Trump Zelensky Meeting, Netanyahu Mar-a-Lago Meeting, Rough Year For Poverty Aid

Summary

Up First by NPR — Episode Summary

Episode: Trump Zelensky Meeting, Netanyahu Mar-a-Lago Meeting, Rough Year For Poverty Aid
Date: December 29, 2025
Hosts: Leila Fadel, Michelle Martin
Reporters: Danielle Kurtzleben, Michelle Kellerman, Jennifer Ludden

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Overview of the Episode

This episode covers the major stories of the day, focusing on:

• Ongoing negotiations and hurdles for peace between Ukraine and Russia, highlighted by the Mar-a-Lago meeting between President Trump and President Zelensky
• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump amid faltering progress on the Gaza peace plan and rising regional tensions
• The impact of a turbulent year and federal funding cutbacks on American anti-poverty agencies, examining the uncertainty faced by these groups

The reporting provides updates, in-depth analysis, and firsthand perspectives on political negotiations and the daily ramifications of federal policy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump and Zelensky Mar-a-Lago Meeting: Progress Towards Ukrainian Peace?

[03:29–07:11]

• Meeting Details & Context:

  • President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Mar-a-Lago after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
  • Zelensky had proposed a 20-point peace plan, claiming 90% agreement going into the meeting.

• Sticking Points:

  • Despite optimistic language, no substantive progress was made—"they were at 90% agreement" both before and after the meeting.
  • Trump characterized his dealings with Russia as optimistic, claiming at one point:

    "Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed." – (Trump via Danielle Kurtzleben, [04:31])

  • However, Russian attacks on Kyiv continued over the weekend, casting doubt on this optimism.
  • Shifts in Trump’s tone toward Putin were noted, swinging from confidence he could persuade Putin to end the war, to frustration, and back to cautious hopefulness.

• Core Disagreements:

  • Control of the Donbas region: Ukraine wants it demilitarized; Russia insists on control.
  • Security guarantees: Zelensky is seeking a 30–50 year guarantee that the West will defend Ukraine if attacked again.
  • Fate of a nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine remains unresolved.

• What’s Next:

  • Trump plans to host Ukrainian and European delegations in January.
  • The central unknown: whether Putin will sign on to any terms agreed upon by Trump and Zelensky.

• Memorable Moment:

  Reporter: "How long before all the final disagreements are ironed out?"
  Trump: "If it went really well, you know, maybe a few weeks, and if it went poorly, longer, and if it went really poorly, it’s not going to happen." ([05:23])

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2. Netanyahu-Trump Meeting and the Gaza Peace Plan

[07:20–10:47]

• State of the Gaza Peace Process:

  • Israel remains in stage one: a tenuous ceasefire and increased aid flow into Gaza, while Israel controls large areas and maintains the right to strike across a “yellow line” for perceived threats.
  • Transitioning to phase two (further peace and rebuilding) is stalled due to the unresolved status of the last Israeli hostage’s remains.

• Netanyahu’s Goals in Florida:

  • Secure Trump’s continued pressure on Hamas and Hezbollah.
  • Emphasize threats from Iran, notably concerns about Iran’s ballistic missile buildup following U.S. strikes earlier in the year.
  • Defend Israel’s interests amid criticism from Trump’s MAGA base.

• Anticipated Outcomes:

  • Watch for Trump’s possible announcement of a “Board of Peace” or new steps toward establishing an international peacekeeping force in Gaza.
  • Insight from Israeli analyst Eyal Hulata:

    "Trump first says what needs to be done and then declares that it has been done... And then things happen. We got all the hostages out in this way." – (Eyal Hulata via Danielle Kurtzleben, [09:26])

• Other Regional News:

  • Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is raising tensions, with speculation about motivations regarding Gaza populations and strategic interests.

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3. Anti-Poverty Agencies Struggle Amid a Year of Federal Turmoil

[10:56–14:41]

• Scale and Role:

  • Community Action Agencies (approx. 1,000 nationwide) assist ~15 million in accessing food, housing, and other safety-net programs.
  • 2025 saw deep uncertainty and resource scarcity as Trump administration slashed budgets and suspended funding.

