NPR News: 02-17-2025 8PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: February 18, 2025 – Comprehensive Episode Summary

NPR News Now delivered a concise yet comprehensive update on the latest national and international events. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the February 17, 2025, episode released on February 18, 2025.

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1. White House Seeks Supreme Court Intervention Over Whistleblower Office Leadership

Host: Jack Spear
Reporter: Kerry Johnson
Timestamp: [00:19] - [00:36]

The episode opens with a significant political development where the White House is actively seeking the Supreme Court's intervention to dismiss Hampton Dellinger, the head of the federal government's Office for Whistleblowers.

• Kerry Johnson reports, “[President Trump] moved to fire the head of the Office of Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger earlier this month, but a federal judge blocked the move, at least for now” ([00:36]).

This legal maneuver is portrayed as a critical test of the president's executive authority. The Trump administration frames the lawsuit as an "unprecedented assault on the separation of powers," arguing that the president's ability to manage the executive branch is being impeded. Contrarily, federal law restricts the president's power to dismiss the special counsel to cases of inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance—none of which were cited in Dellinger's termination email.

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2. Delta Air Lines Jet Incident in Toronto

Host: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [01:12] - [01:36]

A regional Delta Air Lines jet from Minneapolis experienced a troubling incident upon landing in Toronto, resulting in the aircraft ending up upside down on the runway.

• Jack Spear reports, “Delta Air Lines says 18 people were hurt after one of its regional jets from Minneapolis coming in for a landing in Toronto ended up on the Runway upside down” ([01:12]).

Despite the severity of the crash, all 80 passengers and crew members were accounted for, and no fatalities were reported. Deborah Flynn, President and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, commended the emergency response, stating, “[It] could have been much worse” ([01:36]).

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3. Investigation into the Eaton Fire and Power Company Involvement

Host: Jack Spear & Kyra Eisner
Reporters: Kyra Eisner (Investigation)
Timestamp: [01:54] - [02:59]

The episode delves into the aftermath of the Eaton fire in Los Angeles, which remained uncontrolled for over three weeks, leading to extensive destruction and loss of life.

• Jack Spear mentions, “Delta says it canceled its flights to and from the airport for the rest of this” ([01:54]).

Kyra Eisner provides an investigative perspective, explaining how faulty power infrastructure exacerbated the wildfire's impact:

• “[Power lines] can cause problems by sparking or falling down. That's dangerous for first responders and can also start new fires” ([02:15]).

An analysis of nearly 100 hours of first responder radio traffic revealed that Southern California Edison failed to swiftly shut off power in critical neighborhoods, contributing to the fire’s escalation.

• Kyra Eisner concludes, “That evidence shows the power company, Southern California Edison wasn't able to quickly shut off power in two key neighborhoods, and that live power lines led to new fires” ([02:40]).

The Eaton fire devastated approximately 10,000 structures and resulted in 17 deaths, highlighting significant challenges in utility management during natural disasters.

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4. Severe Weather Impacts and Economic Concerns in Germany

Host: Jack Spear
Reporter: Jeff London
Timestamp: [02:59] - [03:57]

The United States continues to grapple with harsh weather conditions, including icy cold snaps across the Midwest and Northern Plains, following a deadly flash flood storm in the East that claimed at least 13 lives. These weather events have led to the closure of U.S. financial markets for the day.

On the international front, Germany faces economic uncertainties as a new government prepares to take office following a snap election set for later this month.

• Jack Spear states, “When a new government takes over in Germany later this month following a snap election, the economy is likely to be [a] job one” ([02:59]).

Germany has not experienced significant economic growth in five years, with business leaders citing a shortage of skilled workers, excessive bureaucracy, inadequate infrastructure upgrades, heightened competition from China, and soaring energy prices due to Russia's conflict with Ukraine as primary concerns.

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5. Support for Recently Fired Federal Employees Through the Arts

Reporter: Jeff London
Timestamp: [03:57] - [04:43]

Amidst government upheaval, local businesses and arts organizations are extending support to affected federal employees.

• Jeff London reports, “The only theater center in Maryland, which opened Sara Bareilles Waitress on Sunday, is reaching out to some of its most loyal audience members” ([03:57]).

The theater has announced a compassionate initiative offering two free tickets to "Waitress With a Twist" for any federal employee or contractor who was recently terminated or furloughed. Interested individuals can present a notice of termination at the box office an hour before showtime, subject to availability. This gesture reflects the community's effort to alleviate the personal impacts of federal workforce changes through cultural engagement.

