NPR News: 02-18-2025 6AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – February 18, 2025

On the February 18, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, host Korva Coleman delivers a comprehensive overview of the day’s most pressing news stories, ranging from international diplomacy and high-profile legal battles to significant domestic challenges and notable health updates.

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U.S.-Russia Relations and the Ukraine Conflict

The episode opens with a focus on international diplomacy as Secretary of State Marco Rubio travels to Saudi Arabia to engage with his Russian counterparts. The primary agenda revolves around restoring relations between Moscow and Washington and addressing Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Notably absent from these talks are Ukrainian and European diplomats, a point of concern for many observers.

Joanna Kakisis reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to arrive in Saudi Arabia for an official visit with Saudi officials. Zelenskyy emphasized, “There cannot be negotiations without Ukraine” (00:36). Oleksandr Krajev, a political scientist in Kyiv, highlighted Zelenskyy's expectations: “In any other case, negotiations will be a futile effort and Trump will be presented as a bad negotiator, weak politician” (01:00). Bruce Konfeiser further added, “And bad diplomat, basically” (01:08). Additionally, Joanna Kakisis noted that Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia is expected to visit Ukraine later in the week, signaling ongoing efforts to mediate the conflict.

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Elon Musk's Legal Challenges Over DOGE Entity

Shifting to domestic issues, the podcast delves into a significant legal battle involving Elon Musk's DOGE entity. Korva Coleman reports that a federal judge is unlikely to grant an immediate halt to Musk's attempts to access federal data and terminate government employees. This lawsuit, spearheaded by several Democratic state attorneys general, contends that Musk's influence within the government is illegal and should be subject to Senate confirmation.

During the hearing, Judge Tanya Chutkan expressed skepticism towards the government's assertions regarding the limited power of Musk's Department of Government Efficiency and questioned whether the states had provided sufficient evidence to justify intervening in actions across seven federal agencies. Stephen Fowler anticipates a ruling within the next 24 hours (01:20 - 01:37).

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Energy Department Reverses Mass Firings of Nuclear Oversight Workers

A critical development within the Energy Department is also highlighted. The department has reversed the mass firings of numerous workers tasked with overseeing the nation’s nuclear weapons. Korva Coleman points out that the reinstatement was notably swift, with some employees being rehired just hours after their dismissal. This abrupt reversal has raised concerns among Congress members, who alarm over the potential vulnerabilities in agencies responsible for U.S. nuclear warhead oversight and nuclear terrorism prevention (02:07).

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Delta Plane Overturns at Toronto Airport

In aviation news, a Delta commuter plane experienced a tragic incident upon landing at Toronto's main airport. Deborah Flint, president and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, reported that 18 individuals sustained injuries, though thankfully, there were no fatalities. The plane, carrying 80 passengers, overturned, leading to a swift response from firefighters who extinguished a resulting fire as passengers evacuated the aircraft (02:07).

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Extreme Cold Warnings Across Central United States

The National Weather Service has issued extreme cold warnings for nearly the entire central United States. Wind chill temperatures are expected to plunge below zero in areas extending as far south as Central Texas, with northern regions like North Dakota experiencing wind chills that feel like 40 degrees below (02:07).

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Leonard Peltier's Imminent Release from Federal Prison

In a notable legal update, Indigenous activist and convicted murderer Leonard Peltier is set to be released from a federal prison in Florida. Peltier has been serving a life sentence for the 1975 killing of two FBI agents. Native American activists continue to assert his innocence, and President Joe Biden has commuted his sentence to home confinement before his departure from office, marking a significant moment for his supporters (02:07).

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New York Mayor Eric Adams’ Corruption Scandal

Turning to local governance, New York Governor Kathy Hochul is preparing to meet with city officials amid an alleged corruption scandal involving Mayor Eric Adams. Bruce Konfeiser reports that Governor Hochul is contemplating the unprecedented step of removing Mayor Adams from office, a power granted by the New York State constitution but never before exercised in the state's 235-year history. This consideration follows the resignation of four deputy mayors and seven federal prosecutors who declined to request the dismissal of a five-count indictment against Adams. Governor Hochul's announcement underscores the gravity of the situation and the potential for drastic measures to address the corruption allegations (03:53).

