NPR News: 02-20-2025 10AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of February 20, 2025, Episode

Release Date: February 20, 2025
Host: Korva Coleman
Duration: 5 minutes

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1. Government Savings Claims by "Doge" Under Scrutiny

Korva Coleman opens the episode by reporting on Doge, a government entity, claiming to have saved taxpayers billions of dollars. The Trump administration has launched a website to track these purported savings.

• Stephen Fowler from NPR investigates these claims, revealing significant discrepancies:

  "The claims weren't off by just a little bit, but rather overstated by billions." [00:18]

  Fowler explains that half of the savings Doge reported stemmed from a typo in the federal contract database, erroneously inflating figures from $8 million to $8 billion. Although the typo was corrected in the broader system weeks ago, the Doge website only reflected this correction yesterday, undermining their reported savings' credibility.

2. Ukraine's Leadership Receives European Support Amid Criticism

In another segment, Korva Coleman discusses President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent phone conversations with several European leaders, highlighting a second meeting held in Paris.

• Polina Litvinova reports on the unified support Zelenskyy is receiving:

  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assured Ukraine of unwavering support, stating,
  "Canada and our allies are unequivocal on standing up against Vladimir Putin's illegal, immoral, unjust violations of the international order." [01:04]

• Following criticism from former President Donald Trump, who labeled Zelenskyy a dictator for not holding elections during the war, European leaders have staunchly defended Zelenskyy's legitimacy.

  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized, "It is dangerous to deny Zelenskyy's legitimacy." [01:18]

  The Ukrainian constitution prohibits holding elections under martial law, a state declared in 2022 after Russia's invasion, further validating Zelenskyy's position.

3. Israel-Gaza Hostage Exchange and Stock Market Reactions

Korva Coleman transitions to international tensions, reporting that Israel has received the bodies of four hostages previously held in Gaza, including a young mother and her two children, as well as an older man. In a tense development, Hamas is scheduled to release six living hostages on Saturday in exchange for the freedom of approximately 600 Palestinians detained in Israeli jails.

Concurrently, the U.S. stock market opens sharply lower, influenced by a cautious sales forecast from Walmart.

• Scott Horsley provides financial insights:

  The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell about 400 points in early trading following Walmart's report. [02:16]

  Despite Walmart's strong sales and profits in the latest quarter, the company warns of a potential slowdown due to cautious consumer spending and the impact of former President Trump's tariff policies, which may drive prices upwards.

4. Economic Concerns: Walmart’s Outlook and Government Job Cuts

Continuing with economic updates, Scott Horsley delves deeper into Walmart's forecast and the broader employment landscape:

• Walmart anticipates a slowdown as consumers tighten their budgets, exacerbated by tariff-induced price hikes.

• Unemployment Trends: New applications for unemployment benefits remained steady last week, with no significant changes indicating a robust job market despite widespread job cuts within the federal government.

• Political Reactions: Republican Congressman Don Bacon criticizes the government's approach to job cuts, particularly highlighting the Agriculture Department's erroneous firings of workers combating a bird flu outbreak. The department is now attempting to reverse these mistakes, likened to a "Humpty Dumpty" scenario where efforts to fix the issue are proving challenging. [02:16]

5. Extreme Cold Weather and Historic Vessel’s Final Voyage

Korva Coleman shifts focus to weather and maritime news:

• Extreme Temperatures: Central U.S. experiences frigid conditions, with Bismarck, North Dakota, plunging to 22 degrees below zero, and wind chills making it feel over 40 degrees below zero. The National Weather Service forecasts continued record cold through tomorrow, with a warming trend expected by the weekend. [02:57]

• Maritime Milestone: Philadelphia bids farewell to the SS United States, an iconic ocean liner docked for nearly three decades. Matt Gillum reports that the vessel is embarking on its final journey to become the world's largest artificial reef.

  "The nearly thousand foot long SS United States is finally on its way to begin its transformation into the biggest artificial reef in the world." [03:43]

  The ship, renowned for setting transatlantic speed records during its 1952 maiden voyage, will be moved to Alabama for cleaning and preparation before sinking in the warm waters off the Florida Panhandle, marking the end of its storied existence.

