--:-- [Up First theme music plays]
--:-- Michelle Martin: Welcome to Up First. I'm Michelle Martin.
--:-- A Martinez: And I'm A Martinez.
--:-- Michelle Martin: The U.S. is resuming military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after negotiators agree to a 30-day ceasefire, which Russia is now reviewing.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. The Trump administration is cutting nearly half of the Education Department's workforce.
--:-- Michelle Martin: And, the House passes a stopgap funding bill with just days until a potential government shutdown, now it's headed for a vote in the Senate.
--:-- A Martinez: We'll get to all of that in a minute. But first, let's go to our correspondent in Kyiv, Eleanor Beardsley.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Thanks, A. I'm here in Kyiv, and I've been speaking with Ukrainian officials and civilians about the ceasefire agreement.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Eleanor, what does this 30-day ceasefire mean for Ukraine?
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Well, A, that buys them peace, space, and calm to begin real talks about a long-term peace. It would include the cessation of all shooting, bombs, missiles, drones on the Black Sea, the front line, and in Ukraine's cities, of course.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the U.S. role in all of this?
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: The Trump administration announced it is resuming the sharing of intelligence and delivery of military supplies, which it had temporarily paused.
--:-- A Martinez: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the ball is now in Russia's court.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: That's right, A. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking, and now it'll be up to them to say yes or no.
--:-- A Martinez: I'm joined now by Samuel Sharap, a Russia specialist at the RAND Corporation.
--:-- Samuel Sharap: Thanks for having me on the show.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Samuel, what's the Russian position on this ceasefire agreement?
--:-- Samuel Sharap: Well, A, Russia has been saying that they want a long-term peace agreement, and they're willing to work with Ukraine to achieve that.
--:-- A Martinez: But what about the concerns that Russia might not accept this ceasefire?
--:-- Samuel Sharap: I think it's unlikely that Russia will reject this agreement outright. They've been saying that they want a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and this agreement seems to be a step in that direction.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Samuel.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: I'm back with you, A. I've been speaking with civilians in Kyiv about the ceasefire agreement.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Eleanor, what are people saying about this agreement?
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Well, A, President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media immediately to herald the agreement.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the impact on civilians?
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: I spoke to 35-year-old Dima Suhok, who said that the ceasefire is a welcome relief.
--:-- Dima Suhok: I think that's great. We need this information for sure.
--:-- A Martinez: And how did you feel when it was stopped?
--:-- Dima Suhok: I feel disgusted. Less safe.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Eleanor.
--:-- Michelle Martin: Now, let's talk about the Education Department. The Trump administration is cutting nearly half of the workforce.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. NPR education reporter Janaki Mehta has been following this story.
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Thanks, A. I've been speaking with Education Department employees about the layoffs.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Janaki, what's the scale of these layoffs?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, the announcement that came from the Department of Education Tuesday night said the agency was cutting nearly 50 percent of its staff.
--:-- A Martinez: And what parts of the agency were affected?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: The cuts are certainly wide-ranging, hundreds of employees from the Federal Student Aid Office, just under 250 employees from the Office of Civil Rights and another 100 plus from the Institute of Education Sciences.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the impact on families with students with special needs?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, the Office for Civil Rights, where Sharia Smith works, is responsible for making sure students aren't being discriminated against at school, and that includes students with disabilities.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the legality of these cuts?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, some of these education department offices are protected by law, but it's not clear yet whether the Ed Department has retained enough employees to fulfill those functions.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Janaki.
--:-- Michelle Martin: Now, let's talk about the government shutdown. The House has passed a stopgap funding bill.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales has been following this story.
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Thanks, A. I've been speaking with Senate Majority Leader John Thune about the stopgap funding bill.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Claudia, what's the plan?
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Well, A, the Republican plan extends a current stopgap spending plan through the end of the fiscal year, so through September 30th at lower 2024 levels.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the impact on Democrats?
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Well, A, Democrats wanted a plan that would put limits on Trump's ability to make cuts and dismantle the federal government, but it's not clear yet whether they'll support this stopgap funding bill.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Claudia.
--:-- Michelle Martin: And finally, let's talk about trade. President Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum are now in effect.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. The EU is hitting back with tariffs of their own.
--:-- Michelle Martin: We'll have more on that story later.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks for joining us on Up First.
--:-- Michelle Martin: And thanks to our correspondents and guests for their reporting and analysis.
--:-- [Up First theme music plays]
--:-- A Martinez: This message comes from BetterHelp. It's only human to ask others for advice, like turning to your barista, hairdresser, or a taxi driver for life advice. But when you're looking for help about relationships, anxiety, depression, or other clinical issues, they may not have all the right answers. Instead, get guidance from a licensed therapist online with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com slash NPR for 10% off your first month.
--:-- Michelle Martin: This message comes from NetSuite. What does the future hold for business? Can someone invent a crystal ball? Until then, over 42,000 businesses have future-proofed their business with NetSuite by Oracle, the number one AI cloud ERP, bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, and HR into one platform. With real-time insights and forecasting, you're able to peer into the future and seize new opportunities. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning for free at netsuite.com slash story. Plan options available. Taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.
--:-- A Martinez: After nine hours of talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian and American delegations announced an agreement on a 30-day ceasefire last night.
