NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-24-2025 4PM EST

Episode Date: February 24, 2025

NPR News: 02-24-2025 4PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Public media counts on your support to ensure that the reporting and programs you depend on thrive. Make a recurring donation today to get special access to more than 20 NPR podcasts. Perks like sponsor-free listening, bonus episodes, early access, and more. So start supporting what you love today at plus.npr.org. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Presidents Trump and Emmanuel Macron of France have just concluded their talks at the White House, reaffirming their close alliance, but divided over the path to ending Russia's war in Ukraine, which began three years ago today. Macron is pushing for security guarantees in Ukraine peace talks.

Let's try to get something first which is, which can be assessed, checked and verified. And let's be sure that we build sufficient guarantees in the short run. And this is where we are ready to be engaged. As for France, a lot of my European colleagues are ready to be engaged. President Trump says he is the leader who can close a deal between Ukraine and Russia. Tremendous distrust on both sides. That's why it's good that I'm coming in now, but I think it's to the very much benefit of Russia to make a deal.

He has said the same of Ukraine. Earlier, Trump noted that he expected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to visit the White House soon to sign a deal over U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals. A federal judge has temporarily stopped the Education Department and the Office of Personnel Management from sharing sensitive information with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency. NPR's Alyssa Nutt warning reports the decision says the access appears to breach federal privacy laws. Alyssa Nutt, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR News, NPR's Alyssa Nutt-Warney reports the decision says the access appears to breach federal privacy laws. In the 33-page ruling granting a two-week restraining order, the judge said the government

had yet to prove why they needed to access the sensitive information, which includes Social Security numbers, dates of birth, home addresses, income and assets, citizenship status and disability status. The lawsuit was brought by one of the largest teachers unions, student loan recipients, and veterans who receive government benefits. In addition to blocking information related to student loan borrowers, it also bars OPM, the government's HR department, from sharing federal employees' personal information with DOJ.

The administration will have additional opportunities to prove it does need this data as the lawsuit plays out. Alyson Adwarne, NPR News. The Vatican says Pope Francis's condition has slightly improved. NPR's Jason DeRose reports that news comes after respiratory crisis over the weekend. The Vatican Press Office says Pope Francis has exhibited no new episodes of asthma-like symptoms. His doctors are concerned with what they describe as mild kidney insufficiency.

Francis continues to be on oxygen, although clinicians have reduced the high levels he was administered over the weekend. Doctors say the clinical situation is complex and they're not yet giving a prognosis. The Vatican says Pope Francis received the Eucharist this morning and resumed work in the afternoon. In the evening, he spoke with the priest of the parish in Gaza, as he has throughout the war. Jason Derose, NPR News.

US stocks have ended the day mixed with the NASDAQ closing down 237 points. The Dow is up 33. This is NPR News. Grammy Award-winning artist Roberta Flack has died. She's perhaps best known for her 70s chart-topping hits that have endured, such as Killing Me Softly with His Song and The First Time Ever I Saw your face. Roberta Flax's death was confirmed by her publicist today. The singer-songwriter was 88 years old. NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt announced today he is stepping down this summer after

a decade in the role. NPR's David Fokinflick reports a change takes place against a backdrop of continuing shifts away from conventional news. Give Holt his due. He arrived after scandals took down his predecessor. Rivals became periodically consumed in political controversies. Most recently, President Trump's attacks on ABC anchored David Muir over last fall's presidential debate with former Vice President Kamala Harris. CBS's Nora O'Donnell left after five years anchoring the evening news. Their refashioned replacement with a pair of anchors has quickly lost viewers and has

come under internal criticism for not being newsy enough. The three big networks together draw about 20 million viewers each night during a busy news period, a small fraction of which are under the age of 55. NBC has not yet announced plans for Holt's replacement. David Folkenflick, NPR News. The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 33 points to end the day at 43,461. The NASDAQ closed down 237 points or 1.2%. This is NPR.