Wednesday morning news: January 22, 2025

TRUMP: Hello everybody 

Trump Stargate » President Trump welcomed reporters in the Roosevelt Room of White House on Tuesday

TRUMP: Nice to see you. Some very familiar faces.

And on his first full day in office, Trump announced what he called “the largest [artificial intelligence] infrastructure project in history.” He said three major players in the technology space would work together in a joint venture …

TRUMP: Stargate, a new American company that will invest $500 billion dollars, at least, in AI infrastructure in the United States.

At the front of the room, Trump was flanked by top execs from the companies forming that joint venture Oracle, OpenAI, and Softbank.

Stargate will begin building out data centers in Texas, along with the electricity generation needed for the further development of AI.

Trump hosts GOP lawmakers at White House » The president also welcomed Republican lawmakers to the White House to play referee in something of a friendly sparring session over how to deliver on the Trump agenda.

Republicans in Congress have not seen eye to eye on strategy, specifically on whether to package his priority in one large bill or two separate bills.

GOP Congresswoman Lisa McClain:

MCCLAIN: I think the Republicans have been known to have spirited debate doesn't mean disloyalty. Debate means we talk about issues to get to a better place.

After the meeting, House leaders seemed satisfied GOP leaders in both chambers had settled on the one-bill approach.

The means Republicans would work to shape one bill that would renew Trump’s 2017 tax cut alongside measures tied to border security, energy, and defense.

Their goal would be to get that passed by Memorial Day.

Trump immigration reactions » President Trump is getting some pushback from humanitarian aid groups about an immigration-related executive order he signed this week. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: Amid the stack of executive orders Trump signed this week … was an order pausing the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program … for at least 90 days.

That will give his administration time to evaluate it.

The program has long served as a legal pathway for individuals to seek safety in the US.

And several nonprofit groups are urging Trump to protect it.

Those include the Christian humanitarian organization World Relief. The group notes that persecuted Christians often benefit from the program.

World Relief says in recent months, it has resettled thousands of refugees with the help of local churches.

And it released a letter signed by more than 20 Christian leaders urging Trump to support the program.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Legal challenges to Trump executive orders » The president is also facing legal challenges to other executive orders including one that seeks to reinterpret birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment.

Trump's order states that a child born to a mother in the country illegally is not automatically considered a US citizen.

Twenty-two states and some non-governmental groups are suing to strike down that order. New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin:

PLATKIN:  Presidents in this country have broad powers, but they are not kings. We all know this. They are not kings. They do not have the power to unilaterally rewrite the constitution. They do not have the power to unilaterally disregard our laws.

Other lawsuits challenge Trump’s order temporarily halting enforcement of a US law banning TikTok until or unless it’s sold.

And several other suits target the creation of a private "Department of Government Efficiency” to operate outside of government to help find ways to cut Washington overspending.

California wildfires » Fire crews in Southern California are welcoming a calmer weather forecast today after wind gusts on Tuesday of up to 100 miles per hour in some parts of the Los Angeles area.

But they were able to avoid any significant worsening of wildfires.

But LA City Councilmember Traci Park says there's another threat on the horizon:

PARK: I normally pray for rain. God knows we generally need it. But right now, let me point out the obvious...Adding water to this mess and saturated unstable hillsides is the last thing we need.

That's because of the possibility of dangerous mudslides.

One resident who returned to check on her home? Former Vice President Kamala Harris.

HARRIS: We are some of the lucky ones. Our home is still standing.

Harris and former President Joe Biden visited the region on Monday night after President Trump's inauguration.

Winter weather » Meanwhile, along the Gulf Coast, a winter front is covering much of the south with a rare blanket of snow.

One New Orleans resident said Tuesday:

RESIDENT:  I just had to get out and experience it because we don't ever get snows like this. Hardly ever. And it's just so beautiful. And the dogs, the dogs wanted to get out here and play in it. It makes you feel like a kid again.

But it’s not all fun and games. The winter weather has shut down highways in the area and grounded nearly all flights. Houston Mayor John Whitmire:

WHITMIRE: We think maybe the freezing temperatures will never get above freezing until probably thursday. This is a serious arctic blast. It's dangerous.

The storm has prompted the first ever blizzard warnings for several coastal counties near the Texas-Louisiana border.

Winter weather is slamming much of the eastern United States right now. Residents around Boston are digging out from about 5 inches of snow.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: the president has been busy, signing more than 40 executive orders on day one. Plus, remembering the last great German offensive of World War II.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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