NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-25-2025 6AM 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. Hamas has handed over four female Israeli soldiers who'd been held captive for more than 15 months in Gaza. As part of the ceasefire deal, Israel will release some 200 Palestinian prisoners and detainees later today. NPR's Greg Myrie has more from Tel Aviv. Hamas presented the four Israeli women, dressed in olive military uniforms, to the Red Cross in a brief ceremony in the center of Gaza City.

Hamas fighters with assault rifles, black masks, and their signature green headbands stood in line next to a stage. The orderly event was in sharp contrast to the chaos of the first such handover last Sunday when three Israeli civilian women were released amidst an unruly crowd. As part of the exchange, Israel is freeing around 200 Palestinians. They include dozens convicted of serious crimes, including killings, who will be deported to a number of countries in the region. Greg Myrie, NPR News, Tel Aviv. President Trump's embattled nominee for defense secretary Pete Hegseth won

Senate confirmation last night, but only after Vice President J.D. Vance stepped in to break a 50-50 tie. Alright, are there any senators in the chamber who wish to vote or change a vote? If not, on this vote the yeas are 50 and the nays are 50. The Senate being equally divided, the vice president votes in the affirmative and the nomination is confirmed. Hegseth is the second cabinet secretary ever confirmed in a tie break vote. The first was also a Trump nominee, Betsy DeVos, who became Education Secretary in 2017. Three Republicans joined Democrats in voting no on Hegseth,

the former Fox News host and veteran whose nomination was dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct and heavy drinking. President Trump visited North Carolina Friday, where he spoke about wanting to overhaul or even possibly get rid of FEMA. Then he traveled to Southern California to assess the damage from recent wildfires. Here's NPR's Osmocall. NPR News 3.5 News 3.5 News 3.5

News 3.5 News 3.5 News 3.5 News 3.5 News 3.5 News 3.5 News 3.5 News 3.5 News 3.5 News 3.5 News 3.5 But when he landed, Democratic Governor of California Gavin Newsom met Trump on the tarmac, and for a few minutes they put politics aside and spoke of cooperation. Trump toured the damage in

the Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacific Palisades and said the area would have the support of the federal government. At the same time, he criticized the local water management system and spoke about an executive order to allow more water from the northern part of the state to Southern California. Experts say, though, fighting fires is not related to that issue. Asma Khalid, NPR News. President Trump is planning to hold a rally in Las Vegas today. He's expected to outline his plan to get rid of federal taxes on tips. This is NPR News. The State Department has issued an expansion on President Trump's executive action to

freeze foreign assistance for 90 days. A memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday orders a pause in foreign aid. It makes exceptions for military aid to Israel and Egypt and emergency food programs. The memo includes a stop work order for any existing contracts or grants for humanitarian and development projects. The Supreme Court has agreed to take on a case that tests the separation of church and state.

The justices have agreed to review an Oklahoma Supreme Court decision that blocked the nation's first taxpayer-funded religious charter school. A pair of giant pandas from China made their long-awaited debut at Washington, D.C.'s National Zoo on Friday. Bao Li and Qing Bao are on loan from China for the next decade, as NPR's Rachel Triesman reports. For nearly a century, China has sent bears to zoos around the world in a practice known as panda diplomacy. The U.S. welcomed its first pandas to the National Zoo in 1972 and has housed several others on long-term loans in the decades since.

D.C. was without pandas for almost a year until Bao Li and Ching Bao arrived in October 2024. After months of preparation, their exhibit and the popular online panda cam are now on full display. Rachel Triesman, NPR News. There's been an upset at the Australian Open Tennis Tournament. American Madison Keys dethroned defending champion Irina Sobolinka in the women's final, winning her first ever Grand Slam Championship two sets to three. I'm Trial Snyder. This is NPR News.