NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-29-2025 9AM EST

Episode Date: January 29, 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 Kristen Wright. The future of the Trump administration's suspension

of federal spending for grants and other financial assistance programs is uncertain. A federal judge paused the freeze. NPR's Deidre Walsh reports Republican lawmakers holding a retreat at one of Trump's Florida resorts are largely backing the order. House Speaker Mike Johnson argued that the president's action was appropriate for a new administration and would be quick and harmless.

I think this is something that the American people will approve of. I think they want us to be good stewards of the precious treasure of the American taxpayer. But Nebraska Republican Don Bacon said the administration would have been wise to notify Congress. He said his constituents worried about the impact on programs relying on federal aid. While GOP lawmakers did acknowledge confusion about the details of which programs were covered and said they needed clarification, most did not publicly criticize the Trump administration's order. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the spending pause until Monday, February 3rd. Deidre Walsh, NPR News, Daral, Florida.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is slated to begin his confirmation process before a Senate committee today. NPR's Will Stone says he'll face tough questioning about his qualifications to serve as health secretary. Kennedy is an environmental lawyer descended from a political dynasty who spent years leading a prominent anti-vaccine advocacy group. He's emerged as one of the most recognizable and controversial figures in the Trump administration's

proposed cabinet. Many in the medical field warn his views are dangerous for public health. He's pushed false ideas about a link between vaccines and autism and made other inaccurate claims about their safety and infectious diseases more broadly. His supporters have embraced his pledge to disrupt the medical establishment and reverse the chronic disease epidemic. As secretary, Kennedy would wield enormous influence, overseeing agencies that steer biomedical research, pharmaceuticals, health policy, and insurance coverage for more than 100 million Americans.

Will Stone, NPR News. The nation's report card has been released. It's an important snapshot of how fourth and eighth graders are doing, nearly five years after pandemic school closings. NPR's Cory Turner says it's not the report card many hope to see. A lot of not so good news because even in fourth grade math kids still aren't back to the scores we saw before the pandemic. In fact when you break the data down in only one state, Alabama, our fourth graders doing better in math than fourth graders were doing before the pandemic.

One state. And in eighth grade, there's a really worrying achievement gap that's been widening between top and lower performer. Fourth graders did do better in math than in 2022, educators hope, ending a pandemic slide. This is NPR News. New recommendations from a coalition of health and nutrition organizations say kids and teens

should mostly stick to water and plain milk and avoid drinks with added sugar. NPR's Maria Godoy has more. The recommendations come amid a proliferation of new drinks marketed to teens, including energy drinks and blended coffees. Here's Megan Lott of Healthy Eating Research, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which led the coalition behind the new guidelines. New research has shown us that even small amounts of caffeine can cause delayed sleep onset, increased amounts of depressive moods and anxiety, and other mental health issues that are really problematic for young teens.

The guidelines also call for kids and teens to limit their intake of plant-based milks because the panel concluded they don't offer the same nutrition as cow's milk. Maria Godoy, NPR News. East African leaders are holding an emergency meeting to discuss the worsening security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. OPR News. JLM NARANGESHANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANANAN an the largest city. The U.S. Embassy is advising Americans to leave after protesters attacked embassies in the capital, Kinshasa. It is the Lunar New Year. To celebrate the Spring Festival, millions of people across Asia and other parts of the world are ushering in the Year of the Snake, a time for renewal and new beginnings. I'm Kristin Wright and this is NPR.

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