NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-29-2025 3AM EST

Episode Date: January 29, 2025

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Okay, so does this sound like you? You love NPR's podcasts, you wish you could get more of all your favorite shows, and you want to support NPR's mission to create a more informed public. If all that sounds appealing, then it is time to sign up for the NPR Plus bundle. Learn more at plus.npr dot org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens. A federal judge has temporarily halted President Trump's freeze on federal grants and loans until Monday. The decision prompted pushback from White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, who says that the aim is to eliminate programs that the administration deems wasteful.

The American people voted for dramatic change implemented by Donald Trump. So it is essential for him to get control of government, to establish a whole of government process for Donald Trump's political appointees to review discretionary grants of spending for pet projects that are not directed by Congress. So these are pots of money where Congress hasn't said how to spend it or where to spend it. Nearly two dozen state attorneys general argued that some of the money is already earmarked for programs that aid working families, the disabled and others. At her first briefing, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt announced that she was planning

to shake things up. As NPR's Tamara Keith reports, Levitt is the youngest person ever to hold the job. Every inch of the famous press briefing room was packed as Levitt took the podium, including two seats traditionally reserved for staff at the front of the room. Levitt said the White House would be inviting what she called new media voices to sit there. We welcome independent journalists, podcasters, social media influencers, and content creators to apply for credentials to cover this White House. Levitt cited Trump's success campaigning via podcast appearances and a recent Gallup

survey showing the continued decline in public trust for traditional outlets. Tamara Keith, NPR News, The White House. Former New Jersey U.S. Senator Bob Menendez is scheduled to be sentenced today for his conviction on 16 counts of bribery and acting as a foreign agent to Egypt and Qatar. Prosecutors say they're seeking a punishment of 15 years behind bars. The Federal Reserve Board is expected to hold interest rates steady this afternoon when policymakers wrap up their first meeting of the new year. NPR's Scott Horsley reports that even though inflation has cooled considerably, prices

are still climbing faster than the central bank would like. The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates at its last three meetings, but Fed policymakers now seem ready to take a breather and see how the economy responds. Inflation was still running at an annual rate of 2.9 percent last month. That's higher than the Fed would like. And the job market has proven to be remarkably resilient. So the central bank feels little pressure to give it a boost by cutting rates further. President Trump has said he wants to see lower interest rates, but Trump's own policy proposals,

such as tariffs and mass deportation, could have the effect of fueling inflation. That gives the central bank another reason to take its time. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. U.S. futures are flat in after-hours trading on Wall Street. This is NPR News. A U.S. Air Force pilot safely ejected from a single-seat F-35 fighter jet on Tuesday shortly before it crashed in Alaska. The aircraft failed during a training exercise at Isle Sun Air Base, located about 25 miles south of Fairbanks. It was the third F-35 crash in less than two years.

The cause is under investigation. Brazil's government says it will set up an outpost to receive deportees from the United States and negotiate what it calls dignified conditions of travel. From Rio de Janeiro, Julia Canaro reports on Brazil's response to President Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. Brazil's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, says deportations of Brazilians from the U.S. have to meet minimum requirements of dignity and respect of human rights.

Mr. Vieira said this would be discussed with U.S. authorities. Last Friday, deportees reported mistreatment on a flight from the U.S. to Brazil. The plane's air conditioning broke and passengers remained handcuffed even after landing, which the government called unacceptable. Despite tensions raised by the episode, Brazil does not want its relations with the U.S. to sour and seeks to negotiate, avoiding the diplomatic spat faced by Colombia. For NPR News, I'm Julia Carneiro in Rio. Dozens of people have been injured and stampeded at a festival in India.

It's unclear what caused the crowd to rush toward a river in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Authorities expect fronds to take part in the weeks-long holy bath event. This is NPR News.