NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-18-2025 9AM EST

Episode Date: February 18, 2025

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Planet Money is there. From California's most expensive fires ever. That was my home home. Yeah. I grew up there. It's ashes. To the potentially largest deportation in U.S. history. They're going to come to the businesses. They're going to come to the restaurants. They're going to come here. Planet Money. We go to the places at the center of the story. The Planet Money podcast from NPR.

Live from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart have concluded talks in Saudi Arabia. They focused on ending the war in Ukraine three years after Russia invaded. Rubio says ending the war will require concessions on all sides. White House National Security Advisor Mike Wall says that means there'll have to be meaningful negotiations. Some underlying principles. This needs to be a permanent end to the war and not a temporary end as we've seen in the past. We know just the practical reality is that there is going

to be some discussion of territory and there's going to be some discussion of territory, and there's going to be discussion of security guarantees. But the U.S. and Russia excluded Ukraine from Tnigay's talks. They also excluded European leaders. The Trump administration has essentially agreed to Russian demands. The U.S. won't back NATO membership for Ukraine, and says Ukraine won't be able to get back all its territory. Lebanese troops have regained control over nearly a dozen areas in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces were supposed to withdraw from their under ceasefire terms,

ending the war with Hezbollah. But then Piers Hadil al-Shelji reports, Israel is keeping some of its forces based in Lebanon. The Lebanese military said it has moved into 11 locations in southern Lebanon where the Israeli military has withdrawn from. It said it was surveying the damage done by the war. It said it was coordinating with United Nations peacekeepers. But on Monday, Israel said it will remain in five locations in southern Lebanon to protect communities in the north of Israel.

Lebanese officials on Hezbollah said this violates the terms of the ceasefire, calling for Israel to withdraw completely. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said that the ceasefire agreement, quote, must be respected and that Israel cannot be trusted. Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv. New York Governor Kathy Hochul says she'll meet with key leaders in New York City today. They'll weigh the possible ouster of Democratic Mayor Eric Adams. Four top aides to Adams resigned yesterday.

NPR's Brian Mann reports there is a growing scandal involving corruption charges against the mayor. In a statement, Hochul said she spoke with Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, one of Adams' four top aides leaving office. According to Hochul, that conversation left her with, quote, serious questions about the long-term future of this mayoral administration. Mayor Adams was charged by the Justice Department in September with bribery and corruption.

Critics say the Trump administration shelved those charges only after Adams agreed to help a national crackdown on migrants. No governor in the last 235 years has used their authority to oust an elected mayor of New York City, but Hockel said the crisis in City Hall is troubling and cannot be ignored. Adams has denied any wrongdoing and says he won't resign. Brian Mann, NPR News, New York. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The Senate is scheduled to hold a confirmation vote this afternoon for Howard Lutnick to

be the next Commerce Secretary. Lutnick is a billionaire investor who's been a Wall Street CEO for many years. He led President Trump's transition team and strongly backs Trump's moves to impose more tariffs. After the Eaton fire broke out in Los Angeles, it was not fully contained for more than three weeks. NPR's investigations team transcribed hours of first responder radio to better understand how the power company was involved. NPR's Kiara Eisner has more. When high winds and dry conditions whip up a wildfire, power lines can cause problems

by sparking or falling down. That's dangerous for first responders and can also start new fires. NPR analyzed almost a hundred hours of radio traffic exchanged among firefighters responding to the Eaton fire. Hey Delta, Branch 3, I just met with Edison's reps. They're not gonna be able to guarantee shut down in here. That evidence shows the power company, Southern California Edison, wasn't able to quickly shut off power in two key neighborhoods and that live power lines led to new fires. The Eaton fire burned down about 10,000 structures and led to the deaths of 17 people. Chiara Eisner, NPR News. Officials at the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut are caring

for a baby gray seal. It was discovered twice over the weekend in New Haven, wandering the streets. Aquarium officials and mystics say the baby seal is only a few weeks old and likely got disoriented in New Haven. They plan to eventually put him back into the ocean. This is NPR. Bella DiPaolo is glad if you're happily married, but she is perfectly happy being single. I would love to have someone who took care of my car or someone who cleaned up the dishes after dinner, but then I'd want them to leave.

From yourself to your dog to your spouse are significant others. That's on the TED Radio Hour from NPR.