NPR News: 01-30-2025 11AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 30, 2025, 11 AM EST

Hosted by NPR's Jeanine Herbst

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Aviation Tragedy Over Potomac River

At [00:14], Jeanine Herbst reported a devastating aviation incident involving an American Airlines commuter jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter. The collision occurred over the icy waters of the Potomac River, approximately 60 miles south of Washington, D.C., resulting in the presumed deaths of all 67 individuals on board both aircraft.

Frank Langford provided further details at [00:33], revealing that authorities transitioned from rescue to recovery operations after failing to locate any survivors. During a press conference, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom addressed the incident:

Robert Isom [00:48]: "It collided with a military aircraft on an otherwise normal approach and at this time we don't know why the military aircraft came into the path of the PSA aircraft."

Isom elaborated that PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American, saw the fuselage disintegrate upon impact, sinking inverted into waist-deep waters. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is set to lead the investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

FBI Nomination Hearing: Kash Patel Under Scrutiny

Shifting focus to domestic affairs, [01:17] Jeanine Herbst introduced the hearing of President Trump's nominee for FBI Director, Kash Patel, before the Senate Judiciary Committee. At [01:36], Patel asserted his commitment to due process:

Kash Patel [01:36]: "Due process must be provided without bias to all Americans. And if we cannot provide due process to the worst, then there can be no due process for anyone and our constitutional Republic fails."

However, Patel, a 44-year-old with limited experience compared to other Trump Cabinet nominees, faces criticism over his purported "list of enemies" detailed in his book, Government Gangsters. His aggressive stance and promises to "persecute his enemies" have raised concerns among senators and the public alike. Additionally, other Trump nominees, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services Secretary and Tulsi Gabbard for National Intelligence Director, are also undergoing nomination hearings amidst scrutiny.

Hostage Exchanges: Israeli and Thai Nationals Freed

In an international development, [01:50] Jeanine Herbst reported the release of three Israeli and five Thai hostages previously held by Palestinian militants in Gaza. Reporter Pierce Kat Lansdorf detailed the exchanges at [02:28]:

Pierce Kat Lansdorf [02:28]: "A female Israeli soldier held in Gaza was paraded on a stage by Hamas gunmen before being handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross... Two other Israeli hostages, civilians, were handed over by Islamic Jihad in a chaotic scene with thousands of onlookers."

The hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees from Israeli jails. The final phase of the exchange anticipates the release of 110 Palestinian prisoners by Israel later in the day, marking a significant step towards easing tensions in the region.

Trump Proposes Migrant Facility at Guantanamo Bay

Returning to national policy, [03:09] Jeanine Herbst reported President Trump's intention to repurpose the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba as a facility to house deported migrants. According to NPR's Sasha Pfeiffer at [03:23]:

Sasha Pfeiffer [03:23]: "Trump said he would instruct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to begin preparing a 30,000 person migrant facility at Guantanamo to hold what he called, 'the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people.'"

Currently, Guantanamo houses migrants intercepted at sea, primarily from Haiti and Cuba, as part of a U.S. Naval base operation. Trump's proposal lacks specifics regarding staffing, funding, and potential construction needs, raising questions about the feasibility and capacity of the existing facilities to accommodate an additional 30,000 individuals.

Meta Settles Lawsuit with President Trump for $25 Million

In corporate news, [04:07] Jeanine Herbst announced that Meta has agreed to a $25 million settlement to resolve a lawsuit filed by President Trump. The lawsuit emerged after Meta suspended Trump's accounts following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, with Trump alleging violations of his First Amendment rights.

This settlement represents a significant concession by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who had previously maintained a contentious relationship with Trump. The resolution comes after years of hostilities, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over social media platforms and political expression.

Stock Market Overview

Concluding the episode, Jeanine Herbst provided a brief market update at [04:07]:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up 68 points
• NASDAQ: Down 99 points
• S&P 500: Decreased by 2 points

These mixed movements reflect the current economic uncertainties and investor sentiment influenced by recent political and international events.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from NPR's "NPR News Now" episode released on January 30, 2025, providing a comprehensive overview for those who did not tune in.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. The 67 people on board an American Airlines commuter jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter are all feared dead after a collision over the icy waters of the Potomac River 60 south of Washington, D.C. last night. NPR's Frank Langford has more.

[Frank Langford]

Officials say they switched from a rescue to a recovery operation after finding no survivors so far. Speaking at a news conference, American Airlines CEO Robert Isom asked what could be a key question in the investigation. Referring to American Eagle Flight 5342, he.

[Robert Isom]

Said this it collided with a military aircraft on an otherwise normal approach and at this time we don't know why the military aircraft came into the path of the PSA aircraft.

[Frank Langford]

PSA Airlines is a subsidiary of American. Isom said the fuselage to the plane broke into several pieces and settled into waist deep water upside down. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into what caused the crash. Frank Lankford, NPR News, Reagan National Airport.

[Jeanine Herbst]

President Trump's nominee to be the head of the FBI is on Capitol Hill for his nomination hearing. Kash Patel, who promised to persecute his enemies, told the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning that if confirmed, he would fully investigate where there is a constitutional factual basis to do so.

[Kash Patel]

Due process must be provided without bias to all Americans. And if we cannot provide due process to the worst, then there can be no due process for anyone and our constitutional Republic fails.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The 44 year old is also facing questions about his list of enemies that's in his book Government Gangsters and his relative lack of experience to other key Trump Cabinet nominees are also on the Hill for nomination hearings. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. For Health and Human Services secretary and national intelligence director nominee Tulsi Gabbard. Three more Israelis have been released by Palestinian militants and returned to Israel after being held for more than 15 months in Gaza. Five Thai hostages taken into Gaza at the same time were also released. In exchange, Palestinian prisoners and detainees will be freed from Israeli jails. And Pierce Kat Lansdorf reports the final.

[Kat Lansdorf]

Female Israeli soldier held in Gaza was paraded on a stage by mass Hamas gunmen before being handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross. The handoff happened in the northern city of Jabalia, the center of intense fighting and Israeli bombardment just weeks ago. Two other Israeli hostages, civilians, were handed over by Islamic Jihad, a smaller militant group in Gaza, in the southern city of Khan Yunis, in a chaotic scene with thousands of onlookers. The five Thai hostages who had been working in Israel as agricultural laborers when they were taken were also handed over there in exchange for the Israeli hostages. 110 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are expected to be released by Israel later in the day. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jeanine Herbst]

This is NPR News from Washington. President Trump says he plans to use the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to house deported migrants. NPR Sasha Pfeiffer has more.

[Sasha Pfeiffer]

Trump said he would instruct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to begin preparing a 30,000 person migrant facility at Guantanamo to hold what he called, quote, the worst criminal illegal aliens threatening the American people. Guantanamo has for decades had a facility used to hold migrants intercepted at sea, usually Haitians and Cubans. It's part of the US Naval base there, not part of the US Military prison that holds suspected foreign terrorists detained after the 911 attacks. Trump offered few other details, including how the facility would be staffed and funded and if any new construction would be required. It's unclear whether the existing migrant facility at Guantanamo currently has 30,000 beds available. Sacha Pfeiffer, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Meta has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Trump against the social media company after it suspended his accounts following the deadly January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Trump sued after he was suspended from Facebook and Instagram in the wake of the riot, claiming the action violated his First Amendment rights. It's the latest example of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg yielding to Trump after years of hostilities before he was elected. Trump wrote if Zuckerberg crossed him, he could be thrown in prison, but for the rest of his life. Wall street is trading in mixed territory at this hour. The dow is up 68 points, the NASDAQ down 99, the S&P 500 down 2. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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