NPR News: 02-17-2025 2PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: February 17, 2025, 2PM EST

On today’s episode of NPR News Now, listeners are brought up to speed with the latest developments across national and international headlines. Hosted by Windsor Johnston, the episode delves into significant updates ranging from governmental shifts and international diplomacy to natural disasters and global market movements. Below is a comprehensive summary of the key topics covered, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for further context.

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1. Department of Energy Reverses Mass Firings at Nuclear Oversight Agency

Timestamp: [00:13]

Windsor Johnston opens the news with a major update from the Department of Energy. Initially, mass terminations were announced over the weekend, affecting numerous employees responsible for overseeing the nation's nuclear weapons. However, the Department swiftly reversed these decisions within hours.

Jeff Brumfield of NPR reports that "several employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration told NPR they've been hastily rehired after being fired last Thursday" ([00:33]). The initial announcement mentioned hundreds of layoffs, but a Department spokesperson clarified by late Sunday night that "fewer than 50 employees ultimately lost their jobs," primarily in "administrative and clerical roles" ([00:33]).

Members of Congress expressed significant concern upon learning about the layoffs, emphasizing the critical nature of the agency's work in "overseeing America's nuclear warheads and combating nuclear terrorism."

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2. High-Stakes US-Russian Negotiations in Saudi Arabia

Timestamp: [01:09]

In international relations, high-level delegations from the United States and Russia have convened in Saudi Arabia aimed at mending strained US-Russian relations and seeking an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine. NPR’s Charles Mainz provides insights into the composition and objectives of these talks.

"Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the US Delegation with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz also joining," Mainz reports ([01:23]). On the Russian side, "Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov heads the Russian mission," with Kremlin statements indicating that the talks will focus on "making peace, not war."

However, tensions remain as Lavrov, speaking in Moscow prior to the talks, "rejected in advance the notion of returning any land annexed by Russia to Ukraine" ([01:23]). This stance suggests that US negotiators might face significant challenges even before formal discussions commence.

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3. Devastating Storms Wreak Havoc in the Southern United States

Timestamp: [01:52]

Extreme weather conditions have struck parts of the southern United States over the weekend, resulting in at least 11 fatalities. Stan Ingold from WEKU reports that "Kentucky was one of the hardest-hit states" ([02:04]).

The storms brought "falling rocks, mudslides and standing water," leading to the closure of over 300 roads and widespread power outages affecting thousands. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear highlighted the grim situation, stating, "an approaching winter storm will only complicate matters, and it means we're going to have to" ([02:04]).

In response to the escalating crisis, President Trump approved Governor Beshear's request for a federal disaster declaration, enabling the allocation of federal funds to support relief efforts. Jeff Brumfield emphasizes the administration's commitment to "make sure that we've got everyone who is displaced because of this flooding in a warm place for the days that are coming ahead" ([02:17]-[02:21]).

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4. Additional News Highlights

a. Investigation into LA County Eaton Fire

At [02:36], Windsor Johnston transitions to a recent incident in LA County where the Eaton fire led to significant fatalities and property damage. NPR's investigation uncovered that "downed power lines were live and igniting new fires," with the utility company Southern California Edison at the center of the controversy. Communication breakdowns were evident as the company "failed to respond quickly to requests from firefighters to cut the power and presented confusing and sometimes incorrect information to first responders."

b. Building Collapse in Egypt

A tragic event unfolded in western Cairo as a three-story residential building collapsed, resulting in at least 10 deaths ([02:36]). Rescue teams are actively digging through the rubble in hopes of finding survivors, while officials have ordered the immediate evacuation of nearby buildings as a precautionary measure.

c. Pope Francis Hospitalized with Complex Respiratory Infection

In a significant update from the Vatican, Pope Francis remains hospitalized due to a "complex clinical situation" involving a polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, which includes a combination of viruses, bacteria, and fungi ([03:49]). Jackie Northam reports that the 88-year-old pontiff, who has a history of respiratory issues, will stay in the hospital "for as long as necessary" as treatment regimens are adjusted to address the multifaceted infection.

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5. Global Market Overview

Timestamp: [04:32]

Windsor Johnston concludes with a brief overview of global stock markets. Asian markets displayed mixed results today: "markets in Japan and China traded higher, while shares were lower in Hong Kong" ([04:32]). Back in the United States, Wall Street remains closed in observance of President's Day, with trading set to resume on Tuesday.

