NPR News: 02-18-2025 8PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now - Episode Summary

Title: NPR News Now
Host: Jack Spear
Release Date: February 19, 2025
Episode: NPR News: 02-18-2025 8PM EST

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1. President Trump Blames Ukraine for Ongoing War with Russia

Timestamp: [00:19] - [01:18]

In a significant political development, former President Donald Trump has publicly blamed Ukraine for the prolonged conflict with Russia. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago Club, Trump criticized Ukraine's role in the nearly three-year-long war, asserting that the country should have ended the conflict.

Donald Trump [00:54]: "And I think I have the power to end this war and I think it's going very well. But today I heard, oh, we weren't invited. Well, you've been there for three years. You should have ended it. Three years. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal."

NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reported that these remarks echo similar statements Trump made during his campaign. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly stated that Ukraine will not agree to any peace deal without their active participation, maintaining the stance that negotiations must include all relevant parties to ensure a fair resolution.

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2. Mass Dismissals of Federal Employees Sparks Legal Challenges

Timestamp: [01:18] - [02:10]

The Trump administration has fired over 10,000 federal employees, predominantly those still on probationary periods. NPR's Andrea Hsu delves into the potential for class-action lawsuits as lawyers challenge these dismissals.

David Branch [01:54]: "That this statement is false, you probably have a claim for infringement upon your good name and reputation under the Fifth Amendment."

Federal employees typically undergo one to two years of probation before gaining full job protections. However, attorneys argue that even without these protections, the terminations may be legally contestable, especially if employees can prove that the stated reasons for dismissal—ineffective performance and lack of public interest—are unfounded. The administration defends the actions as necessary measures to eliminate waste and enhance government efficiency.

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3. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy Announces Resignation

Timestamp: [02:10] - [02:59]

Louis DeJoy, the Postmaster General appointed during the COVID-19 pandemic, has announced his intention to step down. NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports that DeJoy is requesting the Postal Service board to begin searching for his replacement, ensuring a minimally disruptive transition.

DeJoy's tenure was marked by efforts to reorganize the Postal Service with a 10-year plan aimed at achieving financial stability. However, his policies drew criticism for delaying mail services, particularly affecting rural communities during critical times like national elections, where mail-in voting surged.

Hansi Lo Wang [02:22]: "It's not clear when DeJoy will step down, but he says in the letter he's committed to a transition that is, quote, the least impactful to the Postal Service and the American people."

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4. U.S. Stock Market Hits New Highs

Timestamp: [02:59] - [04:10]

Despite initial fluctuations, the U.S. stock market closed higher, surpassing previous record highs. Key indices showed modest gains:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: +10 points to 44,556
• Nasdaq: +14 points
• S&P 500: +14 points

This upward trend indicates a resilient market amidst ongoing economic and political uncertainties.

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5. Hamas Announces Plans for Hostage Releases

Timestamp: [02:59] - [03:54]

In a notable development regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, a leader from Hamas has announced intentions to release hostages. The group plans to return the bodies of four deceased hostages and release six living captives within the week.

These releases are contingent upon two main conditions:

1. The freedom of Palestinian prisoners.
2. Israel permitting the entry of mobile homes and construction equipment into Gaza, which have been long-standing requests by Hamas.

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6. Leonard Peltier Released After Nearly 50 Years in Prison

Timestamp: [03:54] - [04:22]

Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist, has been released from federal prison in Florida after serving nearly five decades. NPR's Steve Newborn reports that Peltier's life sentence was commuted to indefinite house arrest during the final days of President Joe Biden's administration.

Peltier, who was convicted in relation to the murder of two FBI agents on a South Dakota reservation, maintains that he acted in self-defense and did not intentionally kill the agents.

Chase Iron Eyes [04:10]: "He's going to be welcomed as a hero in his homeland. We are going to celebrate Leonard Peltier in the same way that we celebrate Nelson Mandela."

A ceremonial honor is planned in North Dakota to celebrate his release before he transitions to home confinement.

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7. Avian Flu Drives Egg Prices to Near $5 a Dozen

Timestamp: [04:33] - [04:59]

The avian flu outbreak has significantly impacted egg production, causing prices to surge to nearly $5 per dozen nationwide. This spike poses a considerable challenge for small businesses, particularly restaurants, bakeries, and bodegas that rely heavily on eggs.

