NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-27-2025 6AM EST

Episode Date: January 27, 2025

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Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have outlined their plans to slash the federal workforce with the help of a team of quote small government crusaders. What's in store for federal workers and how are they planning for change? This January 1A's.gov series guides you through various government agencies and the people working for you. Listen to the 1A podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Kristen Wright. U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement is carrying out President Trump's plan to deport

people in the country without legal status. Stella Chavez from member station KERA reports 84 people were arrested in North Texas yesterday. An ICE spokesperson confirmed in an email that ICE and federal law enforcement partners arrested dozens of people in North Texas, including in Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington. Targeted operations also were conducted in Austin, according to NPR member station KUT. Other agencies involved in these operations include the FBI, ATF, DEA, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Governor Greg Abbott posted on X that Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and special agents were deployed to assist.

For NPR News, I'm Stella Chavez in Dallas. The White House says it's reached an agreement with the Colombian government to send deported migrants to the South American country. President Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro traded threats of steep tariffs Sunday after Bogota turned away two U.S. military flights of migrants from Colombia. In the Middle East, crowds of displaced Palestinians are returning to northern Gaza. Israeli forces are allowing people to return through an Israeli-held corridor, and Israel is releasing more Palestinian detainees.

As part of the ceasefire deal, Hamas has agreed to release six hostages this week. In Lebanon, the prime minister says a ceasefire there with Israel has been extended to February 18. The news came after Israeli forces fired on civilians and Lebanese army soldiers, killing 22 people and injuring 124 others. On the day, Israel was supposed to withdraw entirely from Lebanon. NPR's Emily Fang reports. The White House also says in a statement that it supports the extension of more than three

weeks. The 60-day ceasefire agreement was broghered last November between Israel and Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah. It was supposed to see Israel pull out entirely from border villages in Lebanon. But this week, Israel said Hezbollah. It was supposed to see Israel pull out entirely from border villages in Lebanon. But this week Israel said Hezbollah had not pulled its fighters out completely, so it was staying put. And Israel fired on Lebanese citizens who said they were trying to return to their homes. Israel's military said it fired warning shots and also detained people who it said posed a quote imminent threat. The Lebanese army accused Israel of violating Lebanese sovereignty and called on its citizens to exercise self-restraint. Emily Fang and PR News.

Rain is bringing some relief for firefighters in southern California still up against wildfires, but too much rain may cause flooding and trigger mudslides. Los Angeles Fire Captain Eric Smith. The rain can come down and not have the typical leaves to slow it down, so the impact on the ground itself is more intense. Reporter Firefighters are making progress on putting out those fires. The two largest are almost fully contained. This is NPR News in Washington. In the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo, government forces and their allies defending the city of Goma appear to have collapsed, and M23 rebels backed by Rwanda

are ready to take control. Emmett Livingstone reports. First, there was a sound of distant artillery strikes, then later heavy gunfire inside the city. Congolese forces defending the city of Goma in eastern Congo appear to have crumbled after days of intense combat. The M23 told Congolese soldiers they must hand over their arms to the UN peacekeeping force and present themselves at the city stadium at 3 a.m. local time.

Congolese officials haven't yet responded. Hundreds of European private military contractors working for Congo's army have cut a deal with the rebels, according to security sources, and are waiting to evacuate. Sporadic gunfire can still be heard in the city, but the provincial leadership has fled. Goma residents are expecting to wake up to new masters in the morning, while the wider region holds its breath for what's next. For NPR News, I'm Emmett Livingstone in Goma. Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This year marks 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz by the Soviet Army. An observance is being held at the site of the former death camp in Poland. Nazi German forces murdered more than one million people at Auschwitz during World War

II. Most were Jews killed in gas chambers. In all, more than six million Jewish people across Europe were murdered. Poland's president joined remaining Auschwitz survivors at today's ceremony, which comes during a time of rising anti-Semitism in Europe. I'm Kristin Wright and this is NPR News in Washington. Hey, it's Robin Hilton from NPR Music. Many years ago, I helped start the Tiny Desk Concert Series, and right now, NPR is looking for the next great, undiscovered musician to perform behind the famous desk.

Think you've got what it takes? Submit a video of you playing an original song to the Tiny Desk Contest by February 10th. Find out more and see the official rules at npr.org slash tiny desk contest.