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Korva Coleman
In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump says he's sending Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Munich today. Rubia will attend meetings with allies. Trump says Rubia will set up a meeting to discuss the war in Ukraine. That comes after Trump held a 90 minute phone call with Russian president President Vladimir Putin yesterday about the war. NPR's Joanna Kakisis reports from Kyiv. Ukraine's president says he also spoke with.
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Joanna Kakisis
Trump in his evening video address. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was grateful to Trump for his interest in what Ukraine and the US can do together. He said Ukraine was ready to work with the US on technological capabilities, including drones and resource cooperation. And he said Trump also spoke about his conversation with Putin. Zelensky said, we believe that America's strength is enough to push Russia and Putin to peace together with us, together with all our partners. A short time earlier, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Ukraine should not expect NATO membership or the return of Russian occupied territories. Joanna Kakis, NPR News, Kyiv.
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Korva Coleman
Trump also says he'll meet Putin likely in Saudi Arabia. Trump didn't say when. A federal judge has declined to block the Trump administration's deferred resignation offers to federal employees. NPR's Andrea Hsu explains the Trump effort can proceed.
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Andrea Hsu
The Trump administration had given workers a choice. They could offer their resignations now in exchange for pay and benefits through the end of September. The expectation was they'd be on leave most of that time or they could remain in their positions and risk being laid off as Trump downsizes the federal workforce. Labor unions representing civil servants asked the court to block the offer, calling it unlawful. U.S. district Judge George O'Toole declined that request, finding that the unions didn't have standing to bring the case because they are not directly affected. He did not rule on the legality of the deferred resignation program. The unions call the ruling a setback, but not the end of the fight. Andrea Hsu, NPR News.
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Korva Coleman
The Senate is scheduled to hold a confirmation vote today for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. To be health and Human Services secretary. He passed a procedural vote this week despite Democratic opposition over Kennedy's work opposing vaccines. Former Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has been sworn in as the newest director of national Intelligence. She discussed one of her goals, to.
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Tulsi Gabbard
Refocus our intelligence community by empowering the great patriots who have chosen to serve our country in this way and focus on ensuring the safety, security and freedom of the American people.
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Korva Coleman
Gabbard was confirmed mostly on party lines. Senator Mitch McConnell was the only Republican to vote no, along with all the Democrats. McConnell says G isn't prepared for the job and has shown, quote, a history of alarming lapses in judgment. You're listening to NPR News. The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas appears to be back on track after a few days of uncertainty. Hamas said earlier this week it would delay the scheduled release of three Israeli hostages that was set for Saturday. Hamas had accused Israel of violating the ceasefire. Israel had warned hostilities could resume in Gaza if the terms of the ceasefire were not kept. Very cold weather is settling over the Plains. Wind chill readings are below zero as far south as Oklahoma City. The National Weather Service warns a line of heavy storms now stretches from the Florida Panhandle to southern Virginia. There are flood watches and warnings up from Arkansas to Ohio. The popular language learning app Duolingo says the company's cartoon owl mascot is no more. NPR's Chloe Veltman explains Duo has not.
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Chloe Veltman
Looked well on Duolingo's social media channels over the past couple of days. There are crosses over the owl's eyes and his tongue is hanging out. It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved mascot, Duo the owl. The company posted it then followed up with a video showing the bird being hit by a Tesla cybertruck and floating upwards past the gates of hell. In a statement to npr, Duolingo said Duo's demise is under investigation and that more will be revealed in the days to come. It added this is part of a larger marketing campaign, not a rebrand. The company also admitted that killing off the owl, which has represented Duolingo since it got started in 2011, has been a hoot. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.
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Korva Coleman
I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, from Washington.
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