NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-21-2025 8AM EST

Episode Date: February 21, 2025

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman. French President Emmanuel Macron is coming to Washington Monday to meet President Trump. Macron has already gathered European leaders in Paris to discuss next steps for Ukraine as it fights off Russia's attacks. President Trump has falsely blamed Ukraine for starting the war. Next week marks the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz says President Trump is irritated with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for not helping bring about a quick end

to the war. President Trump is obviously very frustrated right now with President Zelensky. The fact that that he hasn't come to the table, that he hasn't been willing to take this opportunity that we have offered. I think he eventually will get to that point, and I hope so very quickly. Walz also criticized Ukraine for insults against President Trump. Trump has described Zelensky as a dictator.

Mexico's president is warning the United States against any invasion of its territory, and P's Ada Peralta reports this comes as the US has designated six Mexican cartels as terrorist groups. The US now considers some of Mexico's biggest organized crime groups terrorists. Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum said this was a decision the US took unilaterally. She said Mexico like the US is committed to fighting drug cartels, but through cooperation, not coercion. This designation, she said, cannot be used by the US as an opportunity to undermine our

sovereignty. Sheinbaum then proposed changes to the Mexican constitution that explicitly say the Mexican people reject foreign interventions or violation of Mexico's territory by land, sea or air. President Trump has floated the idea of bombing the Mexican drug cartels. Ada Peralta, MPR News, Mexico City. A federal judge won't stop the Trump administration from firing thousands of government workers. The judge said he did not have jurisdiction over a lawsuit federal employee unions filed to block it. This comes as Energy Secretary Chris Wright says it was a mistake for the administration

to fire more than 100 federal employees. NPR's Jeff Brumfield reports they're responsible for maintaining the nation's nuclear stockpile. In an interview with Scripps News, Wright said the decision to fire employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration was done in haste. I probably moved a little too quickly there. And when we made mistakes on layoffs in NNSA, we reversed them immediately. Less than 24 hours. The NNSA maintains the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile and combats nuclear terrorism,

among its other duties. The Department of Energy says that, quote, fewer than 50 workers were ultimately terminated at the agency. Jeff Brumfield, NPR News, Washington. You're listening to NPR. Israeli authorities say one of the bodies handed over by Hamas yesterday as part of the ceasefire agreement is not the body of a hostage. The body of Shiri Bebas was supposed to be handed over yesterday. The bodies of her two sons were positively identified, as was that of a fourth hostage. Israel's military says this development is a violation of the utmost severity by Hamas. The Vatican says Pope Francis remains in stable condition in a Rome hospital.

He's being treated for a severe case of pneumonia. His illness has raised some speculation about whether he might choose to resign as his predecessor did. The popular James Bond franchise will now be controlled by Amazon MGM Studios. The Bond brand has been under the control of one family for more than 60 years. And Pierre's Andrew Limbong reports the last James Bond film was No Time to Die, released in 2021. Sibling movie producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson were behind casting Daniel Craig as James Bond, redefining the character for the 21st century, starting with 2006's Casino Royale.

Now they're handing creative control over to Amazon. In a statement, Amazon MGM Studios chief Mike Hopkins wrote that they quote, Look forward to ushering in the next phase of the legendary 007 for audiences around the world. No time to die was Craig's last go as Bond, no word yet on who will take up the mantle, but Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has already taken to social media to ask for suggestions. Andrew Limbaugh, NPR News.