NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-01-2025 8AM 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 in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. After that dramatic showdown in the Oval Office, President Trump said he does not think Ukraine's

president is ready for peace. European leaders, though, are rushing to Ukraine's defense, as NPR's Michelle Kalman reports. The meeting started fine, but devolved after Vice President J.D. Vance accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of being disrespectful and not thanking President Trump for pushing for peace. Trump picked up on that line of attack. You have to be thankful. You don't have the cards. Zelensky called off a public appearance after the showdown, but he's active on social media

writing, thank you for your support as world leaders stand with Ukraine. Germany, soon to be chancellor, called it a testing time, adding, quote, we must never confuse aggressor and victim. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, is praising Trump for, in his words, standing up for America. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. President Zelensky touched down in London today. He is to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer this afternoon ahead of tomorrow's

European Leaders Summit in London. Federal employees have received a second email from the Office of Personnel Management asking them to detail what they did in the previous week that of vans currently facing legal scrutiny as NPR's Jenna McLaughlin reports. Late Friday night, federal employees received another email asking them to share five bullet points on their accomplishments in the previous week. It's the latest in an effort led by Trump advisor Elon Musk, who has said his goal is to monitor productivity while searching for fake government employees, a claim in which

he has presented no evidence. Employees were also told that going forward, they were expected to submit similar lists before midnight every Monday. Multiple government sources, including from the Department of the Interior, shared a copy of the email with NPR on the condition of anonymity. The OPM's demands, which are being challenged in court, are inspiring fear across agencies that responses might be mined with artificial intelligence or used as justification for firings. Jen McLaughlin, NPR News. The measles outbreak in West Texas is growing. Officials now say 146 people have been infected

and a measles case is being reported in Austin, the state capital. Dr. Desmar Wachs is with the Austin-Travis County Health Authority. This recent case involves an unvaccinated infant who was exposed to the virus during a vacation overseas. Texas health officials say the outbreak is concentrated northwest of Austin in an under-vaccinated Mennonite community. Most cases are in Gaines County. Twenty people have been hospitalized and officials say the child who died Tuesday night is the first measles death in the US since 2015

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says measles cases have been reported in nine jurisdictions So far this year from Texas and Alaska to New York City and Rhode Island. This is NPR news Hamas is rejecting an Israeli proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza and says the latest round of talks on the second phase has not made any progress. The first phase paused 15 months of fighting and led to an exchange of hostages for prisoners. It expires today, but under terms of the deal, fighting is not to resume while talks are being held on the second phase. Drug lord Rafael Caro-Quintero has been arraigned in New York on sweeping drug trafficking charges. NPR's Jimenez-Bastejo reports that the arraignment came a day after he and 28 other drug cartel

figures were extradited as the Trump administration aims to crack down on drug trafficking. President Trump has pressured Mexico's leadership with the threat of tariffs and military action if they did not cooperate to tackle drug trafficking in the border region. Rafael Caro Quintero had previously served time in a Mexican prison for the murder of a drug enforcement agent, kidnapping and trafficking. He was released from prison early, then charged by the US in 2020 with smuggling thousands of kilograms of illegal drugs across the border. Attorney General Pam Bondi says his transfer to the U.S. was made possible by Trump's

executive order designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Jimena Bustillo, MPN News, New York. Authorities investigating the deaths of Oscar winner Gene Hackman and his wife have ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning. And they say data from Hackman's pacemaker suggests he died more than a week before his body was discovered. The Santa Fe County Sheriff says Hackman's pacemaker last showed activity on February 17th. Authorities say they do not suspect foul play, but that the deaths are suspicious enough to require a thorough investigation.

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