NPR News: 02-20-2025 1AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: February 20, 2025, 1AM EST

Hosted by NPR, this episode of "NPR News Now" delivers the latest news in five minutes, covering a range of topics from U.S. politics to corporate developments.

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1. President Trump Urges Ukraine to Negotiate Peace

President Donald Trump has publicly called on Ukraine's President Zelenskyy to swiftly negotiate an end to the ongoing war with Russia. In doing so, Trump has issued a stark warning: failure to reach an agreement could result in Ukraine losing its sovereignty. This stance has sparked controversy, leading to criticism from senators across both political parties who contest Trump's assertion that Ukraine initiated the conflict.

Notable Quote:

John Kennedy (02:40): "I think Vladimir Putin started the war. I also believe through bitter experience that Vladimir Putin is a gangster. He's a gangster with a black heart."

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2. Criticism of Trump's Claims on Ukraine-Russia Conflict

Amidst Trump's warnings, former Vice President Mike Pence took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to counter Trump's narrative. Pence emphasized that Russia's invasion was "unprovoked and brutal," resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives. He stressed that the pathway to peace must be grounded in truth.

Notable Quote:

Mike Pence (00:53): "Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion that's claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. The road to peace must be built on truth."

3. Expansion of Presidential Power Over Federal Advisory Committees

President Trump has signed a new executive order aimed at broadening his authority over federal advisory committees. According to NPR's Mara Liasson, this order allows the president to eliminate or reduce the size of various committees, including the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Inter-American Foundation. Critics argue that this move undermines congressional authority, and the latest executive order is expected to face legal challenges.

Notable Quote:

Mara Liasson (01:15): "Some of these committees were authorized by Congress and like similar executive orders Trump signed to give himself direct control of agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation."

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4. IRS to Lay Off Over 6,000 Workers

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is set to implement significant layoffs, cutting more than 6,000 positions starting Thursday. These job eliminations will primarily affect probationary employees who have been with the agency for a year or less. Notably, IRS personnel involved in the 2025 tax filing season have been exempt from these cuts, as reported by the Associated Press.

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5. Trump Administration Halts New York's Congestion Pricing Program

In a contentious move, the Trump administration has instructed New York to cease its congestion pricing initiative, which imposes a $9 fee for driving in designated sections of Manhattan during peak hours. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy criticized the program, stating it "should have never been given the green light" by the Biden administration.

Notable Quotes:

Sean Duffy (02:30): "The tolling program that was approved by the Biden administration should have never been given the green light."

Governor Kathy Hochul (02:49): "I don't care if you love congestion pricing or hate it. This is an attack on our sovereign identity, our independence from Washington. We are a nation of states."

In response, Governor Hochul has vowed to challenge the administration's decision, and MTA officials have filed a lawsuit against the Transportation Department. Currently, the tolling cameras remain operational as the legal dispute unfolds.

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6. Fires at Northern California Energy Storage Facility Raise Health Concerns

A series of recent fires at Vistra Energy's Moss Landing battery facility in Monterey County, Northern California, have prompted significant health concerns. The initial fire erupted about a month ago and reignited this week, leading to extensive monitoring of air quality by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Notable Quotes:

Eric Sandusky, EPA On-Scene Coordinator (03:52): "We did not see any sustained readings above the moderate air quality index level throughout the entire incident. There were a few spikes that were, you know, a minute long or so above that, but not directed towards the community."

Despite these assurances, Sandusky indicated that flare-ups are "almost a certainty" due to damaged lithium-ion batteries from the previous month's fire, raising ongoing concerns about air quality and safety.

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7. Nikola Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Electric truck manufacturer Nikola is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after unsuccessful attempts to secure additional funding or attract a buyer. This development follows over a year of challenges for the Arizona-based company, including the fraud conviction of its founder. Nikola specializes in heavy-duty commercial vehicles powered by batteries or fuel cells. The bankruptcy announcement has had a significant impact on the financial markets, causing the company's shares to plummet by over 50% on Wednesday. Additionally, U.S. futures declined in after-hours trading, with Asian markets also experiencing downturns.

