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Episode Date: February 22, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Hamas has now turned over two of the six Israeli hostages expected to be released today under terms of the ceasefire. The two men have been taken by ambulance to an Israeli hospital to be examined. President Donald Trump Friday fired Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr. Brown was the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. NPR's Tom Bowman says the reaction to the decision was one of surprise and bewilderment. I've been covering the military for 27 years now this is highly unusual that early into an administration you would remove the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and also the chief of naval operations. Clearly the Trump administration and Secretary Hegsett have long said the military is woke it's all about DE, and it's clearly important to note that

this is the second black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after Colin Powell, and Lisa Franchetti is the first woman to run the Navy. So it appears that what they're basically saying here is these folks got their jobs because of DEI. There's no question about that. A federal judge in Providence heard arguments Friday on how much latitude the Trump administration has to unilaterally freeze federal funds allocated to states. From the Public's Radio in Providence, Rhode Island, David Wright reports.

Attorneys general for 22 states filed suit after the White House temporarily froze trillions of dollars in grants and loans states were expecting to pay for everything from infrastructure repairs to disaster relief. The White House initially told federal agencies to root out things like DEI, woke gender ideology and the Green New Deal before releasing any funds. The states say the Trump administration lacks the authority to do that. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Nirono. So what we're seeking is a freeze, if you will, on their freeze, meaning you cannot

take any additional action to pause these funds. Judge John McConnell said he'll rule on the issue next week. Meanwhile, his temporary restraining order blocking the freeze remains in effect. For NPR News, I'm David Wright in Providence. Stocks tumbled this week as Americans got more gloomy about the economic outlook. As NPR's Scott Horsley reports, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 1,100 points during the week. The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment shows people are increasingly nervous about a rebound in

inflation. Some worry that President Trump's threats to impose big tariffs could make it harder to bring prices under control. Minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent meeting show that until there's more progress on inflation, Fed policymakers are unlikely to make further cuts to interest rates. High mortgage rates continue to weigh on the housing market, which also drags down demand for furniture and appliances. Stocks fell after retail giant Walmart warned of a possible slowdown in sales this year. For the week, the S&P 500 index fell one and two-thirds

percent while both the Dow and the NASDAQ dropped two and a half percent. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. And you're listening to NPR News. Health officials say the measles outbreak in West Texas has now grown to 90 cases. Now as vaccination rates drop and cases rise across the country, experts say some groups of adults may need to get revaccinated. And Paris Maria Godoy reports. Measles is incredibly contagious.

Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University says the best defense is vaccination. If you have been vaccinated with two doses of vaccine as per routine, you have a 95 plus percent chance of being completely protected throughout your life. However, if you were vaccinated before 1968, talk to your doctor about getting re-vaccinated because early versions of the measles vaccine did not work as well as the current shot. vaccinated because early versions of the measles vaccine did not work as well as the current shot. People vaccinated between 1968 and 1989 got one dose of the vaccine. In most cases, experts say that's plenty of protection.

Certain people, such as those living amidst the measles outbreak, should ask their doctor if they need a second dose. Maria Godoy, NPR News. President Trump says he may put the U.S. Postal Service under the control of the Commerce Department. That action would amount to an executive branch takeover of the independent agency. Trump made the comments during a swearing-in of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday. He said it would be a way to stop losses at the agency.

Sales of previously occupied homes fell in January. They were down 4.9 percent from December. The National Association of Realtors says rising mortgage rates and high home prices have turned off many would-be home buyers. Home prices have increased on an annual basis for the 19th consecutive month. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.