NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-13-2025 11AM EST

Episode Date: February 13, 2025

NPR News: 02-13-2025 11AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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, I'm Corva Coleman. A Senate panel is holding the confirmation hearing for President Trump's nominee to be Education Secretary. Linda McMahon says she's bringing Trump's vision to the education agency. He pledged to make American education the best in the world, return education to the states where it belongs,

and free American students from the education bureaucracy through school choice. November proved that Americans overwhelmingly support the president's vision and I am ready to enact it. McMan has little experience in education. She has previously served as the administrator for the Small Business Administration. The Senate is now holding the confirmation vote for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Health and Human Services Secretary.

He has already passed a Senate test vote. Democrats have strongly opposed Kennedy, citing his years of work against vaccines. President Trump says he is going to announce new reciprocal tariffs this afternoon. These taxes are supposed to match what other countries charge for US goods exported to their nations. But economists warm the tariffs can also raise prices for American consumers. Trump's actions come as he gets ready to welcome India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House today. NPS Asmohallad reports they're expected to discuss tariffs. President Trump has had a warm relationship with India's leader, but he's also accused

India of being a quote, big abuser of trade. Lisa Curtis served in the first Trump administration working on issues relating to India. Trump's priorities are seeing India's high tariffs lowered on U.S. goods. That's a number one priority for him. Other issues between the countries include immigration, technology, and defense. The U.S. relationship with India has seen strong bipartisan support in recent years, especially as a counter to China's influence in the region. Asma Khalid, NPR News.

The U.S.'s NATO allies in Europe are stressing they must not be cut out of any peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. This comes after President Trump spoke yesterday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump also spoke by phone to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. And Piers Robb-Schmitz has more. European leaders have shown frustration after the Trump administration signaled its planning unilateral face-to-face talks with Russia on how to end its war in Ukraine. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters Europe must be involved in any negotiations

on Ukraine, especially if Europe is to play a central role in keeping the peace. Secretary of Defense Pete Hague-Seth insisted this week Ukraine should not join NATO and that it's up to Europe to protect itself from whatever Russia might do next. NATO Secretary General Mark Rizzo says it's crucial that any peace deal on Ukraine endures without another Russian attack. Rob Schmitz, NPR News. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas appears to be back on track.

After a few days of uncertainty, Hamas had said it would delay the scheduled release of three Israeli hostages that was set for Saturday. Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire. Israel rejected that. It warned hostilities could resume in Gaza if the terms of the deal were not kept. Authorities in Germany say at least 28 people have been hurt after a man drove into a crowd of people attending a protest march. Officials say the driver is an asylum seeker from Afghanistan. They believe this was an attack.

In the U.S., forecasters say an atmospheric river is drenching California. The intense storm will bring valuable rain, but NPR's Alejandro Borundo reports there's a bigger risk for mudslides and flooding. Atmospheric rivers are exactly what they sound like, giant ribbons of water vapor flowing through the sky like a river. If you look at them from a satellite, they actually look a little bit like a river where they're sort of long and narrow and they meander. That's atmospheric scientist Christine Shields from the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

She says atmospheric rivers are a normal part of California weather and can deliver a lot of valuable water to the region. But they often include short and intense bursts of heavy rainfall that can lead to flooding and in the burned areas around Los Angeles, potential debris flows and mudslides. That's why experts say it's important to keep close track of emergency alerts. Alejandra Burunda, NPR News. Prices for chocolate are higher ahead of Valentine's Day. The supply of cocoa from the West African nations

have been depleted because of changing climate patterns that's forced chocolate makers to boost prices. It's NPR. At the Super Bowl halftime show, Kendrick Lamar indeed performed his smash diss track, makers to boost prices. It's NPR.