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Episode Date: February 25, 2025

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My defining characteristic for him is love. I'm Jesse Thorne on Bullseye Kelsey Grammar on the thing that makes Frazier Frazier. That he loves so deeply that it almost harpoons him. Plus, sideshow Bob, cheers, and so much more. On Bullseye for MaximumFun.org and NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. European leaders say Monday's meeting between President Trump and French President Macron went better than they expected. The two leaders discussed efforts to reach a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.

NPR's Eleanor Beersley reports on their joint press conference at the White House. The press conference was broadcast live on French television. This peace cannot mean the surrender of Ukraine and it can't be a ceasefire without guarantees, said Macron. Trump said he was sure President Putin wants a peace deal too. That wasn't the case in 2014, said Macron, switching to English. President Putin violated this peace. Or in 2022, when he spent seven hours with Putin just two weeks before his invasion.

He denied everything, but we didn't have security guarantees. This time we'll have security guarantees, said Macron, and if Putin breaks them, he'll be going against all of us. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris. Israel is urging the UN Security Council to condemn the murders of four hostages by Hamas. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports that the bodies of two young children and their mothers were returned to Israel last week as part of a ceasefire deal. As the family laid to rest Shiri Bebas and her two sons, Israel's ambassador to the UN was expressing outrage. Danny Danon says an Israeli forensic analysis shows that they were murdered and did not die in an Israeli airstrike, as Hamas claims. old baby and his four-year-old brother and strangled, beat, twisted and shattered them

with their hands." The family has been a symbol of Israeli anguish over the October 7 attacks. Danon says the U.N. has not done enough to condemn Hamas. Michelle Kelliman, NPR News, the State Department. A federal judge has declined to lift the White House's ban on the Associated Press at major events, at least for now. The judge also offered a cautionary note to the Trump administration. More from NPR's David Folkenflick.

The AP sued, claiming its first and fifth amendment rights were violated. President Trump has said he barred the AP's journalists from major moments after the news service refused to go along with his order, changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The presiding judge is U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden. He's a Trump appointee. McFadden ruled the AP had not sufficiently made the case that he needed to step in immediately, but he also raised tough questions about the government's case, saying prior rulings were

unhelpful to administrations seeking to shut journalists out. The White House nonetheless declared victory. The AP says it's looking forward to the next hearing, which the judge expedited to March 20. David Folkenflick, NPR News. US futures are flat in after-hours trading. This is NPR. Apple has announced plans to invest $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years.

The tech giant says the move will cover thousands of new jobs and partnerships with thousands of suppliers nationwide. Apple says it plans to expand teams and facilities in nine states, including the construction of a new AI server factory in Houston. The announcement comes days after President Trump said Apple would take those steps in order to avoid tariffs on its imported goods. The Vatican says Pope Francis has shown some signs of improvement but remains hospitalized in critical condition.

NPR's Fatima al-Qassab has more. At St. Peter's Square, a special prayer was held tonight for Pope Francis' health. Hundreds of people came together under a steady drizzle to pray for the Pope, in what will be the first of nightly rosary recitations in the Square. Cardinal Pietro Parolin led the prayers, telling those gathered that for 2,000 years Christians have been praying for the Pope when in danger or infirm. The 88-year-old has been diagnosed with double pneumonia and his condition remains critical. But the latest communication from the Vatican says that some of his laboratory

tests have improved. Fatima Al-Khazab, NPR News, Vatican City. One of three defendants accused of stealing an 18 karat gold toilet from a Paris in the English countryside is being tried in Oxford Crown Court. In opening statements, Attorney Julian Christopher told the jury that the missing item was swiped in less than five minutes during the wee hours of September 14, 2019. It was never recovered. This is NPR News. Public media counts on your support to ensure that the reporting and programs you depend recovered. This is NPR News.