NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-25-2025 4AM EST

Episode Date: January 25, 2025

NPR News: 01-25-2025 4AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. President Donald Trump has seen the destruction from the recent wildfires firsthand in Los Angeles at the scene of some of the worst damage. Steve Futterman reports. The president saw the damage from the air and on the ground. He met with some who lost their homes. I don't think you can realize how how rough it is, how devastating it is until you see it. Afterwards Trump told state and local

officials the federal government is standing behind them 100 percent. Hours earlier in North Carolina Trump seemed to set conditions on federal aid being given to California but he did not repeat that sentiment during his visit to the LA area. Democratic Congresswoman Judy Chu came away hopeful. And he said, California will get what it needs. Trump said he does not want long delays in rebuilding, promising to waive federal permits. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Pacific Palisades, California.

The Trump administration is giving immigration authorities new and broad powers to quickly expel migrants who were temporarily admitted to the country by the Biden administration. More than a million migrants were admitted to the U.S. under two Biden-era programs, despite objections from some critics who felt those programs were illegal.

NPR's Joel Rose explains. Was signed last night by acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman. And it appears to give immigration authorities permission to begin removing migrants who are admitted to the country under two Biden era programs. That is the CBP One app, which allowed migrants to schedule appointments at ports of entry

to begin their asylum claims. And the other is a separate program for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. It is not immediately clear what will happen to the more than 1.4 million people already admitted to the U.S. by these programs. A woman from Washington state has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a Border Patrol agent in Vermont. From North Country Public Radio, Emily Russell has the story. Border Patrol agents pulled over 21-year-old Theresa Youngblood

in Vermont on Monday afternoon. According to court documents, there was also a passenger in the car who was a German citizen. Federal prosecutors alleged that Youngblood shot one of the agents without warning. Agent David Chris Maylund also fired off his service weapon. He and the German man were killed during the shootout. Youngblood was injured and taken to a nearby hospital. She's been charged with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer.

Investigators had been surveilling Youngblood and the German man for nearly a week. After Monday's shooting, agents found tactical gear and dozens of rounds of ammunition in their car. For NPR News, I'm Emily Russell. All three indexes on Wall Street closed the day down, but for the week, stocks were up. You're listening to NPR News. In a 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 the tie, Vice President J.D. Vance, as President of the Senate, cast a yes vote to put Hegseth over the top. Three Republicans, former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, along with Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins voted no.

They broke ranks with the White House because of concerns they said they had about Hegseth's personal life including allegations of spousal abuse and heavy drinking. The Trump administration has revoked the federal protection for Dr. Anthony Fauci who helped lead the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. NPR's Rob Stein has more. Dr. Fauci has been guarded because of threats he's been getting because of the pandemic. Fauci was considered a hero by many from his role fighting COVID-19, but the National Institutes of Health scientists was vilified by some due to conflicting advice about masks, vaccine mandates, and

the origins of the virus. During a visit to North Carolina, President Trump said Fauci and other former federal officials whose protection has been canceled can afford to pay for their own security. A source close to the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, says Fauci, who is now retired, has hired private guards Rob Stein NPR News hurricane force winds and heavy rains Friday battered parts of the northern United Kingland Ireland and Scotland leaving more than a million without power this is NPR support for NPR