• Devastating Whiplash:

  • Initial federal spending freeze in January forced emergency plans and nearly resulted in major layoffs, e.g., in Head Start programs.

    “We were in immediate emergency response mode, like, what are we going to do?” – Kelly Hattus, Executive Director, HAPCAP ([11:55])

  • Exemptions and reversals followed, but unpredictability eroded organizational trust and planning.

• Official Justification:

  • The administration labeled anti-poverty programs as “radically partisan activities,” pointing to “teaching toddlers to be anti-racist” and “using clean energy for environmental justice.”
  • Trump campaigned on ending “wasteful DEI spending.” ([12:42])

• Survival Tactics & Consequences:

  • States tried to fill funding gaps, but some shelters and programs were cancelled or delayed.
  • Staff layoffs and pay cuts had real impacts:

    “It cut my paychecks completely in half… we have a mortgage, a car payment. With Christmas coming, my husband was like, well, what are we going to do? And I’m like, I don’t know.” – Kelsey Sexton, HAPCAP ([13:33])

• Looking Forward:

  • No end in sight—upcoming deeper cuts to Medicaid, food aid, and rental assistance are likely to drive more need and uncertainty.

    "It feels like reinventing the wheel just to keep things going. But she says that's what they'll keep doing as long as they have to." – Anti-poverty advocate ([14:05])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On U.S.-Ukraine-Russia Dynamics:

  “The very fact that [Trump]’s lukewarm on success could signal that there’s still some distance to go here.” – Danielle Kurtzleben ([05:32])

• On Israeli Political Theater:

  "Sometimes we are a bit political and cynical about this, but so far it has done the trick in Gaza. Maybe it will do in the future." – Danielle Kurtzleben ([09:35])

• On Funding Insecurity for Aid Agencies:

  "Again, just deep uncertainty and fear. And... there are changes underway that could leave even more people in need." – Jennifer Ludden ([14:05])

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump–Zelensky Peace Talks Analysis: [03:29–07:11]
• Gaza Peace Plan & Netanyahu-Trump Meeting: [07:20–10:47]
• Rough Year for Anti-Poverty Agencies: [10:56–14:41]

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Conclusion

This episode weaves together ongoing and unresolved international diplomacy—centered on Ukraine and Israel—and a sobering look at domestic policy fallout for millions of Americans relying on anti-poverty programs. The reporting emphasizes uncertainty, the gap between headline-making political theater and real progress, and the very tangible effects of policy reversals on everyday lives.

For listeners wanting a brisk yet comprehensive snapshot of global and local issues as the year ends, this episode captures both high-level negotiations and ground-level struggles.

Transcript

[Michelle Martin]

Good morning, Laila.

[Leila Fadel]

Good morning. How was your Christmas?

[Michelle Martin]

It was great. Exhausting. So we're almost at the end of 2025. Hard to believe, right?

[Michelle Kellerman]

Yeah.

[Leila Fadel]

I mean, it feels like it passed so quickly because it's been a tough year, busy year in the news, a tough year for NPR and local stations, you know.

[Michelle Martin]

But despite that loss of federal funding for public media, despite continued attacks on the free press, we are still here. And we are here for you. Up First. And NPR will keep reporting the news without fear or favor.

[Leila Fadel]

Yeah, we're committed to being here, to bringing you the news you need, start your day every morning. But we need your support now more than ever. And right now, before the end of the year, it's the best time to make your gift.

[Michelle Martin]

Thank you to our NPR supporters who help sustain NPR and to everybody who has already stepped up to donate. That includes Sarah in Georgia, who says up first is a great start to the day. I even smile at A's jokes even though it's too early for them. I know we feel her pain.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Whoops, my headphones fell off.

[Michelle Martin]

Oh, no. Ouch.

[Leila Fadel]

Reacting to Sarah, I agree with you, Sarah. Too early for them. But he's on Pacific Time, so is.

[Michelle Martin]

It too late for them either way? Whether you love the jokes or don't love them so much, they're pretty cool. Please join the community of public radio supporters today by signing up for npr.

