NPR News: 02-20-2025 6AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary
February 20, 2025 | Released: February 20, 2025

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1. Hamas Releases Bodies of Israeli Hostages

Korva Coleman opens the episode with a somber update on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hamas has released the bodies of four individuals it claims were Israeli hostages, including Shiri Bibis and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, along with 84-year-old Oded Lifshitz (00:00). These remains will undergo forensic testing in Israel to confirm their identities.

Kat Lansdorf provides further details, noting that all four individuals were taken hostage during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. Hamas asserts that the hostages were killed by Israeli airstrikes while in Gaza. This release is unprecedented, although several bodies have been recovered by Israeli forces throughout the ongoing conflict. The Bibis family, particularly their two small red-headed sons, had become symbolic of the hostages' plight in Gaza. Israel had previously withheld confirmation of their deaths, keeping hope alive that they might still be alive. Notably, Shiri's husband, Yarden, was released alive earlier in the month (00:20 - 01:04).

Notable Quote:

“This is the first time Hamas has released bodies, although several were recovered by Israeli forces throughout the war.”
— Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv (00:20)

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2. Outrage Over President Trump’s Comments on Ukraine

The discussion shifts to the political arena, where Korva Coleman highlights widespread criticism of former President Donald Trump. Trump recently referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a dictator and inaccurately claimed that Ukraine initiated the war with Russia, contradicting the reality that Russia invaded Ukraine three years prior (01:04).

Some Senate Republicans are distancing themselves from Trump's remarks. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy emphasized the threat posed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating:

“I think Vladimir Putin started for. I also believe through bitter experience that Vladimir Putin is a gangster. He's a gangster with a black heart.”
— Senator John Kennedy (01:29)

These comments reflect a broader repudiation within the Republican Party against Trump's unfounded assertions regarding Ukraine.

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3. USAID Funding Under Scrutiny Amid Legal Orders

Korva Coleman transitions to federal matters, reporting on USAID's contentious stance under Trump-affiliated officials. Despite a federal judge's directive to resume funding for global programs to prevent "irreparable harm," Frank Langford explains that USAID has not fully complied. Instead, USAID asserts its authority to cancel contracts based on existing agreements, aiming to eliminate those tied to regime change, civic society, or democracy promotion (01:42 - 02:46).

In a court filing, USAID revealed the termination of nearly 500 contracts, selectively sparing over 20 contracts worth more than $250 million. The agency's actions have raised legal questions, with the judge yet to respond to USAID's justifications.

Notable Quote:

“He said the case is complex and he will soon decide whether it may be dropped.”
— Frank Langford, NPR News, Washington (02:02)

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4. Tariffs and Legal Challenges Surrounding NYC Mayor Eric Adams

The episode covers President Trump’s recent economic maneuvers, including plans to impose tariffs of 25% or higher on additional foreign imports, specifically targeting imported lumber (02:46).

In legal news, a federal judge is reviewing the federal government's request to drop corruption charges against New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams. The case has seen several federal prosecutors resign, alleging that the Trump administration is willing to drop charges in exchange for Adams' cooperation on immigration matters. Both the administration and Mayor Adams have denied these allegations, maintaining the integrity of the legal process (02:46 - 03:38).

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5. National Guard Deployed to New York Prisons Amid Strikes

Korva Coleman reports on a significant development in New York State as Governor Kathy Hochul deploys 3,500 National Guard troops to state prisons in response to mass strikes by correctional officers. These officers are demanding better working conditions and the repeal of laws limiting the use of solitary confinement. The strikes have affected more than half of New York’s prisons, prompting Hochul to declare them illegal (03:38).

Jung Yunhan from member station WXXI elaborates on the situation:

“Ken Gerard Hardin is a research director at the Empire Center for Public Policy. He's critical of Hochul's decision to send troops.”
— Jung Yunhan (03:57)

Senator John Kennedy criticizes the deployment, highlighting the risks:

“You've got National Guard coming in to these facilities doing a job, frankly, that they're not trained for. You've got an increased danger that inmates are going to get hurt or killed amid that disorder.”
— Senator John Kennedy (04:04)

Governor Hochul responds by assuring that the state will cover overtime for those who return to work, aiming to resolve the strikes without further escalation.

