NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-25-2025 12PM EST

Episode Date: January 25, 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.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. Pete Hegseth is now Secretary of Defense. He was sworn into office this morning by Vice President J.D. Vance, who also cast the tie-breaking Senate confirmation vote last night. The former Fox News host is an Army National Guard combat veteran who's vowed to be a change agent at the Pentagon. I want to thank the men and women wearing the uniform. And I've said this before when I speak and I mean it every time I stand at a podium and there's bright lights and cameras. The first thing that goes through my head are the guys that I served with on the

battlefield, the men and the women who I locked shields with and put my life on the line with, who never get the spotlight. Hegseth at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building Ceremony. Four Israeli female soldiers taken hostage in a Hamas incursion into southern Israel 15 months ago have returned to Israel.

They were freed as part of a ceasefire deal mediated by the US, Qatar and Egypt. The Trump administration is giving immigration authorities broad new powers to quickly expel migrants who were temporarily admitted to the country by the Biden administration. NPR's Joel Rose reports. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman signed a memo that appears to give immigration authorities a roadmap to begin removing migrants who were temporarily admitted to the country under two Biden-era programs. They include the CBP One app, which allowed migrants to schedule appointments at ports

of entry to begin their asylum claims, and another program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. More than 1.4 million migrants were admitted to the U.S. under the two programs, which depend on an authority known as humanitarian parole. Critics said those programs were themselves unlawful. Now immigrant advocates fear that people who fled from dangerous places may be forced to go back. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

It's been nearly three weeks since deadly fires raced through parts of Los Angeles and through other areas. Already people are talking about rebuilding. But first they have to be allowed back to the remains of their homes. Steve Futterman has details. It was one of the more spirited discussions as President Trump came here to Pacific Palisades. Everyone standing in front of the house, they want to go to work and they're not allowed to do it.

Trump and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass talked about how quickly people can go back to their destroyed homes. One of the biggest issues is disposing of any hazardous materials. Bass talked about that. The most important thing is for people to be safe. They're safe. They're safe. Trump and the mayor both talked about bypassing red tape to speed things up. I'm exercising my emergency powers. You have to exercise them also.

I did exercise them. The mayor said she expects people to be allowed back in the next week. The president said he would like them allowed back now. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Pacific Palisades, California. This is NPR News in Washington. President Trump has fired multiple independent watchdogs at federal agencies including inspectors general at the departments of state defense and transportation. Federal law requires 30 days notice to Congress which was not provided. The Washington

Post was first to report the dismissals. Inspectors general hold agencies responsible to taxpayers. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has confirmed there will be a provincial election at the end of February. As Dan Karpanchuk reports, Ford says he wants a new mandate to fight the tariffs threatened by President Donald Trump. Rumors of an early Ontario election have persisted for months. Ford says Ontarians will go to the polls on February 27, more than a year earlier than the fixed election date. Ford says the 25 percent tariffs threatened by Trump are his main reason. He says with a strong mandate, his government will be able to fight the tariffs, spending

billions of dollars to protect jobs, businesses and communities. Trump has essentially targeted the province's multi-billion dollar auto sector. Ford also hinted there is a lack of leadership in Canada at the federal level because of Justin Trudeau's resignation announcement. Opposition leaders have been critical of Ford's decision, saying with half a million jobs at stake, the only one he's trying to protect is his own.

For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpanchuk in Toronto. In London, one of Britain's most popular tourist attractions was partially closed today. Authorities say the British Museum's computer systems were tampered with by a fired employee who trespassed and shut them down. He was arrested at the scene. The 266-year-old museum attracts almost 6 million visitors a year. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News. Wait, wait, don't tell me. Fresh Louise Kivone, NPR News.