NPR News: 02-17-2025 12AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary for February 17, 2025

Released on February 17, 2025

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International Diplomatic Efforts to End the Ukraine War

Meeting in Saudi Arabia and European Concerns

American and Russian officials are set to convene in Saudi Arabia this week in an effort to broker an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Dale Willman leads this segment, highlighting the complexities of the negotiations.

European leaders from France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Poland, the Netherlands, and Denmark are regrouping to evaluate the swiftly evolving situation. Eleanor Beardsley reports that these European nations, previously sidelined in negotiations held in Paris, are now expressing significant unease regarding the Trump administration's involvement.

Security expert Elie Tenenbaum from the French Institute for International Relations articulated the European perspective, stating at [01:04]:

“They were going to be bypassed by the United States to negotiate a peace deal over the head and strong-arming Ukraine into a bad deal.”

This sentiment underscores Europe's frustration and surprise at the Trump administration's approach, which diverges from collaborative expectations. Both European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have emphasized the necessity for Europe to maintain a pivotal role in decision-making processes that directly affect the continent.

Immigration Policy and Federal Raids

Border Czar Defends Administration’s Actions

The Trump administration's approach to immigration has come under fire due to federal immigration raids across the nation since January. Tom Homan, the administration’s border czar, addressed these criticisms in an appearance on CNN.

At [01:39], Homan clarified the administration's stance:

“We're not raiding schools, we're not raiding churches, we're not raiding college campuses. But if we have a significant public safety threat or national security, let's say, for instance, an MS-13 member who's a senior in the high school who's wanted for drug distribution or strong-armed roaderies, we will go to that school and arrest that MS-13 member with the help of the local authorities. It's not about raiding schools. It's about arresting one bad guy where we know he is and not letting them escape back into the community.”

Homan's statement aims to differentiate targeted law enforcement actions from broader, indiscriminate raids, emphasizing public safety and security concerns as the primary motivations behind these operations.

Reversals in the Nuclear Workforce

Administration Retracts Nuclear Workforce Layoffs

In a swift policy reversal, the Trump administration has reinstated the majority of employees previously laid off from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Initially, over 300 federal workers were dismissed in late Thursday announcements, signaling a significant contraction in the nation's nuclear weapons programs.

By late Friday night, the agency's acting director rescinded all but 28 of these dismissals, mitigating the immediate impact on the federal workforce. Dale Willman reports on this development, reflecting the administration's fluctuating approach to federal staffing and national security priorities.

Severe Flooding Impacts Kentucky

Flood Response and Community Resilience

Kentucky is grappling with heavy rains leading to widespread flooding, reminiscent of the devastating once-in-a-century floods experienced in 2022. The recent storms have resulted in at least eight fatalities across the state. John McGarry of Weky provides an on-the-ground perspective, focusing on the relentless efforts of first responders.

In southeastern Floyd County, Emergency Management Director Brian White shared insights at [02:55]:

“Some mayors have actually issued declarations evacuating some localized towns and stuff. And we got like law enforcement out helping mitigate the process and all this and that to get people up to higher ground that will leave their residences in danger.”

White further noted the challenges faced by emergency services, including the downing of trees and power lines, which complicates rescue and recovery operations. Despite the hardships, there have been numerous rescues with no additional injuries or deaths reported at the time of the broadcast.

National Park Service Workforce Cuts

Impact of Federal Workforce Reductions on National Parks

The Trump administration continues its agenda to reduce the federal workforce, recently leading to the dismissal of approximately 1,000 National Park Service employees. These cuts have predominantly affected probationary workers, signaling a strategic move to downsize federal operations.

Emma Bowman of NPR interviewed Brian Gibbs, a park ranger from Effigy Mounds National Monument in northeast Iowa, who was among those laid off. Gibbs shared his personal connection to the park, stating at [03:53]:

“This is home. It's the first place I told my spouse that I loved her. It's the first park that I took my son to.”

Gibbs expressed concern over the broader implications of these layoffs, emphasizing the loss of dedicated personnel who educate the public and promote the preservation of national treasures:

“You're losing people who are teaching youth such as myself, you know, the value of protecting and preserving these places for current and future generations. I mean, that's what the Park Service is founded on. That's their mission.”

Despite possessing other skill sets, Gibbs views his role at the National Monument as his "dream job," underscoring the personal and cultural losses resulting from these federal workforce reductions.

