NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-19-2025 3PM EST

Episode Date: February 19, 2025

NPR News: 02-19-2025 3PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. As President Trump thaws US diplomatic relations with Russia, he is trading blows with Ukraine. Nearly three years after his country was invaded by Russian forces, President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Trump for falsely blaming the hostilities on Ukraine. Covering the Kremlin, NPR's Charles Maynes reports the Russian government says Moscow and Washington are on their way toward normalizing relations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, briefing Russian lawmakers on the Saudi talks, praised President Trump as the first Western leader to publicly acknowledge the prospect of NATO expansion into Ukraine as a major

cause of the war. Lavrov said there was now a shared desire not only to end that conflict, but possibly work with the U.S. to develop new trade and geopolitical partnerships. To do that, Lavrov said both sides first had to, quote, clean up Biden administration efforts to undermine relations. The Biden White House sought to isolate Russia over its invasion of its neighbor. In contrast, President Trump has said he wants to work with Russia to end the war, unnerving Ukraine and traditional U.S. allies in Europe. Charles Maines, NPR News. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it's trying to reverse the dismissals of employees

who are part of the government's response to the nationwide bird flu outbreak. The USDA is among multiple agencies that have public health responsibilities and are facing mass layoffs involving tens of thousands of workers across the federal government. President Trump is putting his thumb on the scale as Congress debates how to implement his top legislative priorities. NPR's Barbara Sprout reports there has been tension between the House and Senate for months as they offer competing visions for how to pass new funding to secure the U.S. southern border

and extend the 2017 tax cuts. Senate Republicans argue Congress should start with one bill that provides new funding for the military and the border and do a second bill later this year that would address tax cuts. House GOP leadership, aware of its incredibly narrow majority

with factions hard to keep satisfied, has pushed for a one-bill path that would encompass border funding and taxes together. Trump took to social media to offer support for the House's proposal in order for his full agenda to be implemented, not quote, just parts of it. Barbara Sprunt and Peer News, Washington. Kentucky has been pummeled with severe weather in recent days, at least 14 deaths across the state linked to major flooding. Karen Zahr with Member Station WUKY has more. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says the focus now is making sure everyone has shelter during

the snowstorm. Two people died from hypothermia earlier this week. It's cold right now. It's going to get dangerously cold tonight and into tomorrow. The governor is asking everyone to stay home if they can and be patient. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's a long tunnel. Temperatures aren't expected to rise above freezing until Saturday. Karen Saar reporting, it's NPR. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns that tomorrow will be a very difficult

day for the state of Israel. Tomorrow is when the bodies of four hostages held by Hamas are expected to be released from Gaza. Netanyahu says their families have been notified. Six living hostages are expected to be released Saturday as part of Israel's ceasefire with Hamas. Today marks 80 years since the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. NPR's Netta Ulibi says the Library of Congress has preserved hundreds of hours of sound from the front lines of the battle. The Marine Corps combat recordings document one of the bloodiest battles of World War

II. So many men are being hit without... More than 6,000 Americans died in the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. So did 22,000 Japanese, says Patrick Mitling, an archivist at the Library of Congress. The war is happening around them, but these are people telling their stories, and it's our duty to share that memory with everyone.

This collection, he says, includes Marine War correspondents covering battles, but also the sounds of church services and the music of indigenous people in the Pacific Islands. Metta Ulibi, NPR News. Lylee McAllister The Vatican's update on Pope Francis today is positive. A day after the public learned that the 88-year-old has pneumonia, spokesman says the pope's heart is in good condition. Francis' weekly general audience was canceled, but pilgrims are still arriving at the Vatican somewhere on holy year pilgrimages.

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington.