NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-28-2025 2PM EST

Episode Date: February 28, 2025

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On the Thru Line podcast, the myth linking autism and vaccines was decades in the making and was a major moment for vaccine hesitancy in America, tapping into fears involving the pharmaceutical industry and the federal government. No matter how many studies you do showing that this is not a problem, it's very hard to unring the bell. Listen to Thru Line from NPR, wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has just left the White House after his meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office

devolved into a shouting match in the full glare of the press. NPR's Asma Khalid reports on the few that's thrown the prospects of an end to Russia's war against Ukraine into even greater uncertainty. Trump accused Zelensky of being disrespectful and unthankful for the support the United States has given. You're not in a good position. You don't have the cards right now. With us you start having cards.

Right now you don't have your playing cards. You're gambling with the lives of millions of people. You're gambling with World War III. Zelensky has been pushing for security guarantees from the United States. The Trump administration wants a ceasefire and a deal that would give the U.S. access to critical minerals in Ukraine. In a social media post after the heated meeting, Trump said he has, quote, determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace.

Asma Khalid, NPR News, The White House. More specifically, Trump said on his social media platform, Truth Social, quote, we had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. He goes on to say it's amazing what comes out through emotion. And he says, I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if America is involved because he feels our involvement, Trump says, gives him a big advantage in negotiations. Trump says, I don't want advantage. I want peace. Congressional bipartisan talks to keep

the government open past a March deadline are facing new emerging complications. NPR's Chloe Regari-Salas reports both parties remain far apart on a year-long budget plan. Congressional Republicans complain that Democrats are putting up new quote outrageous demands to keep the government open past the March 14th deadline. The stalemate has Senate appropriators asking for a short-term funding bill to buy more time for the talks, while President Trump and some Republicans say that stopgap plans should last a year instead. Democrats want the permanent year-long spending deal to limit Trump's ongoing efforts to dismantle certain federal programs and protect funding to entitlement programs such as Medicaid.

House Leader Hakeem Jeffries has stopped short of saying if Democrats will force a government shutdown to get there, even as some members of his party say it's their only leverage. Claudia Desalves, NPR News. Concerns about a measles outbreak are rising a day after Washington state medical officials publicly confirmed a new case. In New Jersey, state health commissioner Dr. Caitlin Bastin said a child who traveled internationally got the measles and two close family members were later infected. All three were unvaccinated.

Cases also reported in New Mexico and West Texas. It's NPR News. Some social conservatives are applauding the Trump administration's directive to prioritize transportation funding for communities with high marriage and birth rates. From member station WFAE Steve Harrison has details. The U.S. Department of Transportation says considering birth and marriage rates will quote, support economic development and strengthen American families. But attorney Kim Meyer with the Southern Environmental Law Center, who often focuses on transportation, says the new funding criteria don't make sense,

especially the focus on marriage, which she says is, a cultural choice, potentially a religious choice that has absolutely nothing to do with whether you need to get around to work and to the store and take your kid to school. Some transportation experts worry that many democratic-run cities that have lower birth rates could lose funding. For NPR News, I'm Steve Harrison in Charlotte. Authorities in New Mexico are investigating the deaths of Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa awaiting the results of autopsies to determine how they died.

They'd apparently been dead for days when investigators found their bodies in their Santa Fe home this week. In audio from a 911 call, a maintenance worker can be heard saying he could see a body inside the house. I think we just found two, one deceased person inside a house. Hackman, who was 95, was found in the entryway. A recall was found in a bathroom. The Santa Fe County Sheriff says there were no signs of foul play. It's NPR News.