NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-17-2025 7PM EST

Episode Date: February 18, 2025

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This message comes from Wondery. At 24 years old, Monika Lewinsky was in a scandal that defined who she was for the entire world. And now, she's ready to draw from her own experience on what it means to redefine yourself on her new podcast, Reclaiming with Monika Lewinsky. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. A judge appears unlikely to grant a request to immediately halt an effort by tech billionaire Elon Musk to access federal data and fire government employees. NPR's Stephen Fowler reports a hearing was held today to take up a lawsuit filed by several Democratic state attorneys general.

This lawsuit argues Elon Musk's influential role in the government is illegal and should be confirmed by the US Senate. The best word to describe Judge Tanya Chutkin in this hour-long hearing, skeptical. Skeptical of the government's claims that Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency don't have that much power, and skeptical that the state's suing

have showed enough evidence to halt, for now, actions in seven federal agencies. Chutkin said she'll issue a ruling in the next 24 hours. Stephen Fowler, NPR News. A federal judge has temporarily paused the Trump administration's plans to slash funding from the National Institutes of Health, but cities that rely on health research for their economies remain concerned. Stephen Bishahov, the Gulf States newsroom, reports the places with the most deluge

include red states that have long supported Trump. The University of Alabama at Birmingham is one of the top recipients of NIH funding. It's also the largest single employer in all of Alabama. The Trump administration's plan to cut billions of health research funding would include tens of millions that go to the state. Sanford University economist Sarah Helmets-McCarty says that could ripple across all parts of

Alabama's economy. UAB and the biomedical research that happens there is an essential piece of our economy. If it is disrupted, it will affect businesses, restaurants, real estate, all of it. UAB says life-saving research into things like cancer, Alzheimer's and heart disease are in jeopardy. For NPR News, I'm Stephen Basaha in Birmingham. Roughly five billion people, or 60% of the world's population, does not have access to high quality medical oxygen.

That is the findings of a new report from the Lancet Global Health, and here's Gabriella Emanuel reports. Medical oxygen is used for a whole host of reasons, from babies born prematurely to patients with heart failure, asthma, or pneumonia. The shortage of safe, high-quality, and affordable oxygen is most acute in low- and middle-income countries. The report, which is the first of its kind, found that the lack of medical oxygen is contributing to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths each year, and it's reducing the quality of life for millions more.

The report found that fixing the shortfall will cost almost $7 billion a year, but the authors say it's as cost-effective as childhood vaccinations. Plus, it helps with pandemic preparedness. Gabriella Immanuel, NPR News. US financial markets are closed today for the President's Day holiday, though there was trading on overseas exchanges. Shares were up in Germany and Britain enclosed lower in France. Japan's Nikkei also moved higher today.

You're listening to NPR. Egypt says it is looking to come up with a plan that would rebuild war-torn Gaza without displacing the Palestinian people who call it home. That would run counter to a proposal from President Trump under which the US would quote own Gaza while Palestinians would be relocated during a reconstruction process. According to Egypt's Al-Haram newspaper, the counter proposal calls for establishing secure areas within Gaza where Palestinians could live while Egyptian and international construction firms rebuild. It is icy snowy and cold across much of the US but record hot in

Brazil. Rio de Janeiro hit 107 today prompting city officials to issue health warnings and open dozens of cooling centers. More from MPR's Carrie Khan. Even at famous Copacabana Beach, it was hot. Beers are selling fast, but water, as tops today say vendors, three more extremely hot days are expected. This is high summer carnival season that prompted Rio's mayor to raise the new heat warning to level four out of five. Some schools closed and city workers are getting hydration breaks. More than 50 cooling centers have opened. A high-pressure system over the ocean is blocking any cold weather from coming on shore. There's no rain in the upcoming forecast. Southern Brazil, part of the country's vast farm belt, is

experiencing record drought. Kari Kahn, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro. While U.S. markets are closed for the President's Day holiday, oil continued to trade on global markets today. Oil closed up 65 cents a barrel to end the session at 71.39 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things in other currencies. Sending or spending money abroad? Hidden fees may be taking a cut. Washington.