NPR News Now: February 25, 2025 | 12 PM EST

Hosted by Jeanine Herbst

1. Federal Workforce Management Under the Trump Administration

Timestamp: [00:13]

The Trump administration is creating uncertainty among federal government employees regarding the recent directive from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Last Saturday, OPM issued an email requesting all federal workers to submit five key activities they undertook in the past week. As the deadline passed last night, the administration's response has been inconsistent.

NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports that the latest OPM guidance advises agencies to review the submitted responses and assess non-responses. Agency leaders hold the authority to determine whether to exclude non-compliant employees from the initiative and decide on any necessary actions for non-participation.

President Trump and Elon Musk have publicly suggested that failure to respond could lead to job termination. However, civil service protections are designed to safeguard federal employees from being dismissed without just cause through legal action. Labor unions and advocacy groups argue that OPM lacks the jurisdiction to oversee federal employees beyond individual agencies. These groups have petitioned a judge to temporarily halt the administration's mandate for employee responses.

Notable Quote:

"President Trump and Elon Musk have claimed workers who don't respond were at risk of losing their jobs." — Hansi Lo Wang ([00:31])

2. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Visit to Guantanamo Bay

Timestamp: [01:13]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is making his first visit to the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, since his appointment in the Trump administration. Sacha Pfeiffer of NPR provides insights into the significance of this visit.

During his time at Guantanamo, Hegseth will receive briefings on the base's operations, including those at the detention facility housing migrants deported from the United States. Additionally, he is scheduled to meet with service members both at the base and aboard the USS Thomas Hudner naval destroyer, where he served in 2004 as a member of the Minnesota Army National Guard.

Hegseth's visit marks him as the second senior official from the Trump administration to visit Guantanamo this month, following Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's recent trip.

Notable Quote:

"The Pentagon says while at Guantanamo, Hegseth will be briefed on operations at the base, including at the detention facility and prison complex where the administration has been holding migrants deported from the United States." — Sacha Pfeiffer ([01:24])

3. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Boosts Military Spending

Timestamp: [02:07]

In a strategic move ahead of a scheduled meeting with President Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an increase in the United Kingdom's military expenditure to 2.5% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2027. Starmer emphasized the necessity of supporting Ukraine to mitigate looming threats to both the UK's security and its economy.

Notable Quote:

"As the nature of that conflict changes, as it has in recent weeks, it brings our response into sharper focus." — Keir Starmer ([02:24])

Starmer clarified that the funding for this military expansion would come from scaling back on development projects. This announcement aligns with President Trump's longstanding call for European allies to contribute more substantially to Europe's defense infrastructure.

4. Decline in Consumer Confidence Amid Economic Concerns

Timestamp: [02:36]

Consumer confidence experienced a significant downturn this month, marking the largest monthly decline in years. The Conference Board reported a 7-point drop in its consumer confidence index, the steepest since August 2021. This decline is attributed to growing worries over a slowing economy and rising inflation rates.

Additionally, concerns about increasing tariffs and rising prices have contributed to a pervasive sense of economic pessimism among consumers, as reflected in the industry's second major gauge of consumer sentiment.

5. Supreme Court Overturns Death Penalty for Richard Glossop

Timestamp: [03:51]

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has vacated the murder conviction and death penalty imposed on Richard Glossop, an Oklahoma resident who has spent over 25 years on death row. The court found that Glossop's constitutional rights were violated during his 1997 trial for the murder of his former boss, a motel owner, due to prosecutors failing to disclose evidence that could have aided his defense.

Richard Glossop has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings.

6. Luka Doncic's Emotional Return to Dallas with the LA Lakers

Timestamp: [03:51]

Tonight in Los Angeles, basketball fans will witness Luka Doncic face his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, now as a member of the LA Lakers. This matchup is particularly poignant following Doncic's unexpected trade from Dallas, a move that has sent shockwaves through the NBA community.

Steve Futterman of NPR highlights that Doncic, considered one of the league's most talented and virtually untradeable players, is performing exceptionally well with the Lakers—currently enjoying his best game since the trade. In contrast, the Mavericks are struggling, potentially impacted by the absence of Anthony Davis, the player they received in exchange for Doncic. Davis is currently sidelined with a knee injury and will not play tonight.

Notable Quote:

"The trade may have a lot to do with that. The player Dallas received in exchange for Doncic, Anthony Davis, has been sidelined with knee injury and Davis will not play tonight." — Steve Futterman ([03:51])

7. Home Depot Rebounds with Increased Sales

Timestamp: [04:35]

Home Depot has successfully ended a two-year slump in same-store sales during the fourth quarter, driven by improved consumer demand. This resurgence occurs despite challenges in the housing market, which has been negatively impacted by soaring mortgage rates and a limited availability of homes for sale.

Jeanine Herbst reports that the positive sales figures indicate a rebound in consumer confidence regarding home improvement projects, even as broader economic pressures continue to weigh on the real estate sector.

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