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Pope Francis' Health Update

Concluding the episode, Korva Coleman provides an update on Pope Francis, who remains hospitalized in Rome. The Vatican reports that the pontiff is being treated for a polymicrobial respiratory infection and must remain on absolute rest. While Pope Francis is in stable condition, Vatican officials indicate that his medical situation is complex, necessitating ongoing care (04:34).

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This episode of NPR News Now offers listeners a succinct yet thorough briefing on significant global and domestic issues, providing essential insights and updates to keep audiences informed.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Saudi Arabia today meeting his Russian counterparts. They're talking about restoring relations between Moscow and Washington and about Russia's war in Ukraine, but neither Ukrainian nor European diplomats are there. NPR's Joanna Kakisis reports from Kyiv. Ukraine's president won't be attending the talks.

[Joanna Kakisis]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, but he said only for an official visit with Saudi officials. Zelenskyy said there cannot be negotiations without Ukraine. Oleksandr Krajev, a political scientist in Kyiv, says Zelenskyy expects President Trump to make Ukraine an equal partner in talks to end the war.

[Korva Coleman]

In any other case, negotiations will be a futile effort and Trump will be presented as a bad negotiator, weak politician.

[Bruce Konfeiser]

And bad diplomat, basically.

[Joanna Kakisis]

Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia is expected to visit Ukraine later this week. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

A federal judge appears unlikely to grant a request to immediately halt efforts by Elon Musk's DOGE entity to access federal data and fire government employees. And NPR's Stephen Fowler reports on a hearing over a lawsuit filed by several Democratic state attorneys general.

[Stephen Fowler]

This lawsuit argues Elon Musk's influential role in the government is illegal and should be confirmed by the U.S. senate. The best word to describe Judge Tanya Chutkan in this hour long hearing skeptical. Skeptical of the government's claims that Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency don't have that much power and skeptical that the state's suing have showed enough evidence to halt for now actions in seven federal agencies. Chutkan said she'll issue a ruling in the next 24 hours. Stephen Fowler, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The Energy Department has reversed the firings of many workers whom it just sacked. The workers are responsible for overseeing the nation's nuclear weapons. The reversal was hasty. Some employees said they were rehired within hours of being let go. Some members of Congress expressed alarm over mass layoffs at an agency that guards U.S. nuclear warhead and fights nuclear terrorism. Investigators are trying to find why a Delta commuter plane overturned when it landed yesterday at the main airport for Toronto. Deborah Flint is the president and CEO of the Greater Toronto Airports authority. She says 18 people were hurt. We are very grateful that there was no loss of life and relatively minor injuries. Firefighters put out a fire as passengers fled the plane. 80 people were aboard. The National Weather Service has issued extreme cold warnings for almost all of the central US Wind chill readings could fall below zero as far south as Central Texas, northern than that. It's a lot colder. It feels like 40 below in North Dakota. This is NPR. Indigenous activist and convicted murderer Leonard Peltier is due to be released from a federal prison today in Florida. He was serving a life sentence for the killings of two FBI agents in 1975. Native American activists insist he is innocent. Before leaving office. Former President JOE President Joe Biden commuted his sentence to home confinement. New York Governor Kathy Hochul plans to meet with New York City officials today. They'll discuss next steps for the city as Mayor Eric Adams remains tangled in an alleged corruption scandal. Bruce Konfiser reports the governor may consider taking drastic action.

[Bruce Konfeiser]

In making her announcement late Monday, Governor Hochul indicated that she's considering removing Mayor Eric Adams from office. Earlier in the day, four of the city's eight deputy mayors announced they're resigning from the mayor's administration. It was the latest blow for the embattled mayor who has vowed to fight on. Last week, at least seven federal prosecutors in New York and Washington resigned rather than ask a judge to dismiss the five count indictment against Mayor Adams. The New York State constitution gives the governor the power to remove the mayor from office. But in announcing the meeting, Governor Hochul noted that in the state's 235 year history, no governor had ever taken such action. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Konfeiser.

[Korva Coleman]

In New York, the Vatican says Pope Francis remains hospitalized in Rome. He's being treated for a polymicrobial respiratory infection. Doctors say he needs to remain on absolute rest. Vatican officials say the pontiff is in stable condition, but that his medical case is complex. This is npr.

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