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

Host: Nora Ramm

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.