Up First from NPR
Trump's Talk With Putin, Israel's Incursion, Weather Service Budget Cuts
20 May 2025
Unpacking President Trump's hourslong conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In Gaza, Israeli forces ordered the evacuation of Khan Younis, but residents have nowhere to go. Plus, a look at how Trump administration budget cuts have left the National Weather Service scrambling to cover basic forecasting needs amid climate change. Want more comprehensive analysis of the most important news of the day, plus a little fun? Subscribe to the Up First newsletter.Today's episode of Up First was edited by Neela Banerjee, Ryland Barton, Carrie Kahn, Ally Schweitzer and Alice Woelfle. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Ben Abrams and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent and our technical director is Carleigh Strange.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Full Episode
Good morning. We have two hosts in the same studio today. It's very exciting. We're behind in our work, though, because Layla and I were... We were trying to solve the world's problems. Thank you. That's a really nice, high-minded way to say it. We failed. Gossiping.
We gossiped. We failed. President Trump claimed on social media that he made progress on a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
He'd been talking with Russia's Vladimir Putin, whose own statement suggested he's in no rush. What's the state of play?
I'm Leila Faldin with Steve Inskeep, and this is Up First from NPR News. Three of Israel's allies have warned Israel to end its offensive in Gaza. They're objecting to an operation that intensified in recent days. And an Israeli order for Palestinians to evacuate. How are Israelis responding to the pressure?
Also, we've had an active tornado season, which is now a normal tornado season.
It used to be kind of unusual to see, you know, dozens of them in a day. And now we get that year after year.
What evidence, if any, shows a link to climate change? Stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your day. President Trump spoke with Russia's leader Vladimir Putin for more than two hours on Monday about ending the war in Ukraine, and then Trump gave an account of the call.
I said, when are we going to end this, Vladimir? I've known him for a long time now. I said, when are we going to end this bloodshed, this bloodbath? It's a bloodbath.
Trump claimed some success towards peace, but Putin again resisted Trump's calls for an immediate ceasefire. Putin proposed more talks, which would take place even as the war continues.
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