NPR News: 02-13-2025 12AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: February 13, 2025

Host: Shea Stevens
Producer: NPR
Duration: Five minutes

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International Relations: Trump-Putin Talks and Ukraine Conflict

President Trump's Potential Meeting with Putin

President Donald Trump has announced his intention to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Speaking to NPR’s Deepa Shivaram, Trump expressed optimism about the talks and hinted at reciprocal visits between the two nations.

Deepa Shivaram reported, “Trump didn’t provide a date for when he’ll first meet with Putin. He also did not commit to traveling to Ukraine, though he said he would think about it.”

NATO Membership Controversy

Trump also addressed the long-standing issue of Ukraine's potential NATO membership, stating his stance against it, which contrasts with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's position. In his words at [00:57], Trump remarked:

"They've been saying that for a long time that Ukraine cannot go into NATO, and I'm okay with that."

This stance highlights the ongoing tension between U.S. support for Ukraine and Russia’s opposition to NATO expansion.

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Domestic Policy: Immigration and Government Operations

ACLU Lawsuit Over Migrant Detention

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit seeking access to deported migrants housed at the U.S. Detention Facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The ACLU alleges that the isolation of migrants violates their constitutional rights to due process.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt responded to these claims at [01:48]:

"We believe that the injunctions that have been issued by these judges have no basis in the law and have no grounds. And we will again, as the president said very clearly yesterday, comply with these orders. But it is the administration's position that we will ultimately be vindicated."

Levitt defended the administration’s actions, attributing the legal challenges to unfavorable court rulings.

Deferred Resignations Program and Belarus Prisoner Exchange

A federal judge has declined to block the administration’s deferred resignations program, facilitating reductions in government size. This program allows federal employees to resign in exchange for continued pay and benefits through the current fiscal year.

In a related development, the White House confirmed a prisoner exchange deal with Belarus. According to NPR’s Michelle Kellerman, the U.S. released a convicted Russian money launderer in return for an American teacher who was jailed for smuggling medical marijuana into Russia. Additionally, two individuals from Belarus, including an employee from Radio Free Europe, were freed.

At [02:40], Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated:

"It speaks to President Trump's deal making ability. And we can confirm the safe release of one American and two individuals from Belarus, one of whom worked for Radio Liberty."

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Economic and Environmental Updates

Stock Market and Political Developments

U.S. futures are trading higher in after-hours sessions on Wall Street. In political news, Senate Democrats are actively working to block or delay the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for the position of Health Secretary. Meanwhile, former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has been confirmed by the Senate as the head of National Intelligence.

EPA's EJScreen Tool Removed and Restored

President Trump's administration removed the EPA’s EJScreen tool, an essential resource for communities to access pollution data and demographic information. In response, the environmental justice group Edgy has archived and worked to restore the tool. NPR’s Nate Perez highlighted the significance of this move:

Eric Noss from the nonprofit stated at [04:10]:

"Making these kinds of complaints and protests to say, hey, there's something going on here. We're an overburdened community. The tool says so. The resources, the data we have say so."

Edgy aims to make EJScreen functional again, ensuring that communities continue to have access to vital environmental data.

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Local News: Fremont's New Ordinance on Public Camping

The City Council of Fremont, California, has passed a new ordinance by a 6 to 1 vote, criminalizing camping on public property. Under this law, individuals found aiding or setting up homeless camps may face up to six months in jail and fines reaching $1,000. The ordinance is scheduled to take effect in 30 days, following the Supreme Court’s decision that bans on sleeping in public spaces do not constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

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Stay informed with NPR News Now for concise and comprehensive updates on the latest developments.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump says he and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will likely meet in Saudi Arabia for talks on ending the war in Ukraine. As NPR's Deepa Shivaram reports, Trump said he expects they'll also visit each other's country.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Trump didn't provide a date for when he'll first meet with Putin. He also did not commit to traveling to Ukraine, though he said he would think about it. Trump didn't go into detail on what he thinks a peace agreement will look like, but he said he doesn't think it's practical for Ukraine to join NATO, something Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pushing for for years and Putin is opposed to.

[Donald Trump]

They've been saying that for a long time that Ukraine cannot go into NATO, and I'm okay with that.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Trump's remarks come after the president spoke over the phone with Putin in a lengthy call after he spoke with Zelensky. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

The American Civil Liberties Union is suing for access to the dozens of deported migrants being housed at the US Detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The ACLU suggests the migrants are deliberately being held in an isolated location in violation of their constitutional rights to duties due process. The Trump administration is rejecting suggestions that the executive actions that have been issued are causing a constitutional crisis. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt says the problem is the court rulings that are blocking efforts to shut down several government agencies and functions.

[Caroline Levitt]

We believe that the injunctions that have been issued by these judges have no basis in the law and have no grounds. And we will again, as the president said very clearly yesterday, comply with these orders. But it is the administration's position that we will ultimately be vindicated.

[Shea Stevens]

A federal judge is refusing to block the administration's deferred resignations, removing one key hurdle for plants to slash the size of government. The program allowed federal workers to resign in exchange for pay and benefits through the current fiscal year. The White House says Belarus has three free prisoners, including an American. NPR's Michelle Kellerman has more.

[Michelle Kellerman]

The U.S. released a convicted Russian money launderer in exchange for an American teacher who spent three years in jail for bringing medical marijuana into Russia. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt is now confirming a deal with neighboring Belarus.

[Caroline Levitt]

I'm glad you asked. It speaks to President Trump's deal making ability. And we can confirm the safe release of one American and two individuals from Belarus, one of whom worked for Radio Liberty.

[Michelle Kellerman]

She didn't identify them though. Radio Free Europe. Radio Liberty thanked the Trump administration for getting its employee Andrei Kuzneczyk out after more than three years in jail. Another employee is still behind bars in the ex Soviet state. Michelle Keleman, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are higher in after hours trading on Wall Street. This is npr. Senate Democrats remain on the floor of the chamber hoping to block or delay a confirmation vote on Robert F. Kennedy Jun nomination to become health secretary. On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as head of National Intelligence. A popular EPA tool to help communities in the US Find everything from pollution information to demographics was removed last week. But as NPR's Nate Perez reports, an environmental justice group is giving the tool a new home.

[Nate Perez]

The EPA removed EJScreen from its website on February 5th. It's part of a move by President Trump to end what he calls radical preferencing communities. Use EJScreen to try to stop polluting developers in their neighborhoods. The environmental data and governance initiative Edgy archived the tool before it disappeared. Eric Noss with the nonprofit says it's still important to keep this information alive.

[Eric Noss]

Making these kinds of complaints and protests to say, hey, there's something going on here. We're an overburdened community. The tool says so. The resources, the data we have say so.

[Nate Perez]

Edgy has restored access to the archive data and is working on making the tool functional once again. Nate Perez, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

The City Council in Fremont, California, has voted 6 to 1 to make it a crime to camp out on public property. Under the ordinance, anyone who AIDS or bets homeless camps can face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. It takes effect in 30 days. The move comes after the Supreme Court ruled that it is not cruel and unusual punishment to ban sleeping in public spaces. This is NPR News.

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