NPR News: 02-20-2025 9AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: February 20, 2025, 9 AM EST

Host: Korva Coleman

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1. U.S.-Russia Diplomatic Engagements

Korva Coleman opens the episode by highlighting significant developments in U.S.-Russia relations. "Russian President Vladimir Putin is weighing in on this week's talks between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia," Coleman reports (00:16). These negotiations mark the first high-level communications between Washington and Moscow since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago.

NPR's Charles Maines provides deeper insights into Putin's stance. During a tour of a drone factory in St. Petersburg, Putin lauded the U.S.-Russia meeting as a preliminary step toward restoring bilateral relations. He emphasized the seriousness of the talks, stating, "the leaders weren't meeting just to drink tea, but find solutions acceptable to both sides over Ukraine and other issues" (00:34). This emerging detente represents a significant shift from the previous administration's efforts to isolate Moscow, raising concerns among Ukraine and traditional American allies in Europe about their roles in shaping future negotiations.

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2. Legal Proceedings Involving New York City Mayor Eric Adams

The episode shifts focus to domestic politics with Korva Coleman reporting on a critical legal development: "A federal judge held a hearing yesterday to review the Justice Department's request to drop federal corruption charges against New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams" (01:15). The case has seen turmoil, with several federal prosecutors resigning amid allegations of political interference.

During the hearing, Judge Dale Ho acknowledged the uniqueness of the situation. "This is a very complicated situation, at least from where I sit," Ho remarked (01:43). Unlike typical DOJ requests, the judge expressed reservations, indicating that a swift ruling was unlikely and promising to deliberate further before issuing a decision. Both Mayor Adams and Trump officials deny any wrongdoing, suggesting the case's resolution may hinge on intricate legal and political maneuvering.

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3. Senate Panel Interrogates Labor Secretary Nominee Laurie Chavez Daremer

Korva Coleman continues with political news, detailing a Senate panel's examination of Laurie Chavez Daremer, the nominee for Labor Secretary. NPR's Joe Hernandez elaborates on the contentious proceedings (02:06).

Chavez Daremer, a former Republican congresswoman from Oregon, defended her legislative record, notably co-sponsoring the PRO Act, aimed at simplifying unionization for workers. When pressed by Republican senators, she acknowledged the legislation's imperfections and expressed support for state-level "right to work" laws that restrict union activities. Addressing questions from Democrats, she conceded that the federal minimum wage hasn't been raised in over 15 years but maintained that wage standards might need to vary across different jurisdictions (02:20). Her responses reflect a balance between pro-union initiatives and conservative labor policies, positioning her as a nuanced candidate amid shifting political landscapes.

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4. President Trump's Tariff Announcements and Civil Rights Litigation

The discussion shifts to economic policy and civil rights. Korva Coleman reports on President Trump's latest tariff plans: "This week President Trump said he is moving to impose tariffs of 25% or higher on more foreign imports... he wants to put tariffs on imported lumber, too," with implementation potentially starting in early April (02:57).

Concurrently, civil rights organizations are mounting legal challenges against the Trump administration's executive orders. NPR's Sandhya Dirks details the lawsuit filed by the Legal Defense Fund and Lambda Legal on behalf of three nonprofits (03:28). These organizations, which support black, queer, and trans communities through housing, work programs, and medical care, argue that the administration's bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives infringe upon free speech and due process rights. Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings underscores the gravity of these actions: "If people cannot get preventative care, if people cannot get care once they have HIV, people will die," highlighting the real-world implications of the administration's policies (03:57).

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5. Legal Actions by Religious Organizations and Update on Pope Francis

Finally, Korva Coleman addresses legal and religious news. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is suing the Trump administration, alleging the unlawful cessation of funding for refugee resettlement programs. They assert that these actions violate the Constitution's provision granting Congress the power of the purse (04:10).

In related religious news, updates on Pope Francis's health are provided. Vatican officials confirm that if the Pope remains hospitalized, he is being treated for severe pneumonia. Recent developments include the Pope getting out of bed and showing slight improvement in his condition. Additionally, Pope Francis was visited by Italian Premier Giorgio Meloni, who found him alert and humorous, signaling a positive turn in his recovery (04:10).

