NPR News: 02-28-2025 2PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: February 28, 2025, 2 PM EST

Live from Washington, NPR News Now brings you a comprehensive summary of today’s top stories, covering international tensions, domestic political battles, public health concerns, and a notable celebrity tragedy.

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Ukrainian President Zelensky’s Heated Exchange with President Trump

Timestamp: [00:13]

In a tense meeting at the White House, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former President Donald Trump engaged in a heated exchange that has cast uncertainty on the prospects of ending Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. The confrontation, which unfolded in the presence of the press, escalated into a shouting match, raising questions about the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations.

Notable Quotes:

• Volodymyr Zelensky: Addressed Trump’s accusations by stating, “Trump accused Zelensky of being disrespectful and unthankful for the support the United States has given.” [00:36]

• Donald Trump: Responded sharply, “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now with us, you start having cards. I’m not playing cards right now. You don’t have your playing cards. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III.” [00:41]

Following the meeting, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to comment on the encounter. He stated, “We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion.” [01:16] However, he concluded by asserting, “I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if America is involved,” emphasizing his desire for peace without U.S. involvement.

NPR’s Asma Khalid reports that the Trump administration is seeking a ceasefire and a deal that would grant the U.S. access to critical minerals in Ukraine, a proposal that Zelensky has been pushing past security guarantees.

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Bipartisan Stalemate in Congressional Budget Talks

Timestamp: [02:00]

Congressional leaders from both parties remain at an impasse as negotiations over a year-long budget plan face new challenges. Republicans argue that Democrats are introducing "outrageous demands" to extend government operations beyond the March 14 deadline, complicating efforts to avoid a shutdown.

Notable Insights:

• Claudia Gonzalez, NPR News: Highlights that Senate appropriators are advocating for a short-term funding bill to extend negotiations, while President Trump and some Republicans push for a stopgap plan lasting a full year. Democrats, on the other hand, seek a permanent year-long spending agreement aimed at limiting Trump’s attempts to dismantle federal programs and protecting entitlement funding such as Medicaid.

• House Leader Hakeem Jeffries: Although not explicitly stated, there is an undercurrent of uncertainty as Jeffries has not committed to forcing a government shutdown, even though some Democrats view it as their only leverage in the negotiations.

The ongoing deadlock underscores the deep divisions within Congress, making the passage of a comprehensive budget increasingly uncertain. [02:00]

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Rising Concerns Over Measles Outbreak

Timestamp: [02:48]

Public health officials are on high alert as concerns about a potential measles outbreak grow. The situation escalated a day after Washington state confirmed a new case in New Jersey.

Key Details:

• Dr. Caitlin Bastin, State Health Commissioner: Confirmed that an unvaccinated child who had traveled internationally contracted measles, subsequently infecting two unvaccinated family members. [02:48]

Additional cases have been reported in New Mexico and West Texas, raising alarms about the spread of the highly contagious virus. Health authorities are emphasizing the importance of vaccination to prevent further transmission.

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Controversy Over Transportation Funding Priorities

Timestamp: [03:27]

The Trump administration’s recent directive to prioritize transportation funding for communities with high marriage and birth rates has sparked debate among social conservatives and transportation experts alike.

Notable Quotes:

• Kim Meyer, Southern Environmental Law Center: Criticized the new funding criteria, stating, “Potentially a religious choice that has absolutely nothing to do with whether you need to get around work and to the store and take your kid to school.” [03:51]

While social conservatives applaud the initiative for supporting economic development and strengthening American families, critics argue that factors like marriage rates are cultural choices that should not influence federal funding allocations. Additionally, transportation experts express concerns that many Democratic-run cities with lower birth rates might face reduced funding, potentially hampering their infrastructure projects. [04:03]

Steve Harrison, WFAE: Provides further insight into the debate, highlighting the tension between different political ideologies regarding the allocation of federal transportation funds. [03:27]

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Tragic Deaths of Gene Hackman and His Wife Investigated

Timestamp: [04:13]

In a somber development, authorities in New Mexico are investigating the deaths of acclaimed actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arikaro. The couple, both aged 95, were found deceased in their Santa Fe home, and investigators are awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death.

