NPR News Now: February 19, 2025, 11 PM EST

Host: Shea Stevens
Release Date: February 20, 2025

1. Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship Protections

Shea Stevens opens the evening with a significant legal decision impacting immigration policy in the United States.

• Key Points:

  • The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied an emergency request by the Trump administration to revoke birthright citizenship for certain children of immigrants.
  • This decision supports a prior ruling by a federal judge in Seattle, potentially escalating the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • Concurrently, the Trump administration has issued an executive order aimed at expanding presidential control over independent regulatory agencies.

• Notable Quote:

  • At 00:18, Shea Stevens states, “The decision upholds a ruling by a federal judge in Seattle,” highlighting the judiciary's role in maintaining citizenship rights.

2. Trump Administration's Executive Order on Regulatory Agencies

Danielle Kurtzleben provides an in-depth analysis of the Trump administration's latest executive order affecting independent regulatory bodies.

• Key Points:

  • Independent agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) are designed to operate with a degree of autonomy from presidential influence.
  • The new executive order mandates that these agencies must obtain White House approval for new regulations and grants the administration greater control over their budgets.
  • This move follows previous actions by President Trump, including the dismissal of top officials from agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), prompting ongoing legal challenges.

• Notable Quote:

  • At 00:50, Danielle Kurtzleben remarks, “Independent agencies include well-known entities like the SEC and the FDIC,” emphasizing the significance of these bodies in federal governance.

3. Bird Flu Outbreak and USDA's Response

Windsor Johnston reports on the spread of bird flu among poultry and dairy cattle in the United States and the administration's efforts to control the outbreak.

• Key Points:

  • The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is actively rehiring workers who were previously terminated as part of cost-cutting measures, aiming to enhance efforts to manage the bird flu outbreak.
  • The virus has affected both chicken flocks and dairy cows, leading to increased egg prices.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed nearly 70 human cases of bird flu over recent months.
  • Political tension arises as Democrats criticize the administration, attributing the initial firings to actions by Elon Musk and his company Doge.

• Notable Quote:

  • At 01:37, Windsor Johnston states, “The USDA is in the process of rehiring the employees who were sent termination letters,” highlighting the administration’s shift in strategy to combat the outbreak.

4. Hamas Announces Return of Israeli Hostages' Bodies

Hadil Al Shalchi covers the developments in Gaza regarding the fate of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

• Key Points:

  • Hamas has declared the return of four bodies of Israeli hostages, including the Bibas family—a mother and her two young sons—scheduled for Thursday.
  • The family was initially reported killed in an Israeli airstrike in November 2023, though Israeli officials have yet to confirm their deaths.
  • Hamas has increased the number of hostages to be released, doubling the initial agreement by promising six releases on Saturday.
  • Hostage families express distress, with the Bibas family stating, “their journey to healing would not begin until they received definitive confirmation.”

• Notable Quote:

  • At 02:34, Hadil Al Shalchi quotes, “Their journey to healing would not begin until they received definitive confirmation,” underscoring the pain and uncertainty faced by the families.

5. Midair Collision Over Arizona and MLB Dodgers' Dominance

Shea Stevens and Becky Sullivan discuss a recent plane collision and the Los Angeles Dodgers' positioning in Major League Baseball.

• Plane Collision:

  • Two small planes collided midair over Marana Regional Airport in southern Arizona, resulting in two fatalities and two injuries.
  • This incident adds to a series of four major plane crashes in North America within the past month, with only the recent Delta crash in Toronto avoiding fatalities.

• MLB Dodgers' Payroll and World Series Hopes:

  • The Los Angeles Dodgers are highlighted as early favorites for winning the World Series again, fueled by significant free-agent acquisitions.
  • Their payroll has surged close to $400 million, surpassing 16 other MLB teams and exceeding the league’s luxury tax threshold designed to prevent excessive spending.
  • Becky Sullivan notes that this fiscal strategy is sustainable for the Dodgers due to their vast international fan base and lucrative television contracts, though it raises concerns about competitive balance within the league.

• Notable Quotes:

  • At 03:14, Becky Sullivan states, “The Dodgers deluge of spending has pushed LA's total payroll close to $400 million,” highlighting the financial strategies driving their success.
  • At 04:20, an unnamed Home Instead Representative comments, “The Dodgers, they're probably more profitable on a percentage basis than the old Yankees were,” discussing the sustainability of their high payroll.

6. Final Voyage of the SS United States

Shea Stevens concludes the news roundup with a maritime milestone.

• Key Points:

  • The retired ocean liner, SS United States, embarks on its final journey from Philadelphia to Mobile, Alabama.
  • The vessel is set to be transformed into the world's largest artificial reef, where it will be sunk off Florida's Gulf Coast, aiming to promote marine life and environmental benefits.

• Notable Quote:

  • At 04:37, Shea Stevens briefly mentions, “The SS United States will eventually be sunk off Florida's Gulf Coast,” summarizing the project's environmental significance.

Note: This summary excludes advertisements and non-content segments to focus solely on the substantive news discussions presented in the episode.