NPR News: 02-27-2025 12PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: February 27, 2025

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Release Date: February 27, 2025
Time: 12 PM EST

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U.S. Imposes Tariffs on the European Union

President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from the European Union (EU), labeling the bloc as a group "created to undermine the United States" (00:17). This move marks a significant escalation in trade tensions between the U.S. and its long-standing European allies.

EU Response

Kaia Kallis, the EU Foreign Policy Chief, responded by emphasizing the foundational purpose of the EU. At 00:28, she stated, "The EU was formed so there would not be any more wars in Europe," questioning Trump's characterization of the bloc. Kallis highlighted the need to maintain strong alliances, especially in the context of current global challenges.

Ukraine's Path to NATO Membership

Amidst rising geopolitical tensions, there are increasing discussions about making Ukraine a member of NATO in response to Russia's ongoing invasion. An unnamed analyst provided a broader perspective on global security dynamics at 00:46:

"If we don't get Russia right, we don't get China right either. And it's clear that Iran, Russia, North Korea, and more covertly China are working together to establish a new world order where might makes right. And that is dangerous to everybody, including the United States."

This statement underscores the interconnectedness of international relations and the potential domino effect that regional conflicts can have on global stability.

Legal Challenges to Federal Workforce Terminations

A federal judge in California is set to hear arguments regarding the administration's decision to fire thousands of federal workers (01:17). Labor unions, representing sectors such as VA nurses and Forest Service employees, argue that these dismissals were unjustified. Andrea Hsu from NPR elaborated:

"They were among those told they were being fired for performance reasons, even though many of them had received positive performance reviews. Attorneys for the unions argued that the agencies themselves had no plans to fire these employees and only did so at the direction of the Office of Personnel Management." (01:27)

The Office of Personnel Management has denied the existence of any mass termination program, maintaining that agencies independently decided whom to terminate.

Suspension of Education Department Official Peggy Carr

In education news, Peggy Carr, the head of the nation's primary student testing program, has been suspended by President Trump (02:03). The program, often referred to as the nation's report card, is pivotal in assessing K-12 student achievement in subjects like math and reading.

Alyssa Nadworny provided further insights:

"Peggy Carr was appointed by President Joe Biden and had worked at the National Center for Education Statistics, which runs the test for nearly three decades. The Education Department's press office confirmed her leave but did not provide any reason." (02:14)

Recent data released in January indicated that while there were marginal improvements, 4th and 8th graders in 2024 are still performing below pre-pandemic levels. The Trump administration has criticized these results as "unacceptable" and a cause for significant concern.

Gene Hackman's Passing

In a somber cultural highlight, renowned actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy were found deceased in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home during a welfare check (03:45). Hackman, aged 95, had a storied career spanning decades with iconic roles such as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde, Popeye Doyle in The French Connection, and Lex Luthor in Superman.

Colin Dwyer reflected on Hackman's legacy:

"Gene Hackman's career didn't exactly begin promisingly. Famously, the actor even got voted 'Least Likely to Succeed' while at the Pasadena Playhouse. Years later, though, a trickle of gigs became a flood of famous roles." (04:01)

Hackman retired after a prolific career, leaving behind two Oscars and a lasting impact on the film industry.

Delay of Tariffs on Canada and Mexico

President Trump has revised his tariff implementation timeline on Canada and Mexico. Initially set to take effect on March 4, the tariffs have been postponed to April 2 (02:59). This delay provides allies with a one-month reprieve.

The Commerce Secretary indicated that the postponement is contingent upon progress in slowing the flow of fentanyl traffic from these countries. At 03:27, Trump announced the new effective date, aligning the tariff strategy with broader efforts to combat drug trafficking.

Market Update

The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw an increase of 296 points during the reporting period, reflecting investor reactions to the day's news events.

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Notable Quotes:

• Kaia Kallis: "The EU was formed so there would not be any more wars in Europe." (00:28)
• Unnamed Analyst: "If we don't get Russia right, we don't get China right either..." (00:46)
• Colin Dwyer on Gene Hackman: "Gene Hackman's career didn't exactly begin promisingly..." (04:01)

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Timestamps:

• 00:17 – Trump's Tariff Announcement
• 00:28 – EU's Response
• 00:46 – Analyst on Global Security
• 01:17 – Legal Hearing on Federal Terminations
• 01:27 – Union Arguments
• 02:03 – Suspension of Peggy Carr
• 02:14 – Details on Student Performance
• 02:59 – Delay of Tariffs
• 03:27 – Reason for Tariff Delay
• 03:45 – Death of Gene Hackman
• 04:01 – Hackman's Career Reflection

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions from the NPR News Now episode released on February 27, 2025, providing an in-depth overview of the major topics covered, complete with notable quotes and proper attributions.

