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Episode Date: March 1, 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 in Washington, I'm Jaiil Snyder. Sackfutaria State Marco Rubio calling on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to apologize for wasting the Trump administration's time. Maybe Zelensky doesn't want a peace deal.

He says he does, but maybe he doesn't. And that active, open undermining of efforts to bring about peace is deeply frustrating for everyone who's been involved in communications with them. Rubio speaking there last night on CNN following yesterday's Oval Office blow-up, Ukrainian government advisor Yuri Sak told the BBC there is nothing to apologize for. There is no other nation on this planet that wants to end this war more than us. You know, every time our president goes to a meeting of this importance, millions of Ukrainians here in Ukraine, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers in trenches

are watching. Our president cannot betray our people. He said it very clearly. Everything he does must be in line with the interests of our countries. President Zelensky posted on social media this morning saying he's thankful to President Trump and the American people and that he hopes for strong relations. Zelensky arrived in London today where he is to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ahead of tomorrow's summit of European leaders who are rallying around him. The new leadership in the Trump Justice Department continues to take actions against career prosecutors. The acting US attorney in Washington, DC has demoted at least seven top prosecutors in

the US attorney's office, as NPR's Ryan Lucas reports. One of them is John Crabb. He was a supervisor in the office. He was involved in the cases against Trump allies Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro. Greg Rosen, he led the Capitol siege unit that prosecuted January 6 cases. Two of the other attorneys worked on two of the most high profile cases to come out of the Capitol riot investigation. The prosecution against Stuart Rhodes, he's the leader of the far right Oprofile cases to come out of the Capitol riot investigation. The prosecution

against Stuart Rhodes, he's the leader of the far-right Oath Keepers extremist group. Rhodes was convicted at trial of seditious conspiracy. One of the other attorneys helped spearhead the case against Enrique Tario, the former head of the Proud Boys extremist group. The Palestinian militant group Hamas refusing an Israeli proposal to extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal. The rejection comes after an Israeli delegation returned home from talks in Cairo on Friday evening. NPR's Hadil Al-Shalchi reports that the ceasefire hangs by a thread as negotiations for a second phase are underway.

Hadil Al-Shalchi, NPR Newsreel Reporter The first phase of the ceasefire deal expires today, the same day Hamas said it will not agree to an extension through the month of Ramadan, which also began today. Israel wants to secure the return of more hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office did not have immediate comment about the refusal. Phase two of the ceasefire deal would see the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and a commitment to end the war. Hamas released 33 Israeli hostages, including eight bodies, since the ceasefire began on

January 19th in exchange for almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israeli jails. Hadil Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv. This is NPR. A second request for federal employees to explain their accomplishments hit inboxes last night. The email from the Office of Personnel Management is the latest attempt by Trump adviser Elon Musk to demand answers from the government

workforce. Pope Francis said to have had coffee with his breakfast this morning and to have read newspapers following a setback as he recovers from double pneumonia. In its latest update, the Vatican said the night passed peacefully after doctors yesterday took measures to help him breathe following a coughing fit in which he inhaled vomit. Francis has been hospitalized for just over two weeks. Ten films are vying for Best Picture at Tomorrow Night's Academy Awards. NPR's Mandolito Barco reports that viewers can watch on ABC and Hulu to see who wins.

Among the contenders is Anora, starring Mikey Madison as a Brooklyn sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Hi, I'm Annie. Anora's up against the brutalist with Adrian Brody as a Jewish-Hungarian architect, also conclave with an ensemble cast of cardinals electing a new pope. The Brazilian film I'm Still Here, set during the 1970s military dictatorship, is a contender. So is the body horror film The The Substance, with Demi Moore. That is a feel!

Timothy Chalamet plays Bob Dylan in a complete unknown, another film in competition. Denis Villeneuve's Dune Part II is on the list. So is Nickel Boys, about a brutal reform school, and Amelia Bettes, about a Mexican drug lord. Then there's Wicked, who stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Rivo are performing at the Oscars. Ah! Mandelita Del Barco, NPR News, Los Angeles.

And I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News. On the embedded podcast. No, no. It's called, Deny and a Sweet and a Mispeach. 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.