Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Libby Casey.
The Justice Department is dropping its investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell,
“instead asking the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve to, once again, review building”
costs related to the Fed's Washington headquarters. It has twice found no wrongdoing. The move paves the way for the Senate to confirm the President's nominee, Kevin Worsh, to be the next Fed chair. Defense Secretary Pete Heggseth says the U.S. Navy blockade of Iranian ships and ports
will continue, quote, "As long as it takes." And he says other countries need the straight-up or moves open more than the U.S. does. We are not counting on Europe, but they need the straight-up or moves much more than we do. And might want to start doing less talking and having less fancy conferences in Europe and getting a boat.
This is much more of their fight than ours. President Trump says he's in no hurry to make a deal with Iran to end the war. The President was speaking to reporters at the White House yesterday after directing the
“U.S. Navy to, quote, "shoot and kill any Iranian small boats choking the straight-up”
or moves that are laying mines." And Piers Jackie Northam reports. President Trump says he has ordered U.S. mine sweepers to begin clearing mines from the straight-up or moves, a slow and dangerous process that could take months to complete. The threat of mines in the straight and attacks and ship seizures by Iran is forcing many
vessels to stay put.
That's preventing oil and commodity such as helium, fertilizer, and aluminum all critical
elements for industry farming and the like from moving through the Gulf. That's causing shortages and driving up prices. Jackie Northam in PR News. And PR has confirmed U.S. defense officials told lawmakers in closed or briefings it could take months to clear the straight-up or moves of mines.
Tennessee is angling to become the model state for President Trump's immigration agenda. Mariana Bakiao from Member Station WPLN in Nashville reports that the statehouse there has passed a slew of bills crafted in coordination with the White House. Tennessee Republicans attribute the immigration package to conversations with U.S. Homeland Security Advisors, Steven Miller.
The bills would deputize local law enforcement to act as federal immigration agents, restrict
who can become nurses or electricians, and require schools to report the number of students without legal status. State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson says Tennessee is seizing the moment. And during this very unprecedented time, we're in where we have an occupant in the White House, who is actually doing something about the scourge of illegal immigration and securing
the border and so forth. Democrats argue the bills will have a chilling effect on immigrants regardless of legal status, reporting crimes going to school or seeking health care. For NPR news, I'm Mariana Bakiao in Nashville. You're listening to NPR live in Washington.
The former President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, will stand trial at the International Criminal Court. As Michael Sullivan reports, Duterte is accused of crimes against humanity. Duterte's so-called war on drugs while mayor of Devau and later his president was both extremely popular and brutal with little accountability for the perpetrators.
Duterte was arrested in Manila last year and extradited to the Hague. He denies the charges against him, but the judges say there are substantial grounds to
“believe the 81-year-old Duterte played a key role in the murders of dozens during the”
years long campaign, which prosecutors say left thousands of civilians dead. The court said that the evidence shows the existence of a "common plan" between Duterte and his co-perpetrators to kill alleged criminals during his time in office. It's not known when his trial will begin. Friend PR News, I'm Michael Sullivan in Chiang Rai.
President Trump, President Trump says he is weighing a taxpayer-funded takeover of spirit airlines with the plan to sell it off once oil prices drop. The airline has filed for bankruptcy and is facing liquidation. An American soldier involved in the military operation to capture Venezuela and President Nicholas Maduro has been charged with using that classified information to win money
in an online prediction market. Again, in Ken Van Dyke, an active duty soldier stationed in North Carolina was part of the January plan, federal officials say he used the information to win more than $400,000 on Pauli Market. One of here this podcast without sponsored breaks, Amazon Prime members can listen to
NPR News now, sponsored free through Amazon Music, or you can also support NPR's vital journalism and get NPR+ at plus.npr.org. That's plus.npr.org.
