NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-23-2025 1PM EST

Episode Date: February 23, 2025

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Noor Rahm Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Rahm. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers have 48 hours to explain what they accomplished in their jobs over the last week or risk being fired. NPR's Windsor Johnston reports it's part of an effort by the administration to slash the government workforce. NPR News Anchor Federal workers were sent an email on Saturday asking them to provide bullet points, summarizing what they accomplished

in their jobs last week. President Trump's cost-cutting chief, Elon Musk, posted on social media that failure to respond will be taken as a resignation. Musk has been leading a massive effort to cut back on what the Trump administration calls wasteful spending. In a statement, the American Federation of Government Employees said Musk and the Trump administration have once again shown their utter disdain for federal employees and the critical services they provide.

Windsor-Johnston, NPR News, Washington. Some employees are being told by their agencies to wait for internal guidance before they reply to the email. Israel says it's delaying the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. After the way Hamas freed Israeli hostages yesterday, Hamas has been putting on ceremonies and parading hostages on a stage before releasing them. NPR's Daniel Estrin has more from Tel Aviv. So this angered Israel.

And instead of holding up its side of the bargain and Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinians from jail yesterday, Israel protested what it called the cynical exploitation of our hostages for propaganda purposes. And it said that it would delay the release of some 600 Palestinians from jail until the release of the next hostages has been assured and, as Israel said, without the humiliating ceremonies.

NPR's Daniel Estrin, a Brazil Supreme Court justice and one of President Trump's staunch social media allies, are locked in a bitter fight. The high-profile battle involves both countries' judicial systems and powerful allegations of hate speech and censorship. NPR's Kari Kahn reports from Rio de Janeiro. The social media platform Rumble continues to be blocked in Brazil.

On Friday, Brazil's high court justice, Alexandre Mourais, suspended the platform, popular among conservatives, and a home to Trump's truth social site. Morais says Rumble has allowed quote, extremist groups to publish speech that he says is Nazi, racist, fascist, hateful, and anti-democratic. Rumble and Trump's truth social have sued Morais of violating the U.S. First Amendment in a Florida federal court. This is the latest fight between Justice Morais and American MAGA supporters. He previously suspended Elon Musk's acts over similar charges. Carrie Cahn, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro.

This is NPR News in Washington. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are meeting separately with President Trump this week in Washington. NPR's Elna Beers reports the two leaders are attempting to make the case for Ukraine in its war with Russia. America's brutal reversal of alliances has stunned Europeans, says Elie Tenenbaum, security expert with the French Institute for International Relations. The US, which had been the prime guarantor for the security deterrent from Russia, is now working with Russia to pressure Ukraine. He says President Trump is prioritizing a big business deal with Russia over Ukraine's survival and European security. Trump is hammering on Zelensky and Ukrainians.

France and Britain are preparing a European military force to guarantee any Ukraine peace deal with Russia against such a force. Tennenbaum says Macron and Stammer will try to convince Trump not to oppose it. Eleanor Beardsley in Pierre News, Paris. Exit polls show the opposition conservatives won the national election in Germany today. The alternative for Germany party came in second. Donna Beardsley in Pierre News, Paris. Donna Beardsley, keep telling the tragedy of World War II to younger generation that it's important that the tragic experiences are passed on to the generations who don't know about the war. This year will mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington.