NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-21-2025 3PM EST

Episode Date: February 21, 2025

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Lyle from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. House Republicans are scheduled to vote on their budget resolution next week. NPR's Deirdre Walsh reports on how Medicaid is becoming a central flashpoint in the debate. The House GOP budget resolution calls for up to $2 trillion in spending cuts to pay for extending Trump's tax breaks. A significant chunk of the cuts are expected to come from Medicaid, the federal health program for the poor, elderly, and disabled. House Speaker Mike Johnson insists there is waste, fraud, and abuse in the program. But some GOP lawmakers who represent districts

with large numbers of Medicaid recipients warn they could oppose any proposal that endangers their constituents' benefits. House Republican leaders can only afford to lose one vote to advance their budget. The Senate has approved a different budget resolution Friday, and both chambers still need to agree on one plan to advance the president's top border and tax priorities. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News, Washington. — Hamas says it's investigating after Israeli authorities said the militant group failed to ensure that the body of an Israeli woman would accompany the remains of her two young sons as agreed.

Four bodies were turned over, but Israel says Shiri Bebas was not one of them. The incident caused outrage in Israel and threats of retaliation from the prime minister. NPR's Hadil Al-Shalchi says tomorrow is another big day. That's when Hamas is due to turn over six more hostages who are alive. NPR talked to an Israeli official who's familiar with the matter, but they weren't authorized to speak publicly. And we were told that Israel is actually inclined

to move ahead with Saturday's prisoner exchange. They said Israel just doesn't want to jeopardize the release of the Israeli hostages this weekend. But then the official also said, Israel is gonna take advantage that Shiri Bebas's body wasn't returned as a point of negotiation to ask for more hostage releases. NPR's Hadil Al-Shalchi. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is praising his meeting this week with the Trump administration's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. He says there's hope. Here's NPR's Joannika Kisses. In a

video address Zelensky praised the Trump envoy Keith Kellogg and said Ukraine needs strong agreements with the U.S. We discussed the need for a reliable system of security guarantees so the war does not return and the Russians do not destroy more lives, Zelensky said. We all need peace. Ukraine, Europe, America, the whole world. Zelensky said he and Kellogg also talked about a deal that would give the US control over some of Ukraine's

mineral rights in exchange for continued military aid. Earlier this week Trump repeated Kremlin talking points attacking Ukraine and Zalensky and Zalensky lamented that Trump was living in quote a space of disinformation. Joanna Kekesis NPRPR News, KU. In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass has dismissed Fire Chief Kristen Crowley, alleging serious performance problems before and after the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires in January. This is NPR News. The Vatican says Pope Francis continues to show slight improvement at a hospital in Rome

where he's being treated for pneumonia in both lungs. NPR's Ruth Sherlock says the 88-year-old pontiff's health is fueling speculation about whether Francis might one day retire. Pope Francis' predecessor, the late Pope Benedict XVI, became the first pope to retire in some 600 years. His resignation highlighted the papacy as a complex and human role. The now 88-year-old Francis has confirmed that shortly after being elected pontiff, he wrote a resignation letter in case medical problems should prevent

him from being able to carry out his duties. But the pope has also in the past called the idea that he might resign only a quote, distant hypothesis. He's known for keeping a non-stop schedule. Even from hospital, the Vatican says, he's continued to fulfill some of his work duties. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Rome. A revered ancient spring in the Himalayan region of Kashmir has sprung back to life days after it went dry for the first time in recent memory. The Associated Press reports new snow and rainfall helped replenish the spring, a source of drinking water for roughly 20 villages. But Indian-controlled Kashmir is still facing the bigger threat of water shortages tied to extreme dry

weather. Scientists have frequently tied such conditions to climate change. According to the AP and regional media, Kashmir has recorded an 80% precipitation deficit since the beginning of this year. US stocks trading sharply lower this hour. The Dow is down 1.7% or 764 points. This is NPR News.