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Conclusion

Today’s episode of NPR News Now offers a breadth of information spanning critical governmental decisions, international diplomacy efforts, natural disasters, and significant incidents both domestically and abroad. By highlighting these diverse topics with detailed reporting and direct quotes, NPR ensures that listeners are well-informed on the pressing issues of the day.

Transcript

[Sponsor Announcer]

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The Department of Energy has rescinded the firings of many workers responsible for overseeing the nation's nuclear weapons. And NPR's Jeff Brumfield reports. The reversal came within hours of mass terminations over the weekend.

[Jeff Brumfield]

Several employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration told NPR they've been hastily rehired after being fired last Thursday. Sources inside the agency said hundreds were fired at first. But in a statement sent late Sunday night, a Department of Energy spokesperson said that fewer than 50 employees ultimately lost their jobs. Those jobs were in, quote, primarily administrative and clerical roles. Members of Congress were alarmed after learning of the mass layoffs at the agency, which oversees America's nuclear warheads and combats nuclear terrorism. Jeff Brumfiel, NPR News, Washington.

[Windsor Johnston]

High level U.S. and Russian delegations are in Saudi Arabia. NPR's Charles Mainz reports. Their talks are expected to focus on restoring U S. Russian relations and finding an end to the war in Ukraine.

[Charles Mainz]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the US Delegation with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz also joining. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov heads the Russian mission with the Kremlin, saying talks will focus on making peace, not war. Yet speaking in Moscow, Lavrov rejected in advance the notion of returning any land annexed by Russia to Ukraine. His comments may be the latest sign that US Negotiators are boxed in before the talks even begin. Charles Mainnes, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

At least 11 people are dead after powerful storms swept across parts of the south over the weekend. Stan Ingold of member station WEKU reports. Kentucky Kentucky was one of the hardest hit states.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Falling rocks, mudslides and standing water have closed more than 300 roads. Electricity is out for thousands. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says an approaching winter storm will only complicate matters, and it means we're going to have to.

[Jeff Brumfield]

Make sure that we've got everyone who.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Is displaced because of this flooding in.

[Jeff Brumfield]

A warm place for the days that are coming ahead.

[Sponsor Announcer]

President Trump approved the governor's request for a federal disaster declaration, allowing federal funds to be used to help relief efforts. For NPR News, I'm Stan Engold in Richmond, Kentucky.

[Windsor Johnston]

New reporting from NPR shows that days after the Eaton fire broke out in LA county, fire officials had warned that downed power lines were live and igniting new fires. Those lines are owned and operated by Southern California Edison. An NPR investigation also found that radio communication showed that the utility company failed to respond quickly to requests from firefighters to cut the power and present confusing and sometimes incorrect information to first responders. This is NPR. At least 10 people are dead after a three story residential building collapsed in Egypt today. Certain rescue teams are digging through the rubble at the site in western Cairo, searching for survivors who may be trapped. Officials have ordered the immediate evacuations of nearby buildings as a safety precaution. The Vatican says Pope Francis will remain in the hospital to treat what it calls a complex clinical situation. NPR's Jackie Northam reports. The 88 year old pontiff was admitted late last week for a respiratory infection.

[Jackie Northam]

Before his hospital admission Friday, Pope Francis had shown signs of bronchitis for several days. But the Vatican says recent tests indicate the pontiff has polymicrobial respiratory tract infection, which can be caused by a combination of viruses, bacteria and fungi. Fungi. According to the National Institutes of Health, the diagnosis prompted a change in the pope's drug treatment, and the Vatican says he will stay in the hospital for as long as necessary. The pope has had challenging health conditions in the past, including the removal of part of a lung after a pulmonary infection when he was a young man. He was hospitalized for several days in 2023 with a bout of pneumonia. Jackie Northam, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Stocks closed mixed across Asia today. Markets in Japan and China traded higher, while shares were lower in Hong Kong. Wall street is closed for President's Day. Trading resumes on the exchange on Tuesday. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.

[Sponsor Announcer]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR news now at plus.NPR. or that's plus.NPR.

[Jackie Northam]

Org.