promises to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion. But today, corporate America is facing political pressure from those who say that DEI is itself a form of discrimination. The reelection of

President Trump has added to this pressure. One notable exception, Costco shareholders just overwhelmingly voted to reject an anti-DEI proposal. Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York. Maria Aspin The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is entering its second week, but the two sides are accusing each other of delaying next steps. NPR's Jerome Sokolovsky reports this comes despite today's exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas released four female Israeli soldiers in a ceremony in Gaza City. They were surrounded

by rows of armed fighters in a display of force showing that Hamas still rules Gaza after 15 months of war. A few hours later, Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners. They include many serving life sentences for assisting in deadly shootings and suicide bombings, including one that killed five Americans at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The next step in the ceasefire agreement calls for Israel to let displaced Palestinians return to northern Gaza. The Israeli government says it will only do that after Hamas releases a civilian woman it still holds hostage. Hamas accuses Israel of stalling.

Jerome Sokolowski, NPR News, Tel Aviv. It's NPR News. The longtime leader of Belarus is all but certain to secure a seventh term after Sunday's presidential election. The BBC's Steve Rosenberg reports from Moscow. Alexander Lukashenko faces no serious challenge in this election. His fiercest critics and most serious rivals are either in prison or have fled abroad and are therefore not on the ballot. The Belarusian opposition in exile has denounced the process as a sham. After the previous presidential vote in 2020, which Mr Lukashenko claimed to have won with 80%, there were large scale protests across Belarus.

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to accuse him of stealing the election. The BBC's Steve Rosenberg. The UK's most popular tourist attraction is partially shut due to a fired employee, according to officials. Exhibitions are closed at the British Museum in London after a former museum worker broke in and shut down the computer systems, the museum says. Police say a suspect was arrested today on suspicion of burglary and criminal damage and released on bail. The British Museum, home to the Rosetta Stone, ancient Egyptian mummies,

and other displays, brings in nearly six million visitors a year. The world's top tennis player, Yanuk Sinner of Italy, is set to face world number two German, Alexander Zvedev, at the Australian Open. And on the women's side, American Madison Keyes upset two-time defending champion, Irina Savalenka of Belarus, to collect her first Grand Slam title at the age of 29. It's NPR News. On NPR News.