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6. Pope Francis Hospitalized with Respiratory Infection

Host: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [04:43] - [04:58]

In international news, the Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis is battling a respiratory infection.

• Jack Spear states, “The Vatican is reporting Pope Francis is suffering from a respiratory infection. The 88-year-old pontiff was taken to the hospital last week” ([04:43]).

The 88-year-old pontiff remains hospitalized, with no specified duration for his recovery. This news has significant implications for the Vatican and the global Catholic community, as Pope Francis has been a pivotal figure in religious and international dialogues.

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This episode of NPR News Now provides listeners with a broad spectrum of current events, from high-stakes political battles and emergency incidents to supportive community actions and notable international news. Through detailed reporting and insightful analysis, the podcast ensures that listeners are well-informed on critical issues shaping the world.

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The White House is asking the Supreme Court to intervene on its bid to fire the head of the federal government's Office for Whistleblowers. NPR's Kerry Johnson reports. The case sets up a test of the president's executive power.

[Kerry Johnson]

President Trump moved to fire the head of the Office of Special Counsel Hampton Dellinger earlier this month, but a federal judge blocked the move, at least for now. In the court filing, the Trump administration calls the case an unprecedented assault on the separation of powers. The Trump administration claims the president has the power to remove government officers and the delay hurts his ability to manage the executive branch. Federal law says the special counsel may be removed by the president only for inefficiency, neglect of duty or malfeasance. None of those concerns were cited in an email dismissing Dellinger. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Spear]

Delta air Lines says 18 people were hurt after one of its regional jets from Minneapolis coming in for a landing in Toronto ended up on the Runway upside down. Officials at Toronto's Pearson Airport say all of the 80 passengers and crew aboard the plane are accounted for, according to initial reports, and no fatalities. Deborah Flynn is president and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority. She praised those involved, saying it could have been much worse.

[Sponsor Announcer]

No airport CEO wants to have these type of press conferences, but this is exactly what our emergency, our operations and our first responder partners are all practiced and trained for. And again, this outcome is in due part to their heroic work, and I thank them profusely.

[Jack Spear]

It's not yet known what caused the incident. Delta says it canceled its flights to and from the airport for the rest of this. Even after the Eaton fire broke out in Los Angeles, it was not fully contained for more than three weeks. NPR's investigations team transcribed hours of first responder radio to better understand how the power company was involved. NPR's Kyra Eisner has more.

[Kyra Eisner]

When high winds and dry conditions whip up a wildfire, power lines can cause problems by sparking or falling down. That's dangerous for first responders and can also start new fires. NPR analyzed almost 100 hours of radio traffic exchanged among firefighters responding to the Eaton fire.

[Jack Spear]

Delta Branch 3 Hey, I just met with Edison's reps. They're not going to be able to.

[Jeff London]

Guarantee shutdown in here.

[Kyra Eisner]

That evidence shows the power company, Southern California Edison wasn't able to quickly shut off power in two key neighborhoods, and that live power lines led to new fires through the Eaton fire burned down about 10,000 structures and led to the deaths of 17 people. Kiara Eisner, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

Icy cold weather has continued to hold much of the country in its grip. Harsh weather hit the country's midsection from the Rockies to the Northern Plains. It follows a storm over the weekend that caused flash flooding in parts of the eastern U.S. claiming at least 13 lives there. U.S. financial markets are closed today. This is NPR. When a new government takes over in Germany later this month following a snap election, the economy is likely to be job one. The country has not seen a significant economic growth in five years, with business leaders complaining about a shortage of skilled workers, too much bureaucracy and not enough infrastructure upgrades. Increased competition from China, along with high energy prices from Russia's war against Ukraine, has also hit Germany. The only theater center which produces shows in the Washington, D.C. suburbs has announced an extension of its production of the musical Waitress With a Twist. Recently fired federal employees can get a pair of tickets to see the show for free. Jeff London reports.

[Jeff London]

The upheaval in the federal government in Washington, D.C. has ripple effects outside the workforce. It extends to local businesses, too, and local arts organizations are not immune. Now, the only theater center in Maryland, which opened Sara Bareilles Waitress on Sunday, is reaching out to some of its most loyal audience members. The theater says any federal employee or contractor who was recently fired or furloughed can go to the box office with a notice of termination and claim two free tickets to the show, subject to availability an hour before curtain time. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London.

[Jack Spear]

The Vatican is reporting Pope Francis is suffering from a respiratory infection. The 88 year old pontiff was taken to the hospital last week. He's expected to remain hospitalized for an undetermined amount time. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

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