NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-09-2025 4AM EST

Episode Date: February 9, 2025

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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 tiny desk contest. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman.

In order by the Trump administration to put employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development on administrative leave has been put on hold by a federal judge. And as the issue works its way through the courts, a focus has turned on the agency's role in managing most of America's foreign aid programs. As NPR's Fatima Tanis tells us, that work is now at risk.

USAID has typically enjoyed bipartisan support for its projects, and some Republicans I've talked to are saying that there will be cascading consequences from all of this. Andrew Natsios is a former administrator of USAID who served under George W. Bush, and he said Americans don't realize how influential USAID was. Its logo, for example, had the American flag on aid packages distributed all over the world, and it said, From the American People. That's in Piers Fatmatanis.

The director of the Federal Office of Management and Budget has told the staff of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to stop all supervision activity that has not been approved by the Acting Agency Director. While the name of the Acting Director has not been announced publicly, sources have told NPR that OMB head Russell Vogt has taken on that role. Much of the staff at the agency was told days ago to halt much of their work the CFPB is a watchdog agency established to help consumers. The National Institutes of Health says the agency is capping an important type of funding for medical research at

universities, medical schools, research hospitals, and other scientific institutions. NPR's Rob Stein has more. The NIH says the agency is limiting funding for indirect costs to 15% of current and future grants. That's far below what many institutions have been getting to maintain buildings and equipment and pay support staff and other overhead expenses. The NIH says the new policy is more in line with what private foundations pay. The decision, which marks a major change in how the NIH funds medical research, is being condemned by many researchers. They say the cap will cripple scientific research.

The new policy goes into effect Monday. Rob Stein in PR News. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he's sending a delegation to Qatar to continue Gaza ceasefire negotiations, but Netanyahu also expressed anger with the treatment of three Israeli hostages released by Hamas on Saturday in an emaciated state. We have once again seen what monsters Hamas are. These are the same monsters who slaughtered our civilians and mistreated our hostages.

And I say to them once again, they will pay for their actions. We will do everything to bring back all our hostages. We will ensure their safety. That's will do everything to bring back all our hostages. We will ensure their safety. That's the instruction I gave to the delegation. But Hamas will not be there. We will eliminate Hamas and return our hostages." Hamas has said it's ready for further talks, but is accusing Israel of dragging its feet

on the delivery of humanitarian relief as part of the ceasefire deal. This is NPR News. An investigation is now underway to determine why a Cessna Grand Caravan carrying nine passengers and a pilot crashed onto an ice floe in the Bering Sea on Thursday. All ten people on board the aircraft were killed. The bodies were recovered on Saturday and crews are now working to remove the wreckage ahead of a storm that's bringing high winds and snow to the region. The Super Bowl kicks off later today between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Kansas City and their quarterback Patrick Mahomes are hoping to become the first team to ever win three Super Bowls in a row. And Perez-Becky Sullivan has this preview. Mahomes and the Chiefs have become the NFL's newest dynasty. They've been to five of the last six Super Bowls, including today, and won three of them. Today would be their fourth in all and their third consecutive. This year's Chiefs have thrived in close games. They've won all 12 where the margin of victory was within one score. The Eagles, though, are no pushover.

Their acquisition of the star running back Saquon Barkley has turbocharged their offense. And when their quarterback Jalen Hurts is healthy, they haven't lost a game since September. President Trump is expected to be in attendance today at the Superdome in New Orleans, and Kendrick Lamar will perform in the halftime show. Becky Sullivan in PR News. Thomas Detrie shot a 6-under-65 on Saturday to take a five-stroke lead in the Phoenix Open underway in Scottsdale. He's hoping to capture his first PGA Tour win in the tournament's final round later today. Debt recorded four birdies over his first five holes and finished the day with a 19-foot putt for par on the 18th green. Four players are tied for second, including

Jordan Spieth, who's looking for his first Tour win since 2022. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News. Valentine's Day is on the horizon and NPR's All Songs Considered has you covered with a mix of lesser-known love songs for that special someone in your life. You don't make your wife playlists? Well, not anymore. I sealed the deal. Robin, Robin, Robin, Robin, Mister Robin. We're going to discuss this later. Hear new episodes of All Songs Considered every Tuesday, wherever you get podcasts.