NPR News: 03-05-2025 9AM EST

Summary

NPR News Now – March 5, 2025, 9 AM EST

Hosted by NPR

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1. President Trump's Lengthy Address to Congress

Korva Coleman opens the episode with a report on President Donald Trump's extensive address to a joint session of Congress, lasting approximately one hour and forty minutes—the longest in decades. During his speech, Trump addressed a range of topics including immigration, tariffs, and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

A significant highlight was Trump's discussion on the situation in Ukraine. He referenced a recent heated exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, describing it as "fiery" (00:16). Despite the disagreement, Zelensky has expressed regret over the confrontation. Trump noted, “I appreciate that he sent this letter, just got it a little while ago. Simultaneously, we've had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace. Wouldn't that be beautiful? Wouldn't that be beautiful?” (00:47)

2. Changes in U.S. Military Aid to Ukraine

Following Trump's speech, he announced the suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine. However, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz provided a more optimistic outlook, stating that "matters are moving in a more positive direction." Waltz mentioned that the U.S. is prepared to discuss confidence-building measures with Russia, aiming to foster peace negotiations (01:02).

3. Democratic Responses to Trump's Speech

The Democratic Party swiftly responded to Trump's address. New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat delivered the Spanish-language response, vehemently opposing Trump's recent executive order declaring English the national language. Espaillat criticized the administration's approach, stating it "condemned Trump's efforts to create fear among immigrants in the U.S."

In the English-language response, Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin expressed concerns over what she described as Trump's "slash and burn" approach to federal government restructuring. Speaking from Wyandotte, Michigan, Slotkin emphasized the need for oversight and stability, asserting, “You want to cut waste, I'll help you do it. But change doesn't need to be chaotic or make us less safe.” (01:53) She further highlighted the potential negative impacts of Trump's policies on families, particularly pointing out that tariffs could lead to rising consumer prices and threaten essential programs like Medicare (01:59).

4. Pentagon Program Shutdowns Affecting Civilian Protections

Korva Coleman reports on the Trump administration’s decision to shut down key Pentagon programs aimed at preventing civilian casualties in combat zones. Quill Lawrence elaborates that the Defense Department plans to close the Harm Mitigation and Response Office and the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence, which provided guidance on minimizing civilian deaths during airstrikes. These offices were established after extensive counterinsurgency efforts underscored the detrimental effects of civilian casualties on U.S. military objectives. Lawrence notes that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has prioritized streamlining military approvals for airstrikes and previously advocated for pardoning convicted war criminals during Trump's first term (02:14).

5. Economic Updates: Wall Street and Federal Property Sales

On the economic front, Korva Coleman provides a brief update on Wall Street, indicating that stock futures are mixed with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down by approximately five points (03:05).

Additionally, the Trump administration announced plans to sell hundreds of federal government properties. This portfolio includes significant buildings such as the headquarters of the Justice Department and the American Red Cross. Notably, the Rosa Parks federal building in Detroit, named after the iconic civil rights activist, is also slated for sale (03:05).

6. Environmental Concerns: California Wildfires and Hawaii's Kilauea Eruption

Korva Coleman transitions to environmental news, reporting on the ongoing impact of January's wildfires in Southern California. These fires have caused tens of billions of dollars in property damage, with thousands of homes destroyed around Los Angeles. In Altadena, many homes were left with only chimneys standing. Evan Jacoby from Laist details the community’s efforts to preserve historic handmade chimney tiles amidst the cleanup, highlighting the establishment of the volunteer group Save the Tiles. Stanley Zucker, co-founder of the group, emphasizes the cultural and historical significance of these tiles, stating, “What will be lost is not only the very last of old Altadena, but for that homeowner, beautiful handmade art from over a century ago.” (04:02, 04:25)

In Hawaii, officials have reported lava fountains reaching over 150 feet into the air from the Kilauea volcano on the Big Island. The eruption, ongoing since mid-December, currently poses no immediate danger to the public, according to local authorities (04:36).

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Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump (00:47): “I appreciate that he sent this letter, just got it a little while ago. Simultaneously, we've had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace. Wouldn't that be beautiful? Wouldn't that be beautiful?”

• Elissa Slotkin (01:53): “You want to cut waste, I'll help you do it. But change doesn't need to be chaotic or make us less safe.”

