NPR News Now: February 22, 2025

Host: Dale Wilman
Release Date: February 22, 2025
Duration: Approximately 4 minutes

1. President Trump's Relations with Moscow and Kyiv

Overview: In the opening segment, Dale Wilman reports on President Donald Trump's escalating criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump claims to have better relations with Moscow than with Kyiv, intensifying pressure on Ukraine amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Key Points:

• Trump's Criticism: President Trump has intensified his scrutiny of President Zelenskyy, particularly regarding negotiations over critical minerals.
• Security Guarantees: Trump is pressing Ukraine to accept a deal where critical minerals are exchanged for security guarantees.
• Comparative Talks: He asserts, “I’ve had very good talks with Putin” (00:23), juxtaposed with less favorable talks with Ukraine.
• Allegations Against Zelenskyy: Trump has labeled Zelenskyy a dictator lacking legitimate elections, urging swift action to prevent Ukraine from losing its sovereignty.
• Exclusion from Diplomatic Talks: Zelenskyy has been excluded from President Putin’s negotiations, raising tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine.

Notable Quote:

“I’ve had very good talks with Putin. And I’ve had not such good talks with Ukraine,” – Donald Trump (00:25)

2. Leadership Changes at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Overview: Joel Rose discusses the recent removal of Caleb Vitello from his position as acting director of ICE, highlighting the administration's frustration with the agency's deportation rates.

Key Points:

• Leadership Removal: Caleb Vitello, a career ICE official, has been removed as acting head but will continue to lead the arrests and deportations office within ICE.
• Deportation Goals: The Trump administration aims for at least 1,200 immigration arrests per day, a target that ICE field offices have struggled to meet.
• Increased Arrests: While ICE arrests have risen compared to the previous administration, they fall short of the administration's ambitious targets.
• Campaign Promises: President Trump pledged to establish the largest deportation operation in U.S. history during his campaign.

Notable Quote:

“President Trump picked a career ICE official, Caleb Vitello, as the acting head of the agency.” – Joel Rose, NPR News (01:09)

3. Early Polls Reflect President Trump's Approval

Overview: Domenico Montanaro analyzes the initial polling data following President Trump's first month in office, revealing a predominantly unfavorable public opinion.

Key Points:

• Honeymoon Phase Over: Polls indicate that any initial support for President Trump has diminished, with a slight majority expressing disapproval.
• Public Division: The American populace remains split on Trump’s presidential approach and immigration policies.
• Exceeding Presidential Power: A majority believe that Trump is overstepping his presidential authority.
• Economic Concerns: "62% think that he hasn't done enough to reduce the price of goods," according to a CNN poll (02:03).

Notable Quote:

“The honeymoon for Trump appears to be over. The country has largely always been split on Trump, slight majority disapproving.” – Domenico Montanaro, NPR (02:03)

4. Dismissal of Air Force General C.Q. Brown Jr.

Overview: President Trump has dismissed Air Force General C.Q. Brown Jr. from his role as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, part of a broader effort to replace military leaders advocating for diversity and equity.

Key Points:

• Significant Appointment: Brown was only the second Black general to hold the position of chairman.
• Tenure Highlights: During his 16-month tenure, Brown managed critical issues related to the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East.
• Administration's Intent: The move aligns with Trump's campaign to depose military leaders supportive of diversity initiatives within the armed forces.

5. Pope Francis' Health Update

Overview: Sarah Ventri reports on the current health status of Pope Francis, who remains hospitalized with pneumonia but is not in immediate danger.

Key Points:

• Hospitalization Duration: The Pope is expected to stay in the hospital at least through the next week with plans to return to the Vatican thereafter.
• Medical Condition: The 88-year-old pontiff is battling double pneumonia following bronchitis and struggles with breathing but is not on a ventilator.
• Historical Health Issues: Pope Francis has a history of lung problems, including a lung removed due to a pulmonary infection in his youth.
• Potential Complications: The medical team is most concerned about the risk of sepsis.

Notable Quote:

“The doctors said the pope would be hospitalized for at least the entirety of next week, though one doctor also said he was confident Francis would leave the hospital at some point and return to the Vatican.” – Sarah Ventri, NPR (03:15)

6. Investigations into Damaged Undersea Cables

Overview: Recent damage to an undersea cable in the Baltic Sea has raised suspicions of Russian sabotage and espionage, intensifying regional security concerns.

Key Points:

• Latest Incident: A cable running from Germany to Finland, passing near a Swedish island, has been damaged.
• Pattern of Sabotage: This incident is part of a series of ruptured undersea cables in the area, heightening fears of targeted sabotage.
• Geopolitical Implications: Such actions could signify attempts at spying or disrupting communications in the Baltic region, possibly linked to Russian intelligence activities.

7. Chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen's Charitable Endeavor

Overview: Magnus Carlsen, the top-ranked chess player, is auctioning a pair of designer jeans to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of America following a fine he received for attire violations during a tournament.

Key Points:

• Fashion Violation: Carlsen was fined $200 at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships for wearing designer jeans, which are against tournament dress codes.
• Charity Auction: He is now auctioning the jeans to raise funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, turning a penalty into a philanthropic effort.
• Community Impact: The initiative underscores Carlsen's commitment to supporting youth mentoring programs through unexpected avenues.

Notable Quote:

“He’s auctioning the jeans off to raise money for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America.” – Dale Wilman, NPR (03:55)

Conclusion: This episode of NPR News Now covers a broad spectrum of current events, from high-stakes political tensions and administrative changes in U.S. immigration policy to international security concerns and personal stories of public figures engaging in charitable activities. Notable moments include President Trump's strained relationship with Ukraine, leadership shifts within ICE, early polling data reflecting public sentiment towards Trump's presidency, and updates on global and personal narratives such as the health of Pope Francis and Magnus Carlsen's charitable initiatives.

Note: All timestamps correspond to the beginning of each segment as provided in the transcript.