NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-30-2025 12AM EST

Episode Date: January 30, 2025

NPR News: 01-30-2025 12AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Hey, it's Robin Hilton from NPR Music. Many years ago, I helped start the Tiny Desk Concert Series. Right now, NPR is looking for the next great undiscovered musician to perform behind the famous desk. Think you've got what it takes? Submit a video of you playing an original song to the Tiny Desk Contest by February 10th. Find out more and see the official rules at npr.org slash tiny desk contest.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. All flights have been grounded at Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport after two aircrafts collided in midair with one landing in the Potomac River. There are no immediate reports on casualties. NPR's Ayanna Archie has more. A regional American Airlines aircraft carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army Black Hawk helicopter

carrying three soldiers as it tried to land Wednesday night. Video footage from the Kennedy Center showed the aircrafts colliding at a low altitude, followed by an explosion. The airspace around Reagan Airport can be complicated to navigate due to flight restrictions above government buildings, as well as an abundance of police and military aircrafts. President Trump said he has been briefed on the incident and his monitoring updates.

American Airlines said, quote, our concern is for the passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are in contact with authorities and assisting with emergency response efforts. Ayanna Archie, NPR News. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced more than three hours of questioning on Wednesday during his confirmation hearing to become President Trump's health secretary. Democratic Senator Zerodan on Kennedy's views on vaccines, as NPR's Will Stone reports. Kennedy was frequently on the defense as senators brought up his past statements.

They quoted Kennedy's claim that no vaccine is safe and effective, noted he'd petition the government to have the COVID vaccines revoked, and founded a prominent anti-vaccine group. Kennedy repeatedly denied he was anti-vaccine, saying vaccines play a critical role in health care, but Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire wasn't convinced. There is no reason that any of us should believe that you have reversed the anti-vaccine views that you have promoted. Republicans largely brushed off these concerns, saying Kennedy's position was clear, and praised

him for bringing more attention to chronic diseases. Will Stone, NPR News. President Trump keeps insisting that the United States needs to buy Greenland, a territory of Denmark. Even if the island were for sale, NPR's Lauren Freire reports that Trump could face a competing claim from a U.S. ally. In 1917, when the U.S. signed a treaty recognizing Denmark's claim to Greenland, Britain was involved too.

Because Canada, Greenland's closest neighbor, was British back then. Tom Hoyam is a former Danish official and Greenland expert who says Britain made its own claim during those treaty talks. That if Denmark ever sold Greenland... Then United Kingdom had the first right to buy it or to be consulted. Any British right of first refusal is not in the 1917 treaty. And the UK government tells NPR it has no plans to exercise it. But technically, if Trump wants to buy Greenland, he might have to ask Britain first. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London.

On Wall Street, stocks closed lower, the Dow fell 136 points, the Nasdaq dropped 101. This is NPR. President Trump has signed an executive order that restricts gender-affirming care for people under the age of 19. The order directs federally run insurance programs to deny coverage for puberty blockers, hormones, and gender-related surgical procedures for minors. The Smithsonian Institution is closing its diversity office and freezing all federal hires. As NPR's Netta Ulubi reports, that decision will affect dozens of museums, research centers, and libraries in the U.S. Nat. The Smithsonian is not a traditional government agency, but much of its billion-dollar

budget comes from federal appropriations. The move to eliminate its Office of Diversity comes in the wake of an executive order from President Trump that describes DEI initiatives as quote, illegal and immoral. A Smithsonian spokesperson told NPR in an email that although the institution is closing this office, it will be quote, retaining our efforts at visitor accessibility. Right now, almost all Smithsonian museums are entirely free to visitors. Currently, the Smithsonian Institution employs about 6,500 people. Neda Ulibi, NPR News. Neda Ulibi, NPR News. Israeli military and medical personnel are gathered at different

locations awaiting the return of more hostages on Thursday. Hamas is set to free eight more captives, including three Israelis. And Israel is set to free eight more captives, including three Israelis. And Israel is set to release another 110 Palestinian prisoners under the third exchange since the start of a phased and ceasefire agreement to end the war in Gaza. U.S. futures are higher in after hours trading on Wall Street. Asia-Pacific markets are mostly higher. This is NPR News. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies Sending or spending money abroad hidden fees may be taking a cut with wise You can convert between up to 40 currencies at the mid-market exchange rate visit wise.com

TNC supply