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NPR News Now provides concise updates on the latest national and international news. For more detailed reporting, visit NPR.org.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Russian President Vladimir Putin is weighing in on this week's talks between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia. These mark the first high level communication between Washington and Moscow since Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine began nearly three years ago. NPR's Charles Maines reports.

[Charles Maines]

Speaking to state media while touring a drone factory in St. Petersburg, Putin praised the U S. Russian meeting as a first step towards restoring relations between the two countries. Putin also said he would gladly meet with President Trump, but that it may take time for both administrations to prepare, adding the leaders weren't meeting just to drink tea, but find solutions acceptable to both sides over Ukraine and other issues. The budding US Russian detente marks a sharp departure from Biden era efforts to isolate Moscow over its full scale invasion of its neighbor. It has also unnerved Ukraine and traditional American allies in Europe who fear being sidelined from negotiations that determine their future. Charles Mainnes, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

A federal judge held a hearing yesterday to review the Justice Department's request to drop federal corruption charges against New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams. Several federal prosecutors have resigned over the matter. They allege the Trump administration is willing to end the case in exchange for Adams help on immigration efforts. Trump officials and Adams deny the allegations. NPR's Brian Mann was in the courtroom for the hearing held by Judge Dale Ho.

[Judge Dale Ho]

Judge Ho acknowledged he has limited authority here. A DOJ request of this kind is normally a slam dunk. It's more or less rubber stamped by the courts. But yesterday the judge made it clear he thinks this case really is different. This is a very complicated situation, at least from where I sit, ho said. And so at the end of hearing, he declined to offer a quick ruling. He says he needs more time to sort through this, but he promised a ruling soon.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Brian Mann reporting. A Senate panel questioned labor secretary nominee Laurie Chavez Daremer yesterday about her views on labor unions as well as the minimum wage and more. NPR's Joe Hernandez has more.

[Joe Hernandez]

Chavez Darimer is a former Republican congresswoman from Oregon. While in Congress, she co sponsored legislation called the Pro act, which would make it easier for workers to unionize. Under questioning from Republicans, Lori Chavez D. Rimmer called the legislation imperfect and said she supported the ability of states to pass right to work laws, which limit union efforts. Asked by Democrats whether she thought the federal minimum wage should be increased, Chavez Darimer said she recognized it hadn't been raised in over 15 years, but that some jurisdictions might need to have a different minimum wage than others. Joe Hernandez, NPR News.

[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 wanted to put tariffs on imported lumber, too. Trump says it could start in early April. This is npr. Civil rights groups are suing the Trump administration over executive orders they call illegal. As NPR Sandhya Dierks reports, the Legal Defense Fund and Lambda Legal are suing on behalf of three nonprofits.

[Sandhya Dirks]

The nonprofits provide housing, work programs and medical care to black, queer and trans communities. The lawsuit claims the Trump administration, by banning anything it labels diversity, equity and inclusion and trans people, violates the right to free speech and due process and prevents the nonprofits from helping those disproportionately impacted by systemic racism and bigotry. Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings says the consequences of the president's orders are more than just overturning decades of civil rights.

[Kevin Jennings]

If people cannot get preventative care, if people cannot get care once they have hiv, people will die.

[Sandhya Dirks]

Trump has said his executive actions are about doing away with programs that he calls discriminatory. Sandhya Dirks, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The U.S. conference of Catholic Bishops is also suing the Trump administration. The bishops allege the administration has illegally stopped funding refugee resettlement programs, and they claim this violates the constitutional provision that gives Congress the power of the purse. The Vatican says that if Pope Francis remains in the hospital, he's being treated for a case of severe pneumonia. Vatican officials say he got out of bed today and that recent blood tests show some slight improvement in his condition. Frances was visited yesterday by Italian premier Giorgio Meloni. She found him alert and responsive and says he has not lost his sense of humor. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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