NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-03-2025 9AM EST

Episode Date: March 3, 2025

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Planet Money is there. From California's most expensive fires ever. That was my home home. Yeah. I grew up there. It's ashes. To the potentially largest deportation in U.S. history. They're going to come to the businesses. They're going to come to the restaurants. They're going to come here. Planet Money. We go to the places at the center of the story. The Planet Money podcast from NPR.

Live from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman. European nations are coming to Ukraine's defense following last Friday's fiery meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump. British Prime Minister Kerestamary is working to create a peace deal to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, top Republicans in the U.S. are questioning Zelensky's leadership of Ukraine following Friday's disastrous meeting. But NPR's Luke Garrett reports not all of the GOP is on the same page.

House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, through his support of Zelensky, into doubt on Sunday. He told NBC News, Either he needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude or someone else needs to leave the country to do that. On Friday, following the tense Trump-Zelensky meeting, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina suggested Zelensky should resign or change. But on Sunday, GOP Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma told NBC News he disagrees. I'm not interested in calling on the resignation of other world leaders.

Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont defended Zelensky outright on NBC News. Zelensky is leading a country trying to defend democracy against an authoritarian dictator, Putin, who invaded his country. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. Meanwhile, Speaker Johnson also criticized Vladimir Putin. Johnson says Putin is dangerous and not to be trusted. Israel is pressuring Hamas to agree to a new variation of the ceasefire agreement with Hamas for Gaza.

Hamas has not accepted the change. NPR's Kat Lonsdorf says that now Israel has halted all relief supplies into Gaza. Israel has stopped the flow of much needed aid, like food and medical supplies, into the enclave. Israel controls what gets in and out of Gaza, and aid groups have warned that this blocking of aid violates international law. Other Arab countries have condemned it. NPR's Kat Lonsdorf reporting.

Israel says the change to the ceasefire calls for the release of more hostages and that it retains the right to go back to war if negotiations fail. Hamas says Israel is working to evade the original agreement. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that more than 160 measles cases have been reported across the country this year. And Pierre's Amy Held reports that most stem from a growing outbreak in West Texas. 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%. Amy Held, NPR News. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The Vatican says that Pope Francis has spent another night in a Rome hospital with good You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The Vatican says that Pope Francis has spent another night in a Rome hospital with good

rest. This follows a respiratory crisis last week. Vatican officials say the pontiff is stable and off mechanical ventilation. He is not showing any signs of a new infection. Amid wildfire recovery in Los Angeles, an unconventional romantic comedy drama about a sex worker in New York was the big winner at last night's Academy Awards. Steve Futterman has more. 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. 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. Mikey Madison, who plays 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. Adrienne 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. A long-distance rower has been rescued off Australia.

Arimis Makas was trying to row by himself across the Pacific Ocean from California. He was days away from completing his 7,500-mile journey to Australia, but he ran into a looming tropical cyclone and had to abandon his journey. This is NPR. Hey, it's Amartinez. cyclone and had to abandon his journey. This is NPR.