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This summary provides an overview of the key topics discussed in the February 20, 2025 episode of "NPR News Now." For more detailed information, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump is warning Ukraine's president to quickly negotiate an end to the war with Russia or risk losing his country. Meanwhile, Trump is facing criticism from senators in both parties for claiming Ukraine started the conflict. Louisiana Republican John Kennedy says he disagrees with that claim.

[John Kennedy]

I think Vladimir Putin started the war. I also believe through bitter experience that Vladimir Putin is a gangster. He's a gangster with a black heart.

[Shea Stevens]

In a posting on the social media site X, former Vice President Mike Pence says Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion that's claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Pence also says the road to peace must be built on truth. President Trump has signed another executive order to expand his power over federal advisory committees. More from NPR's Mara Liasson.

[Mara Liasson]

The president has issued a series of executive orders designed to expand his power over the federal government. It would allow him to get rid of or downsize a group of federal advisory committees, such such as the US Institute of Peace, the Inter American foundation, the Presidio Trust, and the Presidential Management Fellows Program. Some of these committees were authorized by Congress and like similar executive orders Trump signed to give himself direct control of agencies like the securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The latest executive order may also be challenged in court. Mara Liasson, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

According to the Associated Press, the Internal Revenue Service is preparing to lay off more than 6,000 workers beginning Thursday. The AP reports that the job cuts will affect probationary workers who've been with the IRS roughly a year or less. IRS workers involved in the 2025 tax filing season were told earlier this month that they are exempt from job cuts. The Trump administration has ordered New York to halt a congestion pricing program, which imposes a $9 fee for driving in a section of Manhattan during peak hours. As WNYC's Stephen Neston reports, the Transportation Department has terminated appro for the toll.

[Sean Duffy]

In a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the tolling program that was approved by the Biden administration should have never been given the green light. But Hochul says the toll has reduced traffic in the city, boosted local businesses, and that she vows to fight the administration.

[Kathy Hochul]

I don't care if you love congestion pricing or hate it. This is an attack on our sovereign identity, our independence from Washington. And this is we are a nation. We are a nation of states.

[Sean Duffy]

MTA officials filed a lawsuit against the Transportation Department. And for now, Hochul says the tolling cameras are staying on.

[Shea Stevens]

Stephen Nessen reporting. This is npr. Recent fires at an energy storage facility in Northern California have caused major health concerns in Monterey County. As KQED's Joseph Ghold reports, the blaze first erupted about a month ago and reignited this week.

[Joseph Ghold]

Monterey county fire officials say they were called to Vistra Energy's Moss Landing battery facility around 6:30 Tuesday evening. They found smoke near a rubble pile that ignited into a fire and burned until 8am Wednesday. Eric Sandusky, an on scene coordinator for the U.S. ePA, said his team has been monitoring air quality since the last fire.

[Eric Sandusky]

We did not see any sustained readings above the the moderate air quality index level throughout the entire incident. There were a few spikes that were, you know, a minute long or so above that, but not directed towards the community.

[Joseph Ghold]

Sandusky said it's, quote, almost a certainty that flare ups will happen after the lithium ion batteries at the facility were damaged in last month's fire. For NPR News, I'm Joseph Jiha in San Francisco.

[Shea Stevens]

Electric truck startup Nikola is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after failing to raise funds or secure a buyer. The news comes over a year after the Arizona based company faced a series of scandals, including the fraud conviction of its founder. Nikola makes heavy duty commercial vehicles powered by battery or fuel cells. Its bankruptcy filing sent company shares down over 50% on Wednesday. U.S. futures are lower in after hours trading on Wall Street. On Asia Pacific market, shares are down 1% in Tokyo and in Hong Kong. This is NPR.

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