NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-13-2025 7AM 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 Koriva Coleman. The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza appears to be back on track after a few days of uncertainty.

Earlier this week, Hamas said it would delay the scheduled release of three Israeli hostages on Saturday. Hamas had accused Israel of violating the ceasefire. Israel denied that. NPR's Kat Lonsdorf has more from Tel Aviv. Mediators have been hard at work after Israel threatened to return to war if the hostages weren't released on time. Now signals from all sides seem to suggest the disagreement has been solved. Mahmoud Mardawi, a senior Hamas leader, told NPR

Hamas wants the agreement to be implemented in full. We are fully and truly committed to every term of it, as long as Israel is," he said. An Egyptian official with knowledge of the talks, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media, told NPR there has been an agreement. Another official with the details, also not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed that, saying the sides have reached an understanding on the main points. Kat Lonsdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv. President Trump will receive India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House today.

Modi is keen to discuss Trump's new tariffs and their effects on India. NPR's Asma Khalid says there's another significant issue. Illegal immigration is a big priority for Trump. And according to estimates from the Pew Research Center, the third largest group of people in the United States without legal status are actually Indians. Earlier this month the Trump administration flew a group of Indians back to India on a military plane. So I do expect immigration and trade of course to be major issues because these are major fixations for President Trump. But other issues that are likely to come up are technology and defense cooperation. And Piers Asmahallid reporting.

The Trump administration is expected to purchase $400 million worth of Tesla vehicles. And Piers Bobby Allen reports this comes as Tesla CEO Elon Musk oversees the White House's effort to cut the federal workforce and federal spending. One item stuck out of a long list of procurement contracts. It's from a State Department document for fiscal year 2025. An expected $400 million purchase of so-called armored Teslas. It didn't specify what model, but Tesla's stainless steel Cybertruck could be an option. After reports circulated of the lucrative federal contract, the State Department document was

edited. The word Tesla was removed. It now says the $400 million purchase is for, quote, armored electric vehicles. Musk has been questioned over conflicts of interest in the White House, given he runs six companies with large federal contracts. In response to the Tesla purchase, Musk said on X that it is a lie. Bobbi Allen, NPR News. The Senate is scheduled to hold a confirmation vote later today for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

to be the next Health and Human Services Secretary. Kennedy has already passed a Senate test vote. This is NPR. Frigid weather has fallen on the central plains. Windchill values are well below zero, as far south as the Texas Panhandle. In New England, there are winter storm cautions. Some areas could get dangerous ice. Meanwhile, strong rain is forecast to hit the Los Angeles area today. Steve Futterman reports there's worry about dangerous mudslides.

The first rains were relatively light, but the National Weather Service is now forecasting much more severe storms. This rain event does present a higher risk to our residents, particularly those that are living within the burn scars. LA County Sheriff Robert Luna says these will be the strongest rain since last month's fires. He says officials are prepared.

Our search and rescue teams, volunteers on patrol and incident management teams have all placed on standby, along with our Air Rescue 5 helicopter crew. In some areas which have had a history of mudslides and debris flows, evacuation orders have already been issued, prompting some to play it safe and leave their homes. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

The Coast Guard is helping investigate reports of tar balls that have been washing up on some beaches on Florida's southern Atlantic coast. These were first reported last weekend. They could be from an oil spill. But federal officials say the tar balls could also come from natural sources beneath the ocean floor. Prices for chocolate are higher ahead of this Valentine's Day. The supply of cocoa from West Africa has been depleted

because of changing climate patterns that has forced chocolate makers to boost their prices for consumers. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News. Valentine's Day is on the horizon and NPR's All Songs Considered has you covered with a mix of lesser-known love songs for that special someone in your life. You don't make your wife playlists? Well, not anymore. I sealed the deal.

Robin. Robin, Robin, Robin. Mr. Robin. She is not referring to me. We're going to discuss this later. Hear new episodes of All Songs Considered every Tuesday, wherever you get podcasts.