Key Facts:

• Discovery of Bodies: A 911 call captured a maintenance worker’s alarmed voice, stating, “I think we just found two, one deceased person inside a house. What’s that? Just here?” [04:34]

• Locations Found: Gene Hackman was discovered in the entryway of their home, while Betsy Arikaro was found in the bathroom. [04:41]

The Santa Fe county sheriff has indicated that there are no signs of foul play at this time, but the community remains in mourning as more details emerge. [04:13]

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NPR News Now continues to bring you the latest updates from around the world and across the United States. Stay informed with comprehensive coverage of the stories that matter most.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has just left the White House after his meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office devolved into a shouting match in the full glare of the press. NPR's Asma Khalid reports on the feud that's thrown the prospects of an end to Russia's war against Ukraine into even greater uncertainty.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

Trump accused Zelensky of being disrespectful and unthankful for the support the United States has given.

[Donald Trump]

You're not in a good position. You don't have the cards right now with us, you start having cards. I'm not playing cards right now. You don't have your playing cards. You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War iii.

[Volodymyr Zelensky]

Zelenskyy has been pushing for security guarantees from the United States. The Trump administration wants a ceasefire and a deal that would give the US Access to critical minerals in Ukraine. In a social media post after the heated meeting, Trump said he has, quote, determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace. Asma Khalid, NPR News, the White House.

[Lakshmi Singh]

More specifically, Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social, quote, we had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. He goes on to say, it's amazing what comes out through emotion. And he says, I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if America is involved because he feels our involvement, Trump says, gives him a big advantage in negotiations. Trump says, I don't want advantage. I want peace. Congressional bipartisan talks to keep the government open past a March deadline are facing new emerging complications. NPR's Claudia Grizzales reports. Both parties remain far apart on a year long budget plan.

[Claudia Gonzalez]

Congressional Republicans complain that Democrats are putting up new, quote, outrageous demands to keep the government open past the March 14 deadline. The stalemate has Senate appropriators asking for a short term funding bill to buy more time for the talks, while President Trump and some Republicans say that stopgap plans should last a year. Instead, Democrats want the permanent year long spending deal to limit Trump's ongoing efforts to dismantle certain federal programs and protect funding to entitlement programs such as Medicaid. House Leader Hakeem Jeffries has stopped short of saying if Democrats will force a government shutdown to get there, even as some members of his party say it's their only leverage. Claudia Gonzalez, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Concerns about a measles outbreak are rising. A day after Washington state medical officials publicly confirmed a new case in New Jersey. State Health Commissioner Dr. Caitlin Bastin said a child who traveled internationally got the measles and two close family members were later infected. All three were unvaccinated. Cases also reported in New Mexico and West Texas. It's NPR News. Some social conservatives are applauding the Trump administration's directive to prioritize transportation funding for communities with high marriage and birth rates. From member station WFAE, Steve Harrison has details.

[Steve Harrison]

The U.S. department of Transportation says considering birth and marriage rates will, quote, support economic development and strengthen American families. But attorney Kim Meyer with the Southern Environmental Law center, who often focuses on transportation, says the new funding criteria don't make sense, especially the focus on marriage, which she says is a cultural choice.

[Kim Meyer]

Potentially a religious choice that has absolutely nothing to do with whether you need to get around work and to the store and take your kid to school.

[Steve Harrison]

Some transportation experts worry that many Democratic run cities that have lower birth rates could lose funding. For NPR News, I'm Steve Harrison in Charlotte.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Authorities in New Mexico are investigating the deaths of Oscar winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arikaro, awaiting the results of autopsies to determine how they died. They'd apparently been dead for days when investigators found their bodies in their Santa Fe home this week. An audio from a number 911 call. A maintenance worker can be heard saying he could see a body inside the house.

[N/A]

I think we just found two, one deceased person inside a house. What's that just here?

[Lakshmi Singh]

Hackman, who was 95, was found in the entryway. Arakawa was found in a bathroom. The Santa Fe county sheriff says there were no signs of foul play. It's NPR News.

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