NPR News: 02-07-2026 6AM EST

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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

Windsor Johnston 0:00
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump says he won't apologize for posting a racist video depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Friday night, Trump told reporters that he didn't make a mistake and said he's been supportive of Black Americans.
Donald Trump 0:23
The historically black colleges and universities, I got them funded. Nobody has been, and that's why I got a tremendous, the highest vote with male black voters that they've seen in many, many decades.

What controversial statement did President Trump make about Black Americans?

Donald Trump 0:38
I've done great with them. Black voters have been great to me. I've been great to them. Black voters have been great to me. I've been great to them. And I am, by the way, the least racist president you've had in a long time as far as I'm concerned.
Windsor Johnston 0:51
Trump says he didn't see the entire video. The White House initially defended it before it was deleted. The post drew widespread backlash, including from civil rights groups and both congressional Republicans and Democrats. A federal judge in Minneapolis is giving the Department of Homeland Security until Thursday to craft a plan to ensure that immigration detainees have access to attorneys. Matt Sepik of Minnesota Public Radio reports.
Matt Sepik 1:18
A Honduran asylum seeker alleges she was detained without access to a lawyer after ICE agents arrested her. Attorney Jeffrey Dubner says his client has since been freed, but ICE continues to violate the rights of many others.
Jeffrey Dubner 1:30
All that we're seeking is what the Eighth Circuit has long said is required for people in detention. which is a reasonable opportunity to seek and receive the assistance of attorneys.
Matt Sepik 1:40
A DHS lawyer said detainees get unlimited attorney phone calls, but she did not provide evidence. Judge Nancy Brazel ordered lawyers from both sides to visit the Minneapolis Detention Center to assess conditions there. She promised to rule Thursday if the parties don't reach a deal. For NPR News, I'm Matt Sepik in Minneapolis.
Windsor Johnston 1:59
President Trump promised to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world, yet Bitcoin prices have slumped since hitting a record high in October. NPR's Rafael Nam reports.
Rafael Nam 2:12
At one point this week, Bitcoin hit around $60,000, or about half of its all-time high last year. That fall came after a month of decline. The reason is that Trump's crypto promises led to big speculation. Investors not only bought cryptos, they also borrowed heavily to magnify their wagers. That did well when prices were up. But as soon as markets hit some volatility, that borrowing magnified losses and made investors very cautious. After all, crypto has long been known for its volatility. So even as stocks are doing well, with the Dow at a record high, Bitcoin is still down. And there's no certainty about when it might recover. Rafael Nam, NPR News.
Windsor Johnston 2:56
This is NPR News in Washington. A federal judge in New York is ordering the White House to keep federal money flowing for programs serving low-income families with children in five states. The judge blocked the administration from withholding the funds while the case moves through the courts. Federal health officials say the government withheld the money over concerns about possible fraud. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been issuing far fewer health alerts since President Trump returned to office. NPR's Rob Stein reports the trend has many doctors and public health authorities concerned.
Rob Stein 3:35
To sound the alarm about emerging dangers, the CDC issues alerts known as HONs from the agency's health alert network. These HONs warn health departments, hospitals, doctors about urgent new risks. The number of CDC health alerts fluctuates, but the agency typically releases at least a dozen annually, sometimes dozens. In 2025, the CDC issued just six. Many public health experts say the drop leaves the nation flying blind to new threats. A spokesman for the Health and Human Services Department says the CDC continues to keep the country informed in many other ways. Rob Stein, NPR News.
Windsor Johnston 4:19
South Carolina's measles outbreak is growing and now stands at 920 cases, the largest outbreak the U.S.

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