NPR News: 01-31-2025 11AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 31, 2025, 11 AM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst

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Mid-Air Collision Over Washington, D.C.

Overview: On Wednesday, a tragic mid-air collision occurred near Washington, D.C., involving an American Airlines regional jet and a military helicopter. The crash resulted in 67 fatalities and has left the nation in mourning.

Details:

• Investigation and Recovery Efforts:

  • Timestamp 00:14: Jeanine Herbst reports that search crews are diligently searching the Potomac River for victims.
  • Timestamp 00:37: Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), emphasizes the commitment to recovering perishable evidence:
    "We will be on scene here doing all the recovery of the perishable evidence that we need for as long as it takes."
  • The wreckage has broken into three pieces and lies in waist-deep water. Over two dozen bodies have been recovered thus far.

• Impact on the Figure Skating Community:

  • The tragedy has deeply affected the figure skating world, with the loss of young skaters, coaches, and their families.
  • Timestamp 01:07: Kristen Wright highlights the community's grief and shares insights from Aurora Michel, a coach:
    "I feel heartbroken because there are so many young lives that were lost, so many promising young lives that were lost."
  • Memorials are being set up at local ice houses, symbolizing the close-knit nature of the skating community.
  • The superintendent of Fairfax County schools expressed a plea for unity:
    "We're asking people to hold each other closer."

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President Donald Trump’s Project 2025 and Policy Directives

Overview: Amid his candidacy, former President Donald Trump has both disavowed and implemented aspects of his extensive policy agenda known as Project 2025.

Details:

• Project 2025 Insights:

  • Timestamp 01:53: Franco Ordonez explains that Project 2025 serves as a blueprint for Trump's recent policy directives, despite Trump's public disavowal of the plan.
  • Policies included:
    • Freezing federal grants.
    • Ending birthright citizenship.
    • Eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
    • Restructuring the federal workforce through hiring freezes and worker reclassification.
  • Critics argue that Project 2025 is an attempt by Trump to consolidate presidential powers. Democratic senators are using the document to challenge Trump's nominee for White House budget director, Russ Vogt.
  • The White House contends that these actions are fulfilling campaign promises rather than following a premeditated playbook.

• Imposition of Tariffs:

  • Timestamp 02:53: President Trump announced his intention to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico starting the next day. This move is expected to impact a wide range of products, including pickup trucks and guacamole dip.
  • Trump remains undecided on whether to extend these tariffs to include oil imports.

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U.S. Aid Freeze in South Africa Affects HIV Programs

Overview: President Trump's sudden decision to freeze millions of dollars in U.S. funding for HIV/AIDS programs in South Africa has caused significant confusion and disruption.

Details:

• Immediate Impact:

  • Timestamp 03:27: Kate Bartlett reports that South Africa's Health Minister, Aaron Mazzaletti, stated the country was caught off guard by the order to freeze aid for 90 days.
  • South Africa, home to nearly 6 million individuals on antiretroviral therapies, relies on approximately $400 million annually from the U.S. through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

• Response and Clarifications:

  • The South African government learned of the freeze through clinics and organizations instructed to halt their operations.
  • The State Department later reversed the decision by issuing a waiver, but uncertainties remain.
  • Globally, PEPFAR supports over 20 million people living with HIV, making the freeze a critical concern for public health initiatives.

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Resignation of Census Bureau Director Robert Santos

Overview: Robert Santos, the first Latino director of the U.S. Census Bureau, has resigned, presenting President Trump with an opportunity to appoint a successor ahead of the crucial 2030 census preparations.

Details:

• Significance of Resignation:

  • Timestamp 04:16: Jeanine Herbst highlights that Santos is stepping down before completing his five-year term, during a pivotal time for the Census Bureau.
  • The upcoming 2030 census will influence political representation and distribute trillions in federal funding nationwide.

