Measles Outbreak, Foreign Aid Cuts, Bolsonaro Charges

Summary

Up First from NPR: Episode Summary – February 19, 2025

NPR's "Up First" episode released on February 19, 2025, delves into three major stories shaping the world: a measles outbreak in Texas, significant cuts to U.S. foreign aid impacting democracy promotion, and serious charges against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. This detailed summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, incorporating notable quotes with speaker attribution and timestamps.

---

1. Measles Outbreak in Lubbock, Texas

Rising Cases and Public Health Concerns

The episode opens with a concerning update on the resurgence of measles in Lubbock, Texas. Health officials are monitoring the situation closely as measles, a disease believed to have been eradicated in the region 24 years prior, begins to spread once again.

• Current Situation: As of the latest reports, there are 58 confirmed measles cases in Lubbock, marking the first occurrence in over two decades (02:21). Samantha Larnin introduces Kerry Kahn from KTTZ, who elaborates on the anxiety surrounding the outbreak.

• Vaccine Hesitancy: A significant factor contributing to the outbreak is vaccine hesitancy within certain communities. Kerry Kahn notes, "The vaccination rate there is just under 82% as compared to the state of Texas, which has a vaccination rate of 90%" (03:40). This lower vaccination rate has facilitated the spread of the disease, particularly among school-aged children.

Efforts to Contain the Outbreak

Public health officials are striving to educate the community about the dangers of measles and the importance of vaccination.

• Educational Initiatives: "We're trying to educate and get as much information out as possible so that people realize what the stakes are" (03:09), says Samantha Larnin, highlighting the efforts to raise awareness and encourage vaccination.

• Challenges in Rural Areas: Catherine Wells, director of public health in Lubbock, explains the logistical challenges in tracking and isolating measles cases in remote areas. "The process of confirming measles cases is a lot quicker in a city than in those remote rural areas like Seminole, which is an hour and a half away from here, where a majority of those cases have occurred" (03:40).

Health Implications and Future Projections

While there have been no fatalities reported so far, the potential for the outbreak to worsen remains a concern. Dr. Ron Cook emphasizes the safety and effectiveness of the measles vaccine: "The vaccine is safe" (05:19). Health officials warn that unvaccinated individuals, especially those with compromised immune systems, face significant risks.

---

2. U.S. Foreign Aid Cuts and Democracy Promotion

Administration's Shift in Foreign Policy

The second major story focuses on the Trump administration's decision to reduce foreign aid aimed at promoting democracy and human rights abroad, traditionally used as a tool to counter authoritarian influences, particularly from China.

• Funding Reductions: "The United States has promoted democracy and human rights abroad and it's been seen as a way to counter the influence of authoritarian countries, especially China. Now the US is blocking those efforts as part of an effort led by Elon Musk, the presidential aide who is the world's richest man" (06:02) explains Leila Fadel.

• Rationale Behind Cuts: Elon Musk and other administration officials argue that agencies like USAID are "wasteful." Musk specifically criticized USAID by calling it "behind a, quote, hoax about Russian influence in the Trump administration without giving evidence" (06:30).

Impact on Democracy Advocates and China

The funding cuts have significant repercussions for organizations supporting Chinese dissidents and promoting democratic values within China.

• Struggle for Survival: Steve Inskeep highlights, "They're the exact kind of groups that China and other authoritarian governments criticize. These are women's rights groups, human rights research groups, legal aid nonprofits" (08:34). Organizations like China Labor Watch face existential threats due to the reduced funding.

• China's Opportunistic Response: China perceives the aid cuts as an opportunity to co-opt affected organizations. Steve Inskeep reports, "China is trying to co-opt some of these groups... they have actually been approached by people within the Chinese government offering to introduce them to new China-based funders" (07:26). This tactic is seen as an attempt to silence and control civil society groups that were previously critical of the Chinese government.

Geopolitical Information Warfare

The episode underscores the blending of traditional geopolitical struggles with internal information warfare within the U.S. government.

• Internal Challenges: Francisco Ben Cosme, USAID's former China policy lead, mentions, "The geopolitical information warfare is no longer something that's happening halfway across the world. It's what is happening within our own government" (09:07). This statement highlights the domestic impacts of foreign policy shifts.

