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

Episode Date: February 9, 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 in washington on the wrong elon musk and his department of government efficiency unit are hitting their first legal roadblocks yesterday a federal judge temporarily barred must steam from accessing treasure department records

including social security numbers must is now calling for the judge's impeachment, NPR's Luke Garrett reports. The tech magnet turned special government employee is calling a New York federal judge corrupt for getting in his way. Musk says the Treasury Department agreed to let Doge access their taxpayer data to look out for waste and fraud. The federal judge temporarily blocked the sharing agreement, saying it risks, quote, irreparable harm.

In a social media post shared by Musk, Vice President J.D. Vance said, quote, judges aren't allowed to control the executive's legitimate power, end quote. The Constitution establishes three separate but co-equal branches of government, the legislative, executive, and judicial. This judicial branch is responsible for deciding whether actions taken by people or the government are legal. A hearing on Doge's access to Treasury data is set for this Friday. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been ordered to effectively shut down. Its

new director had instructed workers to stop nearly all work. Agency staff have now been told the D.C. headquarters is closed. China's tariffs on some American goods are due to go into effect tomorrow. They were announced on February 4th, shortly after new US levies of 10% on all Chinese products took effect. NPR's Azma Khalid has more. China was not going to quietly accept sweeping new tariffs. And so it has retaliated as expected. It has announced 10% higher tariffs on crude oil, farm equipment and certain vehicles. Also an additional 15 percent tariff on American coal and liquefied natural gas. And there is the risk that this could further escalate into some sort of trade war.

NPR's Ozma Khalid reporting. Egypt says it will host an emergency summit of Arab leaders. The announcement comes amid alarm in the region over President Trump's proposals regarding the future of Gaza. NPR's Jerome Sokolowski reports. A statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry says the summit is being called in response to a Palestinian request.

It says the leaders will gather on February 27th to discuss, quote, the new and dangerous developments in the Palestinian issue. Arab states have rejected Trump's recent comments about relocating Gaza's Palestinian residents and creating a Riviera of the Middle East there. Several countries are also condemning the suggestion by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Saudi Arabia has enough land for a Palestinian state. Netanyahu appeared to be joking in response to a slip by an Israeli TV interviewer, but sensitivities are running high in the region.

Jerome Sokolowski, NPR News, Tel Aviv. This is NPR News. A conference opens in Paris tomorrow on the growing development of artificial intelligence. French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are jointly hosting the summit. For two days, leaders from around the world as well as technology experts will discuss how to harness the potential of AI so that it helps everyone while containing its risks. A 300-year-old Stradivarius violin has sold at auction for more than $11 million.

As NPR's James Dubeck reports, the high price tag shows the enduring appeal of the instruments made by the legendary Italian craftsman. Antonio Stradivari is often considered the world's greatest violin maker. He built hundreds of instruments in Cremona Italy in the late 1600s and early 1700s. About 600 of his violins survived today. Musicians say the old instruments have a special brilliance. They often sell for millions. Sotheby's Auction House had said this violin from 1714 could break a record. Sold. $10 million.

But on Friday, it fell short. The final price tag with auction house fees was $11.3 million. Another Stradivari violin holds the record for the most expensive musical instrument sold at auction. It sold for nearly $16 million in 2011. James DuBec, NPR News. N.D. The Super Bowl is tonight in New Orleans. The kickoff for professional football's big event is 6.30 Eastern Time. The Philadelphia Eagles are taking on the Kansas City Chiefs,

who are seeking their third Super Bowl win in a row. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington.