NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-01-2025 2AM EST

Episode Date: March 1, 2025

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NPR informs and connects communities around the country, providing reliable information in times of crisis. Federal funding helps us fulfill our mission to create a more informed public, and ensures that public radio remains available to everyone. Learn more about safeguarding the future of public media. Visit ProtectMyPublicMedia.org. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. President Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Friday.

At a news conference afterward, Trump argued with Zelensky, saying if he didn't make a deal with Russia to end their war, the U.S. was pulling its support from Ukraine. Your country is in big trouble. Can I answer? Wait a minute. No, no. You've done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble.

I know. You're not winning. I know. You're not winning this. I... Trump and Zelenskyy were expected to sign a deal giving the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earth minerals after the meeting, but the signing was cancelled. The White House said on Friday that the FBI has returned materials to President Trump that had been seized during its classified documents investigation. NPR's Danielle Kurtz-Leibin reports on the documents seized in a 2022 FBI raid at his Mar-a-Lago home. Danielle Kurtz-Leibin A White House spokesperson said that around 20 boxes were returned.

Reporters traveling with the president on Friday saw the boxes in the back of a van pulled up to Air Force One as it was loading. The White House did not say, however, what exactly was in the boxes. The FBI investigation resulted in 37 felony counts against Trump related to allegedly mishandling documents. Special Prosecutor Jack Smith requested the case be dismissed after November's election, saying the Justice Department cannot prosecute a sitting president. In a social media post, Trump said the box is, quote,

will Sunday be part of the Trump presidential library? Danielle Kurzlaven, NPR News, West Palm Beach, Florida. The Vatican says the condition of Pope Francis has worsened after a breathing crisis on Friday afternoon. He was admitted two weeks ago to a hospital in Rome with bronchitis. Ampere's Watima Al-Khassab reports. The latest statement from the Vatican says the Pope suffered what it called an isolated episode of bronchospasm, or a breathing crisis early in the afternoon, which led to him vomiting

and caused a sudden worsening of his respiratory condition. It meant the 88-year-old had to use an oxygen mask on his nose and mouth to help him breathe. The statement also said the pontiff always remained vigilant and oriented, cooperating with therapeutic maneuvers. This comes after a couple of days in which Vatican statements had described a slight improvement in the Pope's condition. For now, the Vatican says his prognosis remains guarded. Fatima al-Khassab, NPR News, Rome. The Social Security Administration says it will begin to cut 7,000 jobs. That announcement follows President Trump's executive order to reduce the federal workforce.

Advocates say the administration's workforce is already at a 50-year low and people looking for help currently have long wait times for services. The Office of Personnel Management sent an email to federal employees late Friday night asking them to report what work they've accomplished over the past week. It's the second such email in recent weeks. The letter asks employees to share five bullet points outlining their efforts. A previous letter is already under legal scrutiny. This is NPR News. In New Mexico, authorities are continuing their investigation into the

death of actor Gene Hackman. His and his wife's bodies were found on 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 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. Wyoming's only full- service abortion clinic stopped providing abortions on Friday but it's still open after Governor Mark Gordon approved a law that requires such facilities to be licensed as surgical centers. Officials for the clinic say it will remain staffed as they challenge the new law in court. No abortions though will be performed for now.

Consumer spending dropped in February. It's the largest drop in spending since February of 2021. Economists say ongoing tariff threats from Washington and sweeping government job cuts are in part to blame for the drop. They say the tariffs in particular will likely push prices higher. The drop comes even though incomes continue to rise. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies. NPR News.