NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-28-2025 4PM EST

Episode Date: January 28, 2025

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This is Tanya Mosley, co-host of Fresh Air, and I just talked to Pamela Anderson about her big career comeback after years in the tabloids and not being taken seriously. She's entered a new era on stage and screen. Suzanne Summers had a great line. She said, you can't play a dumb blonde and be a dumb blonde. Find this interview with Pamela Anderson wherever you listen to Fresh Air. Live from NPR News in Washington. I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Trump White House is issuing a government-wide pause

on federal grants, loans, and other financial assistance programs effective in one hour. NPR's Frank Ordonez reports federal agencies, states, and other organizations are now scrambling to understand what it means for them. The temporary freeze could impact billions of dollars for research and education programs. But the White House insists this is not a funding freeze, but more of an opportunity to review financial assistance programs to ensure they're in line with the president's priorities. They're focused on ending programs like diversity initiatives, certain environmental programs, and the funding of non-government organizations that they see as a threat to

national security. The officials say after the review, any activity that doesn't conflict with the president's priorities will continue as before. But critics of the program say that this blatantly disobeys the laws because these grants have already been approved by Congress. Franco Ordonez, NPR News. Attorneys general from five states are pushing back against the Trump administration's funding freeze and a virtually held announcement today. New York's AG, Letitia James said the pause on federal funding is unconstitutional.

I am leading and joining with my colleagues, my fellow Democratic attorney generals, and suing this administration to stop this illegal freeze of essential funds for our state. We will not stand for any illegal policy that puts essential services for millions of Americans at risk. New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Illinois, and California are also part of the suit. President Trump says tech giant Microsoft is among the companies vying to take over TikTok. NPR's Bobby Allen reports a federal law requires a video sharing app to cut ties with China or face a nationwide shutdown. When asked if Microsoft is in contention to buy some of TikTok,

Trump said, quote, I would say yes. It follows NPR reporting that software company Oracle and Microsoft are working with the White House on a bid to take over the viral video app. Back in 2020, when Trump tried to ban TikTok, he tried to get Oracle and Microsoft to buy it. China rejected the deal. This time, however, it appears that Beijing regulators could be willing to accept a takeover.

Experts say China may be seeing a TikTok sale as a concession to Trump, which perhaps could be used to push for tariff relief. Bobbi Allen, NPR News. The White House held its first press briefing of President Trump's second term at the start of the event. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt announced the Trump White House would increase new media's presence in the press corps, saying more people get their news from social media influencers and other content creators. US stocks have ended the day higher with the Dow

closing up 136 points the Nasdaq closed up 391 points or more than 2%. This is NPR News. Blue Origin scrubbed this morning's launch of its new Shepard flight. On its website, the company, founded by billionaire businessman Jeff Bezos, discloses one reason was unfavorable weather. It says another was a problem with the booster's avionics. A new launch date has yet to be set. Blue Origin says the flight will simulate the moon's gravity and fly 30 payloads. Some doctors are prescribing some old-school medicine of social connection for patients struggling with loneliness, which the US Urgent General's office had warned has become a US epidemic. NPR's Katie Riddle

has details. Exercising together, eating well together, engaging in the arts, talking about emotions and feelings, these are some of the activities doctors are prescribing. Jerry Fusilier participated in one such program in Berkeley, California called Community as Medicine. And so I started watching, seeing all this stuff and I came to the point where I wanted to be involved, not just show up there and continue to be quiet. So gradually I would open up to people. Fusilier says it helped him turn his life around. Even though these programs are starting

to get traction, they're still rare. Katia Riddle, NPR News. This week, the Federal Reserve's holding its first meeting of the year. Investors are waiting to see the Fed's next move on interest rates. While the conference boards released its consumer confidence reading and it shows confidence edged down for a second straight month. The Dow closed up 136 points. S&P was up 55. The Nasdaq closed up 391 points.

It's NPR. On NPR.