NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-18-2025 5PM EST

Episode Date: February 18, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he is rescheduling a trip to Saudi Arabia following U.S.-Russia talks today. NPR's Shuanika Kissel reports from Kyiv, Zelensky says his country wants to be an equal partner in any negotiations to end Russia's nearly three-year-old war on Ukraine, even as Washington and Moscow appear to be resetting their relations. Speaking to reporters in Istanbul during an official visit, Zelensky said Ukraine wants the war to end more than anyone, but with a fair deal. You can discuss whatever you want, Zelensky said, but you cannot make a decision about ending the war in Ukraine without Ukraine.

He says Russia is pushing for Ukraine to decrease the size of its military and accept the loss of occupied territories. We did not agree to this during our most difficult moments, Ukraine's leader said. Why would we do so now? The Trump administration's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia is expected in Kiev on Thursday. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kiev. Even as he signs a new batch of executive orders and actions today, President Trump is planning to take part later tonight in a joint pre-taped TV interview with adviser

Elon Musk. The interview, which is scheduled to be broadcast on Fox, will be conducted at Trump's private club and home in Palm Beach, Florida. Meanwhile, Trump signed orders today expanding access to IVF treatments, expanding transparency at government agencies, and calling for supervisory oversight of the Office of Management and Budget. The National Science Foundation fired 168 probationary staff today. That's out of a workforce of nearly 1,700. As NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports the firings come in response to President Trump's executive order directing

Doge to drastically reduce the federal workforce. Notice of the firings came during a Tuesday morning meeting where senior staff told civil servants that their services were no longer needed. The firings targeted employees who recently started a new position or were promoted at the agency and don't yet have the full protections of federal workers. Some of those individuals had already completed their probationary period, but NSF extended it without explanation last month. NSF has a federal budget of about $9 billion. Staff manage the funding of research on everything from astrophysics to how cities can implement

better air quality monitoring during wildfires. Fewer staff will likely slow down the funding of new research projects in certain fields, ultimately slowing down or stalling new discoveries. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News. A victory for the Trump administration in terms of the ability of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to access computer systems at federal agencies. Fourteen state attorneys general had requested wide-ranging restrictions be put in place where a judge today ruled against them saying the AGs failed to show why they were entitled to a restraining order. Stocks gained ground on Wall Street today that now up 10 points.

This is NPR. Protesters at the Kennedy Center demonstrated in an unexpected way by dancing. Zanbyar's Elizabeth Blair reports the dancers are among the many artists concerned about the future of the performing arts center ever since President Trump ousted its longtime leaders. This was a quiet protest. 34 dancers lined up single file outside the vast Kennedy Center building. When the music started they walked in unison, making simple, synchronized gestures.

["The New York Times"] Kelly King, who organized the protest, says she and other dancers are worried programming at the Kennedy Center won't be inclusive under the leadership President Trump has put in place, including installing himself as chairman of the board. I really wanted to take the opportunity to pull the dance community together President Trump has put in place, including installing himself as chairman of the board. I really wanted to take the opportunity to pull the dance community together to flex

the muscle. A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center tells NPR there are no plans to change its dance offerings. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News, Washington. A painting by the famed street artist Banksy is going up for auction next month. It is expected to bring in as much as $6.3 million. The painting Crude Oil Vetriano being sold at Sotheby's Auction House by Mark Hoppus, a member of the California Skate Punk band, Blink 182.

Hoppus says he was drawn to the humor and intelligence of Banksy's work. He says some of the proceeds from the sale will go to help victims of the California wildfires. The painting is on display this week in New York and then in London later this month. Crude oil futures prices closed higher today. Oil up a dollar and ten cents a barrel to settle at $71.84 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.