NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-17-2025 9PM EST

Episode Date: February 18, 2025

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Donald Trump is back in the White House and making a lot of moves very quickly. Keep track of everything going on in Washington with the NPR Politics Podcast. Every day we break down the latest news and explain why it matters to you. The NPR Politics Podcast. Listen every day. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Ukraine will be watching developments in Saudi Arabia tomorrow when top diplomats from the U.S. and Russia are expected to meet for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Imbioris Joannikakisis reports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to arrive in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, but, he said, only for an official visit with Saudi officials. Zelensky said there cannot be negotiations without Ukraine. Oleksandr Kraev, a political scientist in Kyiv, says Zelensky expects President Trump to make Ukraine an equal partner in talks to end the war. In any other case, the negotiation will be a futile effort, and Trump will be presented as a bad negotiator, weak politician,

and a bad diplomat basically. Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia is expected to visit Ukraine later this week. Joanna Kekisis, NPR News, Kyiv. The Trump administration says it's begun firing several hundred federal aviation administration workers, something that is upending staff during a busy air travel weekend with the President's Day holiday and just weeks after a fatal midair collision in Washington, D.C., involving an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter that claimed the lives of 67 people. Some FAA probationary employees

were reportedly notified Friday they were being let go, including reportedly workers hired for FAA radar, landing and navigational maintenance. Across the U.S. on this President's Day holiday, protests were staged denouncing President Trump and billionaire advisor Elon Musk, the leader of the administration's government efficiency team. Brian Bull of Member Station KLCC reports from one of the protests in Eugene, Oregon. Hundreds of people flooded an intersection outside the Wayne Morris Federal Courthouse holding signs that accused Trump and Musk of violating the law and turning control of

the country over to billionaires. In the rain, Rajene Manus held an umbrella with anti-Trump and anti-Musk messages. The Republicans led by Donald Trump have staged a coup on our government. Elon Musk is at the helm. All the other billionaires are right next to them. Trump has defended his executive orders and sweeping cuts of the federal workforce. In a social media post over the weekend, Trump wrote, he who saves his country does not violate any law.

For NPR News, I'm Brian Bull in Eugene, Oregon. As the cryptocurrency industry seeks to reinforce its newfound influence with the Trump administration, a couple of proposals from crypto-friendly lawmakers are being floated. One would set regulations and reserve requirements for issuers of what are known as stable coins. A cryptocurrency that is basically pegged to the dollar. Another would set clear rules on how digital assets should be regulated. what are known as stable coins. A cryptocurrency that is basically pegged to the dollar. Another would set clear rules on how digital assets should be regulated. US financial markets are closed today for the President's Day holiday. You're listening to NPR.

Southwest Airlines is announcing today it's cutting about 15% of corporate jobs at the carrier, roughly 1,750 jobs as the airline looks to cut costs and streamline operations. It marks the first mass layoff in the Dallas-based airline's 53-year history and includes nearly a dozen senior management positions. Layoffs come as Southwest has been in a battle with elite investment management and activist investor firm. Southwest estimates cuts will save more than $200 million this year and $300 million next year. This spring, movie audiences may think they are seeing double or even more than double.

NPR's Bob Mondello explains. In a new mafia epic, Robert De Niro plays real-life mob boss Vito Genovese. Where do I start? And also plays rival mob boss Frank Costello. You're going down a very dangerous road. And we ain't been down dangerous roads before. I tell you, but you're not. De Niro meets De Niro in The Alto Nights.

Michael B. Jordan has a similar double assignment in the thriller Sinners. You twins? Nah, we cousins. Nope, twin brothers named Smoke and Stack. And if double casting seems tricky, it's child's play next to what Robert Pattinson signed on for in the cloning movie, Mickey 17. There are so many of him that one day he meets himself.

Multiples of movie multiples, coming soon to the multiplex. Bob Mandelo, NPR News. While U.S. stock markets are closed today, oil was trading globally, up 65 cents a barrel, to end the session at 71.39 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. and other currencies, sending or spending money abroad, hidden fees may be taking a cut. With WISE, you can convert between up to 40 currencies at the mid-market exchange rate. Visit WISE.com. TNCs apply.