NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-30-2025 8AM EST

Episode Date: January 30, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Herbst. More than two dozen people have died after an American Airlines passenger jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter as the plane was landing at Reagan National Airport last night, sending both aircraft into the Potomac River. John Donnelly is chief of Washington DC Fire and EMS and he says it's a recovery mission now. At this point we don't have any survivors from this accident and we have recovered 27 people from the plane and one from the helicopter. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says they have located both aircraft. The plane was inverted. It's been located in three different sections. It's in about waist-deep water.

So that recovery is going to go on today. Americans says there were 64 people on the plane that was traveling from Wichita, Kansas to D.C., including several members of the U.S. figure skating community. There were three soldiers on board the military helicopter that was on a training mission. It's among the worst U.S US air disasters in around 15 years. Cash Patel, President Trump's pick to run the FBI, will testify on Capitol Hill today

before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He's a longtime Trump ally and former prosecutor, but he also has had a contentious relationship with the law enforcement agency he may run. And Piers Elena Moore reports. Like all of the president's administration picks, Patel is a known Trump loyalist. He worked in Trump's first administration, serving on his national security council and then at the Pentagon. He's also been critical of the Department of Justice and the FBI's work. During a podcast interview last fall, Patel said if he were in charge, he would close the FBI headquarters and make it a museum to the deep state. Despite a professional

record that isn't typical for the job, Senate Republicans seem to be largely standing by Patel. Confirmations are by a simple majority. Trump's nominees can afford to lose up to three GOP votes. Elena Moore, NPR News, Washington. Three more Israelis have been released by Hamas, along with five Thai hostages. In exchange, Palestinian prisoners and detainees will be freed from Israeli jails. NPR's Kat Lonsdorf reports. The final female Israeli soldier held in Gaza was paraded on a stage by mass Hamas gunmen before being handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The handoff happened

in the northern city of Jabalia, the center of intense fighting and Israeli bombardment just weeks ago. Two other Israeli hostages, civilians, were handed over by Islamic Jihad, a smaller militant group in Gaza, in the southern city of Hanunis, in a chaotic scene with thousands of onlookers. The five Thai hostages, who had been working in Israel

as agricultural laborers when they were taken, were also handed over there. In exchange for the Israeli hostages, who had been working in Israel as agricultural laborers when they were taken, were also handed over there. In exchange for the Israeli hostages, 110 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are expected to be released by Israel later in the day. Kat Lonsdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Metta has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Trump against the social media company after it suspended his accounts following the deadly January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.

Trump sued after he was suspended from Facebook and Instagram in the wake of the riot claiming the action violated his First Amendment rights. It's the latest example of Metta CEO Mark Zuckerberg yielding to Trump after years of hostilities. Before he was elected, Trump wrote, if Zuckerberg crossed him, he'd be thrown in prison for the rest of his life. A benefit concert to help those affected by wildfires in Southern California is being held tonight at separate venues near Los Angeles. And Piers Ava Puchach has more. Billy Eilish, Joni Mitchell, No Doubt and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are just some of the more than 20 artists playing the one night

only benefit concert at the Kia Forum and the Intuit Dome. Fire Aid organizers say the concert is dedicated to rebuilding communities devastated by the wildfires. They say funds raised will be distributed for short-term relief efforts and long-term initiatives to prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California. At least 2,000 seats at the event will be filled by first responders and people who have lost their homes due to the fires. The concert will be broadcast and streamed live across a range of platforms for people who cannot attend. Eva Puchacz, NPR News. U.S. futures contracts are trading in mixed territory at this hour.

Dow futures down about one-tenth of a percent. NASDAQ futures are up about a half percent. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.