NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-30-2025 5AM EST

Episode Date: January 30, 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.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. Search and rescue efforts are continuing in the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., after last night's collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. The aircraft collided as the plane was attempting to land at Reagan National Airport. Officials say there were 64 people aboard the plane and

three soldiers aboard the helicopter. NPR's Jennifer Ludden says authorities are not commenting on possible fatalities or survivors. The chief of DC fire in EMS said there are 300 responders from across the region, including divers in the Potomac River, and that they are working in extremely rough conditions. He said they're in about eight feet of water. It is cold water. There are chunks of ice, he said, and it's windy.

He expects the rescue operations to continue for days. Officials said they had no information when asked whether there had been any survivors so far, but several, including the mayor of D.C. and senators from Kansas, talked about their profound sorrow for the families who have lost loved ones. That's NPR's Jennifer Ludden reporting. Flight 5342 originated in Wichita, Kansas and was operated by PSA Airlines. The helicopter was on a training mission. U.S. Figure Skating has issued a statement saying several members of the

skating community were aboard that plane. The president of Egypt says he wants to work with President Trump on a two-state solution for Palestinians, but the Egyptian leader also says he won't tolerate the forced expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza. As NPR's Aya Batraoui reports, his comments were in response to Trump saying he wants Gaza's population resettled to countries such as Egypt. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said displacing Palestinians would destabilize the entire region and warned Egyptians could be called upon to take to the streets to make clear

they will not participate in this injustice. El-Sisi spoke from the presidential palace in Cairo after Trump, twice this week, said the Gaza Strip now lies in ruins after Israel's war against Hamas and should be cleared out with Palestinians relocated outside. Hardline ministers and lawmakers in Israel support the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza to build Jewish settlements in their place though this is not Israel's official stated policy. Ayah Batraoui, MPH news. Former Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. The longtime Democratic lawmaker was found guilty on 16 federal charges of accepting bribes that prosecutors say has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. The longtime Democratic lawmaker was found guilty

on 16 federal charges of accepting bribes that prosecutors say were linked to Egypt and Qatar. Two businessmen associated with Menendez were also sentenced. Outside the courthouse in New York yesterday, Menendez maintained his innocence. This is NPR News. President Trump's nominee to lead the FBI, Cash Patel, This is NPR News.

President Trump's nominee to lead the FBI, Cash Patel, and his choice to be Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard are scheduled to appear on Capitol Hill today for their Senate confirmation hearings. Health Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be back on the Hill for a second day of hearings. MEDA and its chief executive Mark Zuckerberg have agreed to pay President Trump $25 million. That's to settle a lawsuit brought by Trump in 2021.

As NPR's Bobby Allen reports, Trump sued after he was blocked on Facebook and Instagram following the January 6th attack at the U.S. Capitol. Meta and Zuckerberg agreed to the $25 million payout to Trump after years of fighting the litigation. In his suit, Trump claimed his First Amendment rights were violated when he was booted from Facebook and Instagram. Since, Trump argued, Metta was acting at the behest of lawmakers

who wanted Trump removed. But Metta said it pushed Trump off its platforms for violating policies for inciting violence. The settlement is the latest example of Zuckerberg yielding to Trump after years of hostilities. Zuckerberg ended a fact-checking program criticized by Trump supporters and appointed Trump ally Dana White to Metta's board. Before he was elected, Trump wrote if Zuckerberg crossed him, he could be thrown in prison for the rest of his life.

Bobby Allen, NPR News. The Federal Reserve is leaving interest rates alone following three rate cuts in the final months of last year. Fed Chair Jerome Powell says inflation in the US economy remains somewhat elevated. Wall Street futures are higher this morning. Dow futures are up 160 points. I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington.

President Trump isly in Washington.