• Background on Santos:

  • Santos was known for his vocal opposition to how Trump officials managed the 2020 census, advocating for transparent and accurate data collection.
  • His departure could lead to shifts in the agency's direction, especially concerning political appointees and census methodologies.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, sponsor messages, and non-content segments to focus on the critical news topics discussed during the episode.

Transcript

[Carvana Representative]

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. As crews continue to search the Potomac river for victims of Wednesday's mid air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C. the National Transportation Safety Board has retrieved the flight data and voice recorders from the plane. Todd Inman is a member of the board.

[Todd Inman]

We will be on scene here doing all the recovery of the perishable evidence that we need for as long as it takes.

[Jeanine Herbst]

He says investigators are still collecting evidence as crews work to salvage the aircraft that broke into three pieces and is in waist deep water. 67 people died in the crash. So far, more than two dozen bodies have been recovered. Meanwhile, the figure skating community is grieving the loss of young skaters, coaches and families who died. And here's Kristen Wright has more.

[Kristen Wright]

As stories emerge of the hopes and dreams of these young skaters, the world of figure skating is still in disbelief. Aurora Michel coaches in D.C. maryland and Virginia and remembers practicing with a boy who was on the plane.

[Michelle]

I feel heartbroken because there are so many young lives that were lost, so many promising young lives that were lost.

[Kristen Wright]

Michelle placed flowers at Ashburn Ice House in Northern Virginia, at a growing memorial for the rinks, skaters and a coach who died. She says the skating community is very close.

[Michelle]

And so when someone in our community is hurting, it affects all of us.

[Kristen Wright]

School officials in Virginia's Fairfax county say three of their students and six parents were also on board. The superintendent is asking people to hold each other closer. Kristen Wright, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

As a candidate, Donald Trump disavowed Project 2025, the controversial policy agenda. But in Pierce, Franco Ordonez reports many of the directives he's issued as president come from the 900 page playbook.

[Franco Ordonez]

The proposed freeze on federal grants was just the latest directive by President Trump that was outlined in Project 2025. So is a proposal to end birthright citizenship and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Project 2025 also offered detailed plans to reshape and shrink the federal workforce, including instituting a hiring freeze and reclassifying workers. Now critics see Project 2025 as a roadmap of how Trump is trying to expand his presidential powers. And Democratic senators are pointing to the playbook as justification for trying to block Trump's pick for White House budget director Russ Vogt. But the White House and allies discount any overlap, charging that Trump is simply carrying out promises that he made on the campaign trail. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And President Trump says he's planning to place 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico as soon as tomorrow. That could drive up the price of everything from pickup trucks to guacamole dip. Trump, though, says he hasn't decided yet if the tariffs will include oil imports. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. In South Africa, there has been widespread confusion after President Trump froze then unfroze millions of dollars and funding for life saving HIV programs. Kate Bartlett has more from Johannesburg.

[Kate Bartlett]

South Africa's health minister Aaron Mazzaletti said his country was blindsided by President Trump's initial order to freeze aid for 90 days. The minister said he sought clarity from the US embassy but received no response. South Africa has the highest number of HIV positive people in the world with nearly 6 million on antiretroviral therapies. It receives about $400 million a year from the U.S. through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR. Mazzoletti said his government only found out about the freeze through clinics and other organisations that had received orders to stop work. Mazzoletti said things were still unclear after the State Department did a sudden about turn, issuing a waiver. Globally, PEPFAR directly supports more than 20 million people living with HIV. For NPR News, I'm Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg.

[Jeanine Herbst]

NPR has learned the director of the Census Bureau, Robert Santos, is resigning, giving President Trump an early opportunity to nominate a new political appointee to lead the agency. Before becoming director, Santos, the first Latino in the job, was a vocal opponent of the way Trump officials handled the 2020 census. He's cutting short a five year appointment during key preparations for the 2030 census that will be used to redistribute political representation along with trillions of dol in federal funding across the country. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News from Washington.

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