NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-05-2025 4PM EST

Episode Date: February 5, 2025

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This is Ira Glass with This American Life, each week on our show. We choose a theme, tell different stories on that theme. All right, I'm just going to stop right there. You're listening to an NPR podcast, chances are you know our show. So instead, I'm going to tell you, we've just been on a run of really good shows lately. Some big epic emotional stories, some weird funny stuff too. Download us, This American Life. funny stuff too. Down with us, this American life. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Protests are being held today in the Washington DC area as the Trump administration prepares to put many federal employees on administrative leave. Today a large crowd gathered outside the US Capitol to protest

billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk's efforts to shut down the United States Agency for International Development. Here's NPR's Luke Garrett. PROUD'S CHANTED AGAINST TECH BILLIONAIRE-TURNED SPECIAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE ELON MUSK, WHO HAS CALLED USAID A QUOTE BALL OF WORMS. MUSK HAS WORKED TO DISMANTLE THE INTERNATIONAL AID AGENCY WITH THE SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP. MANY AT THE RALLY WERE CURRENT USAID or non-profit workers, but didn't want to give their names publicly fearing that they'd be targeted by the Trump administration.

This is my career. I've worked in the sector for seven years and I'm not telling many people yet, but my first child is due in September and I want to be able to feed my family. USAID has announced that all employees are being placed on administrative leave and that overseas personnel are directed to return within 30 days. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. As acting administrator for USAID, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is defending Trump's directive upending thousands of employees around the globe.

Our preference would have been to do this in a more orderly fashion from the top down, but we had no cooperation and in fact in subordination and so it required us to work from the bottom up. His position standing in stark contrast to his prior record in the U.S. Senate as a strong advocate for USAID's mission, he's been quoted saying that foreign aid as part of the country's overall budget accounts for less than 1% of the total amount the U.S. government spends. The White House says President Trump's not committed to sending troops to the Gaza Strip, but it's facing backlash from Trump's remarks suggesting Gaza's Palestinian residents relocate

to other parts of the Middle East and the U.S. control of the Gaza Strip. During a meeting today with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Netanyahu thanked Trump for his support. Only way you get peace and enduring peace is by being very, very strong. That's Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. U.S. households stand to see increased costs for goods. This after the administration proceeded with 10 percent tariffs on China and more than double that still looms for Mexico and Canada. NPR's Laura Wamsley has the latest. Buying goods imported from China, Canada and Mexico could get a lot more

expensive now that the Trump administration has implemented tariffs against China and the threat of tariffs on Mexico and Canada is delayed for at least a month. The tax foundation estimates US households could get hit with an additional $800 in costs if all the tariffs are imposed. The bulk of that would come from the steep 25% tariffs proposed on imports from Canada and Mexico, which would raise the prices of everything from produce to building materials to cars and gas. LORRAINE CINK NPR's Laurel Wamsley reporting. U.S. stocks ended the day higher. The Dow closed up more than 300 points. It's NPR News. A former Georgia prosecutor has been acquitted of felony charges that she abused her power

to protect the white men who chased and killed Ahmaud Arbery, a black man, in 2020. Today, a judge threw out the remaining charge that former District Attorney Jackie Johnson violated her oath of office. Senior Judge John Turner granted a defense challenge that the indictment used to charge Johnson had technical errors. The judge told attorneys it was a decision he did not want to make and he expressed condolences to Arbery's mother who was also in the courtroom. The Fire Aid Benefit Concert held in Los Angeles last week featured performances from more than 30 artists, including Billie Eilish and Joni Mitchell. Organizers say the concert raised more than $100 million. And PR's Isabella Gomez-Admiento has details.

On January 30th, dozens of celebrities gathered across two Los Angeles venues to raise money for wildfire relief efforts. Artists like Dr. Dre, Olivia Rodrigo, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers performed some of their biggest hits, many of which pay tribute to the City of Angels. Now, producers of the event have confirmed that ticket sales, merch sales, sponsorships, and donations are expected to exceed $100 million. The LA Clippers picked up the cost of putting on the shows. The funds will be administered through the Annenberg Foundation for immediate recovery

efforts and long-term preventative measures in Southern California. Isabella Gomez-Armiento, NPR News. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington. Sing NPR News in Washington.