Notable Quote:

“I will not allow this chaos to continue.”
— Governor Kathy Hochul (03:55)

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6. Extreme Cold Weather Hits Central United States

Concluding the episode, Korva Coleman provides a weather update, warning of dangerously cold temperatures sweeping the central United States. For instance, Minot, North Dakota, is experiencing temperatures 22 degrees below zero, with wind chills making it feel nearly 40 degrees below (04:24). Residents are advised to take precautions against the severe cold.

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the February 20, 2025, episode of "NPR News Now," offering listeners a detailed overview of international conflicts, political controversies, legal battles, state-level crises, and extreme weather events shaping the current news landscape.

Transcript

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Hamas has released the bodies of who it says are four Israeli hostages, including the body of a mother and two young sons. The bodies will undergo forensic testing in Israel to confirm their identities. In exchange, Israel is expected to release hundreds of Palestinians held In Israeli jails. NPR's Kat Lansdorf reports.

[Kat Lansdorf]

The bodies are said to be that of Shiri Bibis and her two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, along with 84 year old Oded Lifshitz. All were taken hostage in the October 7, 2023 Hamas led attack on southern Israel. Hamas says all four were killed by Israeli airstrikes while being held in Gaza. Israel says it will perform autopsies and seek to determine the cause of death. This is the first time Hamas has released bodies, although several were recovered by Israeli forces throughout the war. The Bes family with their two small red headed sons had become a symbol in Israel of the plight of the hostages held in Gaza. Israel had previously not confirmed their deaths, leaving some hope that they were still alive. Shiri's husband Yarden was released alive earlier this month. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Korva Coleman]

There's been outrage from critics of the Trump administration after President Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a dictator. Trump also claimed Ukraine started the war with Russia. That is not true. Three years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine. Some Senate Republicans are distancing themselves from Trump's comments. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy says it's Russian President Putin who is the danger I.

[John Kennedy]

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

[Korva Coleman]

Ukraine's president says Trump is trapped in a Russian disinformation bubble. Trump officials running the federal agency USAID have not fully restarted funding to programs around the world. They this violates a federal court order. NPR's Frank Langfit reports. The agency says it's allowed to cancel most of its contracts.

[Frank Langford]

Last week, a federal judge ordered USAID to reopen the flow of money to programs around the world. He said it was causing irreparable harm. Late Tuesday night, USAID responded that it has broad authority to cancel contracts and grants based on the terms of those agreements and that it's reviewing each contract for evidence of waste and fraud and to ensure they're aligned with President Trump's goals. In a court filing, USAID said it had already he terminated nearly 500 contracts, including some because they focused on regime change, civic society or democracy promotion. USAID said it has spared more than 20 contracts worth more than $250 million. The judge has yet to respond to USAID's filing. Frank Langford, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

This week, President Trump said he is moving to impose tariffs of 25% or higher on more foreign imports. Yesterday, he said he wants to put tariffs on imported lumber as well. It's npr. A federal judge says he is reviewing the federal government's request to drop several corruption charges against New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams. Several federal prosecutors have resigned in the case, claiming the Trump administration is dropping the charge in exchange for Adams help on immigration. The administration and the mayor have denied this. The federal judge says the case is complex and he will soon decide whether it may be dropped. New York Governor Kathy Hochul is sending National Guard troops into the state's prisons. From member station wxxi, Jung Yunhan reports. This follows mass strikes by correctional officers.

[Jung Yunhan]

Hochul deployed 3,500 troops as correctional officers took to the picket line for the third day in a row. They're calling for better work conditions and want to repeal a law that limits the use of solitary confinement. Hochul says the strikes, which have affected more than half of New York's prisons, are illegal.

[Korva Coleman]

I will not allow this chaos to continue.

[Jung Yunhan]

Ken Gerard Hardin is a research director at the Empire center for Public Policy. He's critical of Hochul's decision to send troops.

[John Kennedy]

You've got National Guard coming in to these facilities doing a job, frankly, that they're not trained for. You've got an increased danger that inmates are going to get hurt or killed amid that disorder.

[Jung Yunhan]

Hochul says the state will pay overtime for those who return to work. For NPR News, I'm Jeong Yoon han in Albany, New York.

[Korva Coleman]

Dangerously cold weather persists in the central U.S. from the Canadian border down to southern Texas. It's 22 degrees below zero in Minot, North Dakota. Wind chill readings make it feel like nearly 40 below. This is NPR.