NPR News: 02-19-2025 5PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: February 19, 2025, 5 PM EST

Host: Jack Speier

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U.S. President Trump Criticizes Ukrainian Leadership and Aligns with Russia

NPR News Reporter: Mara Liasson

President Donald Trump intensified his verbal attacks on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of being a "dictator without elections" (00:31). However, Zelensky has been duly elected, countering Trump's claims. Trump issued a stern warning to Zelensky, stating he must "move fast or [he's] not going to have a country left" (00:31).

Liasson elaborated that Trump is increasingly siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin in efforts to resolve the ongoing conflict initiated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine three years ago. By conducting negotiations with Russia without Ukraine at the table, Trump appears to support Russia's objectives. This alignment includes allowing Russia to retain captured Ukrainian territories, preventing Ukraine from joining NATO, and shifting blame for the war onto Ukraine (00:31).

Governor Hochul Opposes Trump Administration's Rollback of NYC Congestion Pricing

New York Governor: Kathy Hochul

New York Governor Kathy Hochul responded robustly to the Trump administration's decision to abolish congestion pricing in New York City. Introduced to reduce traffic and fund mass transit, the congestion pricing had been particularly unpopular among commuters entering the city below 60th Street.

Governor Hochul criticized President Trump, suggesting that his decision was part of a "revenge tour," asserting the autonomy of states against federal overreach. She stated, "We are a nation of states. This is what we fought for. This is what people like Alexander Hamilton and others fought for, to set up a system. We are not subservient to a king or anyone else out of Washington" (01:31).

In response, Trump declared on his social media platform, "Congestion pricing is dead, Manhattan and all of New York is saved. Long live the king" (01:45). The administration's reversal of the congestion pricing plan disrupts efforts to alleviate traffic and fund essential transit projects within the city (01:45).

Trump Administration Faces Backlash Over Federal Employee Firings Amid Bird Flu Outbreak

NPR News Reporter: Windsor Johnston

The Trump administration is under fire for the abrupt termination of federal employees tasked with managing the bird flu outbreak in the United States. The Department of Agriculture is currently rehiring those who received termination letters, emphasizing that bird flu containment remains a top priority (02:14).

Windsor Johnston reported that Democrats are quick to attribute the firings to tech billionaire Elon Musk and his cost-cutting entity, Doge, positioning these actions within the broader context of significant federal workforce reductions. The bird flu has severely impacted poultry and dairy sectors, driving up egg prices and causing nearly 70 human cases confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in recent months (02:14).

Stock Markets Show Modest Gains Amid NASA's Artemis Program Uncertainty

NPR News Reporter: Scott Newman and Expert: Todd Harrison

Stock markets experienced slight increases for the second consecutive day, with the Dow Jones up 71 points, the NASDAQ rising by 14 points, and the S&P also gaining 14 points (03:00). In parallel, there are growing concerns that the Trump administration, in conjunction with Elon Musk, may cancel NASA’s Artemis program—the initiative aimed at returning humans to the moon and eventually reaching Mars.

Scott Newman highlighted that Artemis, launched in 2017 under President Trump, could be jeopardized by Musk's government efficiency team targeting the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Todd Harrison, a space policy expert from the American Enterprise Institute, warned that the cancellation of the SLS would effectively terminate the Artemis program as originally envisioned by Trump’s administration (03:24; 03:50).

Further complicating matters, Boeing, the primary contractor for the SLS, recently alerted employees about potential layoffs, signaling instability within the program’s future (03:59).

Sinkhole in Godstone Leaves English Village in Disarray

NPR News Reporter: Jack Speier

In Godstone, a picturesque village in England, residents are facing prolonged displacement following the appearance of a significant sinkhole. The geological event engulfed parts of the main street and approximately 30 buildings, presenting dangers of structural collapse, ruptured pipes, and potential explosions (04:09).

Engineers have attributed the sinkhole to a burst water main and are currently exploring solutions to mitigate the damage and ensure the safety of the community. Structural engineers in Surrey are actively seeking ways to remediate the affected areas and prevent future incidents (04:09).

