NPR News: 01-31-2025 9AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: January 31, 2025, 9 AM EST

1. Tragic Mid-Air Crash Near Washington D.C.

Timestamp [00:16 - 01:24]

In a devastating event, a regional American Airlines jet collided mid-air with a military helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington D.C., resulting in the loss of 67 lives. Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with dozens of bodies recovered to date. Among the victims were six members of an elite figure skating club from Boston, accompanied by their parents and coaches.

Becky Sullivan reports on the scene:

Becky Sullivan [00:43]: "Wichita had just hosted the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, which ran through last Sunday. After the competition, US Figure Skating had held a developmental camp for promising young skaters..."

Doug Zeghibe, head of the Skating Club of Boston, expressed the club's devastation:

Doug Zeghibe [01:00]: "I think our current members, leaders, management team, I don't know what the word is. Is it wrecked? Is it devastated? Folks are just stunned by this."

The tragedy has deeply affected the figure skating community, with the loss of young talents and dedicated coaches underscoring the profound impact of the crash.

2. Trump's Project 2025 Influences Early Executive Actions

Timestamp [01:24 - 02:11]

Despite President Donald Trump's initial denials, elements of the conservative policy agenda known as Project 2025 are emerging in his early executive actions. This includes an order to pause federal funding, which, although later rescinded, aligns with Project 2025's objectives.

Franco Ordonez explains:

Franco Ordonez [01:47]: "Of course, that order was rescinded, but the idea is came from Project 2025. Also part of Project 2025 was the proposal to end birthright citizenship as well as diversity, equity and inclusion programs."

Project 2025 outlines comprehensive plans to reshape the federal workforce, including measures such as instituting a hiring freeze and reclassifying workers, signaling a significant shift in federal policies and priorities.

3. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Faces Scrutiny Over Vaccine Views

Timestamp [02:11 - 03:13]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, endured a challenging Senate confirmation hearing focused on his stance on vaccines. Senator Angela Brooks confronted Kennedy regarding his past statements suggesting different vaccine schedules for Black and White individuals.

During the hearing, Kennedy struggled to provide a clear response:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [02:41]: "So what different vaccine schedule would you say I should have received?"

He referenced research from the Mayo Clinic and an anti-vaccine advocacy film produced by his organization, though experts from the Mayo Clinic clarified that their studies do not support claims of increased vaccine side effects or vulnerabilities among African Americans.

4. Appeals Panel Upholds New York’s Voting Rights Act

Timestamp [03:13 - 04:02]

An appeals panel has overturned a state appeals court's decision that deemed New York's Voting Rights Act unconstitutional. The initial ruling had argued that the state's protections against racial discrimination in voting violated the U.S. Constitution's equal protection clause. However, the appeals panel maintained that the law is valid as it allows any racial minority group within a community to file lawsuits if their collective voting power is diluted.

Hansi Lo Wang reports:

Hansi Lo Wang [03:33]: "Eight states have passed state voting rights acts, and advocates are pushing for more as critics of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 keep chipping away at that landmark law in court."

This reversal upholds New York's commitment to safeguarding voting rights against racial discrimination amidst ongoing national debates over election laws.

5. FDA Approves New Non-Addictive Pain Medication

Timestamp [04:02 - 04:54]

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a groundbreaking non-addictive pain medication developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals. This new drug is designed to treat pain resulting from injuries or surgeries without the addictive risks associated with opioid painkillers.

Key points include:

• The approval followed two large clinical trials involving approximately 1,000 postoperative patients.
• The medication works by targeting nerves outside the brain, effectively blocking pain signals without entering the brain, thereby eliminating the potential for addiction.

Market Impact:

• Asian markets showed slight gains with Japan's Nikkei and Hong Kong's Hang Seng both up by 0.1%.
• U.S. futures indicated positive momentum, with Dow futures up by 0.2% and Nasdaq futures rising by 0.8%.

Jeanine Herbst concludes:

Jeanine Herbst [04:02]: "The company says it only works on nerves outside of the brain, blocking pain signals and can't get inside of the brain."