6. Passing of Former US Senator David Boren

In a heartfelt segment, Korva Coleman announces the passing of David Boren, a former Democratic US Senator from Oklahoma and Governor, who died at 83 after a prolonged illness. Boren's distinguished career included multiple terms in the Oklahoma State House, service as a US Senator, and leadership as president of Oklahoma's largest public university until his retirement in 2018. His contributions to both state and national politics are remembered and honored. [04:16]

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This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of significant political developments, economic indicators, international relations, environmental conditions, and notable events, ensuring listeners are well-informed on pressing issues shaping the world on February 20, 2025.

Transcript

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The government entity called Doge is claiming that it has saved taxpayers billions of dollars. This week. The Trump administration launched a website that tracks these savings. But NPR Stephen Fowler says the claimed savings are not as rosy as Doge says they are.

[Stephen Fowler]

The claims weren't off by just a little bit, but rather overstated by billions. Half of these savings claimed in these receipts comes from what Doge said was actually a typo entered into the federal contract database a few years ago that made a listing wor up to $8 million look like $8 billion. That typo was fixed in the system a few weeks ago, but only fixed on the Doge website yesterday.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Stephen Fowler reporting. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke by phone today with several European leaders. NPR's Polina Litvinova reports. The leaders have held a second meeting in Paris.

[Polina Litvinova]

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among those who assured Ukraine of their support. He published a video on X saying Canada will always stand up for Ukraine.

[Justin Trudeau]

Canada and our allies are unequivocal on standing up against Vladimir Putin's illegal, immoral, unjust violations of the international order.

[Polina Litvinova]

After President Trump criticized Ukraine's leader for not holding elections during the war and called him a dictator, some European leaders spoke up in support of Zelenskyy. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said it was dangerous to deny Zelenskyy's legitimacy. The Ukrainian constitution prohibits elections during martial law, which was announced in 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine. Polina Litvinova, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Israel has received the bodies of four Israeli hostages held in captivity in Gaza. They included a young mother and her two children. The fourth body was that of an older man. Hamas is sched release six living hostages on Saturday. In exchange, Israel is to free about 600 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Stocks opened sharply lower this morning after a cautious sales forecast from Walmart. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrials fell about 400 points in early trading.

[Scott Horsley]

Walmart reported strong sales and profits for its most recent quarter. But the retail giant is warning of a possible slowdown in the months to come as cautious shoppers keep a tight grip on their wallets. And Trump's tariff moves threatened to put upward pressure on prices. New applications for unemployment benefits showed little change last week. Widespread job cuts in the federal government have yet to show up in the data. Republican Congressman Don Bacon is urging the government to be more thoughtful about those job cuts after the Agriculture Department mistakenly fired workers who were fighting the bird flu outbreak cuts. The department is now trying to reverse Humpty Dumpty style. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

This is NPR. Temperatures are still frigid in much of the central US this morning. In Bismarck, North Dakota, it's 22 degrees below zero. With the wind chill, it feels like more than 40 degrees below zero. It's been really cold for days in the plains. And the National Weather Service says that widespread record cold will continue through tomorrow. Weather forecasters say that a warming trend will arrive by the weekend. Philadelphia is saying goodbye to the SS United States. It has been docked in the city for nearly 30 years. Now the historic ocean liner is starting its final voyage. From member station whyy, Matt Gillum reports the vessel is poised to set one more record.

[Matt Gillum]

The nearly thousand foot long SS United States is finally on its way to begin its transformation into the biggest artificial reef in the world. The now rusting but stately ocean liner set the transatlantic speed record in both directions on its 1952 maiden voyage. A record still holds. The rise of the jet age proved the ship's downfall, and it left active service in 1969. Dubbed America's flagship, the SS United States is bound for Alabama, where it'll be cleaned and prepared for its final resting place on the sea floor in the warm waters off the Florida Panhandle. For NPR News, I'm Matt Gillum in Philadelphia.

[Korva Coleman]

Former Democratic US Senator from Oklahoma and Governor David Boren has died at the age of 83. According to his family, he'd had a long illness. Boren served several terms in the Oklahoma State House before becoming a U S. Senator. After leaving Congress, Boren was president of Oklahoma's largest public university, retiring in 2018. This is NPR.