NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-21-2025 4PM EST

Episode Date: February 21, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump's government cost-cutting entity known as DOJ is hitting the Department of Defense, but not just yet, NPR's Tom Bowman explains. We're told the Pentagon has paused the expected firing this week of over 50,000 civilian probationary employees who are on the job for a year or so. The Pentagon will conduct a review to determine whether some of those jobs must be retained for national security purposes. We're told that a small number of probationary jobs already have been eliminated, but again, the bulk of these jobs is going to wait for a review.

But clearly thousands, if not tens of thousands of jobs could be affected. NPR's Tom Bowman, the administration has released nearly all migrants detained at the naval basin Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. One hundred seventy-seven migrants, all from Venezuela, were sent back to Venezuela last night. NPR's Sergio Martinez Beltran reports. The Trump administration had said everyone sent to Guantanamo were hardened criminals and that many were members of Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang.

But now we know that's not true. In court documents released because of a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Trump administration admitted that nearly 30% of the detainees were considered, quote, low-threat illegal aliens. The Venezuelan detainees had been in Guantánamo for a couple of weeks. This development tells us that Guantanamo will likely be a temporary detention facility to house migrants from countries where deportations might be more challenging. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News, Austin. The federal judge overseeing the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams has opted not to rule immediately on the Justice Department's request to drop the prosecution.

And Piers, Ryan Lucas has the latest. U.S. District Judge Dale Ho has appointed Paul Clement as a so-called friend of the court to help consider the Justice Department's unopposed motion to drop the case. Clement served as Solicitor General during the George W. Bush administration. Judge Ho's decision comes days after the Justice Department formally requested to dismiss the Adams case. The Department says the request isn't based on the strength of the case. Instead, it says the prosecution hinders Adams' ability to help the Trump administration with immigration enforcement.

The interim U.S. attorney in Manhattan and at least six other senior Justice Department attorneys resigned in protest. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington. On Wall Street, all major market indices are down 1.6 percent to more than 2 percent. Main reason, worries about the economy. Here's NPR's Rafael Nam. A report earlier showed sales of existing homes fell nearly 5 percent in January from the previous month. At the same time, a widely followed measure of consumer sentiment from the University of Michigan dropped in January. Consumer confidence is being hit in part by concerns about the impact from President Trump's

economic proposals, like tariffs, for example. That's NPR's Rafael Nam reporting. You're listening to NPR News. The man charged with killing health insurance CEO Brian Thompson in New York City last December appeared in court today. Luigi Mangione's lawyer alleged her client was illegally searched during his arrest in Pennsylvania. Mangione had previously pleaded not guilty.

Monday marks three years since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As efforts to end the war continue, French President Emmanuel Macron took to social media to warn his country about the threat posed by Russia. Here's NPR's Eleanor Beardsley. We must all understand the threat Russia presents for Europe and for France today, Macron said in a live question and answer session on Instagram. He said France must rearrange its priorities to invest more in defense and security. European leaders have gathered twice this week in person in Paris and by zoom to address the unfolding crisis where the Trump administration appears to be siding with Russia over Ukraine. Macron heads to Washington DC Monday to speak with President Trump. Macron said France

could send troops to enforce a peace deal, but that Ukrainians and Europeans must be part of any negotiations. Eleanor Beardsley in Pierre News, Paris. Clean shaven at the New York Yankees is now an option, not a rule. Team owner Hal Steinbrenner announced today that he's dropping the ban on beards

that his dad, George Steinbrenner, imposed 49 years ago when he was in charge. The Dow closed down 748 points or 1.6 percent to end the day at 43,428. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington.