NPR News: 02-23-2025 2PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: February 23, 2025, 2 PM EST

Host: Nora Ramm

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1. Federal Workforce Trimming Sparks Confusion Across Agencies

Nora Ramm opened the episode with a report on the ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce. An email from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) requesting employees to document their weekly accomplishments has led to widespread confusion.

Shannon Bond detailed the situation:

“The email sent by the Office of Personnel Management on Saturday told workers to list five things they accomplished in the past week, but not to share any classified information.” [00:17]

The directive has been met with mixed responses across various departments:

• Defense Department staff were advised to wait for further internal guidance before responding.
• At the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, officials clarified the email as a "valid request." [00:17]
• The FBI instructed employees to hold off on responding, according to an unnamed bureau source. [00:54]
• The State Department announced that employees are not required to respond directly, as the department would handle responses on their behalf. [00:54]

Adding to the uncertainty, a White House advisor, Elon Musk, posted on X (formerly Twitter):

“Failure to respond to the email would be taken as a resignation.” [00:17]

Federal workers are now scrambling to interpret these conflicting instructions, with the OPM setting a deadline for responses by Monday night. [00:17]

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2. Vivek Ramaswamy Announces Gubernatorial Campaign in Ohio

Nora Ramm reported on Vivek Ramaswamy's upcoming announcement to run for Ohio governor. Luke Garrett provided an in-depth look into Ramaswamy's political trajectory:

"Ramaswamy is set to face Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who has already entered the race for governor." [01:20]

Ramaswamy, a 39-year-old native of Ohio, previously co-led the Department of Government Efficiency and ran for president in 2024. His early endorsement of Trump and brief collaboration with Elon Musk's Doge platform highlight his political alignment.

In an interview with NBC News, Ramaswamy stated:

“I decided to leave Doge in order to focus on my campaign for governor.” [01:20]

He promises to bring principles of efficiency, responsible spending, and deregulation to Ohio. With current Governor Mike DeWine term-limited, Ramaswamy’s campaign is gaining attention nationwide. [01:20]

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3. Germany's Parliamentary Election Nears Conclusion

Rob Schmitz provided early exit poll results from Germany's national parliamentary elections, indicating Friedrich Merz of the Christian Democrats is likely to become the next chancellor.

“Exit polls show Merz's center-right bloc secured 29% of the vote, emerging as the biggest vote getter, nearly 10% ahead of the far-right Alternative for Germany party or AfD.” [02:09]

Key highlights include:

• Social Democrats, led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, trailing with 16%.
• Potential coalitions dependent on whether the Free Democrats can surpass the 5% threshold, currently at 4.9%. [02:09]

If the Free Democrats do not enter Parliament, a two-party coalition between the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats may form the government. [02:09]

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4. Pope Francis Remains in Critical Condition

The Vatican issued a status report on Pope Francis, who remains hospitalized with pneumonia and a complex lung infection. Nora Ramm relayed the update:

“The 88-year-old pontiff remains alert and well oriented, that he hasn't had any more respiratory crises since last night and he's still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen.” [02:56]

Despite being in critical condition, the Pope is showing signs of stability. [02:56]

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5. Leonardo da Vinci Museum to Open in Colorado

Chloe Valtman announced the upcoming opening of the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America in Pueblo, Colorado, set to launch this fall.

“According to a statement, the new museum will feature life-size machine replicas based on the famous Renaissance artist sketches, science-related exhibitions, and interactive displays.” [03:34]

Key points include:

• The museum will also house a café, catering to visitors.

• Craig Elliot Chisney, Vice President of the museum's board, defended the choice of Pueblo:

  “A lot of people say why Pueblo? And we say why not Pueblo?” [04:08]

• Although Leonardo da Vinci is primarily associated with Florence, the museum aims to bring his legacy to a city of just over 110,000, diversifying Pueblo’s economy beyond its historical steel industry. [04:11]

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6. Milestone in Sports: Mikayla Shifrin's Historic Victory

Closing the episode, Nora Ramm celebrated Mikayla Shifrin's remarkable achievement in Alpine skiing:

“Mikayla Shifrin won her 100th Alpine Skiing World Cup today. She's the first skier, male or female, to reach triple digits in World Cup race victories.” [04:20]

Shifrin's triumph is even more notable considering her recent comeback from a significant crash in a giant slalom race in Vermont last November. Her resilience and performance have set a new standard in the world of competitive skiing. [04:20]

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This episode of NPR News Now provided comprehensive coverage of critical political developments, international elections, significant cultural advancements, and inspiring sports achievements, keeping listeners informed with timely and relevant news updates.