Jack Spear highlights that many of these businesses are currently absorbing the increased costs, affecting their overall profitability and operational sustainability.

Jack Spear [04:33]: "Well, it is definitely the egg, at least in terms of what's hurting the bottom line the most. Restaurants, bakeries and bodegas, all of which use or sell eggs right now."

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now encapsulates a range of pressing issues from international conflicts and domestic policy changes to economic impacts affecting everyday businesses. With insightful reporting and firsthand quotes, listeners are provided with a comprehensive overview of current events shaping the national and global landscape.

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Donald Trump today blamed Ukraine for the ongoing war between it and Russia. That war began in 2020 when Russia invaded Ukraine eight years after Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

In today's talks, American and Russian delegations met in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Ukraine was not invited to those talks, nor were Ukrainian allies in Europe. At a press conference at his Mar a Lago Club, the president blamed Ukraine for the nearly three year long war.

[Donald Trump]

And I think I have the power to end this war and I think it's going very well. But today I heard, oh, we weren't invited. Well, you've been there for three years. You should have ended it. Three years. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Trump made similar comments on the campaign trail. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country will not recognize any peace deal made without their participation. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

More than 10,000 federal employees have been fired from their jobs. Most of them were still on probationary status. As NPR's Andrea Hsu explains, lawyers are exploring class action lawsuits to challenge those dismissals.

[Andrea Hsu]

Federal employees typically have to get through one or two years of probation before they have full civil service job protections. Still, attorneys say even without those protections, they may still have a case. Many of the workers fired were told that their performance failed to demonstrate that their employment was in the public interest. David Branch is a longtime employment attorney in Washington, D.C. if you can prove.

[David Branch]

That this statement is false, you probably have a claim for infringement upon your good name and reputation under the Fifth Amendment.

[Andrea Hsu]

The Trump administration says the terminations are about cutting waste and making government more efficient. Andrea Hsu, NPR news, Senate.

[Jack Spear]

The U.S. postal Service plans to step down. As NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy set to end a controversial term that began in 2020 during President Trump's first administration.

[Hansi Lo Wang]

In a public letter, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is asking the Postal Service board of directors to start looking for someone to replace him. It's not clear when DeJoy will step down, but he says in the letter he's committed to a transition that is, quote, the least impactful to the Postal Service and the American people. Dejoy was appointed to lead the Postal Service during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic and has overseen the rise of voting by mail for two presidential elections in 2021. DeJoy rolled out a 10 year reorganization plan in an attempt to bring financial stability to the postal system. Critics of the plan, however, say that consolidating mail processing centers and other changes have slowed service, especially in rural communities. On Zi Lu Wang in PR News.

[Jack Spear]

Washington, stocks, after wobbling around a bit today, ended up closing higher, the broader market moving past its previous record high. The Dow gained 10 points to close at 44,556. The Nasdaq was up 14 points. The S&P 500 also gained 14 points. This is NPR. A leader with the militant group Hamas says plans call for another group of hostage releases this week. Hamas says it will return the bodies of four deceased hostages Thursday and then release six living hostages, both releases in exchange for the freedom of Palestinian prisoners and for Israel allowing long requested mobile homes and construction equipment into Gaza. Native American activist Leonard Peltier was released from a federal prison in Florida after serving nearly 50 years in connection with the murder of two FBI agents on a South Dakota reservation. Member station W USF Steen Newborn reports.

[Steve Newborn]

Peltier's life sentence was commuted to indefinite house arrest in the last days of Joe Biden's presidency. One of his attorneys, activist Chase Iron Eyes, said Peltier will be honored during a ceremony in his native North Dakota before being confined to his home.

[Chase Iron Eyes]

He's going to be welcomed as a hero in his homeland. We are going to celebrate Leonard Peltier in the same way that we celebrate Nelson Mandela.

[Steve Newborn]

At his trial, Peltier said he fired his gun at the federal agents in self defense but didn't kill them. For NPR News, I'm Steve Newborn in St. Petersburg, Florida.

[Jack Spear]

For small businesses answering the chicken or the egg? Well, it is definitely the egg, at least in terms of what's hurting the bottom line the most. Restaurants, bakeries and bodegas, all of which use or sell eggs right now. In many cases, they're absorbing the price hikes as a cost of doing business. Eggs nationwide are now averaging just under $5 a dozen, largely because of the avian flu outbreak. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

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