NPR News: 02-13-2025 8AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: February 13, 2025 – Detailed Summary

Host: Korva Coleman

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US-India Relations: President Trump Welcomes Prime Minister Modi

[00:16]
Korva Coleman opens the episode from Washington, reporting that President Trump is hosting India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House. The primary agenda centers on the impact of tariffs on both nations' economies.

[00:28]
NPR's Omkar Khandekar provides insights from Mumbai, highlighting that Narendra Modi is among the first foreign leaders to meet with Trump since his return to the White House. This meeting underscores India's significance to the U.S. Modi and Trump previously enjoyed a close relationship during Trump's first term. However, tensions arise from Trump's concerns over high Indian tariffs. Analysts suggest that Trump aims to address India's substantial $50 billion trade surplus by encouraging India to increase U.S. arms purchases and investments. Concurrently, India appears interested in expanding legal migration channels to the United States.

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US-Mexico Trade Tensions Escalate Over Tariffs

[01:02]
President Trump emphasizes the implementation of reciprocal tariffs, claiming to rectify unfair trade practices where other nations tax American exports. He asserts, "Any retaliatory tariffs would come on top of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that Trump declared this week."

[01:37]
Conversely, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum opts for diplomacy over confrontation. NPR's Ada Peralta reports that Sheinbaum is advocating for dialogue before implementing retaliatory tariffs. "Sheinbaum wants U.S. and Mexican officials to talk," Peralta notes. The Mexican government remains optimistic that Trump's proposed tariffs on aluminum and steel will not materialize, labeling them as "unjust" due to Mexico's trade deficit with the U.S. Sheinbaum expressed readiness for "coordination and collaboration," emphasizing a stance against "interference or subordination."

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Controversy Surrounding Trump's Education Secretary Nominee

[02:17]
Korva Coleman shifts focus to domestic affairs, highlighting the Senate confirmation hearing of Linda McMahon, President Trump’s nominee for Education Secretary. McMahon, formerly at World Wrestling Entertainment, faces scrutiny over her educational qualifications. NPR's Janaki Mehta elucidates that while McMahon has not amassed extensive experience in education, Trump's objective appears to be the "dismantling of the Federal Education Agency." Mehta remarks, "The elimination of the department would require an act of Congress," and notes Trump's statement, "I hope she will work herself out of a job."

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Confirmation for Health and Human Services Sparks Opposition

[02:52]
The Senate prepares for a confirmation vote on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the role of Health and Human Services Secretary. Despite passing an initial Senate test vote, Kennedy faces strong opposition from Senate Democrats. Their primary contention lies in his longstanding stance against vaccines, a position that raises concerns about his suitability for the role overseeing public health.

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Diplomatic Efforts Amidst the Ukraine Conflict

[02:52]
President Trump announces that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is traveling to Munich to facilitate discussions regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. This move follows Trump's extensive hour and a half conversation with Russian President Putin the previous day. Additionally, Trump communicated via phone with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, with administration officials expressing skepticism about Ukraine's ability to reclaim all territories occupied by Russia during the invasion.

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DOJ Sues New York Over Immigrant Driver’s License Law

[03:57]
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) initiates a lawsuit against New York Governor Kathy Hochul, State Attorney General Letitia James, and Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Mark Schroeder. The lawsuit challenges a 2019 state law that permits migrants to obtain driver's licenses using foreign documents. Attorney General Pamela Bondi condemned the law, stating, "New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops. It stops. Today." In response, Governor Hochul dismissed the suit as "smoke and mirrors," defending the law's legality and its repeated upholding in courts.

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Severe Weather Alerts Across the Central United States

[04:37]
Forecasts indicate extreme frigid conditions enveloping the central U.S., with wind chills dropping below zero in the Texas Panhandle. A formidable storm system is moving through the southern regions, unleashing heavy rainfall and prompting flood watches and warnings. Residents are advised to stay informed and take necessary precautions against the adverse weather conditions.

