NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-26-2025 6PM EST

Episode Date: January 26, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Hurst. President Trump is taking retaliatory action against Colombia, a U.S. ally, after the country refused to allow two military deportation planes from the U.S. to land. And now Colombia's president, Gustavo Petro, says he will respond in kind with tariffs on U.S. goods. And here's Elena Moore reports. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the Colombian leader's decision has, quote, jeopardized the national security and public safety of the United States. He laid out a handful of measures, including a 25% tariff on Colombian goods

that would rise to 50% the following week. The move, Trump says, would also enact a travel ban and revoke visas for Colombian government officials, as well as impose additional financial sanctions and ramp up inspections of Colombian citizens and cargo at the border. These measures, Trump says, are just the beginning. The Colombian government has put out another statement saying they would provide a presidential plane for migrants. Elena Moore, NPR News, Washington. And President Trump took office less than a week ago, and his slew of executive actions, pardons, and threats of tariffs and sanctions are making waves. Late Friday night, he fired the independent inspector's general at 12 major federal agencies.

And Piers Mara-Lyson reports on his latest attempt to remake the federal government. Inspectors general play a critical role in assuring the lawful and efficient operations of government. They're responsible for identifying fraud, waste, and abuse in government agencies. But Trump has promised to reshape the federal government, not just slashing costs and regulations, but also by establishing the Department of Government Efficiency to, quote, dismantle government bureaucracy. Firing the nonpartisan inspectors general will be challenged in court. Congress requires 30 days notice of the intent to fire an IG and specifies that the president must

inform lawmakers of the, quote, substantive substantive rationale including detailed and case specific reasons for the action. Mara Liason, NPR News. Rain has arrived in Southern California. Welcome after the devastating wildfires in and around Los Angeles destroyed thousands of homes and left at least 28 people dead. But there are concerns about flooding and mudslides in the burn scarred landscape. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the burned areas. This says crews still work on fires, including the Border 2 fire. This burned more than 6,600 acres of wilderness in San Diego County. Thousands near the fire have been evacuated. CAL FIRE says it's 10% contained. The NFL Conference Championships games are on today. Right now, the Washington commanders are playing the Philadelphia Eagles, the score at last check, 48-23, Eagles. Tonight,

the Kansas City Chiefs play the Buffalo Bills in the AFC. This is NPR News. In South Korea, prosecutors today indicted impeached President Yun Sang-yeol on rebellion, this in connection with his short-lived imposition of martial law. It's a criminal charge that could lead to the death penalty or life in prison if convicted. Yun is the country's first president to be indicted while in office. He will remain jailed through the trial, which is expected to last around six months. And separate from criminal judicial proceedings, the Constitutional Court is now deliberating whether to formally dismiss him as president or reinstate him.

Two athletes completing at the X Games in Aspen this weekend both landed a 23-40 for the first time in history. As NPR's Joe Hernandez reports, the record-setting tricks happened during snowboarding and skiing events. To complete a 23-40, athletes have to rotate six and a half times in midair and then land,

which is exactly what happened at the X Games, twice. First, it was 19-year-old Japanese snowboarder Hiroto Ogiwara, who landed the trick on Friday. He said afterward that he had never been that happy and that it felt like it took every ounce of energy he had. Then, one day later, 20-year-old Italian skier Miro Tabinelli became the first person to pull off the move during a ski competition. Both Ogiwara and Tabinelli won gold in their respective events. Joe Hernandez, NPR News.

JANENE HERPST U.S. Futures contracts are lower at this hour ahead of a key earnings week coming up. I'm Janene Herpst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.