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Today’s top stories
Global leaders, predominantly from Europe, have pledged their support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and are collaborating to halt Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. This renewed backing follows a rebuke by former President Trump during Zelenskyy’s recent visit to the White House. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer assured Zelenskyy of Europe’s solidarity during their meeting in London.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 01: Britain’s Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer (L) welcomes Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky to 10 Downing Street on March 1, 2025 in London England. The Ukrainian President arrived in London today to meet with the British prime minister ahead of a summit of European leaders on Sunday.
Peter Nicholls/Getty Images Europe
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Peter Nicholls/Getty Images Europe
- 🎧 “Europe must do the heavy lifting,” Starmer said last night. Starmer is talking about funding Europe’s defense, which might not be a priority for Trump’s administration, NPR’s Lauren Frayer tells Up First. Starmer hiked British defense and announced another $2 billion in financing for Ukraine to buy more air defense missiles. Britain and France are also working with Ukraine on a ceasefire plan that they will present to the U.S. Starmer hopes to sell Trump on security guarantees for European forces.
A recent investigation by NPR has shed light on issues within the system for holding federal judges accountable and a prevailing culture of fear surrounding reporting misconduct. NPR’s justice correspondent Carrie Johnson interviewed 42 current and former federal court employees who shared negative encounters with over two dozen judges from both major political parties.
- 🎧 One recurring theme from the interviews is the immense influence a judge holds in shaping a young lawyer’s career with just a few phone calls. Clerkships leave a lasting impact on their resumes. Many individuals expressed reluctance to report mistreatment by federal judges due to complex internal procedures, severe repercussions, and concerns about anonymity.
Linda Holmes from NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour joins the newsletter to provide insights on the recent Oscars ceremony:
The Oscars took place last night. While various films received recognition, Anora emerged as the night’s standout, clinching five awards.
- 🏆 The biggest surprise of the evening was Mikey Madison (Anora) winning best actress over the favored Demi Moore (The Substance).
- 🏆 Politics took a back seat at the event, except for impactful speeches by two documentary filmmakers advocating for Palestinian rights.
- 🏆 Emilia Pérez’s Oscar campaign had its ups and downs, but Zoe Saldaña made history as the first Dominican American to win an Oscar for best supporting actress.
- 🏆 Hosting duties were well-handled by Conan O’Brien.
- 🏆 The absence of best original song performances and a more flexible schedule allowed for heartfelt speeches.
Take a look at the red carpet photos and check out the complete list of winners.
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