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This comprehensive overview encapsulates the key developments reported in the February 13, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, providing listeners with essential insights into international relations, domestic policy debates, legal battles over immigration, and severe weather alerts affecting the United States.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump welcomes India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House today. The two leaders are expected to discuss the effects of tariffs on both nations. NPR's Omkar Khandekar has more.

[Omkar Khandekar]

India's Narendra Modi is one of the first foreign leaders to meet with Trump since he returned to the White House, which Indian officials hope is a sign of India's importance to Washington. Modi enjoyed a close relationship with the president during his first term. Trump has complained about high Indian tariffs, and analysts say he would want India to balance their $50 billion trade surplus by purchasing arms and investing in the U.S. the Indian government appears to seek more avenues for legal migration to the US Omkar Khandekar, NPR News, Mumbai.

[Korva Coleman]

President Trump has been talking this morning about tariffs. Writing online, he says today is the big one, reciprocal tariffs. He's long fumed about other nations that put taxes on American goods exported to their nations. Trump claims this will make things more fair. Any retaliatory tariffs would come on top of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that Trump declared this week. Meanwhile, Mexico says it is not yet ready to slap retaliatory tariffs on the U.S. nPR's Ada Peralta reports. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is trying a diplomatic route first.

[Ada Peralta]

Sheinbaum says instead of beginning a trade war by announcing retaliatory measures, she wants U.S. and Mexican officials to talk. Indeed, she said Mexican Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente is set to speak to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Mexican government is betting the increased tariffs on aluminum and steel announced by President Trump will never take effect. The government has called them unjust, in part because Mexico runs a trade deficit with the U.S. mexico is ready to talk and negotiate. We're ready for coordination and collaboration, she said, but without interference or subordination. Ada Pralta, NPR News, Mexico City.

[Korva Coleman]

President Trump's choice to be education secretary will be questioned today in her Senate confirmation hearing. Linda McMahon is best known for leading World Wrestling Entertainment. For decades, she has scanned experience in education. Nevertheless, NPO's Janaki Mehta says Trump wants her to dismantle the Federal Education Agency.

[Janaki Mehta]

First of all, the elimination of the department would require an act of Congress. But McMahon's confirmed her first order of business will probably be to slim the department down further. In fact, on Tuesday, President Trump said he hopes she will work herself out of a job.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Janaki Mehta reporting. The full Senate is set to hold a confirmation vote today on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. To be health and Human Human Services secretary. He's already passed a Senate test vote. Senate Democrats have strongly opposed Kennedy. They cite his years of work against vaccines. You're listening to NPR News. President Trump says Secretary of State Marco Rubio is going to Munich today. That's where Trump says Rubio will work to set up a meeting to discuss the war in Ukraine. That comes after Trump talked with Russian President Putin yesterday for an hour and a half. Trump also spoke by phone to Ukraine's President Volodymyr. Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump administration officials say it's unrealistic for Ukraine to retrieve all the land Russia has taken by invasion. The U.S. justice Department is suing New York's governor and state attorney general. This is over a state law that makes it easier for immigrants without legal status to obtain a New York driver's license. NPR's Brian Mann explains.

[Brian Mann]

Just days after her Senate confirmation, Attorney General Pamela Bondi made the announcement as the lawsuit was being filed in federal court in Albany, New York.

[Pamela Bondi]

New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops. It stops. Today.

[Brian Mann]

The DOJ lawsuit targets New York's Governor Kathy Hochul, state Attorney General Letitia James, and Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Mark Schroeder over a state law passed in 2019 that allowed migrants to obtain a driver's license using foreign documents. In a statement, Governor Hochul called the suit smoke and mirrors and said the law has already been upheld by the courts time and again. Brian Mann, NPR News, New York.

[Korva Coleman]

Forecasters say frigid weather is blanketing the central US Wind chills are below zero in the Texas Panhandle. A powerful line of storms is pulling through the south, pouring heavy rain and triggering flood watches and warnings. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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