Transcript

[Nora Ramm]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. As the Trump administration continues to trim the federal workforce, an email asking workers to document what they did in the past week is causing confusion across agencies. NPR's Shannon Bond reports.

[Shannon Bond]

The email sent by the Office of Personnel Management on Saturday told workers to list five things they accomplished in the past week, but not to share any classified information. In a post on X, White House advisor Elon Musk said failure to respond to the email would be taken as a resignation. But many federal workers were left confused as supervisors gave conflicting advice. Defense Department staff were told to wait for internal guidance before replying. At the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, officials told employees the email was a, quote, valid request. The OPM email gives workers until Monday night to respond. Shannon Bond, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

The FBI director also told employees to hold off on responding, according to a bureau source who's not authorized to speak publicly. The State Department also told employees they aren't required to respond that the department would answer on their behalf. Vivek Ramaswamy is set to announce his campaign for Ohio governor tomorrow. Most recently, he co led the unit known as the Department of government efficiency. NPR's Luke Garrett reports.

[Luke Garrett]

Ramaswamy, a 39 year old Ohio native, is making his announcement in Cincinnati Monday night and then touring the Buckeye State he ran for president in 2024 that endorsed Trump early on in the campaign and briefly co led Doge with Elon Musk. Ramaswamy told NBC News he decided to leave Doge in order to focus on his campaign for governor. But he said as governor he would bring the principles of efficiency and spending and deregulation to our state. Current Republican Governor Mike DeWine is term limited and Ramaswamy is set to face Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who has already entered the race for governor. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Nora Ramm]

Early projections of Germany's national parliamentary election show that Frederick Mares is a candidate for the center right. Christian Democrats is poised to become the country's next chancellor. NPR's Rob Schmitz reports.

[Rob Schmitz]

Exit polls show Merz's center right bloc secured 29% of the vote, emerging as the biggest vote getter, nearly 10% ahead of the far right alternative for Germany party or AfD. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats were in third place with 16%. It's too early to tell whether Meirz's Christian Democrats will govern with one other party or two. This hinges on whether the Libertarian Free Democrats, which up to November had been part of Olaf Scholz's three party coalition government were able to get enough votes to cross the 5% threshold to enter Parliament. Exit polling shows that the Free Democrats only receive 4.9%. If that sticks, it could mean that the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats would have enough votes to form a two party coalition government. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.

[Nora Ramm]

This is NPR News. The Vatican has issued another status report on Pope Francis, hospitalized with pneumonia and a complex lung infection. It said the 88 year old pontiff remains alert and well oriented, that he hasn't had any more respiratory crises since last night and he's still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen. The pope remains in critical condition. The first and only museum dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci in the United States is scheduled to open in the fall. As NPR's Chloe Feltman reports, it will be located in southern Colorado.

[Chloe Valtman]

The Colorado Economic Development Commission greenlit plans to open the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America in Pueblo, Colorado. According to a statement, the new museum will feature life size machine replicas based on the famous Renaissance artist sketches, science related exhibitions and interactive displays. There will also be a cafe. Pueblo is a city of just over 110,000 people. The local economy long focused on steel, but Pueblo has been working to reinvent itself. In a report for KOA News 5, Craig Elliot Chisney, Vice president of the museum's board, defended the choice of location.

[Luke Garrett]

A lot of people say why Pueblo?

[Rob Schmitz]

And we say why not Pueblo?

[Chloe Valtman]

Leonardo da Vinci. He lived and worked in Florence, Italy, where the main da Vinci museum is located, and his art can be found in major capitals like Paris and London. Chloe Valtman, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

Mikayla Shifrin won her 100th Alpine Skiing World cup today. She's the first skier, male or female, to reach triple digits in World cup race victories. She had just returned to skiing last month after crashing in a giant slalom race in Vermont in November. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.