Up First from NPR
Zelenskyy-Vance-Trump Blow Up, DOJ Demotions, Feds Plan for Bird Flu
Sat, 01 Mar 2025
Ukrainians react to the stunning events in the Oval Office that ended not with a signed minerals deal, but with shouting. Trump's Department of Justice demotes career lawyers who were involved in prosecutions of Trump allies and January 6th rioters. The Department of Agriculture announces plans to fight bird flu and high egg prices.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Chapter 1: What happened during Zelensky's Oval Office meeting with Trump?
The meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky began smoothly, with President Donald Trump touting his role as a peacemaker between Ukraine and Russia.
But it ended in shouting, we'll have the details and the reaction from Kiev.
Demotions at the Department of Justice, including lawyers who worked on the January 6th cases.
Also, the Department of Agriculture's plan to fight bird flu and high egg prices.
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There is shock and dismay in Ukraine after President Zelensky was berated in the Oval Office by both Vice President J.D. Vance and President Trump.
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Chapter 2: How are Ukrainians reacting to the Oval Office incident?
You're gambling with World War III. And what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country. That's back to you. Far more than a lot of people said they should have.
After the meeting, the White House canceled a joint news conference and the Ukrainian delegation canceled plans to sign a treaty with the United States on sharing Ukraine's mineral resources.
Trump had said this deal was key to organizing a ceasefire with Russia. And Paris, Joanna Kakissis joins us now from Kyiv. Thanks for being with us.
Thanks for having me, Scott.
How would you describe the reaction you're experiencing there?
Well, Scott, I would describe the reaction as outrage laced with panic. The U.S. is Ukraine's most important single ally, and Zelensky himself has said repeatedly that it will be very hard for Ukraine to keep defending itself against Russia without U.S. support. I got several text messages from Ukrainians I know saying, oh, no, it's over, and they wondered why.
With the Trump administration embracing Russia, what will happen to Ukraine? And now this is the panic talking. But what's been louder than the panic has been the anger. Ukrainians are rallying around Zelensky, recording TikTok videos supporting him and writing on social media.
Likening President Trump and Vice President Vance to schoolyard bullies who set out to humiliate and browbeat Zelensky, one prominent Ukrainian politician, Mustafa Nayyem, posted a godfather meme and wrote, quote, This administration doesn't just dislike us, they despise us. Not just Zelensky, but us, as a country, as a problem, as an annoying obstacle in their cozy world of backroom deals.
Have you heard from Ukrainians specifically about the vice president's claim that President Zelensky hasn't shown gratitude to the U.S. ?
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Chapter 3: How is the DOJ handling prosecutions related to Trump and January 6th?
It is the latest punitive action taken by the Trump Justice Department against career prosecutors. NPR Justice Correspondent Ryan Lucas joins us. Ryan, thanks for being with us. Thanks for having me. What can you tell us about these demotions?
Well, sources tell me and our colleague Kerry Johnson that the acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., Ed Martin, demoted at least seven top prosecutors in the U.S. attorney's office here. One of them is John Crabb. He was a supervisor in the office. He was involved in the cases against Trump allies Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro. He also oversaw January 6th cases.
Another prosecutor is Greg Rosen. He led the Capitol Siege Unit. That's the unit that prosecuted January 6th cases. And then two of the other attorneys who were demoted worked on two of the most high-profile cases to come out of the Capitol riot investigation. One of the attorneys helped lead the prosecution against Stuart Rhodes. He's the leader of the far-right Oath Keepers extremist group.
Rhodes was convicted at trial of seditious conspiracy. One of the other attorneys helped spearhead the case against Enrique Tarrio, the former head of the Proud Boys extremist group. Tarrio as well was convicted of seditious conspiracy at trial.
So the bottom line here is all of the attorneys who were demoted were senior prosecutors with a lot of experience, and now they're being reassigned to basically entry-level jobs.
What is the reason given?
Well, one source tells me that Martin notified these individuals by email. In at least one of the emails, Martin said that every U.S. attorney has to assess the needs of their office as set forth by the president and the attorney general and, in essence, their priorities. And therefore, these senior prosecutors were being reassigned, effective immediately.
And at least one of the emails ended by saying, this change is not temporary. Now, I'm told that some of the senior prosecutors were assigned to misdemeanors, which is where brand new prosecutors in the office are usually assigned. Others were demoted to what's known as the intake section, which is also for junior folks in the office.
One person I spoke with described these demotions as pure political retribution for working on cases that the Trump administration does not like. Now, I contacted the U.S. Attorney's Office about these actions for comment. It did not respond. But this is not the first time that Ed Martin, the acting U.S. attorney here, has taken what appear to be retaliatory action against the office he leads.
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Chapter 4: What are the implications of DOJ demotions for justice?
Chapter 5: What plans does the Department of Agriculture have for bird flu?
Also, the Department of Agriculture's plan to fight bird flu and high egg prices.
Stay with us. We have the news you need to start your weekend.
This message comes from Wise, the app for doing things in other currencies. Sending or spending money abroad? Hidden fees may be taking a cut. With Wise, you can convert between up to 40 currencies at the mid-market exchange rate. Visit wise.com. TNCs apply.
There is shock and dismay in Ukraine after President Zelensky was berated in the Oval Office by both Vice President J.D. Vance and President Trump.
You're gambling with World War III. And what you're doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country. That's back to you. Far more than a lot of people said they should have.
After the meeting, the White House canceled a joint news conference and the Ukrainian delegation canceled plans to sign a treaty with the United States on sharing Ukraine's mineral resources.
Trump had said this deal was key to organizing a ceasefire with Russia. And Paris, Joanna Kakissis joins us now from Kyiv. Thanks for being with us.
Thanks for having me, Scott.
How would you describe the reaction you're experiencing there?
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Sign in to access all 82 segments of this chapter and more.
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