NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-07-2025 2PM EST

Episode Date: February 7, 2025

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Public media counts on your support to ensure that the reporting and programs you depend on thrive. Make a recurring donation today to get special access to more than 20 NPR podcasts, perks like sponsor-free listening, bonus episodes, early access, and more. So start supporting what you love today at plus.npr.org. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Thousands of USAID employees worldwide are due to be placed on administrative leave in the coming hours. The Trump administration's targeting the United States Agency for International Development as part of a broad mandate to shrink the federal government workforce.

Russia welcomes the administration's decision to sharply curtail American foreign aid projects under USAID. NPR's Moscow correspondent Charles Maines has more. The Kremlin has long claimed USAID is merely a front for American efforts to overthrow Moscow friendly governments in the former Soviet space and it was in that context that Russia's foreign ministry celebrated USAID's cutbacks. Speaking to journalists, spokesperson Maria Zakharova said USAID was quote, anything but an aid and development agency, instead calling it a machine for promoting regime change.

Critics of the Trump administration's decision say USAID's demise would be a gift to autocrats everywhere. The Kremlin banned USAID's work inside Russia way back in 2012, went on to pass a so-called foreign agents' law used to persecute human rights groups and other critical voices that received outside funding. Charles Mainz, NPR News. Today President Trump addressed the war in Ukraine. I will probably be meeting with President Zelensky next week and I will probably be

talking to President Putin. I'd like to see that war end for one primary reason. They're killing so many people. You're losing millions of people on a battlefield. Trump speaking today at the White House during a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishibab. The Japanese leader is seeking closer diplomatic ties with Trump on matters of security and trade. But it remains to be seen if today's talks lead Trump to allow Japan's Nippon Steel to acquire U.S. Steel, something both he and former President Biden said they opposed. The Trump administration's renewing calls for more funding from Congress this week for

detaining and deporting more people suspected of being in the U.S. without legal status. Here's NPR's Ximena Bustillo. Since the start of the Trump administration, officials say they have arrested over 8,000 people, but not all have been held in detention. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt told reporters at the White House this week that over 400 people that were arrested by federal immigration officials have already been released. Some of the factors include a lack of significant likelihood of removal in the foreseeable future, lack of detention availability, which is something this president in this administration

has been incredibly vocal about. She added that some had serious medical conditions and none have had final deportation orders. The lead agency in charge of stopping illegal immigration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has long warned that it may not have enough physical space to handle Trump's efforts to ramp up enforcement. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington. US stocks are sharply lower this hour. The Nasdaq is down 248 points or 1.2 percent. The Dow has fallen 387 points or more than three-quarters of a percent.

This is NPR News. Utah lawmakers have approved a Republican-backed policy that bans collective bargaining for the state's public sector workers. It means unions would no longer be able to negotiate on behalf of groups of government-employed educators, police, and other public sector workers in Utah. The Salt Lake Tribune reports hundreds of teachers, firefighters, and public transportation workers had gathered at the state capitol to oppose HB 267. The state senate's 16 to 13 vote last night was the final legislative hurdle for the bill, which was then to head to Republican Governor Spencer Cox for his signature.

Super Bowl fans are arriving in New Orleans ahead of the big game pitting the Philadelphia Eagles against the reigning NFL champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. Over 100,000 people are expected for the festivities. Matt Bloom of member station WWNO reports the city's culture is on full display. In the French quarter, street performers are out in full force. They're entertaining fans who've packed the streets wearing their team's colors. Denae Moreno is visiting from Philadelphia. We've had a great time.

Great food, great architecture. I've taken a lot of pictures so far. The city has rolled out the welcome mat. There will be dozens of free concerts and a Louisiana culture festival with Creel and Cajun food, local artists, and more. This year marks the 11th time New Orleans has hosted the big game, which ties the city with Miami for the most times hosting the NFL Championship. For NPR News, I'm Matt Bloom in New Orleans. This is NPR.