NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-28-2025 6AM EST

Episode Date: February 28, 2025

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It's Oscar season and we watched the nominated movies so you don't have to. We are making some bold predictions for Hollywood's biggest night and we may help you win your Oscars pool. Listen to the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News, I'm Korova Coleman. President Trump meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House today. They're supposed to sign a critical minerals deal that Trump insists is an important step toward reaching a peace deal with Russia.

Trump has personally attacked the Ukrainian leader. Last week he called Zelensky a dictator. Yesterday, Trump was asked by a reporter about labeling Zelensky that way, and Trump replied. Um, did I say that? I can't believe I said that. Next question. The meeting between Zump and Zelensky happens later this morning. A federal judge in California has ruled that the Trump administration's mass layoffs of federal workers are illegal.

He has ordered a halt to the firings at some agencies and says they should be rescinded. The federal judge has scheduled another hearing for next month. Meanwhile, hundreds of workers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are getting layoff notices, and PR's Alejandro Barrundo has more. If you checked the weather today, you interacted with the agency known as NOAA. NOAA is America's top ocean, weather, climate, and environmental science agency. That's Tim Galladet. He led NOAA under the first Trump administration.

Galladet warned that deep cuts to the agency staff or budget could hamstring its ability to provide services many Americans rely on, like free weather forecasts or tidal predictions that help keep seafaring ships safe. The fired staffers were so-called probationary employees. That means they were relatively new to the agency or had recently gotten a promotion. The Trump administration has asked all agencies to make further staff cuts and budget cuts in coming weeks.

Alejandra Burunda, NPR News. The Mexican government has sent 29 drug cartel figures to the United States. That includes wanted drug lord Rafael Carroquintanero. He's accused of involvement in the killing of a U.S. DEA agent nearly 40 years ago. Prosecutors say the drug cartel members are facing charges related from drug trafficking to homicide. A grassroots movement is urging Americans not to shop today.

And Pierre Chandelis Duster reports on the boycott that's being called an economic blackout. The People's Union USA says not to shop in store or online at major retailers for 24 hours. However, consumers are encouraged to shop at small businesses. Medicine, food, emergency supplies and other essential items can be bought during the blackout. John Swartz, who started the movement, told supporters on Instagram Live that he hopes the boycott will help end federal income taxes, cap profits for corporations and lead to equality for all.

This is our way of standing up and going, we are here. Do you see me and hear me? We have had enough and we're not going to stop. More blackouts are planned for next month, including against Amazon and Whole Foods. Chandelier Stuster, NPR News. And you're listening to NPR News. There is a continuing outbreak of measles in the western part of Texas. One child has died.

Now, public health officials in North Texas are watching for it too. A case has been confirmed in a Dallas area suburb. From member station KERA, Kaylee Broussard has more. Texas public health officials say the measles case out of Rockwall County is not related to the more than 130 cases reported in West Texas and New Mexico. But local health officials are bracing them Philip Wong with Dallas C Services says he's reache

in districts with lower v The vaccination is very e fortunately that's someth to try to make sure that the measles of rare thing Health leaders in neighbor Tarrant County are working on a plan to address measles if cases are reported there.

For NPR News, I'm Kayleigh Broussard in Arlington, Texas. There are more measles cases in the U.S. At least nine have been reported in New Mexico. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are a handful of cases in Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New York City. There are four tropical cyclones all churning at the same time in the South Pacific. It's an unusual situation. These cyclones

range from eastern Africa to off New Zealand. One of the storms, Cyclone Garance, has made landfall on the French island territory of Reunion. Top sustained winds are more than 100 miles per hour. Reports say that roofs have been torn off and that power and water supplies for residents have been cut. You're listening to NPR. On the embedded podcast. No, no.

It's called denying a freedom of speech. It's misinformation. Like so many Americans, my dad has gotten swept up in conspiracy theories. These are not conspiracy theories. These are reality. I spent the year following him down the rabbit hole, trying to get him back. Listen to Alternate Realities on the embedded podcast from NPR, all episodes available now.