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Chapter 1: What news is breaking about the Trump administration?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. A federal judge is temporarily pausing the Trump administration's efforts to place thousands of personnel with the U.S. Agency for International Development on administrative leave. More from NPR's Fatma Tanis.
Chapter 2: What are the implications of the federal judge's ruling?
Judge Carl Nichols said he would issue a very limited temporary restraining order before midnight tonight, preventing the government from putting 2,200 federal workers on administrative leave. He would also pause the accelerated removal of agency employees who are posted overseas.
Chapter 3: How is the Trump administration restructuring USAID?
Since the inauguration, the Trump administration has taken steps at dizzying speed aimed at dismantling the aid agency, including putting nearly all of the more than 10,000 employees on leave by midnight tonight. On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved fewer than 300 agency staff to continue working.
Today, workers were seen taking down the USAID flag and signage from the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C. Fatma Tanis, NPR News.
Chapter 4: What legal actions are being taken against Elon Musk's Doge team?
A federal judge says he'll consider whether to block billionaire Elon Musk's Doge team from accessing systems at the Labor Department. A group of labor unions are suing, contending the systems contain sensitive information about workers, including those who filed safety complaints against their employers.
Chapter 5: What controversy surrounds President Trump's attempt to remove a commissioner?
A Democratic member of the bipartisan Federal Elections Commission says she's received a letter from President Trump attempting to remove her from her position. Critics say the manner in which Trump is attempting to oust the commissioner is unprecedented and illegal. More from NPR's Ashley Lopez.
Ellen Weintraub announced on social media that Trump was trying to remove her from the independent regulatory agency in charge of enforcing campaign finance laws. Dan Weiner with the Brennan Center says there is a legitimate process that Trump could have used but didn't.
Chapter 6: What are the concerns regarding the Federal Election Commission?
Ultimately, we do not want to see the Federal Election Commission weaponized by one party against another. It is absolutely critical to have those sorts of checks and balances, which right now the president seems to be completely disregarding.
Weiner says this is happening when the FEC is expected to deal with numerous complaints related to the 2024 election. Ashley Lopez, NPR News.
Hiring slowed last month. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.
U.S. employers added 143,000 jobs in January, a solid pace, but slower than the two previous months. Job gains for November and December were revised up by a total of 100,000 jobs. Hiring last month was concentrated in health care, retail, and government jobs. Factories and construction companies added relatively few workers in January, and temporary health services cut jobs.
Average wages last month were up 4.1 percent from a year ago, which is likely more than enough to outpace inflation. The unemployment rate inched down to 4 percent. The Labor Department has also raised its estimate of the size of the workforce, taking into account higher immigration levels in the last two years than had previously been accounted for. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
You're listening to NPR News. In New Orleans, Super Bowl fans have arrived ahead of Sunday's big game, pitting the Philadelphia Eagles against the reigning NFL champs, Kansas City Chiefs. Matt Bloom with member station WNWNO reports the city's culture is on full display.
In the French Quarter, street performers are out in full force. They're entertaining fans who've packed the streets wearing their team's colors. Danae Moreno is visiting from Philadelphia.
We've had a great time. Great food, great architecture. I've taken a lot of pictures so far.
The city has rolled out the welcome mat. There will be dozens of free concerts and a Louisiana culture festival with Creole and Cajun food, local artists, and more. This year marks the 11th time New Orleans has hosted the big game, which ties the city with Miami for the most times hosting the NFL championship. For NPR News, I'm Matt Bloom in New Orleans.
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