Entertainment Highlights: BAFTA Awards

Recognition of Excellence in Film

The British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) celebrated outstanding achievements in cinema, with significant wins highlighting both individual talent and notable films. Dale Willman provides an overview of the evening’s accolades:

• "The Conclave" triumphs as Best Picture, securing its place as a papal thriller lauded by critics.
• Brady Corbett, the director behind "Brutalist," garnered the Best Director award, showcasing his visionary approach to filmmaking.
• Adrien Brody, also from "Brutalist," took home Best Actor, reflecting his compelling performance.
• Mikey Madison was honored with Best Actress for her role in "Honora," while Zoe Saldana received Best Supporting Actress for her work in "Amelia Perez."
• Kiernan Culkin earned Best Supporting Actor for his role in "A Real Pain."

Both "Brutalist" and "The Conclave" dominated the evening, each winning four BAFTA awards, illustrating a balance of recognition without a single film overshadowing the other.

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and developments covered in the NPR News Now episode released on February 17, 2025. From international diplomacy and domestic policy debates to environmental challenges and cultural achievements, the episode provided listeners with a broad spectrum of timely and impactful news.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

From NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. As American and Russian officials prepare to meet in Saudi Arabia this week to try to end the war in Ukraine, European leaders who've so far been left out of negotiat in Paris, NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports that the Europeans are stunned by the Trump administration's approach.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the UK Poland, the Netherlands and Denmark will come together to reassess the rapidly changing situation. Europeans thought they could work with the new Trump administration on negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine, but comments this week by Trump officials in Europe confirmed their worst fears, says security expert Elie Tenenbaum with the French Institute for International Relations, that they were going to.

[Elie Tenenbaum]

Be bypassed by the United States to negotiate a peace deal over the head and strong arming Ukraine into a bad deal.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Europeans and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy say Europe must have a seat at the table when decisions about Europe are being made. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Dale Willman]

The Trump administration's border czar is responding to widespread criticism over federal immigration raids across the country since took office in January. But Tom Homan says those concerns are unwarranted.

[Tom Homan]

We're not raiding schools, we're not raiding churches, we're not raiding college campuses. But if we have a significant public safety threat or national security, let's say, for instance, an Ms. 13 member who's a senior in the high school who's wanted for drug distribution or strong armed roderies, we will go to that school and arrest that MS.13 member with the help of the local authorities. It's not about raiding school. It's about arresting one bad guy where we know he is and and not let them escape back into the community.

[Dale Willman]

Homan was speaking on CNN today. The Trump administration has reversed the firings of hundreds of people who are working on the nation's nuclear weapons programs. The Associated Press is reporting that more than 300 employees were laid off late Thursday at the National Nuclear Security Administration. But by late Friday night, the agency's acting director rescinded all but 28 of those dismissals. Heavy rains are causing flooding in much of Kentucky, including areas destroyed by a once in a century flood in 2022. At least eight deaths are blamed on the storms. John McGarry of member station Weky reports.

[John McGarry]

There'S little rest for weary first responders in much of Kentucky this weekend. In the southeastern county of Floyd, emergency management director Brian White says there have been a lot of rescues, but no reported injuries or deaths.

[Brian White]

Some mayors have actually issued declarations evacuating some localized towns and stuff. And we got like law enforcement out helping mitigate the process and all this and that to get people up to higher ground that will leave their residences in danger.

[John McGarry]

Right now, White says several trees and power lines are down, too. For NPR news, I'm John McGarry in Versailles, Kentucky.

[Dale Willman]

And this is NPR News. About 1,000 National Park Service employees were fired over the past week. These recent cuts to the federal workforce have targeted probation stationary workers and are all part of the Trump administration's overall plan to shrink the federal government. NPR's Emma Bowman spoke to one park ranger after he lost what he calls his dream job.

[Brian Gibbs]

Brian Gibbs got the news on Valentine's Day. He was an environmental educator at the Effigy Mounds National Monument in northeast Iowa, an ancient Native American burial site. The park holds a lot of meaning for him.

[Emma Bowman]

This is home. It's the first place I told my spouse that I loved her. It's the first park that I took my son to.

[Brian Gibbs]

But he says the public stands to lose a lot more.

[Emma Bowman]

You're losing people who are teaching youth such as myself, you know, the value of protecting and preserving these places for current and future generations. I mean, that's what the Park Service is founded on. That's their mission.

[Brian Gibbs]

Gibbs says he has other skill sets, but that this job was his passion. Emma Bowman, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

The papal thriller the Conclave won best picture today at the British Academy Film Awards. The Brutalist director Brady Corbett, meanwhile, won a BAFTA for best director, while Brutalist star Adrien Brody took the prize for best actor. Mikey Madison won best actress for her role in Honora, while the best supporting actress award went to Zoe Saldana in Amelia Perez. And Kiernan Culkin was named best supporting actor for A Real Pain. There was no dominant winner, though, with both the Brutalist and the Conclave winning four BAFTA awards each. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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