NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-28-2025 10PM EST

Episode Date: March 1, 2025

NPR News: 02-28-2025 10PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

When she teaches her students how to write a song, musician Scarlett Keys says they need to ask themselves certain questions. What is the thing that keeps you up at night? What's the thing you can't stop thinking about? As songwriters, we are repurposing human tropes and a new viewpoint with new words, with new music. The people and technology behind the soundtracks of our lives. That's on the TED Radio Hour podcast from NPR.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. After an Oval Office meeting that erupted into a vitriolic exchange between President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, it remains unclear where relations between the U.S. and Ukraine now stand. Meeting ended with no deal on a measure. Trump had touted it as a step toward ending the fighting between Russia and Ukraine. In a subsequent interview with Fox News, Zelensky defended his country's position of holding out for security guarantees for his people.

We are ready for peace, but we have to be in strong position. What does it mean? Just to know that our army is strong, that our partners with us, and that we have security guarantees. Kuzulinski said Ukraine does not want to lose its partnership with the U.S., but said he wants Trump and the U.S. to be more on our side. Trump, during the fractious Oval Office meeting, accused Kuzulinski of being disrespectful. Nearly 200 workers at the EPA's Office of Environmental Justice and External

Civil Rights were put on leave earlier this month. Today, a group of senators is calling on EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin to reinstate them. Here's Nate Perez as more. The Office of Environmental Justice is tasked with ensuring that communities have equal protections from environmental harms. In the letter to the head of the EPA, 17 Democratic senators say there is nobody left to do that now that the office is, quote, on life support. The Senate's Environmental Justice Caucus co-chair Tammy Duckworth spearheaded the letter. She says if the letter doesn't get the attention of the administration, she plans to find funding

to bring employees back. I'm going to work very hard to make sure, my colleagues, who I would assume care if their constituents breathe safe air and drink clean water, will join on board and work with me on this." An EPA spokesperson says the agency is reviewing the letter. Nate Perez, NPR News. Egypt says talks to further the ceasefire agreement in Gaza between Israel and Hamas have opened in Cairo. That says the current phase of the deal is set to expire this weekend. MPR's Kat Lonsdorf reports from Tel Aviv. Egypt says that, quote, intensive discussions on the next stage of the ceasefire deal are underway.

Israel confirmed it has sent a delegation to Cairo. Qatari officials are also present mediating for Hamas, which says it remains committed to the deal. President Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witt Whitkoff is also expected in the region soon. The first phase of the ceasefire deal, which has lasted almost six weeks, ends this weekend, although Israel has expressed interest in extending it while details of the next phase continue to be hammered out. Phase two would see more hostages and Palestinian detainees released, as well as further withdrawal

of Israeli troops from Gaza. More humanitarian aid would also be allowed into Gaza, which has been critical in recent weeks. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Stocks gained ground on Wall Street today in choppy trading. The Dow was up 601 points. The Nasdaq gained more than 300 points. The S&P rose 92 points. This is NPR. 92 points. This is NPR. In New Mexico, authorities continue their investigation into the death of actor Gene Hackman. His and his wife's bodies were found Wednesday. One of the couple's dogs was also

found dead. Steve Futterman reports. Plenty of questions still remain, but some details are being released. The Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza told reporters that the coroner has now ruled out a key possibility as the cause of death. Both individuals tested negative for carbon monoxide. When the bodies were recovered, investigators said it appeared both

Hackman and his wife had been dead for some time. Based on information from Hackman's pacemaker, it may have been closer to 10 days. This revealed that his last event was time. Based on information from Hackman's pacemaker, it may have been closer to 10 days. This revealed that his last event was recorded on February 17th. Detailed toxicology tests have not been completed. The coroner has requested those be expedited. At this point, officials still say there is no indication of foul play. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

Well, some jurisdictions have been trying to do away with gas stoves, citing their detrimental of foul play. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles. While some jurisdictions have been trying to do away with gas stoves, citing their detrimental effects to the environment, one thing that has stood in the way is the fact electric stoves generally require 240 volt wiring. That can be costly, but one start-up company says it's now come up with a stove that can use a regular 120 volt circuit. A company called Copper says it's already installed some stoves in California, plans to deliver 10,000 units to the New York City Housing Authority next year. Critical futures prices move lower today, oil down 59 cents a barrel to end the session

at 69.76 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.