Transcript

[Carvana]

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

[Unnamed NPR Correspondent]

President Trump's threatening to impose 25% tariffs on the European Union, which he's described as a bloc created to undermine the United States.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Is EU Foreign policy chief Kaia Kallis.

[Unnamed NPR Correspondent]

Says the EU Was formed so there would not be any more wars in.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Europe and questioned Trump's remarks in light of the U.S. s long standing alliance with Europe. Kallas spoke to the need of making.

[Unnamed NPR Correspondent]

Ukraine a member of NATO in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and threats officials have said Russia poses to democracies worldwide.

[Unnamed Analyst]

If we don't get Russia right, we don't get China right either. And it's clear that Iran, Russia, North Korea and more covertly China are working together to establish a new world order where might makes right. And that is dangerous to everybody, including United States.

[Lakshmi Singh]

EU foreign policy chief Kayakala, speaking to NPR's Morning Edition. Trump is due to meet with the prime minister of Britain soon on talks about Ukraine. A federal judge in California is slated.

[Unnamed NPR Correspondent]

To hear arguments today in a case.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Challenging the administration's firing of thousands of federal workers. NPR's Andrea she reports.

[Unnamed NPR Correspondent]

Labor unions want the court to reinstate those who've been let go.

[Andrea Hsu]

The labor unions represent federal workers who have been fired over the last several weeks, including nurses at the VA and people who work for the Forest Service. They were among those told they were being fired for performance reasons, even though many of them had received positive performance reviews. Attorneys for the unions argued that the agencies themselves had no plans to fire these employees and only did so at the direction of the Office of Personnel Management. In a court filing, that agency's acting director denied there was any kind of mass termination program. Instead, agencies made their own decisions about whom to fire. Andrea Hsu, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

President Trump has suspended Peggy Carr, the.

[Unnamed NPR Correspondent]

Head of the country's most extensive student testing programs, known as the nation's report card. We have details from NPR's Alyssa Natworning.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

It's considered the gold standard in assessment of student achievement. The data provide insights on how K12 students are faring in core subjects, including math and reading. Peggy Carr was appointed by President Joe Biden and had worked at the national center for Education Statistics, which runs the test for nearly three decades. The Education Department's press office confirmed her leave but did not provide any reason. The Latest data released in January found some marginal improvements, but showed us 4th and 8th graders in 2024 still performing below pre pandemic levels in reading and math. The Trump White House called those results unacceptable and a major cause for concern. Alyssa Nadworny, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Again, the prime minister of Britain is.

[Unnamed NPR Correspondent]

Due to meet soon with President Trump at the White House.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Ukraine is on the agend, as are other issues between the U.S. and British allies. Dow Jones Industrial Average up 296 points. It's NPR News. The president said on social media today the tariffs on Canada and Mexico would go into effect March 4. He had originally planned for 25% tariffs.

[Unnamed NPR Correspondent]

To take effect February 1, but gave.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Allies a month long reprieve at the last minute.

[Unnamed NPR Correspondent]

Yesterday, Trump told reporters in the room for a Cabinet meeting that the tariffs.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Would take effect on April 2, though.

[Unnamed NPR Correspondent]

His Commerce secretary suggested the delay would.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Depend on Canada and Mexico's progress on slowing the flow of fentanyl traffic. Foul play is not suspected in the.

[Unnamed NPR Correspondent]

Deaths of Oscar winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy. Authorities in New Mexico say their bodies.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Were discovered at their house in Santa.

[Unnamed NPR Correspondent]

Fe yesterday along with their dog during a welfare check. Hackman was 95 years old. As Colin Dwyer reports, Hackman appeared in dozens of films over his long career.

[Colin Dwyer]

Gene Hackman's career didn't exactly begin promisingly. Famously, the actor even got voted Least likely to Succeed while at the Pasadena Playhouse. Years later, though, a trickle of gigs became a flood of famous roles. Hackman was Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde, Popeye Doyle in the French Connection, Lex Luthor in the first Superman movie, and more recently, Royal Tenenbaum himself.

[Gene Hackman]

I've got six weeks to set things right with you, and I aim to do it. Will you give me a chance?

[Colin Dwyer]

Hackman won two Oscars and earned a host of other awards. He retired after performing in dozens of films and proving the Pasadena Playhouse quite wrong while he was at it. Colin Dwyer, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News, in Washington.

[Carvana]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to npr news now +@ +npr.org that's +npr.org.