NPR News Now - NPR News: 01-31-2025 11AM EST

Episode Date: January 31, 2025

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It's a new year, and according to Pew, 79% of resolutions are about one thing, health. But there are so many fads around how to keep ourselves healthy. On It's Been A Minute, I'm helping you understand why some of today's biggest wellness trends are, well, trending. Like why is there protein in everything? Join me as we uncover what's healthy and what's not on the It's Been A Minute podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Herbst.

As crews continue to search the Potomac River for victims of Wednesday's midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C., the National Transportation Safety Board has retrieved the flight data and voice recorders from the plane. Todd Inman is a member of the board. We will be on scene here doing all the recovery of the perishable evidence that we need for as long as it takes. He says investigators are still collecting evidence as crews work to salvage the aircraft, the broken to three pieces, and is in waist-deep water. 67 people died in

the crash. So far more than two dozen bodies have been recovered. Meanwhile, the figure skating community is grieving the loss of young skaters, coaches, and families who died. And here's Kristin Wright has more. As stories emerge of the hopes and dreams of these young skaters, the world of figure skating is still in disbelief. Aurora Michelle coaches in DC, Maryland and Virginia and remembers practicing with a boy who was on the plane. I feel heartbroken because there are so many young lives that were lost, so many promising young lives that were lost.

Michelle placed flowers at Ashburn Ice House in Northern Virginia at a growing memorial for the Rinks skaters and a coach who died. She says the skating community is very close. And so when someone in our community is hurt, it affects all of us. School officials in Virginia's Fairfax County say three of their students and six parents were also on board. The superintendent is asking people to hold each other closer. Christian Wright, NPR News, Washington. As a candidate, Donald Trump disavowed Project 2025, the controversial policy agenda. But in Piers Franco Ordonia's reports, many of the directives he's issued as president come from the 900-page playbook.

The proposed freeze on federal grants was just the latest directive by President Trump that was outlined in Project 2025. So is a proposal to end birthright citizenship and diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Project 2025 also offer detailed plans to reshape and shrink the federal workforce, including instituting a hiring freeze and reclassifying workers. Now, critics see Project 2025 as a roadmap

of how Trump is trying to expand his presidential powers. Democratic senators are pointing to the playbook as justification for trying to block Trump's pick for White House budget director. Russ, vote. But the White House and allies discount any overlap. Charging that Trump is simply carrying out promises that he made on the campaign trail. Franco Ordonez, NPR News. And President Trump says he's planning to place 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico as soon as tomorrow. That could drive up the price of everything from pickup trucks to

guacamole dip. Trump though says he hasn't decided yet if the tariffs will include oil imports. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. In South Africa, there has been widespread confusion after President Trump froze, then unfroze millions of dollars in funding for life-saving HIV programs. Kate Bartlett has more from Johannesburg. South Africa's Health Minister Aaron Matsuleti said his country was blindsided by President Trump's initial order to freeze aid for 90 days. The minister said he sought clarity from the US embassy but received no response.

South Africa has the highest number of HIV-positive people in the world, with nearly 6 million on antiretroviral therapies. It receives about $400 million a year from the US through the president's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. Matsuleti said his government only found out about the freeze through clinics and other organizations that had received orders to stop work. Matsuleti said things were still unclear after the State Department did a sudden about turn issuing a waiver.

Globally, PEPFAR directly supports more than 20 million people living with HIV. For NPR News, I'm Kate Butler in Johannesburg. NPR has learned the director of the Census Bureau, Robert Santos, is resigning, giving President Trump an early opportunity to nominate a new political appointee to lead the agency. Before becoming director, Santos, the first Latino in the job, was a vocal opponent of the way Trump officials handled the 2020 census. He's cutting short a five-year appointment during key preparations for the 2030 census that will be used to redistribute political representation, along with trillions of dollars

in federal funding across the country. I'm Janene Herbst, NPR News from Washington. The indicator for Plano Money is diving into the world of batteries. NPR News from Washington.