NPR News: 02-11-2025 10AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: February 11, 2025, 10 AM EST

On this morning’s episode of NPR News Now, host Korva Coleman delivers a comprehensive overview of the latest national and international developments. The episode covers significant geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, critical shifts in U.S. education policy, escalating trade conflicts, influential statements from global religious leaders, environmental policy changes, and major weather warnings affecting the United States. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics discussed.

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1. Tensions Escalate in the Middle East

Jordan’s King Abdullah to Visit the White House

King Abdullah of Jordan is scheduled to visit the White House, marking a highly anticipated meeting with President Donald Trump. The discussions are set against a backdrop of ongoing Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Trump has made contentious demands regarding the situation in Gaza, which have been met with resistance from both Jordan and Egypt.

Hostage Situation in Gaza

President Trump has publicly insisted that all hostages held in Gaza be returned to Israel by Saturday, threatening severe consequences if his demands are not met. At [00:45], NPR’s Kat Lansdorf reports:

"[Trump] has demanded that Jordan and Egypt, except all Palestinians now living in Gaza, a suggestion both countries have rejected."

Trump added, “[...] all hell is going to break out" if hostages are not released ([00:45]). This statement has heightened fears of increased conflict in the region.

Ceasefire Fragility

The fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, brokered with U.S. support, stipulates the gradual release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian detainees. However, Hamas has postponed the release of three hostages as part of the ceasefire agreement, citing Israel’s alleged violations of the truce. Israel has responded by placing its troops on heightened alert in Gaza, indicating the tense and uncertain nature of the ceasefire’s future ([00:45]).

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2. U.S. Education Department Cuts Impact Learning Programs

Shutting Down the Institute of Education Sciences (IES)

In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration has decided to cut funding to the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), a crucial research arm within the U.S. Department of Education. NPR’s Janaki Mehta explains the implications of this decision at [01:47]:

"There's some high quality digital tools that are already being used in classrooms in many states to measure how kids can make up ground in math. It's part of a study that IES was conducting and now that that contract is canceled, the study is going to be cut short and the tools could soon be pulled from classrooms."

The termination of IES threatens to dismantle vital educational programs that support classroom learning and student assessment, potentially hindering advancements in educational methodologies and student performance evaluation.

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3. Trade Conflicts Stir Market Turmoil

U.S. Tariffs Draw Retaliation from Trading Partners

The implementation of new 25% tariffs on imported steel and aluminum by President Trump has sparked promises of retaliation from U.S. trading partners, notably the European Union. NPR’s Scott Horsley reports at [02:23]:

"The European Union says the president's new 25% taxes on imported steel and aluminum will not go unanswered. EU leader Ursula von der Leyen says the trading bloc will push back with its own on US exports in order to protect European workers, businesses, and consumers."

This trade battle mirrors previous conflicts under Trump’s administration, which economists argue have cost U.S. manufacturing jobs. The Dow Jones Industrial Average reflected investor concerns, falling nearly 100 points in early trading ([02:06]).

Federal Reserve’s Stance on Interest Rates

Amidst the trade tensions, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is set to testify before a Senate committee. Powell has indicated that the Federal Reserve is not in a hurry to reduce interest rates further, citing persistent inflation and a low unemployment rate as factors necessitating a cautious approach ([02:23]).

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4. Influential Voices Speak on Immigration and Environmental Policies

Pope Francis Condemns Mass Deportations

Pope Francis has openly criticized the Trump administration’s plans to conduct mass deportations of undocumented migrants in the United States. In a letter to U.S. Bishops, the pontiff stated:

"Forcibly removing people based on their documented status strips them of inherent dignity. This [...] will end badly" ([03:04]).

The Pope also disagreed with Vice President Vance’s theological justification for deportation, highlighting the moral and ethical concerns surrounding the administration's immigration policies.

Trump’s Executive Order on Plastic Straws

In an environmental policy reversal, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at rolling back former President Joe Biden’s initiative to reduce plastic pollution. NPR’s Jacob Benston details this move at [03:54]:

"Trump says we're going back to plastic. On Truth Social, he complained about paper straws that disgustingly dissolve in your mouth."

The executive order eliminates the provision for paper straws in federal buildings, a part of Biden’s plan to phase out single-use plastics by 2027. Activist Jackie Nunez welcomed the attention to single-use plastics despite disagreements with the policy ([04:18]):

"We use plastic straws, we're literally drinking in plastic particles and chemicals."

