NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-24-2025 12AM EST

Episode Date: February 24, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. There's a widespread confusion this weekend among federal government employees who received an email demanding they submit a summary of their work over the past week or face being fired. The email has prompted pushback over whether such a request is legal. NPR's Emily Fang has more. The Office of Personnel Management, or OPM, sent a government-wide email request to federal workers on Saturday. Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has spearheaded much of the drastic cuts to the federal workforce,

wrote on X, the social media platform he owns, that failure to respond was tantamount to resigning. But the OPM itself said earlier this month that responses to such mass emails are voluntary. And the US's largest union representing federal government employees criticized OPM for allowing quote the unelected and unhinged Elon Musk to dictate the office's actions. Some government agencies like the Defense Department have already told their employees they do not need to comply with the OPM's request for a summary of their last week. Emily Fang and Peer News, Washington.

Pro-Ukraine rallies were held this weekend in several U.S. cities to mark the third anniversary of the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Chuck Wermbach of Member Station WUWM reports from a rally in Milwaukee. Blue and yellow Ukrainian flags were prevalent, mixed with a few signs criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin. Halina Salopata of the non-profit group Wisconsin Ukrainians told the crowd that during negotiations, President Donald Trump has an incredible opportunity to bring a just and lasting peace to Ukraine. Should he succeed, he will be celebrated worldwide. But let us be clear, any attempt to force Ukraine into signing an agreement

without Ukraine's active participation is doomed to fail. Monday marks three years since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. For NPR News, I'm Chuck Quirmbach in Milwaukee. Germany's conservative opposition leader, Friedrich Merz, has claimed victory in that country's federal elections. Latest counts show that he won 28% of the vote, Esme Nicholson reports. Friedrich Mertz is set to be Germany's next Chancellor, but as results come in, it remains unclear who he will partner with to form the majority needed to govern. The far-right

Alternative für Deutschland, or AFD, has secured its best result ever, doubling its number of seats in Germany's parliament, the Bundestag. Merz says he stands by his vow to uphold the firewall against the far-right, to keep it at bay from the corridors of power. AFD leader Alice Weidel argues this ignores the will of the electorate. Appealing to other parties, Mertz stresses that a new government must form quickly as Europe comes under pressure from an increasingly hostile and unpredictable US administration. For NPR News, I'm Esme Nicholson in Berlin. And you're listening to NPR News. A Brazil Supreme Court justice and one of President Trump's staunchest social media allies are locked in a bitter fight.

The high-profile battle involves the judicial systems of both countries, along with powerful allegations of hate speech and censorship. And Paris Carrie Cahn reports from Rio de Janeiro. The social media platform Rumble continues to be blocked in Brazil. On Friday, Brazil's high court justice Alexandre Moraes suspended the platform, popular among conservatives, and a home to Trump's truth social site. Moraes 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 Moraes 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 ex over similar charges. Kari Cahn, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro. The Vatican says Pope Francis remains in critical condition at this hour. Blood tests on Sunday showed early kidney failure, but officials say the pontiff remains alert. Francis has been in the hospital for more than a week where he's been treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection. On Saturday he suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis. Michaela Schifrin won her 100th World Cup race today by winning the World Cup slalom

in Italy. She won by six tenths of a second over Zrenka Ljudic, who is a three-time winner this season. The USS Paula Motsen finished in third. It was also Schifrin's 155th career podium finish, which ties her for the all-time record for men and women. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.