Crude Oil Prices Rise Amid U.S.-Russia Discussions on Ukraine Peace Deal

NPR News Reporter: Jack Speier

Crude oil futures remained near their one-week highs, with prices increasing by 40 cents to reach $72.25 per barrel. This uptick is driven by concerns over potential supply disruptions as the United States and Russia engage in talks aimed at brokering a peace deal in Ukraine (04:09). The ongoing geopolitical tensions and the fragile status of the peace negotiations continue to influence global oil markets, highlighting the interconnectedness of international diplomacy and energy prices (04:09).

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This summary is based on the NPR News Now podcast episode released on February 19, 2025, focusing on the latest developments in U.S. politics, international relations, economic indicators, and local news events.

Transcript

[Carvana]

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[Jack Speier]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speier. President Trump is continuing to attack and threaten Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that says the US And Russia are leaving Ukraine out of talks aimed at ending a now three year old war. More from NPR's Mara Liasson.

[Mara Liasson]

TRUMP repeated Russian talking points today when he posted that Zelensky was a, quote, dictator without elections. Zelenskyy was in fact duly elected. Trump also warned Zelensky that he better, quote, move fast or he's not going to have a country left, unquote. Trump has increasingly taken Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's side in the effort to resolve the war sparked by Russia's invasion. As Trump engages in talks with Russia without Ukraine at the table, he seems to be more and more aligned with Russia's goals, allowing Russia to keep captured Ukrainian territory, barring Ukraine from ever joining NATO, and blaming Ukraine for the war. Mara Liasson, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

New York Governor Kathy Hochul is responding to an announcement by the Trump administration that it is doing away with congestion pricing recently put in place in New York City. The plan, especially unpopular with commuters coming into the city, instituted tolls for vehicles entering New York below 60th Street. Hochul defended and accused Trump of going after New York as part of, quote, his revenge tour.

[Kathy Hochul]

We are a nation of states. This is what we fought for. This is what people like Alexander Hamilton and others fought for, to set up a system. We are not subservient to a king or anyone else out of Washington.

[Jack Speier]

Trump, in a statement on his social media platform said, quote, congestion pricing is dead, Manhattan and all of New York is saved. Long live the king. The pricing plan was designed to reduce traffic and generate millions for mass transit in New York City. The Trump administration says it is scrambling to reverse the, quote, accidental firing of federal employees who are working to contain the outbreak of bird flu in the U.S. nPR's Windsor Johnston reports. The firing has come as the administration continues to make massive cuts to the federal workforce.

[Windsor Johnston]

The Department of Agriculture says it's in the process of rehiring the employees who were sent termination letters over the weekend, adding that its response to bird flu continues to be a priority. A number of Democrats were quick to criticize the Trump administration, blaming tech billionaire Elon Musk Musk and his cost cutting unit Doge for the firings. The USDA is one of many federal agencies that are facing major cutbacks. The bird flu virus has led to outbreaks in poultry flocks and dairy cows in the U.S. it's also sent the price of eggs even higher. Over the last several months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed nearly 70 cases of bird flu in humans. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Speier]

Stocks ended the session modestly higher for a second straight trading session today. The dow was up 71 points, the NASDAQ 14 points. The S&P also climbed 14 points. This is NPR. There are growing signs the Trump administration and Elon Musk could be preparing to cancel a NASA program to return astronauts to the moon for the first time in more than five decades. Here's npr.

[Scott Newman]

Scott newman, the Artemis moon program was launched by President Trump in 2017 as a step toward a mission to Mars. And even though SpaceX has a contract to build the lunar lander, many now think that Musk's government efficiency team has the program's moon rocket, known as the sls, in its sights. Todd Harrison, a space policy expert with the American Enterprise Institute, says if the.

[Todd Harrison]

SLS is canceled, it means the Artemis program, as envisioned by the first Trump administration, is effectively dead.

[Scott Newman]

Earlier this month, Boeing, the main contractor for the sls, warned employees on the project to prepare for layoffs. Scott Newman, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Speier]

Residents of the English village of Godstone won't be going home anytime soon, apparently. Thus, after a large sinkhole that definitely was not a godsend for the town swallowed up parts of the main street and about 30 buildings there in danger of collapse. Officials worry it could lead to ruptured pipes and possible explosions. Engineers blame the large sinkhole on a burst water main. Structural engineers in Surrey say they are looking for possible solutions. Crude oil futures prices held near their current one week highs today amid concerns about possible supply disruptions as the U.S. and Russia discuss a Ukrainian peace deal. Oil up 40 cents a barrel to $72.25 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

[Carvana]

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