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5. Severe Winter Storms Set to Impact the U.S.

Winter Storm Warnings Issued Nationwide

A powerful winter storm is projected to sweep through the central and eastern regions of the United States. The National Weather Service has issued winter storm warnings and advisories spanning from Colorado to Delaware. Areas are expected to experience heavy snowfall and significant ice accumulation over the coming days, posing challenges to travel and daily activities ([04:31]).

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provides listeners with a nuanced and in-depth look at critical issues shaping the national and global landscape. From escalating geopolitical tensions and impactful policy changes to environmental initiatives and severe weather forecasts, the program ensures that audiences are well-informed about the events unfolding around them.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Jordan's King Abdullah will visit the White House this morning. His meeting with President Trump is highly anticipated. Trump has demanded that Jordan and Egypt, except all Palestinians now living in Gaza, a suggestion both countries have rejected. Yesterday, Trump insisted that all hostages held in Gaza be returned to Israel by Saturday. Otherwise, he said, quote, all hell is going to break out. Hamas has delayed this Weekend's release of three hostages as stipulated in the ceasefire deal. NPR's Kat Lansdorf reports.

[Kat Wansdorf]

Trump made the comments in the Oval Office while speaking to reporters, but didn't specify what that threat meant or how it would work. He called for the ceasefire to be canceled by noon Saturday if all hostages were not released by Hamas, but also said that Israel could, quote, override it. The fragile ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which the US including members from Trump's administration helped broker, calls for Israeli hostages to be released over the course of several weeks in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Each time, Hamas has said it will delay the release of more hostages, quote, until further notice, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire agreement. Israel has said it has placed its troops in Gaza on heightened alert. Kat Wansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Korva Coleman]

An independent research arm that is based in the U.S. education Department, has essentially been shut down. The Trump administration is cutting off the Institute of education sciences, or IES. NPR's Janaki Mehta says the cuts threatened vital programs like this one used in classrooms to help children learn.

[Janaki Mehta]

There's some high quality digital tools that are already being used in classrooms in many states to measure how kids can make up ground in math. It's part of a study that IES was conducting and now that that contract is cancele, the study is going to be cut short and the tools could soon be pulled from classrooms.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Janaki Mehta reporting. Stocks opened lower this morning as U.S. trading partners are promising to retaliate for President Trump's new tariffs. NPR, Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrial average fell nearly 100 points in early trading.

[Scott Horsley]

The European Union says The president's new 25% taxes on imported steel and aluminum will not go unanswered. EU leader Ursula von der Leyen says the trading bloc will push back of its own on US Exports in order to protect European workers, businesses and consumers. The trade battle is a rerun of the one fought the last time Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Economists say those measures wound up costing US Manufacturing jobs. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is testifying before a Senate committee today. Powell has signaled the central bank is in no hurry to make further cuts to interest rates. Inflation remains somewhat higher than the Fed would like, while the unemployment rate is still very low. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

On wall is now down about 87 points. The Nasdaq is down 43. This is NPR. Pope Francis has rebuked the Trump administration's plans to conduct mass deportations of migrants who are in the United States illegally. The pontiff sent a letter to US Bishops. In it, Francis writes that forcibly removing people based on their documented status strips them of inherent dignity. And the pope says this quote will end badly. The letter also disagrees with Vice President Vance's theological view of deportation. Vance is a Roman Catholic. President Trump has signed an executive order on plastic straws. As NPR's Jacob Benston tells us, it rolls back a plan by former President Joe Biden to cut down plastic pollution.

[Jacob Benston]

Trump says we're going back to plastic. On Truth Social, he complained about paper straws that disgustingly dissolve in your mouth. He says the government will no longer paper straws or provide them in federal buildings. Activist Jackie Nunez is founder of the Last Plastic Straw campaign. She says Trump isn't the first to hate on biodegradable paper straws, but she welcomes the renewed spotlight on single use plastics.

[Jackie Nunez]

You know, we use plastic straws, we're literally drinking in plastic particles and chemicals.

[Jacob Benston]

Biden's policy would have phased out the purchasing of single use plastics by the federal government starting in 2027. Jacob Fensten, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

A powerful winter storm is headed for the central and eastern U.S. the National Weather Service says winter storm warnings and advisories spread from Colorado to Delaware. Some areas will get a lot of snow in the coming days. Others are going to get significant ice accumulation. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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