• Parallels with Authoritarian Rhetoric: The administration's approach to democracy promotion is increasingly mirroring the rhetoric used by authoritarian regimes, blurring the lines between democratic advocacy and authoritarian critique.

---

3. Jair Bolsonaro Charged with Coup Attempt in Brazil

Allegations and Charges

The episode shifts focus to South America, where former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro faces serious legal challenges.

• Nature of Charges: Bolsonaro is indicted for orchestrating a coup attempt to remain in power after losing the 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The charges include "plotting a coup to stay in power, as well as inciting violence and even approving a plan to poison the current president" (10:17).

• Detailed Accusations: Prosecutors allege that Bolsonaro and 33 others formed a "vast criminal organization" with plans to poison Lula, his vice president, and a Supreme Court justice. The intent was to create a constitutional crisis that would allow the military to intervene, thereby reinstating Bolsonaro (10:31).

Bolsonaro's Response and Defense

Bolsonaro vehemently denies all allegations, labeling them as politically motivated.

• Denial of Involvement: "The former president never, ever supported any movement to deconstruct the democratic rule of law in any way and called the charges inept" (11:19), states Emily Fang.

• Accusations of Weaponizing the Justice System: In a statement, Bolsonaro claims the charges are a "weaponization of the justice system" aimed at silencing his political movement. He draws parallels between his situation and former President Trump's unfounded claims of election fraud, suggesting a pattern of political persecution (11:19).

Political and Legal Implications

The charges against Bolsonaro have profound implications for Brazil's political landscape.

• Potential Trial and Sentencing: If convicted, Bolsonaro could face sentences ranging from 12 years to four decades in prison. The Supreme Court of Brazil is poised to make a critical decision on whether to arrest him and proceed with the trial (13:29).

• Supporters and Legislative Actions: Bolsonaro's supporters, many of whom are aligned with Donald Trump, are pushing for legislation that could pardon his allies. They hope to extend these pardons to Bolsonaro himself, although the Supreme Court has remained steadfast in its opposition, actively overseeing investigations and removing anti-democratic social media content (12:44).

Lengthy Investigation Process

The legal proceedings have been extensive, with investigations spanning nearly two years.

• Evidence and Testimonies: Emily Fang details that the investigation involved "testimonies, phone records, and also plea deals with close allies of Bolsonaro" (12:50). The prosecutor's report is nearly 900 pages, underscoring the complexity and gravity of the case.

• Upcoming Legal Proceedings: The episode notes that the trial could commence within the year, setting the stage for a highly contentious and politically charged legal battle in Brazil (13:22).

---

Conclusion

This episode of NPR's "Up First" provides a comprehensive overview of pressing global issues, from a public health crisis in Texas to significant shifts in U.S. foreign policy and monumental legal challenges in Brazil. Through expert interviews and detailed reporting, the episode emphasizes the interconnectedness of these events and their far-reaching implications.

---

Timestamps Reference:

• 02:21
• 03:40
• 03:09
• 05:19
• 06:02
• 06:30
• 07:26
• 08:34
• 09:07
• 10:17
• 11:19
• 12:44
• 12:50
• 13:22

---

Transcript

[Leila Faldil]

People around Lubbock, Texas, are watching the spread of measles.

[Steve Inskeep]

Could it grow?

[Samantha Larnin]

Absolutely it could. Other places have seen it, too. So what's behind the return of a disease health officials once thought they had eradicated?

[Leila Faldil]

I'm Leila Faldil. That's Steve Inskeep. And this is up first from NPR News. It's common for countries like China to criticize U.S. efforts to spread democracy. Now democracy advocates say the Trump administration speaks the same way.

[Steve Inskeep]

Geopolitical information warfare is no longer something that's happening halfway across the world, but.

[Samantha Larnin]

Is happening within our own governments.

[Leila Faldil]

Who's gaining from that information war?

[Samantha Larnin]

Also, Brazilian authorities filed charges against a former president for a coup attempt. Do they put a former president on trial? Stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your day.

[Charles Schwab]

This message comes from Charles Schwab. When it comes to managing your wealth, Schwab gives you more choices like full service, wealth management and advice when you need it. You can also invest on your own and trade on thinkorswim. Visit schwab.com to learn more.