• Stanley Zucker (04:25): “Everything on this lot that was important to them has been channeled into the tiles.”

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This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of significant political developments, economic indicators, and environmental events shaping the national discourse on March 5, 2025. From President Trump's extended congressional address and its multifaceted responses to critical policy changes within the Pentagon, the program delivers in-depth analysis and diverse perspectives. Additionally, updates on economic movements and environmental challenges offer listeners a broad understanding of the current state of affairs.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump spent about an hour and 40 minutes last night giving his address to a joint session of Congress. It's the longest such speech in decades, and he touched on several subjects, from immigration to tariffs. He also discussed Russia's war in Ukraine. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a fiery disagreement last week in the Oval Office. The Ukrainian leader now says that was regretful. Trump says Zelensky wrote him a letter saying Ukraine is ready to work on a peace deal.

[Donald Trump]

I appreciate that he sent this letter, just got it a little while ago. Simultaneously, we've had serious discussions with Russia and have received strong signals that they are ready for peace. Wouldn't that be beautiful? Wouldn't that be beautiful?

[Korva Coleman]

Trump has suspended US Military aid to Ukraine, but today National Security Adviser Mike Waltz says matters are moving in a more positive direction. He says the US Will discuss confidence building measures and take them to the Russians. The Democratic response in Spanish to Trump's speech last night was delivered by New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat. He denounced Trump's recent executive order making English the national language. And he condemned Trump's efforts to create fear among immigrants in the U.S. the Democratic response in English was given by Michigan Senator Elissa Slatkin. SNPR's Barbara Sprunt reports.

[Elissa Slotkin]

Throughout her speech, which she made from Wyandotte, Michigan, a place both she and President Trump won in November, Slat Slotkin talked about concerns over the slash and burn remake of the federal government with what she called no oversight.

You want to cut waste, I'll help you do it. But change doesn't need to be chaotic or make us less safe.

She said Trump's actions will hurt families financially, saying tariffs will cause consumer prices to rise and that programs like Medicare are on the chopping block in order to pay for much of Trump's legislative agenda. Barbara Sprunt, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

The Trump administration is going to shut down Pentagon programs that aim to prevent civilian Deaths in Combat. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports. These policies began under the first Trump administration.

[Quill Lawrence]

The Defense Department plans to shutter the Harm Mitigation and Response Office and the Civilian Protection center of Excellence and Regional Command jobs that advise how to avoid killing innocent civilians during airstrikes that's according to three defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive policy changes. These offices were created after two decades of counterinsurgency, convinced Pentagon leaders that civilian deaths can be detrimental to US Military goals. But Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has focused on streamlining military approvals for airstrikes and in the past lobbied President Trump to pardon convicted war criminals during Trump's first term in office. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, stock futures are mixed at this hour. The Dow is down about 5 points. You're listening to NPR. The Trump administration says it's moving to sell hundreds of federal government properties. These include the headquarters of the Justice Department and the American Red Cross. The Rosa Parks federal building in Detroit, named for the civil rights activist, could also be sold. January's wildfires in Southern California left tens of billions of dollars in property damage. Thousands of homes were destroyed in and around Los Angeles. In Altadena, chimneys were often the only thing left standing. From Laist, Evan Jacoby reports efforts are underway to save some of the historic handmade chimney tiles that are left behind.

[Evan Jacoby]

Phase two of Altadena's cleanup process is underway, where lots will be bulldozed. Eric Garland co founded the volunteer group Save the Tiles.

[Stanley Zucker]

What will be lost is not only the very last of old Altadena, but for that homeowner, beautiful handmade art from over a century ago.

[Evan Jacoby]

Many tiles were made by Ernest Bachelder, whose pieces are collected in architecture museums throughout the country. But Stanley Zucker, another co founder of Save the Tiles, says their value isn't just in art history.

[Stanley Zucker]

Everything on this lot that was important to them has been channeled into the.

[Evan Jacoby]

Tiles the group hopes to rescue tile for over 200 homeowners. For NPR News, I'm Evan Jacoby.

[Korva Coleman]

And Altadena officials in Hawaii say lava has fountained from the Kilauea volcano on the Big Island. It soared more than 150ft into the air. Kilauea has been erupting since mid December. Officials say there's no danger to the public. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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