NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-03-2025 5AM EST

Episode Date: March 3, 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. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Europe is facing a crossroads in history.

And speaking at a European Leaders Summit in London, he said Europe must move together to achieve peace in Ukraine and shore up their own security. Not every nation will feel able to contribute. But that can't mean that we sit back. Instead, those willing will intensify planning now, with real urgency. The UK is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air. Together with us, Europe must do the heavy lifting. Starmer announced the outlines of a plan to end the war in Ukraine. European leaders have rallied around Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who President

Trump accused of being ungrateful during an Oval Office blow-up on Friday. More than 100 members of Congress are asking for details on Doge action at HUD, the federal housing agency. And Pierce Jennifer Ludden reports the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee will hand deliver a letter to HUD today. The letter to HUD Secretary Scott Turner notes record high housing costs and homelessness and deep concern that major downsizing by Doge could make that worse. The signers also worry about conflicts of interest. They say two Doge people at HUD come from housing-related industries that could benefit

from less oversight. Among other things, the members of Congress want to know all political appointees with access to HUD records, the names of staff already let go and a breakdown of the plan for more cuts, and a list of contracts that have been cancelled or could be. Turner says in his first month he has carried out an audit and cut waste. An agency spokesperson says HUD continues to deliver on its critical missions. Jennifer Ludden in Peer News, Washington. The CDC says more than 160 measles cases have been reported across the country so far this year.

Most from a growing outbreak in West Texas. About one in five people who get sick from measles requires hospitalization. St. Pierre's Amy Held reports. Friday, the Texas Capitol confirmed its first measles case in years, an unvaccinated infant in Austin. To the north in Lubbock, Shanae Brown worries for her newborn, too young for the vaccine recommended at 12 months. I really want her to have it, especially with the first case of someone dying recently. Officials confirmed February 26 an unvaccinated child died in the outbreak. In Gaines County, where it started, the kindergarten vaccination rate is around 82%. To protect against outbreaks,

the CDC says it should be 95 percent. Otherwise, an infected person can spread it to 12 to 18 people without immunity on average. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, far easier to catch than flu or COVID. Amy Held, NPR News. This is NPR. Israel is facing sharp criticism over its move to halt food and other aid supplies from entering Gaza. Egypt and Qatar, which have been acting as mediators in the conflict, are accusing Israel of violating humanitarian law, and the UN humanitarian chief calls the decision alarming. Israel accuses Hamas of stealing the supplies, and it's backing a

new US proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas of stealing the supplies and is backing a new U.S. proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas says Israel is trying to derail the next phase. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has declared a state of emergency, wildfires burning in both North and South Carolina amid dry conditions and gusty winds. They forced evacuations in some areas over the weekend. Amid wildfire recovery in Los Angeles, an unconventional romantic comedy-drama about a sex worker in New York was a big winner at the Academy

Awards. Here's Steve Futterman. On a night when there wasn't a clear favorite for Best Picture, there was suspense until the very end when Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal opened the final envelope. And the Oscar goes to... Anora. Anora, the story of an exotic dancer and sex worker who falls in love and marries the son of a Russian oligarch, won Best Picture along with a slew of other awards. And the Oscar goes to... Mikey Madison. the title role won best lead actress, Sean Baker, the man behind the film won four awards for producer, best director, best original screenplay and best film editing. Adrian Brody won best lead actor for The Brutalist,

other acting awards went to Zoe Saldana and Kieran Culkin. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman at the Academy Awards in Hollywood. This is him. James Baldwin was an activist, an orator, a style icon, but on NPR's Book of the Day, we'll dissect the thing he was most known for, his writing. That last clause kind of reads like a horror story. Right?

There's something deeply, deeply ominous about the way that that opening paragraph closes. Celebrate Black History Month with us as we examine some of his best works on NPR's Book of the Day podcast.