NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-25-2025 5AM EST

Episode Date: January 25, 2025

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It's a new year, and according to Pew, 79% of resolutions are about one thing, health. But there are so many fads around how to keep ourselves healthy. On It's Been A Minute, I'm helping you understand why some of today's biggest wellness trends are, well, trending. Like why is there protein in everything? Join me as we uncover what's healthy and what's not on the It's Been A Minute podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder.

Israel says four female Israeli soldiers who have been held hostage in Gaza since the October 7th attack are now in the custody of the Israeli military and have crossed back into Israel. The four were handed over to the Red Cross today in a crowded square in Gaza City where armed mass men were gathered. A hand over part of the ceasefire deal that has paused 15 months of war in Gaza. Israel is now expected to release a large group of Palestinian prisoners. President Trump's embattled nominee for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been approved by the Senate by the narrowest of margins. Hegseth needed Vice President J.D. Vance to break a 50-50 tie in a vote on his nomination late

last night. Hegseth was dogged by doubts about his qualifications, as well as allegations of sexual misconduct, public drunkenness, and financial mismanagement, a two veterans' non-profits, and Pierce Tom Bowman has more. Three Republicans, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky voted against him citing his alleged misconduct and his lack of experience. Hegseth is an Army National Guard combat veteran and former Fox News host but he calls himself someone with dust on his boots who will be a change agent at the Pentagon, a place he claims has focused on woke politics and diversity at the expense of warfighting.

Hegseth has changed his long-held stance against women in ground combat, saying women can serve in those roles as long as they meet the standards. But he says the fitness requirements are lower for women and has vowed a review. Tom Bowman, NPR News. Senator McConnell issued a statement after the vote saying the desire to be a change agent is not enough to fill the defense secretary's shoes. He said Hexeth failed to demonstrate that he has the ability to manage an organization as large and complex as the U.S. military. Faith Community and elected leaders in El Paso, Texas,

speaking out about the Trump administration's new immigration policy. From Member Station KTEP, Angela Kachirka 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-standing 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. El Paso'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 Kuchergen El Paso. This is NPR News. President Trump is planning to hold a rally today in Las Vegas. He's expected to outline his plan to make tips free of federal tax. Yesterday, Trump toured disaster zones in North Carolina and California, saying he is

considering getting rid of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, that he prefers that states be given federal money to handle disasters themselves. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell defending the agency but says there's always room for improvement. Deanne Criswell, FEMA Thiessen The Minnesota Supreme Court has tossed the question of who controls the state house back to the state's legislative branch. Democrats have been boycotting the opening weeks of the session from Minnesota Public Radio Clay Masters' reports. Aaron Ross The order is a partial win for Democrats because justices on Minnesota's high court agreed with the Democratic secretary of state and the party's leaders in the House over what constitutes a quorum.

That's 68 members out of the chamber's 134 seats, just over 50% of the entire chamber. Justices declined to go further and order a specific resolution to the impasse that's kept the Minnesota House in limbo for the last two weeks. In November, voters elected a split House of Representatives with 67 Democrats and 67 Republicans. But a judge ordered one Democrat could not take his seat because he did not properly live in the district he planned to represent. Republicans have been holding floor sessions and committees without Democrats present. For NPR News, I'm Clay Masters in St. Paul. And this is NPR News.