NPR News: 02-19-2025 12AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – February 19, 2025

Host: Shea Stevens
Release Date: February 19, 2025
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

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1. Donald Trump Criticizes Ukraine’s NATO Prospects and Blames Ukraine for the Conflict

At [00:18], President Donald Trump addressed his views on Ukraine and its relationship with NATO during a speech at his Palm Beach, Florida resort. Trump asserted that Ukraine should not be permitted to join NATO, positioning himself as someone capable of ending the ongoing war.

Donald Trump [00:35]: “And I think I have the power to end this war, and I think it's going very well. But today I heard, oh, well, 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. I could have made a deal for Ukraine.”

Trump also placed responsibility for the war squarely on Ukraine, suggesting that the conflict could have been resolved earlier had Ukraine capitulated or entered negotiations under his terms.

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2. International Diplomatic Efforts to Resolve the Ukraine-Russia Conflict

Following Trump's remarks, Shea Stevens reported on the broader international efforts to address the war in Ukraine. U.S. and Russian officials convened in Saudi Arabia to discuss potential resolutions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made it clear that Ukraine would not accept any peace agreement negotiated without its participation.

French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the European allies' exclusion from the Russia-U.S. negotiations and announced a second round of talks involving countries such as Romania, Sweden, Finland, the Baltic nations, and Canada.

Eleanor Beardsley [01:22]: “The meeting will take place by video. Conference participants are looking for a way to weigh in on the negotiations to end the war.”

Macron expressed skepticism about President Trump’s stance, emphasizing the severity of Russian aggression beyond territorial invasion, including cyber attacks and election interference.

Eleanor Beardsley [01:56]: “Macron cited cyber attacks, election interference and disinformation campaigns as a few of the ways. Russia has already attacked Europe and don't think even worse things cannot happen, he said.”

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3. Hamas to Release Additional Israeli Hostages Amid Ceasefire

At [02:02], Shea Stevens reported that Hamas announced the release of six more Israeli hostages over the upcoming weekend, pursuant to a ceasefire agreement reached weeks prior. Additionally, the group committed to returning the remains of four Israelis on Thursday, with a possible further four the following week.

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4. Measles Outbreak Escalates in West Texas

A concerning health update was provided by Samantha Larned from Lubbock at [02:31], detailing a significant increase in measles cases in West Texas. Confirmed cases have more than doubled in the past week, with 58 cases identified across five counties.

Dr. Ron Cook, the public health authority for Lubbock, noted that the outbreak originated in rural Gaines County along the Texas-New Mexico border and highlighted that four of the recent cases occurred in vaccinated individuals.

Dr. Ron Cook [02:48]: “Right now, it's based on exposure and or not knowing that you've had measles or ever been vaccinated. If this thing were to really get carried away, then we would offer booster doses for many different people.”

Texas officials are focusing on containing the outbreak, with vaccine reserves available should the situation worsen. Dr. Cook anticipates a rise in cases as testing increases.

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5. Federal Judge Denies Injunction Against Elon Musk and Doge Access to Federal Systems

Shea Stevens reported at [03:14] that a federal judge rejected a request by 14 Democratic attorneys general seeking an emergency injunction to prevent billionaire Elon Musk and his entity, Doge, from accessing federal data systems. The plaintiffs contended that Musk's government role violated the constitutional requirement for Senate approval of presidential appointees.

U.S. District Court Judge Tonya Chutkan dismissed the case, stating that the plaintiffs did not demonstrate sufficient legal harm to warrant a temporary restraining order. Judge Chutkan also expressed unease with the administration’s commentary regarding Musk and his authority within Doge.

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6. Release of Leonard Peltier from Federal Prison

In a significant criminal justice development, Native American activist Leonard Peltier was released from a federal prison in Florida on [04:16]. Peltier, who had served nearly five decades for the alleged murder of two FBI agents on a South Dakota reservation—a charge he has consistently denied—had his life sentence commuted to indefinite house arrest in the final days of President Joe Biden’s administration.

During the release ceremony, Peltier’s attorney, Chase Iron Eyes, conveyed the community’s high regard for Peltier:

Chase Iron Eyes [04:32]: “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.”

Peltier maintains his innocence, claiming that he acted in self-defense by firing at the agents without intending to kill them.

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provided comprehensive coverage of critical international and national issues, including geopolitical tensions involving Ukraine and NATO, escalating health concerns with a measles outbreak, significant legal battles surrounding high-profile figures like Elon Musk, and notable developments in the U.S. criminal justice system with the release of Leonard Peltier. Through detailed reporting and direct quotes from involved parties, the episode offered listeners valuable insights into these multifaceted stories.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been excluded from this summary to focus solely on newsworthy material.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump says Ukraine should not be allowed to join NATO. Speaking at his Palm Beach, Florida, resort Tuesday, Trump also blamed Ukraine for the war that began there after Russia invaded it in 2022.

[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, well, 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. I could have made a deal for Ukraine.

[Shea Stevens]

Trump made the remarks as U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia Tuesday to discuss the war in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine will not agree to any peace agreement that is negotiated without its participation. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron says European allies will hold a second round of talks on being excluded from Russian American negotiations on Ukraine. And as NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports, Wednesday's gathering will also include Romania, Sweden, Finland, the Baltic nations and Canada.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

The meeting will take place by video. Conference participants are looking for a way to weigh in on the negotiations to end the war. The talks come a day after U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia. Europeans are stunned by the sudden rapprochement and incredulous that President Trump seems more inclined to blame Ukraine for not capitulating than to blame Russian President Vladimir Putin for the invasion. Macron cited cyber attacks, election interference and disinformation campaigns as a few of the ways. Russia has already attacked Europe and don't think even worse things cannot happen, he said. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Shea Stevens]

Hamas says will release six more Israeli hostages this weekend under a ceasefire deal reached weeks ago. The Palestinian group says it will also return the remains of four Israelis Thursday and perhaps another four next week. The measles outbreak in West Texas continues with confirmed cases, more than doubling over the past week. From member station KTTZ in Lubbock, Samantha Larnid reports that at least five counties in the region have now confirmed 58 cases.

[Samantha Larned]

The measles outbreak was originally identified in rural Gaines county along Texas border with New Mexico. Dr. Ron Cook is the public health authority with the city of Lubbock, with cases on the rise, including at least four among vaccinated individuals. He says the focus is on containing the outbreak.

[Dr. Ron Cook]

Right now, it's based on exposure and or not knowing that you've had measles or ever been vaccinated. If this thing were to really get carried away, then we would offer booster doses for many different people.

[Samantha Larned]

Cook says that the state of Texas has vaccine reserves on hand if the measles outbreak continues spreading. For now, cases are expected to rise as more people get tested. For NPR News, I'm Samantha Larned in Lubbock.

[Shea Stevens]

This is NPR. A federal judge is refusing a request by 14 Democratic attorneys general for an emergency injunction to keep billionaire Elon Musk and Doge from accessing federal data systems. The plaintiffs argued that the Musk's role in government violates the constitutional clause that requires presidential appointees to be approved by the Senate. U.S. district Court Judge Tonya Chutkan says they failed to show grave legal harm to justify a temporary restraining order. Chutkan also expressed discomfort with the administration's statements about Musk and his authority in Doge. Formerly called the Department of Government Efficiency. Native American activist Leonard Peltier was released from a federal prison in Florida Tuesday. Peltier served nearly 50 years in connection with the murder of two FBI agents on a South Dakota reservation, a crime he maintains he did not commit. From member station wsf, Steve 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.

[Shea Stevens]

This is NPR News.

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