Asma Khalid

You can sign up for NPR Plus today at plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org. Now, on to the news. President Biden is using his presidential authority to commute the sentences of dozens of men on federal death row. With just a few weeks left in office, what's behind the president's decision? I'm Asma Khalid, and this is Up First from NPR News.

For those living with long COVID, it can come with extreme fatigue, brain fog and heart problems.

For those living with long COVID, it can come with extreme fatigue, brain fog and heart problems.

For those living with long COVID, it can come with extreme fatigue, brain fog and heart problems.

Will new investment in research bring patients suffering with these symptoms any closer to reliable treatments? And a number of cultural heritage sites in Lebanon were damaged during the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Will they be rebuilt? Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

Will new investment in research bring patients suffering with these symptoms any closer to reliable treatments? And a number of cultural heritage sites in Lebanon were damaged during the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Will they be rebuilt? Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

Will new investment in research bring patients suffering with these symptoms any closer to reliable treatments? And a number of cultural heritage sites in Lebanon were damaged during the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Will they be rebuilt? Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.

Today, President Biden is using his clemency powers to commute the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row. The 37 individuals who are all men will now serve life in prison without parole. It's one of the most significant moves against capital punishment in recent presidential history. And here to talk through the news is NPR White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram.

Today, President Biden is using his clemency powers to commute the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row. The 37 individuals who are all men will now serve life in prison without parole. It's one of the most significant moves against capital punishment in recent presidential history. And here to talk through the news is NPR White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram.

Today, President Biden is using his clemency powers to commute the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row. The 37 individuals who are all men will now serve life in prison without parole. It's one of the most significant moves against capital punishment in recent presidential history. And here to talk through the news is NPR White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram.

Good morning, Deepa. Hey, good morning. So what has President Biden said about this decision?

Good morning, Deepa. Hey, good morning. So what has President Biden said about this decision?

Good morning, Deepa. Hey, good morning. So what has President Biden said about this decision?

Deepa, I think this is all really interesting because I recall covering President Biden's campaign and back during that 2020 presidential election cycle, he said that he opposed the death penalty, but he has not taken a whole lot of action as president on this issue until now. How much pressure was he facing to do this?

Deepa, I think this is all really interesting because I recall covering President Biden's campaign and back during that 2020 presidential election cycle, he said that he opposed the death penalty, but he has not taken a whole lot of action as president on this issue until now. How much pressure was he facing to do this?

Deepa, I think this is all really interesting because I recall covering President Biden's campaign and back during that 2020 presidential election cycle, he said that he opposed the death penalty, but he has not taken a whole lot of action as president on this issue until now. How much pressure was he facing to do this?

Just briefly here, how much of Biden's decision was also impacted by how the incoming Trump administration might handle federal executions?

Just briefly here, how much of Biden's decision was also impacted by how the incoming Trump administration might handle federal executions?

Just briefly here, how much of Biden's decision was also impacted by how the incoming Trump administration might handle federal executions?

Thanks so much. Thanks for having me. The National Institutes of Health recently announced it's investing $300 million to research treatments for long COVID. In total, the agency has directed $1.8 billion towards studying the virus and its after effects, which is associated with extreme fatigue, brain fog and heart problems.