[Leila Fadel]

It's a simple recurring donation that gets you perks to a whole bunch of NPR podcasts, including Up First. And you support public media while you listen.

[Michelle Martin]

Join us at plus.NPR.org.

[Leila Fadel]

President Trump met with Ukraine's president on Sunday after he had spoken with the Russian leader.

[Michelle Martin]

Trump insisted Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed, but Russia kept up attacks over the weekend. So is Moscow really willing to make peace?

[Leila Fadel]

I'm Leila Fadel. That's Michelle Martin. And this is up first from NPR News. Israel's prime minister is meeting President Trump today at a time where there's still so much to be done to get to peace in Gaza. Will the meeting lead to the next phase in the plan to permanently end the war?

[Michelle Martin]

And after a year of government funding freezes and policy reversals, groups that help millions of Americans say they are operating in constant uncertainty.

[Michelle Kellerman]

When we got that news, we were in immediate emergency response mode, like, what are we going to do?

[Michelle Martin]

What does that mean for people who rely on those programs? Stay with us. We'll give you news you need to start your day.

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[Michelle Martin]

President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky say they are making progress toward peace in Ukraine.

[Leila Fadel]

The two leaders met on Sunday at Mar? A Lago, where the president has been spending the holidays. Meanwhile, Russian attacks continued over the weekend and key issues remain unresolved.

[Michelle Martin]

NPR White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben is here to give us the latest on the negotiations. Good morning, Danielle.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Good morning, Michelle.

[Michelle Martin]

So what was your takeaway from this meeting? Is a peace deal coming?

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Well, the very fact that they met seems to be a sign of momentum. Zelensky had put forward this 20 point peace proposal this past week, and the two men met shortly after and said they agreed on most of it. But when they talked to reporters after their meeting, a peace deal certainly didn't seem imminent. Both men came out saying, essentially we're optimistic and we'll keep talking. But that's roughly where they seem to be before the meeting. To put it another way, before the meeting Zelensky had said they were at 90% agreement. And after the meeting he said they were at 90% agreement.

[Michelle Martin]

And what about President Trump? What did he say?

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Well, Trump had a lengthy phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin before his in person meeting with Zelensky and came away optimistic. And in that optimism, he was trying to make it sound like Russia could eventually be on board with all of this. At one point, Trump said that, quote, Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed. But then Russia bombarded Kyiv over the weekend. So there's a big question as to how ready Russia really is to stop fighting. Now all of this is another shift in Trump's hot and cold feelings towards Putin. Trump has gone from saying earlier this year he could easily convince Putin to end the war to being Pretty frustrated with him. And now Trump seems to feel more warmly again. But there was one more thing that really stood out to me. A reporter asked Trump how long it might be before all of the final disagreements are ironed out. And Trump said this.

[Michelle Martin]

So if it went really well, you.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Know, maybe a few weeks, and if.

[Michelle Martin]

It went poorly, longer, and if it.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Went really poorly, it's not going to happen.

[Michelle Martin]

That would be a shame.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Now, this is Trump talking. He loves hyperbole. He loves talking up his own abilities. The very fact that he's lukewarm on success could signal that there's still some distance to go here.

[Michelle Martin]

So tell us more about that. What are the hang ups?

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Well, one question is how to deal with the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, which Russia wants to control. Zelensky wants it to be a demilitarized zone and he said says that Ukraine will withdraw troops if Russia does. Trump said that on Donbas, he and Zelensky do not agree, but they're getting closer. On that note, Ukraine also wants security guarantees. This morning, Zelensky told Ukrainian press that he asked Trump for a 30 to 50 year guarantee. Now Zelensky wants to know that the US and other allies in Europe will defend Ukraine if Russia attacks again. A reporter asked Trump how much he and Zelensky agree on all of that. And Trump said they're close, but added that there are what he called very tough issues, issues to still work out. Finally, there's a nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine that Russia took control of early in this conflict. The fate of that plant has been a big sticking point. And it was unclear yesterday what progress Trumpets Alinsky made.

[Michelle Martin]

And what comes next.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Well, Trump said he would talk to Putin after this meeting, but we haven't heard more from the White House about any type of conversation beyond that. He said he and Zelensky would be talking more. Zelensky said Trump will host a Ukrainian delegation and European leaders in January. But the big question, of course, is if and when Trump and Zelensky can agree, can Putin agree with them? We don't know much about that at all. For example, whether Russia is willing to withdraw from Donbass or accept security guarantees.

[Michelle Martin]

That is NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben. Daniel, thank you.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Thank you.

[Michelle Martin]

There's a lot left to do on President Trump's 20 point plan to end the war in Gaza.

[Leila Fadel]

Yeah, he still needs to appoint what he's calling a board of peace and get an international force up and running. And there are still pretty regular and fatal attacks in Gaza, But Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting Trump in Florida today and trying to get him focused on some other things, like Iran and its proxies.

[Michelle Martin]

NPR's Michelle Kellerman is with us now from Jerusalem to talk us through Netanyahu's pitch to Trump today. Hi, Michelle.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Hi, Michelle.

[Michelle Martin]

So, first, would you just remind us of where things are at the moment with the Gaza peace plan?

[Michelle Kellerman]

Yeah, they're in stage one. The shaky ceasefire and getting more aid in. Israel has set up what it calls a yellow line, so it controls a large part of Gaza, and it does strike across that yellow line when it sees threats. Now, the deal was that they would go to phase two once all the Israeli hostages are out. But there is still the body of one Israeli police officer who was killed in the Oct. 7 attack. Hamas says the people who knew where that body was have since been killed. The Israelis say they don't think Trump should move forward until the body is returned, and Hamas agrees. So that's where things are kind of stuck for the moment.

[Michelle Martin]

What does Netanyahu want out of this meeting with President Trump?

[Michelle Kellerman]

Well, Israeli officials say that there's no signs that Hamas is ready to disarm. So that's one thing they want is to keep the pressure on Hamas to keep its end of the bargain. The same is true in Lebanon, where Hezbollah remains a threat. And then there's Iran. You can remember that President Trump ordered massive strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities this year. Well, the Israelis now say that Iran is building up its ballistic missile stockpile. So Netanyahu wants to keep Trump on his side on all three of these fronts.

[Michelle Martin]

Are we expecting any announcements today from President Trump?

[Michelle Kellerman]

Well, one thing to watch is whether he's going to announce his board of peace or any of the steps toward getting an international force into Gaza. One Israeli analyst who was a national security adviser under previous prime ministers, Eyal Hulata, says that, you know, Trump's approach has been in the past, announce big things before they're a reality.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Trump first says what needs to be.

[Michelle Martin]

Done and then declares that it has been done.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

And then things happen. We got all the hostages out in this way.

[Michelle Martin]

So, you know, sometimes we are a bit political and cynical about this, but so far it has done the trick in Gaza.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Maybe it will do in the future.

[Michelle Kellerman]

So we'll see if it can do that trick again. The Israelis are also very conscious of the criticism they're facing from parts of Trump's MAGA movement. So that's something else that's driving Netanyahu to speak directly to Trump today. He needs this relationship for his own domestic purposes.

[Michelle Martin]

One more quick question for you. Israel just recognized Somaliland as a country. Would you just tell us about the region and why Israel made this move?

[Michelle Kellerman]

Yeah, I mean, the Israelis say that that's a stable Muslim region that's been autonomous for more than 30 years. It's a strategic place. If you look at threats coming from Yemen now. A lot of countries in the Arab world, though, are worried about something else that the Israelis may looking for a place to send Palestinians from Gaza. Somaliland and Israel are downplaying that. But Somalia and 20 other countries are protesting Israel's recognition. And this is going to be a topic for an emergency Security Council meeting later today. Somalia is on the Security Council and taking over the presidency in January.

[Michelle Martin]

That is NPR's Michelle Kellerman from Jerusalem. Michelle, thank you.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Thank you.

[Michelle Martin]

2025 has been tough for groups that help those in poverty.

[Leila Fadel]

For example, a network of local groups called Community Action agencies connects about 15 million people with a long list of safety net programs. But the Trump administration's cutbacks and funding chaos have left them scrambling.

[Michelle Martin]

NPR's Jennifer Ludden is here to tell us more. Good morning, Jennifer.

[Jennifer Ludden]

Hi, Michelle.

[Michelle Martin]

So we've certainly heard all year about how this administration is trying to scale back one program or another. Where do these local groups fit into that?

[Jennifer Ludden]

You know, they are on the front line of all of it. And we're talking about a thousand local anti poverty groups that date back to the 1960s. And they sign people up for, you know, housing, health care, food, heating aid, on and on, you name it. I visited one called hapcap. It's in southeastern Appalachian Ohio. And Executive Director Kelly Haddis told me for her, the chaos started in January. She called it the worst day in her career. It was when President Trump ordered a freeze on all spending.

[Michelle Kellerman]

80% of our funding comes from federal grants. When we got that news, we were in immediate emergency response mode, like, what are we going to do, Michelle?

[Jennifer Ludden]

They were about to lay off everyone at six Head Start centers when the White House then said Head Start was exempted. So it was a relief. But that whiplash, she says, really broke people's trust. And the hits just kept coming. There were more funding cuts or pauses, sometimes reversals after legal action. The White House even proposed ending the block grant that funds these groups directly, even though they have had long had bipartisan support. And at this point, Hatta says their biggest challenge is just sheer uncertainty, having no idea what might be targeted next.

[Michelle Martin]

What has the Trump administration said about why it's doing this.

[Jennifer Ludden]

So in a statement to npr, the Office of Management and Budget said these anti poverty programs, quote, radically partisan activities. It cited teaching toddlers to be anti racist and using clean energy for environmental justice. It said President Trump ran on fiscal responsibility and ending wasteful DEI spending.

[Michelle Martin]

Have these anti poverty groups been able to keep operating through all of this funding turmoil?

[Jennifer Ludden]

Mostly, yes, they have. Hattus says the states really helped shift funding around to fill these gaps and but they've definitely had to pull back on some things, including plans to create a badly needed homeless shelter in Ohio. They're also losing staff who've gotten nervous about job cuts and they have had to lay people off or cut back on their hours. And that includes Kelsey Sexton. She manages the front desk at hapcap.

[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

It cut my paychecks completely in half. You know, we have a mortgage, a car payment.

[Michelle Kellerman]

With Christmas coming, my husband was like, well, what are we going to do? And I'm like, I don't know.

[Jennifer Ludden]

You know, these layoffs can be an extra blow in rural areas like this without a lot of other jobs. These anti poverty groups are a real driver for some local economies looking ahead.

[Michelle Martin]

Do we have any sense of whether this is over? I mean, for these groups, after a year of all this turmoil, is there any sense that, you know, the worst might be over and things might calm down?

[Jennifer Ludden]

I did not hear that from anyone. Again, just deep uncertainty and fear. And, you know, there are changes underway that could leave even more people in need. Major cuts to Medicaid and SNAP food aid will take hold next year. The Trump administration wants to scale back on rental aid, help for people leaving homelessness. And we see prices going up and unemployment going up. Right. One advocate who helps oversee these groups called this year's whole scramble so wasteful. She says it feels like reinventing the wheel just to keep things going. But she says that's what they'll keep doing as long as they have to.

[Michelle Martin]

That is NPR's Jennifer Ludden. Jennifer, thank you.

[Jennifer Ludden]

Thank you.

[Michelle Martin]

And that's up first for Monday, December 29th. I'm Michelle Martin.

[Leila Fadel]

And I'm Layla Falden. The news you hear on up first is possible because of support from listeners like you. When you give to your local NPR station, you help keep journalists on the ground here at home and around the world. You can make a [e-mail] upfirst and for more news and conversations, listen to our radio show MORNING edition. You can find it on your local NPR station [e-mail] Today's episode of up.

[Michelle Martin]

First was edited by Dana Farrington, Miguel Macias, Kathryn Laidlaw, Mohamed El Bardisi and Adriana Gallardo. It was produced by Ziad Buch, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Simon Laszlo Jansen, and our technical director is Carly Strange. We hope you'll join us again tomorrow.

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[Michelle Kellerman]

And I realize that sounds like a.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

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So I need a lot of sleep.

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