NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-03-2025 10AM EST

Episode Date: March 3, 2025

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On the Embedded Podcast. No, no. It's called denying a speech and mis-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.

Live from NPR News in Washington, on Korova-Coleman, nearly 20 European leaders gathered in London over the weekend to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and pledge support for his country. The gatherings came after Zelensky held a fiery meeting last Friday in Washington with President Trump. That's where Trump publicly criticized Zelensky and demanded more gratitude. And Bierslauren Freyer says the Ukrainian leader spoke to journalists as he left Britain. Speaking in Ukrainian, Zelensky dodged questions about apologizing to Trump, but said he would never insult anybody and is thankful for U.S. support. He said it's wrong to discuss,

at least at this stage, the idea of giving up territory Russia has taken and that he's still willing to sign a minerals deal that would give the U.S. access to some of Ukraine's natural resources. NPR's Lauren Freyer reporting. President Trump is set to deliver an address to a joint session of Congress tomorrow, but a new NPR, PBS News, Marist poll finds Americans are against many of the things Trump is trying to do. NPR's Domenico Montanaro has more.

President Trump has claimed a mandate several times since being elected and has tried to do a lot in the little more than a month since he was sworn in. But a majority of the nearly 1,700 respondents in the survey said they think Trump is moving too quickly and not considering the consequences of what he's doing in trying to reshape the government. Trump gets a 45% approval rating and just 34% from independents. When it comes to Doge, the informal department of government efficiency headed by Elon Musk, just 39% have a favorable opinion.

It raises the stakes for Trump's speech tomorrow, but it also could be a warning sign for next year's midterm elections for Republicans, especially if independents continue to say they oppose what Trump is doing. Domenico Montanaro, NPR News, Washington. A senior official at the U.S. Agency for International Development was suddenly put on leave yesterday. Nicholas Enrich had just issued a memo. In it, Enrich contradicted claims by the Trump administration. He said political leadership will make it impossible to deliver life-saving U.S. aid

around the world. He says DOGE has blocked payment methods to deliver the aid. Stocks opened lower this morning as investors prepare for possible tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico. NPR's Scott Horsley reports the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell about 30 points in early trading. President Trump has threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from the country's

northern and southern neighbors starting tomorrow. But Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Fox News the situation is still fluid. Trump held off imposing tariffs last month in exchange for some border security measures. Lutnick also told Fox he's considering a change in the way his department calculates gross domestic product, so government spending would not be counted. The move, which could mask the effect of spending cuts, would be a break from both long-standing practice and international norms. The CEO of grocery giant Kroger has abruptly resigned.

Rodney McMullen, who started his career as a bag boy, is stepping down after an investigation into personal conduct. Scott Horsley, MPR News, Washington. It's NPR. Wildfires have been burning over the weekend in the Carolinas. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency. The largest brush fire is burning near the South Carolinian coastal city of Myrtle Beach. There are blizzard warnings up for parts of Colorado and Nebraska today, these come ahead of a major winter storm that's plowing into the plains.

Some areas in the upper Midwest could see as much as a foot of fresh snow this week. The independent film, Anura, took home most of the big prizes at the 97th Academy Awards, and Piers Bob Mandelo has details. Anura, an R-rated Cinderella story, was nominated for six Oscars and took home five, including Best Picture. Filmmaker Sean Baker ended up making four separate trips to the stage to accept awards for his original screenplay, his editing, his directing, and for Best Picture. The film also won Best Actress for its star Mikey Madison, who plays a Brooklyn

sex worker whose life gets complicated after she marries the son of a Russian oligarch. I love my husband. You do not know this guy. We are consenting adults. Made for just $6 million, Inora has so far taken in about $40 million worldwide. Other films winning multiple Oscars were The Brutalist with three, including best actor Adrian Brody and Dune Part II, Wicked and Amelia Perez, each with two. Bob Mandello, NPR News. The Best Supporting Actress Award went to Zoe Saldana for her role in Amelia Perez and the Best Supporting Actor Award to Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain. This is NPR.

Hey, it's Amartinez. or a real pain. This is NPR.