NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-13-2025 2AM EST

Episode Date: February 13, 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 Shae Stevens. President Trump says he and Russian leader Putin have agreed to hold negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine. Trump says they discussed the matter in a phone call on Wednesday.

We talked about the possibility, I mentioned it, of a ceasefire so we can stop the killing and I think we'll probably end up at some point getting a ceasefire in the not too distant future. Trump says that Ukraine should hold elections after any ceasefire. He also expressed opposition to NATO membership for Ukraine. A federal judge in Boston has lifted a temporary injunction that blocked the so-called deferred resignations of Trump administration effort to drastically reduce the federal workforce. US District Court Judge George O'Toole says labor unions that challenged the policy had no legal right to do so.

Governing employees were told that they could quit their jobs and continue receiving pay and benefits through September while avoiding potential layoffs. The American Federation of Teachers and other labor unions are suing the federal government, including the Elon Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency called DOJ. And Piers Janaki-Metta has the story. Piers Janaki-Metta, Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D.,

Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Office of Personnel Management and the Treasury Department for what they allege is violating the Privacy Act. They say the named federal agencies disclose sensitive and private records to DOGE staff, including from the Education Department. Why do you need to access my daughter's scholarship information? Why do you even need my home address?

That's parent of a college student and school counselor, Erniche Stewart, at an AFT press conference. She called the release of records a, quote, gross violation of privacy. This is one of several suits seeking to stop the cuts Doge is making across the federal government. Janaki Mehta and Peer News. President Trump has nominated the head of an oil and gas trade group to lead the Bureau of Land Management, also known as BLM.

The agency oversees public lands used both for recreation as well as for mining and drilling. More from NPR's Kamila Domenosky. As president of the Western Energy Alliance, Kathleen Sagama has represented oil and gas producers for nearly 20 years. Her nomination fits with Trump's energy priorities. He's promised to make it easier for companies

to drill on public lands. Sagama contributed a section to the Far Right Policy Initiative, Project 2025, calling for just that. Under former President Joe Biden, BLM emphasized clean energy projects and conservation on public lands instead. Writing on X after her nomination, Sagama said she greatly respects the work BLM does, quote, balancing multiple uses. The position requires Senate confirmation. Camila Dominochki, NPR News. Egg price has more than doubled in the past year to about $10 a dozen, economists say

is due to a shortage partly caused by a blurred flu outbreak that began in 2022. This is NPR News. Chevron says it plans to lay off up to 20 percent of its global workforce beginning in April as part of a plan to slash $3 billion in costs. The announcement comes amid a battle with rival oil company ExxonMobil over Chevron's bid to acquire oil producer Hess. Joanne Fabrics has announced plans to close 500 of its stores across the U.S. as it seeks a buyer. The move follows the Ohio-based Fabrics and Crafts chain's second bankruptcy filing within

a year. The company says the closings will affect underperforming locations across the country. The longest-serving speaker of any American statehouse is now a convicted felon. Dave McKinney from Member Station WBEZ in Chicago reports that the most serious charge carries a maximum 20-year prison term. During 36 years as Illinois House Speaker, Chicago Democrat Michael Madigan was arguably the state's most powerful politician. But a federal jury has now convicted him on sweeping corruption charges. Here's acting Chicago U.S. attorney Morris Pasquale.

Michael Madigan, who stood at the very top of Illinois state government, stands convicted of 10 counts of bribery and corruption. Corruption far-reaching in scope. Madigan pressured a utility company to hire allies in high-paying, no-show jobs as it sought his backing for legislation. For NPR News, I'm Dave McKinney in Chicago. U.S. futures are higher in after-hours trading. On Asia Pacific, market shares are also higher, up one and a half percent in Hong Kong.

This is NPR. On the Throughline Podcast, the myth linking autism and vaccines was decades in the making and was a major moment for vaccine hesitancy in America, tapping into fears involving the pharmaceutical industry and the federal government. No matter how many studies you do showing that this is not a problem, it's very hard to unring the bell. Listen to Thru Line from NPR, wherever you get your podcasts.