This approval marks a significant advancement in pain management, offering a safer alternative for patients and potentially reducing the reliance on addictive opioid medications.

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This comprehensive summary captures the key developments from the January 31, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, providing an in-depth overview of the day's most pressing news topics.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Searchers on the Potomac river today continue to look for more victims of the American Airlines regional jet mid air crash with a military helicopter outside Washington, D.C. wednesday. 67 people were killed. Dozens of bodies have been recovered so far. Six of those on board the plane were members of an elite figure skating club in Boston, along with parents and coaches. NPR's Becky Sullivan has more.

[Becky Sullivan]

Wichita had just hosted the U.S. figure Skating Championships, which ran through last Sunday. After the competition, US Figure Skating had held a developmental camp for promising young skaters. Two of those aboard the flight were teenagers who took part in the camp, said Doug Zeghibe, the head of the Skating Club of Boston. They were flying home with their mothers.

[Doug Zeghibe]

I think our current members, leaders, management team, I don't know what the word is. Is it wrecked? Is it devastated? Folks are just stunned by this.

[Becky Sullivan]

The two coaches were a husband and wife pair of Russian figure skaters, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Nomov. Besides the six affiliated with the Boston Club, there were other skaters and family members on the plane, Zeghib said, more than a dozen in total. Becky Sullivan in Pierre News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

On the campaign trail, Donald Trump swore he had nothing to do with the conservative policy agenda known as Project 2025, calling the proposals absolutely ridiculous. But as NPR's Franco Ordonez reports, just two weeks in office, many of those policies are now popping up in Trump's early executive actions, including the order to pause federal funding.

[Franco Ordonez]

Of course, that order was rescinded, but the idea is came from Project 2025. Also part of Project 2025 was the proposal to end birthright citizenship as well as diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Project 2025 also offers detailed plans to reshape the federal workforce, including instituting a hiring freeze and reclassifying workers.

[Jeanine Herbst]

NPR's Franco Ordonez reporting. President Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Faced a second day of questions yesterday at a Senate confirmat focusing on his views on vaccines, along with his previous comments about childhood vaccinations and race. NPR's Will Stone has more.

[Angela Brooks]

Senator ANGELA Also Brooks, a Democrat from Maryland, confronted Kennedy on his past claims, which are recorded, that black people should have a different vaccine schedule than white people.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

So what different vaccine schedule would you say I should have received?

[Angela Brooks]

Kennedy did not directly answer her question. He did seem to cite research from the Mayo Clinic that was also brought up in a movie produced by the anti vaccine advocacy group Kennedy founded, which pushed the debunk claim between autism and vaccines. The author of the study at Mayo told NPR previously their research did show a more robust immune response in African Americans, but did not find evidence of increased side effects and that any claim of increased vulnerability is not supported by the science.

[Jeanine Herbst]

You're listening to NPR News. In New York, an appeals panel has struck down a controversial court ruling that was threatening state level voting rights around the country. As NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports, that ruling found that New York's legal protections against racial discrimination in voting violate the U.S. constitution.

[Hansi Lo Wang]

Eight states have passed state voting rights acts, and advocates are pushing for more as critics of the federal Voting Rights act of 1965 keep chipping away at that landmark law in court. A state judge struck down New York's Voting Rights act in November for violating the U.S. constitution's equal protection clause. But now an appeals panel has reversed that ruling after finding the law allows any racial group that makes up a minority in their community to file a lawsuit claiming their collective voting power has been diluted. Han Zi Lo Wang, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Federal health regulators have approved a new non addictive pain medication. The Food and Drug Administration this week approved a new drug from Vertex Pharmaceuticals that will be used to treat pain from an injury or surgery. This after the company conducted two large clinical trials with around 1000 patients who had pain from surgery. And unlike opioid pain medicines, it can't become addictive because the company says it only works on nerves outside of the brain, blocking pain signals and can't get inside of the brain. Rural financial markets, Asian markets were higher by the close. The Nikkei in Japan and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong, both up one tenth of a percent. US Futures contracts are trading higher at this hour. Dow futures up about 0.2%. Nasdaq futures are up about 0.8%. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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