[ADT]

This message comes from ADT with Trusted Neighbor, the new standard in home access through the ADT plus app grant and automate event based or scheduled access for neighbors, friends and helpers. Notify trusted individuals of events and set access windows for guests without interrupting your day. Visit ADT.com when every second counts, count on ADT requires ADT Complete Pro Monitoring Plan and compatible devices. Copyright 2025 ADT, LLC. All rights reserved. This message comes from NPR Sponsor. 1Password if you bypass security to save yourself some time, you're not alone. Fortunately, with 1Password Extended Access Management, security and productivity no longer have to be at odds. 1Password Extended Access Management ensures that whatever device your employees use for work, it's healthy and uncompromised. Get started today, securing every app, device and identity, even the unmanaged ones. For a free 2 week trial, visit.

[Samantha Larnin]

1Password.Com First Measles is spreading across parts of West Texas.

[Leila Faldil]

Health officials thought they had eradicated this disease 24 years ago, but it's occasionally returned, most recently to five counties around.

[Samantha Larnin]

Lubbock, Texas, which is where we find Samantha Larnon of our member station kttz. Samantha, good morning.

[Kerry Kahn]

Good morning.

[Samantha Larnin]

What's it like there?

[Kerry Kahn]

There is a lot of anxiety around this. In the past week, measles cases have more than doubled. We now have 58 confirmed cases here in Lubbock. It's just one, but it's the first one the city has seen in more than 20 years. Zach Holbrooks is the executive director of South Plains Public Health District, which serves Gaines county and Terry county outside of Lubbock, where most of these cases are being reported. He expects cases to continue rising.

[Emily Fang]

Could it grow?

[Samantha Larnin]

Absolutely, it could. We're trying to educate and get as much information out as possible so that people realize what the stakes are.

[Kerry Kahn]

A majority of the cases are among school age children. And the state health department says most of the measles patients are either unvaccinated, vaccinated, or have an unknown vaccine status. Measles can be dangerous, even deadly, especially for babies and children.

[Samantha Larnin]

Okay, you mentioned vaccines there. Do health authorities feel they understand how this particular outbreak got going?

[Kerry Kahn]

Public health officials have described communities in Gaines county as vaccine hesitant. The vaccination rate there is just under 82% as compared to the state of Texas, which has a vaccination rate of 90%. Catherine Wells is the director of public health here in Lubbock, where there is that one case. And she says the process of confirming measles cases is a lot quicker in a city than in those remote rural areas like Seminole, which is an hour and a half away from here, where a majority of those cases have occurred.

[Steve Inskeep]

The quickest way to get that measles.

[Charles Schwab]

Test done is in the state public health lab in Austin, which is fine when you're in Lubbock because we have.

[Emily Fang]

Overnight delivery to Austin.

[Samantha Larnin]

Okay. I guess she's saying that it's a little bit harder to catch up to this disease and track and isolate it when you're in some of the rural areas. I'd like to know, though, is this outbreak in West Texas representative of things going on around the country?

[Kerry Kahn]

Well, like Texas, in the past month, there's been cases in Georgia, Rhode Island, New York City and Alaska. And this is all coming as Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Is getting started. Leading the Health and Human Services department was critical of the measles vaccine for years before he was nominated. Health officials say the vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles even after exposure. Some of the people who are at risk are those with compromised immune systems, like pregnant people and babies under one year old who can't receive the vaccine. Dr. Ron Cook is the health authority for the city of Lubbock, and he says the vaccine is safe.

[Samantha Larnin]

I tell my pediatric moms and dads if they get a rash after the mmr, it's okay.

[Emily Fang]

It's not measles. It's not.

[Samantha Larnin]

It's just your body's reaction to the vaccine.

[Kerry Kahn]

There haven't been any deaths so far with this outbreak, but providers are concerned about continued spread from those who might not know that they have measles and MMR vaccines are available across the state.

[Samantha Larnin]

Samantha, thanks so much.

[Kerry Kahn]

Thank you.

[Samantha Larnin]

Samantha Larnin is a reporter with member station KTTZ in Lubbock, Texas. President Trump's drive to cut back the federal government includes cuts to a traditional tool against China.

