Here & Now Anytime

In the past few days, Elon Musk has been very busy with his unpaid, part-time job as a special government employee. Law professor Richard Painter talks about the limits of Musk's power to eliminate entire agencies and their employees. Then, we unpack the latest moves in Trump's second administration through a historical lens, with Princeton University historian Julian Zelizer. And, then a global view of President Trump's threatened trade war. First, the U.S. has imposed new 10% tariffs on goods from China, and China responded by imposing 15% tariffs on coal and liquefied natural gas from the U.S. NPR's John Ruwitch joins us from Beijing. Then, tariffs on goods from Mexico are on hold for now. Washington Post reporter Mary Beth Sheridan tells us more. And, after Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke on Monday, the U.S. also has held off on imposing tariffs on all goods from Canada. We hear from the University of Toronto's Peter Morrow. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The U.S. and Mexico agree to put tariffs on hold for the next month, averting for now a trade war with one of the U.S.'s largest trading partners. Tariffs on goods from China and Canada are still set to take effect. Yale University's Amit Khandelwal joins us to discuss the economic impact of tariffs. Then, Secretary of State Marco Rubio appointed himself the acting director of U.S. Agency for International Development or USAID after Trump adviser Elon Musk said he was shutting down the agency. NPR's Franco Ordoñez breaks down what's happening. And, The Grammys saw the crowning of Beyoncé in a first Best Album and Best Country Album win. We get the latest with Jill Mapes of Hearing Things. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Democrat from Maryland, was one of several lawmakers who warned months ago about the dangers of the crowded airspace above Reagan National Airport. Van Hollen joins us. And, 14 members of the figure skating community died in the crash. Doug Zeghibe, CEO of the Skating Club of Boston, shares how the skating community is mourning. Then, NPR games correspondent James Perkins Mastromarino unpacks the indie hit "Citizen Sleeper 2" with the video game's developer. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Americans throw out a lot of trash every year, with much of it ending up in landfills, contributing to climate change. Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd and Chris Bentley report on what people across the country are doing to tackle the problem. First, construction creates more than 600 million tons of trash in the U.S. every year. But deconstructing buildings instead of tearing them down can help change that. Then, almost all the clothes we wear wind up in a landfill, but companies are now working to build a "circular economy" that gives new life to old textiles. And, Dave and Erin Sheffield run a lucrative business scavenging and reselling goods they find dumpster diving. We tell you how the couple found love and a living by combing through trash. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

An American Airlines flight and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter collided in mid-air on Wednesday, killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. Retired pilot Richard Levy explains what might have gone wrong. And, Israel's order to cease UNRWA operations on Israeli soil takes effect Thursday. The ban effectively cuts off the UN agency from delivering aid to Gaza. UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma explains what the ban means for Palestinians who depend on the organization. Then, Dave Sheffield has been dumpster diving for 15 years. Here & Now's Chris Bentley reports on how he and his wife — who he met through dumpster diving — reuse and upcycle their finds. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Construction creates more than 600 million tons of trash in the U.S. every year. Now, some cities are making big changes to the way buildings are demolished. Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd reports. Then, the Trump administration has reversed an order freezing federal grants after it faced a court challenge from nonprofit organizations. Richard Trent, executive director of the Main Street Alliance, talks about how the order sparked confusion. And, results from the Nation's Report Card show that students still haven't recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. Chalkbeat's Erica Meltzer joins us. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Fashion trends die quickly, but old clothes can live for years. After it's left your wardrobe, nearly every garment eventually winds up burned for fuel or tossed in a dump, polluting the environment. Here & Now's Chris Bentley reports on efforts to recycle and reuse textiles. And, President Trump has fired more than 12 inspectors general who keep an eye out for corruption, waste, fraud and abuse of power at federal agencies. George Washington University's Kathryn Newcomer details the implications. Then, China's startup app DeepSeek is upending the tech industry. Ina Fried of Axios explains how the global tech industry lost more than a trillion dollars when the free AI chatbot launched. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Landfills are one of the biggest sources of methane emissions in the United States after oil and gas production and agriculture. New technology — such as robot dogs — is helping landfill operators find those leaks and measure them more frequently. Bryan Staley of the Environmental Research and Education Foundation joins us. Then, President Trump's plan for mass deportations is well underway. The Wall Street Journal's Michelle Hackman shares the latest on where migrants are being arrested and the Trump administration's strategy. And, Israel has allowed refugees to return to northern Gaza after Hamas turned over Israeli hostages. Hamas did not initially release a female civilian, jeopardizing the fragile ceasefire deal. The Economist's Anshel Pfeffer joins us. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Thousands of Afghans who helped the U.S. military during the war in Afghanistan are stranded after President Trump suspended the refugee admissions program. Shawn VanDiver, president of #AfghanEvac, joins us. And, a new article from The Atlantic found that communicating via text is harder for men. The article's author, Matthew Schnipper, explains the social implications. Then, many rural Italian towns are offering properties for 1 euro in an effort to revitalize their communities. Rubia Andrade Daniels bought three of them in 2019. Spoiler alert: they were all fixer-uppers. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President Trump signed an Executive Order this week to pull the United States out of the World Health Organization, the United Nations agency responsible for global public health. Georgetown University professor Lawrence Gostin tells us why it's a potentially dangerous move. Then, former Republican congressman and advisor to the Jan. 6th committee Denver Riggleman shares his reaction to President Trump's broad grant of clemency to Jan. 6 rioters. And, the Oscar nominations were announced on Wednesday. With film critic Ty Burr, we take a look at some of the top candidates for the Academy Awards. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The Department of Homeland Security has rescinded Biden-era guidelines that prohibited immigration officers from arresting migrants at sensitive locations like schools and churches. NPR's Joel Rose joins us to explain. And, the fate of TikTok in the United States is still uncertain, and tech companies are responding in numerous ways. Kaya Yurieff of The Information breaks down this legal uncertainty. Then, federal employees who work in diversity, equity and inclusion roles have been placed on administrative leave after President Trump issued an executive order ending federal DEI programs. Roben Farzad, host of the podcast "Full Disclosure," explains the impact of this order. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Many of President Trump's actions on immigration are expected to face significant legal challenges, specifically his executive actions to end birthright citizenship and restrict federal funds to sanctuary cities. The ACLU's Cody Wofsy talks about the lawsuit his group has already filed. Then, Trump granted sweeping clemency to the more than 1,500 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, including those convicted of assaulting police officers. Jackson Reffitt, son of convicted Jan. 6 rioter Guy Reffitt, discusses the pardon his father received from Trump on Monday. And, Trump has pulled the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement. David Cash, who resigned Monday as the New England regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, joins us to discuss what this means for the global fight to slow climate change. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

