NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-03-2025 3PM EST

Episode Date: March 3, 2025

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Hey, it's Scott Detter, the host of Trump's Terms, a podcast where we bring you short, focused episodes about the 47th president and the biggest changes he is trying to make. A lot of those changes will be front and center during his address to a joint session of Congress on March 4th. In the days after, we will bring you stories not just about what he said, but about what is actually happening and what isn't happening. Listen to Trump's Term terms from NPR. Noor Rahm Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Rahm. President Trump speaks to a joint session of Congress tomorrow night. During these speeches,

presidents often stress how well things are going. But many Americans don't agree. A new NPR-PBS Marist poll out today shows a slim majority says the government is on the wrong track. NPR's Domenican Montanaro reports, among other concerns, the economy and foreign policy. The economy and prices were big reasons, obviously, that Trump won. But almost six in 10 in the survey think that prices are going to go up in the next six months. Only about four in 10 think Trump's approach will make the economy better.

When it comes to foreign policy, just 44% think that Trump's approach is going to make things better. On Ukraine, two thirds think that the U.S. is either not giving enough support or is giving about the right amount. NPR's Domenica Montanaro, the Pentagon is asking some 800,000 civilian workers to respond to a second request by the Office of Personnel Management to name five things they did last week. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports it's the same thing Elon Musk's Doge team asked federal employees last month. When the Office of Personnel Management, OPM, first sent a government-wide email asking federal employees to justify their jobs by naming five things they did last week, billionaire Elon Musk had said on social media that failure to reply would amount to a resignation.

Some large agencies like the FBI and the Pentagon seemed to push back, telling staff not to respond. Now, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has instructed the hundreds of thousands of Defense Department civilian workers to respond to a new edition of the email and copy their supervisors within 48 hours. A federal judge in California ruled last week that the OPM lacks any authority to fire federal workers. Quill Lawrence, NPR News. Quill Lawrence, NPR News. Israel is blocking supplies from entering Gaza, which 2 million people depend on for survival.

Israel's far-right government is seeking to pressure Hamas into a new ceasefire deal to release more Israeli hostages without ending the war as Hamas demands. NPR's Aya Petraoui reports. Everything from medicine and tents for shelter to food and winter supplies are now blocked from Gaza. The Norwegian Refugee Council, which is responsible for bringing in tents to Gaza after more than 90% of all homes were destroyed, says humanitarian aid is a right, not a privilege. It called on Israel as the occupying power to reverse its decision.

The aid agency Oxfam says Israel's blockade is a reckless act of collective punishment prohibited under international law. Doctors Without Borders notes that prices for basic goods and food has already spiked due to the uncertainty. The UN humanitarian relief agency says international law is clear. Israel must ensure life-saving aid reaches people. Ayah Batraoui, NPR News.

Amos is praising a stabbing attack in the northern Israeli city of Haifa today that killed one person and wounded four others, but it did not claim responsibility. This is NPR News in Washington. The Vatican says Pope Francis has suffered two new episodes of acute respiratory crises and has been placed again on non-invasive mechanical ventilation. It says the prognosis remains guarded and the 88-year-old pontiff is alert and oriented. Francis was hospitalized February 14th with respiratory problems that developed into double pneumonia. Some of the country's most prominent figure skaters were part of a tribute performance in Washington, D.C. yesterday for the 67 people who died in a plane crash in January.

Almost half the passengers were figure skaters, their family members or coaches. NPR's Becky Sullivan reports 15,000 people packed the stands of the arena in DC to watch the emotional tribute event Many of the performers had personal connections to those who are on the plane Many of the victims were young skaters on their way home from a development camp and four were coaches Including the husband and wife pair Vadim Nomav and Evgenia Shishkova Their 24 year old son Max performed a beautiful program on Sunday, then afterward knelt and sobbed on the ice as the crowd applauded in support.

Olympic ice dancer Madison Chalk took in the moment. There was not a dry eye to be found anywhere. The ticket proceeds were donated to victims' families and D.C. first responders. Becky Sullivan, NPR News, Washington. An Australian warship today rescued a Lithuanian rower who had attempted to cross the Pacific victims' families and D.C. first responders. Becky Sullivan, NPR News, Washington. NURRAH RAM, NPR NEWS AN AUSTRALIAN WARSHIP TODAY RESCUED A LITHUANIAN ROAR WHO HAD ATTEMPTED TO CROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN FROM CALIFORNIA BY HIMSELF. HE RAN INTO A TROPICAL CYCLONE WHO WAS STRANDED FOR THREE DAYS BEFORE BEING RESCUED. OFFICIALS SAY HIS BOAT COULD NOT BE RECOVERED BECAUSE OF UNFAIRABLE SEA CONDITIONS. I'M NURRAH RAM, NPR NEWS.