[Leila Faldil]

Yeah, the United States has promoted democracy and human rights abroad and it's been seen as a way to counter the influence of authoritarian countries, especially China. Now the US Is blocking those efforts as part of an effort led by Elon Musk, the presidential aide who is the world's richest man.

[Samantha Larnin]

NPR's Emily Fang has covered China for many years and is on the line. Emily, good morning.

[Steve Inskeep]

Hey, Steve, Good morning.

[Samantha Larnin]

Okay, so why would the administration back off democracy promotion now?

[Steve Inskeep]

Well, part of the reason given by Musk and other people close to Trump is that the agencies that fund these groups you're talking about are wasteful. Musk has accused specifically the aid agency USAID of being behind a, quote, hoax about Russian influence in the Trump administration without giving evidence. The US has also paused human rights and civil society related grants at the State Department. And the latest funding phrase I've been tracking is at the National Endowment for Democracy or Ned. Interesting. Some Republicans, like Marco Rubio, who is now US Secretary of State, had previously seen groups they funded as essential to US national security because they build soft power by promoting US Democratic ideals abroad. But since Rubio's joined the Trump administration, he's defended these massive cuts.

[Samantha Larnin]

Okay, so this is worldwide the effects of these changes, but a good portion of the funding was supporting Chinese dissidents, some diversity of opinion within China. So what does China think of that?

[Steve Inskeep]

They have not said much publicly, but this is a huge windfall for China because these are all organizations Beijing found a nuisance and I found signs that China is trying to co opt some of these groups. Now, at least two human rights organizations that are China focused but based here in the US Tell me they've actually been approached by people within the Chinese government offering to introduce them to new China based funders. And this has specifically happened in just the last few days since they've faced losing funding from the US I also talked directly with a Chinese state representative who answers to the government there who requested anonymity because they're not authorized to speak publicly. They reached out to at least one China focused civil society group that is at risk of losing their funding and proposed to them instead of criticizing people and organizations in China publicly, Perhaps they could facilitate private conversations with China to achieve social change. And one of the groups he was in contact with said, you know, this feels like a tactic to buy their silence. Though the Chinese state representative argued to me it would be a more effective way for organizations to work.

[Samantha Larnin]

Wow. Thanks for all that reporting. So what are some of these groups that risk getting their funding cut?

[Steve Inskeep]

They're the exact kind of the groups that China and other authoritarian governments criticize. These are women's rights groups, human rights research groups, legal aid nonprofits. One of them is New York based China Labor Watch. It was started by a researcher named Li Qiang, and his group investigates labor rights abuses. He says here he's chosen to go on the record with me because he left China when he felt he could not speak freely there. So he says now if he stays silent on the funding cuts, what was the point of coming to the U.S.

[Samantha Larnin]

Well, how does this affect Americans?

[Steve Inskeep]

Well, for better or worse, the US Is competing with China on social influence and soft power. And some human rights workers say they're worried about this convergence between how Trump administration officials talk about democracy and how governments like China describe it. Francisco Ben Cosme is USAID's former China policy lead. The geopolitical information warfare is no longer something that's happening halfway across the world. It's what is happening within our own government. For example, Musk called Ned a scam and then cited a story on X, a takedown of the US foundation from the Foreign Ministry of China.

[Samantha Larnin]

Emily, thanks so much.

[Steve Inskeep]

Thank you, Steve.

[Samantha Larnin]

That's NPR's Emily Feng. Okay. Brazil's former president could be facing a long prison sentence for his participation in what authorities say was an attempt to overturn the country's election in 2022.

[Leila Faldil]

Yeah. Brazil's Attorney general indicted the far right, former President Jair Bolsonaro, accusing him of plotting a coup to stay in power, as well as inciting violence and even approving a plan to poison the current president.

[Samantha Larnin]

NPR South America correspondent Kerry Kahn has been following all of this. Kerry, good morning.

[Emily Fang]

Good morning.

[Samantha Larnin]

Wow. Coup attempt, inciting violence, poisoning. What more can you say about these accusations?