President Donald Trump has been sworn in for his second term. USA Today's Francesca Chambers discusses the ceremony and the slew of executive orders Trump plans to sign. And, Mayor Mark Freeman of Mesa, Arizona, shares what he's anticipating from Trump's second term as president. Then, Trump supporters nationwide are looking forward to Trump's second term and the promises he made on the campaign trail. Jordan Willey, Caleb Bowman and Tracey Danka all voted for Trump and share their hopes for his administration. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The Supreme Court upheld a law on Friday that is set to ban TikTok in the U.S. unless the popular video app is sold. NPR's Bobby Allyn tells us more. Also, Marium Zahra, a student in El Paso, Texas, talks about how she uses TikTok and what a ban on the app would mean for her. Then, President Biden celebrated the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal earlier this week and suggested it could have come months ago. But human rights groups, international law experts and even some in Biden's own State Department disagree with Biden's assertion that it was "America's support for Israel" that led to a ceasefire. ProPublica's Brett Murphy joins us. And, legendary baseball broadcaster and former player Bob Uecker died Thursday at age 90. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writer Todd Rosiak reflects on his legacy. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas does not address several issues, including an end to the war in Gaza. But former Israeli hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin says that it's better than no deal. And, Gavin Kelleher, access manager in Gaza for the Norwegian Refugee Council, explains how a ceasefire will impact aid delivery to Gaza. Then, President Biden gave his farewell address on Wednesday. The New Yorker's Susan Glasser reflects on Biden's domestic and foreign policy legacy. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

After 15-months of war, Israel and Hamas have reached a multiphase ceasefire agreement. Adi Alexander, the father of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, talks about the prospects for his son's return under the deal. Then, Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi answered questions during a Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday about whether she'd go after President-elect Trump's enemies. Kim Wehle, former assistant U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., joins us. And, American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn announced has ended her retirement and is already delivering results — with two top sixes in World Cup events over the weekend. We hear from The Athletic's Zack Pierce. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Emily Guerin, LAist correspondent, shares the latest from the investigations into the cause of the wildfires ravaging California. Plus, Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart weighs in on how his city has been impacted and the long road to recovery ahead. And, Starbucks is reversing its open-door policy that allowed people to hang out or use the bathroom even if they weren't making a purchase. Roben Farzad, host of the podcast "Full Disclosure," explains why. Then, a Bloomberg investigation examines how the largely unregulated fertility industry is exploiting women worldwide. Bloomberg's Natalie Obiko Pearson shares more. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

In California, hundreds of incarcerated firefighters are working to put out the fires that have burned more than 40,000 acres. Sam Levin of The Guardian U.S. tells us more. Then, the federal investigations into President-elect Donald Trump are officially over. Jack Smith, the special counsel appointed more than two years ago to lead investigations into Trump, quietly resigned last week. Former White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter joins us. And, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said his company is ending diversity, equity and inclusion programs and disbanding its DEI team. Axios' Ina Fried discusses the company's rightward shift. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The Eaton fire destroyed the home of the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, a congregation that has served Southern California for more than a century. Melissa Levy, the temple's executive director, talks about what was lost to the fire and how her members are faring. Then, the Supreme Court heard arguments Friday on whether the government can force TikTok to be sold or effectively banned in the U.S. because its parent company is Chinese. Slate's Mark Joseph Stern joins us. And, Congress appears close to passing the Laken Riley Act, which would compel the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants accused of crimes like shoplifting and give states more rights to contest certain immigration-related decisions. Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego from Arizona explains why he's voting for it. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

The Palisades Fire in Los Angeles has burned thousands of structures and forced the evacuations of thousands. Two of those evacuees are Caitlin Doran and her 175-pound tortoise Tiptoe. Doran shares her experience. And, as Jimmy Carter is honored at a state funeral in Washington, D.C., his former chief speechwriter James Fallows joins us to remember his life and legacy. Then, faith played an important role in Carter's life. Randall Balmer, professor of religion at Dartmouth College, explains its impact on the former president. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy