NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-16-2025 4AM EST

Episode Date: February 16, 2025

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On the ThruLine podcast, the myth linking autism and vaccines was decades in the making and was a major moment for vaccine hesitancy in America, tapping into fears involving the pharmaceutical industry and the federal government. No matter how many studies you do showing that this is not a problem, it's very hard to unring the bell. Listen to ThruLine from NPR, wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. The fate of Ukraine is the number one topic at the annual Munich Security Conference underway

in Germany this weekend. The Trump administration is pushing for a rapid end to Russia's war on Ukraine, and President Trump is pushing Ukraine for concessions. According to NPR's Jurena Kokissis, Ukrainian President Vladimiralinsky says he won't negotiate with Russia without strong security guarantees. Zalinsky admitted that he has a lot of work to do to convince President Trump and his team that Russia is dangerous. Speaking in Munich today, Zalinsky said he will not give up pushing for Ukraine to join NATO. He sees this Western alliance as Ukraine's strongest security guarantee against Russia, though he did question why NATO is so cautious around Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hamas turned over three more Israeli hostages on Saturday in the sixth exchange of the ceasefire deal which now is just two weeks remaining.

Israel later released 369 Palestinian prisoners. Our militants made the three Israelis speak to a crowd before handing them over to the Red Cross in the southern city of Khan Yunis. Israeli officials say they were in much better condition than those hostages released one week ago. Investors in Wall Street will have new housing data that digest this week along with the minutes from the latest meeting of the Federal Reserve. With the markets closed on Monday NPR's Rafael Nam has a preview of this shorter trading week. Last year, the U.S. experienced the slowest sales of existing homes since 1995.

With mortgage rates still pretty high, analysts are not expecting a major recovery anytime soon. We'll get the latest data on home sales on Friday. It covers January, a traditionally weak period for home sales because of the winter. Also this week, a traditionally weak period for home sales because of the winter. Also this week the Fed will publish minutes from its meeting last month. Policymakers left interest rates on hold given that inflation remains pretty stubborn. And Walmart earnings this week will also provide a check on consumer demand. Rafael Nam, NPR News. A major storm system is hitting the south and parts of the east with

heavy rainfall and freezing rain this weekend. Flash flood warnings have been issued for parts of several states while in Kentucky flood warnings have now been issued for all 120 counties. Karen Zahr with Member Station WUKY has more. The rain began to fall early Saturday morning and has refused to let up across Kentucky causing flash flooding, road closures, evacuations and landslides. Governor Andy Beshear says plans are in place for Kentuckians who had to leave their homes. We've already checked in that availability for our state parks if that's necessary for a couple of days with people who might be Displaced this year declared a state of emergency ahead of the storms on Friday and

Members of the National Guard and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife have been deployed for swift water rescues for NPR news I'm Karen czar in Lexington and you're listening to NPR news And you're listening to NPR News. Taylor Swift has broken another record, this time overseas, as Vicki Barker reports from London. With the re-release of her 2023 live album, Lover, Taylor Swift has overtaken Madonna as the female artist with the most number one albums in the UK. the most number one albums in the UK. I've been the art star, within the prey. With this, her 13th UK chart, Topper Swift, is now tied with Elvis Presley

for the international artists with the most number ones in Britain. And she's within touching distance of her male competition. The Rolling Stones have had 14 UK number ones. Robbie Williams and the Beatles are the joint record holders with 15. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Barker in London. A union official says the Trump administration has fired 20 immigration judges without explanation as part of its effort to drastically shrink the federal government. Matt Biggs of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers says that 13 judges who had not been sworn in were dismissed on Friday alone, along with five Assistant Chief Immigration Judges the

same day. An investigation is now underway into the cause of a stampede at an Indian train station. It happened late Saturday night and killed at least 15 people. Officials say the stampede took place as thousands of people were waiting to board a train to go to a Hindu festival in the northern part of that country. The incident took place in the capital of New Delhi.