NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-11-2025 3PM EST

Episode Date: February 11, 2025

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At the Super Bowl halftime show, Kendrick Lamar indeed performed his smash diss track Not Like Us and brought out Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, and SZA. We're recapping the Super Bowl, including why we saw so many celebrities in commercials this year. Listen to the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Trump administration says it negotiated a deal to get an American out of jail in Russia. There were no immediate details about what the U.S. gave to Russia to get Mark Fogel home. Here's NPR's Michelle Kelliman.

Mark Fogel was a teacher in Russia who was arrested in August 2021 after customs agents found medical marijuana in his luggage. He was passed over during previous prisoner swaps with Russia and it was only last year that the State Department decided that he was being unjustly detained, a label that gives more urgency to his case. Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff flew to Russia to bring Fogel home. National Security Advisor Mike Walls describes the deal as an exchange, though he didn't say what the U.S. is giving to Russia.

He also calls it a sign of good faith from the Russians and without explaining it, connected this to diplomacy on Ukraine. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. President Trump says he intends to move forward with his vision for the U.S. to take Gaza, move out its residents and redevelop it. But during a joint news conference with Trump at the White House today, Jordan's King Abdullah II was more circumspect. He says Arab nations in the Middle East would soon meet and would later present their plan

to Trump. Asked whether he was willing to withhold aid to Jordan if it didn't support his plans for Gaza, Trump said, No, I think we'll do something. I don't have to threaten with money. We do. We contribute a lot of money to Jordan and to Egypt, by the way, a lot, to both. But I don't have to threaten that. I don't think, I think we're above that. I do believe we're above that. Meanwhile, Israel's threatening to end its ceasefire with Hamas unless the militant group releases hostages, as both sides agreed by noon local time Saturday. House Speaker Mike Johnson's reacting to a series of court orders blocking sweeping

cuts across federal agencies. Mike Johnson The courts should take a step back and allow these processes to play out. Danielle Pletka President Trump, meanwhile, is moving forward with ordering federal agencies to roll back efficiency standards that the Biden administration established to save water and energy. NPR's Jeff Brady reports President Trump has long complained about how more efficient shower heads and dishwashers operate. In a social media post, Trump said he wants the federal government to return to related orders from his first term, specifically for sinks, showers, toilets, washing machines, dishwashers, and light bulbs.

Trump said he's quote, instructing Secretary Lee Zeldin to do this. Zeldin actually is administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, not a secretary, and the agency doesn't regulate light bulb efficiency. That's the Department of Energy. Trump already signed an executive order saying American people should be able to choose whatever goods and appliances they want. Government efficiency standards have long been a culture war target for conservatives. Jeff Brady, NPR News. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 138 points. You're listening to NPR News.

A public inquiry begins today in London over China's plans to build a huge new embassy there. NPR's Lauren Frayer reports there is some opposition about the proposal. It would be China's biggest embassy in Europe, near 14th century ruins at what used to be the UK's royal mint near the Tower of London. There have been protests, though, including by Hong Kong refugees who are concerned the facility could be used to spy on people and to detain dissidents. Local authorities denied planning permission in 2022, and the then-conservative UK government did not intervene. But now a centre-left UK government is in power, and Beijing has resubmitted

its application, which officials are evaluating this week. One of the issues is whether the site has enough room outside for demonstrators. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London. The Federal Aviation Administration has reopened two runways at the Reagan National Airport. They were closed after the January 29th mid-air collision between a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet that was attempting to land at DCA. All 67 people aboard both aircraft died in the nighttime collision that happened at approximately 300 feet.

Restrictions on helicopter traffic around DCA remain in effect as the National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate. The NTSB says it expects to release its preliminary report into the cause of the crash on February 28. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.