Trump wants to cut the federal workforce. Who they are and what that means President Trump’s efforts to cut the federal workforce by 10% might not save as much money as hoped and could have unintended consequences. NPR explains why. Read more on NPR

The latest on the fatal midair plane and helicopter crash Video footage of the incident shows the aircraft flying at a low altitude, before an explosion happened at the moment of impact. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating. Read more on NPR

8 things to know about Groundhog Day and its big star, Punxsutawney Phil The weather-predicting groundhog celebrity has met two presidents and drinks a life-extending elixir: “Our Phil is like, probably 139 years old,” Groundhog Club Inner Circle President Tom Dunkel says. Read more on NPR

Radhika Veharia reflects on peace — and Grammy acclaim — in a quiet ashram In a small ashram nestled on a quiet residential street near Laguna Beach, Radhika Vekaria is finding peace after receiving her first ever Grammy nomination. Read more on NPR

Going to weddings and birthdays can be pricey. How to cut costs or gracefully decline If your social calendar is burning a hole in your wallet, there are steps you can take to spend less while maintaining good relationships. Read more on NPR

Editor’s note: Reporting the midair collision will focus on facts and people’s stories NPR’s reporting will continue to focus on what happened and learning what we can about the victims and telling their stories. Read more on NPR

What is RFK Jr.’s favorite bird? Why is this woman smiling? Find out in the quiz! This week was hard on the conflict-averse. But if you’re up on nursery rhymes, prehistoric bodily fluids and Renaissance art, you’ll get at least three right this week. Read more on NPR

Did DEI D.I.E.? Welcome to a new kind of ‘civil rights’ era The new Trump administration is using the language of civil rights but flipping it on its head. If ‘diversity’ is now being coded as discrimination, what does that mean for the future of civil rights? Brittany is joined by Columbia Law professor Olatunde…

Study finds India doubled its tiger population in a decade The study found that some local communities near tiger habitats have also benefited from the increase in tigers because of the foot traffic and revenues brought in by ecotourism. Read more on NPR

A New Zealand mountain is granted personhood, recognizing it as sacred for Māori The recognition acknowledges the mountain’s theft from the Māori after New Zealand was colonized. It fulfills an agreement from the country’s government to Indigenous people. Read more on NPR