NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-11-2025 6PM 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 in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The Trump administration is slashing the budget of the General Services Administration in half that could affect nearly all federal property and contracts. NPR's Janet McLaughlin reports that, according to sources who spoke to NPR, a condition

of anonymity fearing further retribution from the Trump administration. The General Services Administration manages federal real estate across the country, as well as nearly all federal contracts. Without it, federal agencies would have a lot of trouble buying things and providing essential public services. However, GSA employees have been told their budget is being cut by 50 percent, spread across contracts, leases, and personnel salaries. Employees who remain and who don't take a deferred resignation offer will be subject to heightened surveillance,

including installation of what's called a keylogger, software that tracks everything the user types. It could be the model for the rest of the federal government going forward. Jen McLaughlin, NPR News. Two division chiefs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau resigned today. As NPR's Laura Wamsley explains, it's the latest fallout as the Trump administration puts the consumer watchdog in its crosshairs. The CFPB's directors of enforcement and supervision resigned, citing the stop work order issued by the consumer finance watchdog's new acting director, Russell Vogt. Vogt is the White House budget director and one of the architects of the conservative policy blueprint, Project 2025. In emails obtained by NPR, Lorelei Salas and Eric Halperin told their colleagues

they could no longer serve in their roles, now that the Bureau has been ordered to cease all work. CFPB is an independent agency funded through the Federal Reserve. It was founded in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to promote fairness and transparency for mortgages, credit cards, and other consumer financial products and services. That work is now on hold. And CFPB staff and consumer advocates warned that Americans have been left vulnerable. Laurel Wamsley, NPR News, Washington. New York City Mayor Eric Adams is praising the Justice Department's decision to stop his prosecution on bribery and prosecution charge.

Critics say the administration is using the DOJ to influence Adams on immigration policy. Here's NPR's Brian Mann. Adams was indicted last September on charges he took luxury vacations and campaign contributions from foreign agents. Now the DOJ says the case will be halted, though it could be revived in the future. Adams, a Democrat who faces reelection in November, described the decision as a vindication. And I absolutely never traded my power as an elected official for any personal benefit. Critics, including opponents in the mayoral race, claim Adams courted Trump administration

officials and agreed to partner on Trump's immigration crackdown in exchange for the criminal charges being shelved. In their letter announcing the move, DOJ officials said the decision was not meant to influence New York City immigration policy. Brian Mann, NPR News, New York. On Wall Street, the Dow was up 123 points. You're listening to NPR.

President Trump has begun a second trade war with China, but his close ally and advisor Elon Musk is expanding his business there. As Emily Fang reports, the tech mogul's company Tesla is opening a new battery factory in Shanghai. In China, Tesla executives applauded how fast the factory making what Tesla calls its mega pack batteries went online just eight months after breaking ground. It's the second factory Tesla has built in Shanghai. Many of its Model 3 and Model Y cars are now manufactured in China, where there is also

a big market for Tesla's electric vehicles. Musk's significant business interests in China contrast with the hard-on-China approach President Trump is taking. Trump announced a flat 10% tariff and all goods made in China imported into the U.S. That would include Tesla vehicles. And he also signed a proclamation to reimpose 25% global tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, a measure targeting China.

Emily Fang and Peer News. The Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles get their official welcome home later this week from adoring fans. City officials say they look for a big turnout for the official victory parade planned for Friday. The championship team will descend the so-called rocky steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art as part of a 75-minute ceremony.

Plans also call for a replay of the team's 40-22 victory Sunday over the Kansas City Chiefs. Public schools in Philadelphia will be closed on Friday. Crude oil futures prices bumped up to a two-week high today. Oil gained a dollar a barrel to settle at 73.32 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.