[Emily Fang]

They're stunning charges, the standout points. Prosecutors say that Bolsonaro and 33 others were. They said it was this vast criminal organization to keep him in power after he narrowly lost to the current president, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva. On top of that, there was also this outline to poison Lula, kill his vice president and a Supreme Court justice who Bolsonaro has Feuded with the idea was to create this constitutional crisis, and then the military would have to take over to calm any unrest, and Bolsonaro would be reinstated. Investigators say they even found a speech that Bolsonaro was to give once he was back in power. In the indictment, the prosecutor said that, quote, the plan was conceived and taken with the knowledge of the president, and he agreed to it.

[Samantha Larnin]

Well, the draft of the speech, I guess, would be pretty strong evidence. But what has Bolsonaro said about the allegations?

[Emily Fang]

He's always, always denied them. His defense did release a statement saying that the former president never, ever supported any movement to deconstruct the democratic rule of law in any way and called the charges inept. In a statement to the New York Times, Bolsonaro went further, saying the accusations are quot a weaponization of the justice system and jailing him is a desperate attempt to criminalize his political movement and silence millions of Brazilians. And if you're thinking that the comparisons between Bolsonaro's case is similar to President Trump's false claims of the 2020 election being stolen from him, Bolsonaro did that himself. He said the legal fight against him is just like the same strategy used against President Trump, which he pointed out, failed. The two men were close allies when Bolsonaro was in power. And supporters of Bolsonaro have been emboldened by Trump's return to. They've been saying that the US President is even going to help them bring Bolsonaro back. He's been barred from running for office for at least eight years. His supporters in Congress are trying to get a bill through to grant pardons to Bolsonaro's supporters who rioted the Capitol on January 8th of 2023. And they say they will get Trump's support. They're hoping the bill will also apply to Bolsonaro. The Supreme Court here, however, has been one of the key institutions aggressively ruling against Bolsonaro and his right wing movement. They've been overseeing investigations, ordering the removal of social media posts that they say are anti Democratic.

[Samantha Larnin]

Well, these events took place almost two years ago. Had people been waiting for these charges a long time?

[Emily Fang]

Yes, they were. This has been a very lengthy investigation. Late last year, we got a glimpse of the evidence against Bolsonaro when police turned over their investigation to the Attorney General Prosecutor's office. That report was nearly 900 pages long. It's based on testimonies, phone records, and also plea deals with close allies of Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro's running mate also charged in the case has been in custody, as well as other close confidants of his. And there are also hundreds of cases against the rioters who were charged and tried for ransacking the Capitol on January 8th.

[Samantha Larnin]

Okay, so long. Investigation, plea deals, 900 page reports. Now we have the criminal charges. Where do we go next?

[Emily Fang]

It's now up to the Supreme Court. They will decide whether they will arrest Bolsonaro and put him on trial. You know, such a trial like that could start this year, and it would definitely be an explosive political event in this deeply divided country. And if convicted of the charges, which are quite serious, Bolsonaro's sentence could be anywhere from 12 years to as much as four decades.

[Samantha Larnin]

Steven Prison, NPR's Carrie Khan, thanks so much.

[Emily Fang]

You're welcome.

[Samantha Larnin]

And that's up first for this Wednesday. And that's up first for the. We should have kept that in. I should have just kept going.

[Leila Faldil]

Just a little hacking.

[Samantha Larnin]

Little bit of hacking. Exactly. Exactly. Gotta wake up. That's all there is to it. And that's up first for this Wednesday, February 19th. I'm Steve Inskeep.

[Leila Faldil]

And I'm Layla Falden. Make your next listen. Consider this the team behind NPR's All Things Considered goes deep into a single news story in just 15 minutes. Listen now on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Samantha Larnin]

Today's UPVERSE was edited by Alfredo Carvajal, Padmanandarama, Tara Neal, Reena Advani and Janaya Williams. It was produced by Ziad Bach, Nia, Darren Maas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Simon Laszlo Jansen, and our technical director, also always very supportive, is Stacey Abbott. Join us tomorrow.

[Charles Schwab]

This message comes from Mint Mobile. Mint Mobile took what's wrong with wireless and made it right. They offer premium wireless plans for less, and all plans include high speed data, unlimited talk and text and nationwide coverage. See for [e-mail] Switch this message comes from Bombas. Socks, underwear and T shirts are the top three requested clothing items by people experiencing homelessness. Bombas makes all three and donates one item for every item purchased. Go to bombas.com NPR and use code NPR for 20% off.