NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-25-2025 1AM EST

Episode Date: January 25, 2025

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OK, so does this sound like you? You love NPR's podcasts, you wish you could get more of all your favorite shows, and you want to support NPR's mission to create a more informed public. If all that sounds appealing, then it is time to sign up for the NPR Plus bundle. Learn more at plus.npr.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. In a dramatic vote Friday night in the U.S. Senate, lawmakers voted 50-50 on the nomination of Pete Hegseth to be the Secretary of Defense.

And with that tie, Vice President J.D. Vance, as the President of the Senate, cast a yes vote to put Hegseth over the top. As he departed California after touring the damage from wildfires, President Trump was asked his reaction to the vote. We just heard that we have a great secretary of defense. We're very happy about that and we appreciate everybody's vote. Three Republicans broke ranks with the White House, voting no because they had concerns

about Hegseth's personal life, including allegations of spousal abuse and heavy drinking. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was one of those who voted no. He said Hegseth failed to prove he could lead and manage the Pentagon. Faith community and elected leaders in El Paso, Texas are speaking out about the new Trump administration immigration policy. From Member Station KTEP, Angela Kucherga has more. The change in policy allows immigration enforcement officers to enter churches and schools to arrest people living in the U.S. without legal status. Those places were protected under a long longstanding policy dating back to 2011.

On the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Catholic Bishop Mark Seitz vowed to continue the church's mission amid growing fears some residents could face deportation. We will work to protect our families, to witness to human dignity, to defend our religious liberty, to oppose the shutting down of our borders and our hearts. Alpaso's county attorney says her office is ready to take legal action to support organizations fighting to protect residents' civil and constitutional rights. For NPR News, I'm Angela Cocheregan Alpaso.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken with his Chinese counterpart for the first time since taking office. Rubio, a longtime China hawk, has been sanctioned by the Chinese government for his work on human rights. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. In a call with China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, Secretary Rubio vowed to pursue a relationship that quote advances u.s. Interests and puts the american people first That's according to state department spokesperson tammy bruce her brief statement says that rubio raised concerns about what she calls China's coercive actions against taiwan and in the south china sea China's foreign ministry says wong ye told rubio quote I hope you know your place

and play a constructive role in building a peaceful and stable world. The Foreign Ministry says the US and China should find the right way to get along in a new era. Michelle Kelliman, NPR News, the State Department. And you're listening to NPR News. The State Department has ordered a wide rangingranging 90-day freeze on new foreign aid, making exceptions only for military aid to Egypt and Israel for emergency programs.

The order from the Secretary of State's office stops billions of dollars in aid that was designated for funding programs specifically for education, economic development, job training, and other programs. Israel's Supreme Court has again postponed a decision whether to allow journalists access to the Gaza Strip. Both Israel and foreign media have not been allowed independent access since the war began. NPR's Kat Lonsdorf has more from Tel Aviv. Kat Lonsdorf Israel's Foreign Press Association, of which

NPR is a member, filed the latest petition to lift the ban on outside media last September. The court gave the state of Israel a deadline to respond to that petition. The state has requested that deadline to be moved back five times. It's now set for early February. Early in the war the Supreme Court rejected another petition from the FPA citing security concerns. Outside journalists have only been allowed access to Gaza during the war on highly controlled embeds with the Israeli military. Throughout the war, reporting from Gaza has largely come from Palestinian journalists who were already inside when the war began.

Kat Lonsdorf, MPR News, Tel Aviv. Home ownership for many Americans is becoming increasingly difficult because of higher mortgage rates and home prices. New data from the National Association of Realtors released Friday shows that in 2024, sales of previously occupied homes fell to a 30-year low for the second consecutive year, about 4 million units. This is NPR News.

Support for NPR. President Trump is back in Washington, pursuing major policy changes on his own terms. We know from the past that means challenging precedent, busting norms, and pushing against the status quo. NPR is covering it all with Trump's Terms, a podcast where we curate stories about the 47th president with a focus on how he is upending the way Washington works.

Listen to Trump's Terms from NPR.