NPR News: 02-19-2025 11PM EST

Summary

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

Host: Shea Stevens
Release Date: February 20, 2025

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

Transcript

[Home Instead Representative]

This message comes from home instead. Home Instead knows that if you leave home to seek aging care, you say goodbye to where you built your life. So why not stay with help from home instead? Learn [e-mail] Home Instead for a better what's next?

[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. The 9th U.S. circuit Court of Appeals has rejected an emergency request to allow the Trump administration to end birthright citizenship for some children of immigrants. The decision upholds a ruling by a federal judge in Seattle. The matter could end up before the US Supreme Court. A Trump administration executive order aims to expand the president's authority over what is known as independent regulatory agencies. NPR's Danielle Kurtzlebeing reports.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Independent agencies include well known entities like the securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. They were set up by Congress with some insulation from presidential power. This order, signed Tuesday afternoon, would remove much of that insulation, requiring those agencies to run new regulations by the White House. In addition, the Trump administration would have power over their spending. This comes after Trump has fired top officials from some of these agencies, such as the National Labor Relations Board. Those firings have led to lawsuits, and this order could similarly spur more legal action. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

As bird flu spreads among chickens and dairy cattle in the U.S. the Trump administration says it is scrambling to rehire workers who had been trying to contain the outbreak. More from NPR's Windsor Johnston.

[Windsor Johnston]

The Department of Agriculture says it's in the process of rehiring the employees who were sent termination letters over the weekend, adding that its response to bird flu continues to be a priority. A number of Democrats were quick to criticize the Trump administration, blaming tech billionaire Elon Musk and his cost cutting unit Doge for the firings. The USDA is one of many federal agencies that are facing major cutbacks. Bird flu virus has led to outbreaks in poultry flocks and dairy cows in the U.S. it's also sent the price of eggs even higher. Over the last several months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed nearly 70 cases of bird flu in humans. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

In Gaza, Hamas says it will return the bodies of four Israeli hostages on Thursday. But as NPR's Hadil Al Shalchi reports, the news is little comfort for some hostage families.

[Hadil Al Shalchi]

Hama said that among the four bodies returned on Thursday would be the Bibas family, a mother and two young boys who were nine months old and four years old when they were kidnapped on October 7, 2023. Hamas said that they had been killed in an Israeli airstrike in November 2023, but Israeli officials have yet to confirm their deaths. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Bibas family described the last few hours as, quote, turmoil, saying that their journey to healing would not begin until they received definitive confirmation. Hamas also said that six hostages would be released on Saturday. That's double the number originally agreed upon. Hadil Al Shalchi, NPR News, Ramallah.

[Shea Stevens]

This is npr. Two small planes collided in midair over Marana Regional Airport in southern Arizona today, killing two people and injuring two others. The incident follows four major plane crashes in North America in the past month. A Delta plane crash in Toronto on Monday was the only one of those disasters that did not result in death. Spring training for Major League Baseball begins tomorrow, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are early favorites to win the World Series for a second year in a row after a free agent spending spree. NPR's Becky Sullivan reports from Phoenix.

[Becky Sullivan]

The Dodgers deluge of spending has pushed LA's total payroll close to $400 million. That's more than double that of 16 other MLB teams in way over the league's luxury tax line, which was created to discourage teams from outsized spending. But the Dodgers, with their big international fan base and the lucrative TV deal, can afford it. Payroll disparity has always been part of baseball. Teams like the New York Yankees have long spent more, but Commissioner Rob Manfred acknowledges fans and owners alike are raising concerns about it.

[Windsor Johnston]

Now.

[Home Instead Representative]

The Dodgers, they're probably more profitable on a percentage basis than the old Yankees were, meaning it could be more sustainable. So it is more of a problem.

[Becky Sullivan]

One solution could be a salary cap, though players haven't liked that idea in the past. Becky Sullivan, NPR News, Phoenix.

[Shea Stevens]

Retired ocean liner SS United States has begun its final voyage. The 1000 foot vessel is being tolled from Philadelphia to Mobile, Alabama, where it will be prepped to become the world's largest artificial reef. It will eventually be sunk off Florida's Gulf Coast. This is NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Support for npr. And the following message come from Boland Branch. Change your sleep with Bolen Branch's airy blankets, cloud like duvets and breathable sheets. Feel the difference with 15% off, your first [e-mail] with code NPR exclusions apply. See site for details.