NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-05-2025 7PM EST

Episode Date: February 6, 2025

NPR News: 02-05-2025 7PM 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. And 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 tinydeskcontest. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear, official rules at npr.org slash tiny desk contest.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. A large crowd gathered today outside the U.S. Capitol to protest Elon Musk's efforts to shut down the United States Agency for International Development. NPR's Lou Garrett reports. Crowds 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 nonprofit 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 nearly all employees are being placed on administrative leave and that overseas personnel are directed to return within 30 days. Luke Garrett, NPR

News, Washington. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. Since President Trump took office last month, a flurry of executive orders and actions have upended federal spending directed by Congress. NPR's Deidre Walsh reports how GOP lawmakers are responding. Recent moves by Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency unit to shutter programs at the U.S. Agency for International Development raised questions about whether Congress is ceding its power of the purse.

House Speaker Mike Johnson says he's a fierce advocate of the legislative branch's constitutional duty but said Wednesday the president also has authority to review programs. The executive branch of government in our system has the right to evaluate how executive branch agencies are operating. Most congressional Republicans have defended Musk and the president's actions so far. But an upcoming debate on legislation to avoid a partial government shutdown next month could challenge the party's willingness to allow the executive to effectively take over the process.

Deirdre Walsh, NPR News, The Capital. U.S. households' tendency increased costs for goods. That's after the Trump administration proceeded with 10 percent tariffs on China. More than double that still looms for Mexico and Canada. Here's NPR's Laura Walmsley. 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 U.S. 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 percent tariffs proposed on imports from Canada and Mexico, which would raise the prices of everything from produce to building materials to cars and gas. The China tariffs alone could affect everything from auto parts to clothing to electronics.

Stocks close higher today with gains for most stocks outweighing declines and shares of some big names, including alphabet parent Google, that was up more than 300 points today. You're listening to NPR News. today. You're listening to NPR News. More than 120 million people tune in every year to watch the Super Bowl, making it one of the biggest ad platforms on the planet. In some cases, viewers actually talk more about the ads than the big game. This year may be no exception, actor Eugene Levy's eyebrows fly off in an ad for Little Caesars, a tongue dances a Shania Twain to promote Nestle's coffee-made cold foam, and Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal reunited Katz's Deli in an ad for

Hellman's Mayonnaise. The bird flu outbreak and resulting egg shortage has led Waffle House restaurants to charge 50 cents more for every egg sold at its more than 2,000 locations in 25 states. Smarlin Hyde from member station WABE reports customers have mixed reactions. 52-year-old Aaron Allen walks up to a Waffle House in Atlanta. I'm getting ready to get a two-egg meal. He just learned about the breakfast restaurant chain's

new surcharge. You ain't gonna get charged double, am I? You gonna get charged an extra dollar on that meal. Oh, for real? For real. At this Waffle House, some customers say they might take a break from the restaurant. Others weren't fazed by the charge. The breakfast chain says it serves approximately 272 million eggs a year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts the price of eggs will rise 20 percent this year. Waffle House plans to change the surcharge as they monitor prices. For NPR News, I'm Marlon Hyde in Atlanta. After 20 years, it looks like Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne and other original members will be reuniting for a gig being called his last. In an announcement today, promoters saying the band will headline what's being called the Back to the Beginning Show, July 5th in Birmingham, England.

Osbourne led the band during its peak period in the 70s. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. Technologist, Paul Garcia is using AI to create photos of people's most precious memories. How her mother was dressed, the haircut that she remembered, regenerated tens of images and then she saw two images that was like, that was it. Ideas about the future of memory. That's on the TED Radio Hour podcast from NPR.