NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-19-2025 5AM EST

Episode Date: February 19, 2025

NPR News: 02-19-2025 5AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Whatever your job is, wherever you're from, NPR is a resource for all Americans. Our mission is to create a more informed public. We do that by providing free access to independent, rigorous journalism that's accountable to the public. You, federal funding for public media, provides critical support of this work. Learn more about how to safeguard it at ProtectMyPublicMedia.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. A federal judge is declining to temporarily halt the work of President Trump's Department of Government Efficiency involving billionaire adviser Elon Musk. More than a dozen Democratic state attorneys general had

sued to try to block must team from accessing government systems and laying off federal employees. As NPR's Bobby Allen reports the judge did raise concerns about the legality of must work in the White House. 14 states sued to prevent Doge from accessing government data and participating in laying off thousands of government workers. The states argued that only an official who was nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the Senate can have that much power. Judge Tanya Chutkin in Washington notes that Musk's actions appear to be precisely the executive abuses the Constitution intended to prevent, but she would not issue a temporary restraining order, saying

the state's request lacked evidence. While Musk is the public face of Doge, the White House now says in court papers that Elon Musk is not its leader. Trump officials have now publicly stated who is running Doge. Bobby Allen in PR News. The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston is scheduled to reopen today. The library shut its doors yesterday after recent hires were laid off by the president's Doge team. NPR's Tovia Smith reports. The National Archives, which oversees the library, ordered the cuts, according to a source familiar with the situation who's not authorized to speak publicly. It was an emotional scene as five of the six people who run the ticketing system were immediately let go and the library was forced to close. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, a staunch Trump critic, blamed quote, Donald Trump and

Elon Musk's thoughtless crusade. A Kennedy relative, Jack Schlossberg, called it stealing history from the people. No immediate comment from the National Archives. When the library reopens still without ticketing staff, according to the source, admission to the museum may be free. Tovia Smith in PR News, Boston. The Senate is expected to hold a confirmation vote on Cash Patel before the end of the week. Yesterday, senators advanced Patel's nomination to lead the FBI on a party line vote.

President Trump's nominee to serve as commerce secretary has been confirmed. The Senate approved Howard Lutnick also on a party line vote. The Vatican says Pope Francis has developed double pneumonia as he continues treatment at a hospital in Rome. The 88-year-old pontiff was admitted last week after developing bronchitis and later a respiratory infection. The Vatican spokesman describes the pope's medical treatment as complex.

Airbnb is suing the city of New Orleans over its new regulations covering short-term rentals. They require the rentals to be in compliance with city laws. The changes are set to take effect in June. This is NPR News. A federal judge wants to know why the Justice Department is recommending corruption charges be dropped against New York Mayor Eric Adams. As Bruce Convizer reports, the judge has scheduled a hearing this afternoon. The Justice Department's recent decision to drop a five-count indictment against Mayor Eric Adams has sparked protests from advocates for the rule of law.

It also prompted at least seven federal prosecutors to resign rather than ask a judge to drop the charges. Critics accused the Justice Department and Mayor Adams of a quid pro quo arrangement, whereby the criminal case against Adams goes away if he cooperates with the Trump administration's crackdown on immigrants. They say the charges against the mayor, which include bribery and fraud, are strong and should go to trial. If the Justice Department refuses to prosecute the case, Judge Dale Ho could appoint a special

prosecutor to try the case. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Convice, in New York. The mayor has rejected calls to resign. A jury in Southern California has found hip hop performer ASAP Rocky not guilty on two counts of assault with a semi-automatic weapon. Jurors in Los Angeles deliberated for three hours before reaching that verdict. The trial lasted three weeks. Rocky whose legal name is Raquem Mayors faced a potential prison sentence of more than two

decades if found guilty. Marine biologists in Australia say they've given up hope of rescuing more than 150 false killer whales stranded on a remote beach in Tasmania. They were discovered there yesterday during unfavorable weather conditions. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News in Washington.