--:-- Michelle Martin: This comes less than two weeks after a string of harsh words by President Trump directed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky culminated in an Oval Office blowup between the two and the impression that the new administration was taking Russia's side.
--:-- A Martinez: Now, though, the pressure is on Russia to accept the American-Ukrainian deal.
--:-- Michelle Martin: We go now to NPR's Eleanor Beardsley, who is in Kyiv.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Thanks, A. So, 30 days, what does that buy Ukraine?
--:-- A Martinez: Well, A, that buys them peace, space, and calm to begin real talks about a long-term peace.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: It would include the cessation of all shooting, bombs, missiles, drones on the Black Sea, the front line, and in Ukraine's cities, of course.
--:-- A Martinez: And the Trump administration announced it is resuming the sharing of intelligence and delivery of military supplies, which it had temporarily paused.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the ball is now in Russia's court.
--:-- A Martinez: Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking, and now it'll be up to them to say yes or no.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: I hope they're going to say yes, and if they do, then I think we've made great progress. If they say no, then we'll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.
--:-- A Martinez: So that's an incredible statement, A, less than two weeks after the Trump administration seemed to blame Ukraine for not wanting peace.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: How are Ukrainians reacting to this?
--:-- A Martinez: Well, President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media immediately to herald the agreement.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: He said, the American side understands our arguments, accepts our proposals, and I want to thank President Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams.
--:-- A Martinez: So again a complete turnaround for Zelensky from that disastrous Oval Office meeting.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: And as for resuming the intelligence, you know, cutting that off was seen as a real low blow to Ukrainians.
--:-- A Martinez: I arrived in Kiev last night just as the news of the deal and the renewed intel sharing was breaking.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: And I spoke to 35-year-old Dima Suhok.
--:-- Dima Suhok: I think that's great. We need this information for sure.
--:-- A Martinez: And how did you feel when it was stopped?
--:-- Dima Suhok: I feel disgusted. Less safe.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: I spoke to his friend, and she said they felt less safe because satellite intelligence not only helped on the battlefield, but it helped Ukraine defend its cities by giving advance warning of high-speed Russian missiles.
--:-- A Martinez: And having lay in bed last night on my first night in Kiev to air raid sirens and then the explosions of drones being shot down over the city, I can tell you it's nerve-wracking.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
--:-- A Martinez: Now, that meeting in Saudi Arabia was between Ukraine and the U.S.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Now what?
--:-- A Martinez: Now the U.S. delegation is set to meet with the Russians.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: There's been no official reaction from Moscow yet.
--:-- A Martinez: I spoke with Samuel Sharap, who is a Russia specialist at the think tank, the RAND Corporation.
--:-- Samuel Sharap: Thanks for having me on the show.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Samuel, what's the Russian position on this ceasefire agreement?
--:-- Samuel Sharap: Well, A, Russia has been saying that they want a long-term peace agreement, and they're willing to work with Ukraine to achieve that.
--:-- A Martinez: But what about the concerns that Russia might not accept this ceasefire?
--:-- Samuel Sharap: I think it's unlikely that Russia will reject this agreement outright. They've been saying that they want a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and this agreement seems to be a step in that direction.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Samuel.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: I'm back with you, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Eleanor, what's the next step?
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Well, A, the U.S. delegation is set to meet with the Russians, and we'll be watching to see how that goes.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Eleanor.
--:-- Michelle Martin: Now, let's talk about the Education Department. The Trump administration is cutting nearly half of the workforce.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. NPR education reporter Janaki Mehta has been following this story.
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Thanks, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Janaki, what's the scale of these layoffs?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, the announcement that came from the Department of Education Tuesday night said the agency was cutting nearly 50 percent of its staff.
--:-- A Martinez: And what parts of the agency were affected?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: The cuts are certainly wide-ranging, hundreds of employees from the Federal Student Aid Office, just under 250 employees from the Office of Civil Rights and another 100 plus from the Institute of Education Sciences.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the impact on families with students with special needs?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, the Office for Civil Rights, where Sharia Smith works, is responsible for making sure students aren't being discriminated against at school, and that includes students with disabilities.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the legality of these cuts?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, some of these education department offices are protected by law, but it's not clear yet whether the Ed Department has retained enough employees to fulfill those functions.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Janaki.
--:-- Michelle Martin: Now, let's talk about the government shutdown. The House has passed a stopgap funding bill.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales has been following this story.
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Thanks, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Claudia, what's the plan?
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Well, A, the Republican plan extends a current stopgap spending plan through the end of the fiscal year, so through September 30th at lower 2024 levels.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the impact on Democrats?
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Well, A, Democrats wanted a plan that would put limits on Trump's ability to make cuts and dismantle the federal government, but it's not clear yet whether they'll support this stopgap funding bill.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Claudia.
--:-- Michelle Martin: And finally, let's talk about trade. President Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum are now in effect.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. The EU is hitting back with tariffs of their own.
--:-- Michelle Martin: We'll have more on that story later.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks for joining us on Up First.
--:-- Michelle Martin: And thanks to our correspondents and guests for their reporting and analysis.
--:-- [Up First theme music plays]
--:-- A Martinez: This message comes from BetterHelp. It's only human to ask others for advice, like turning to your barista, hairdresser, or a taxi driver for life advice. But when you're looking for help about relationships, anxiety, depression, or other clinical issues, they may not have all the right answers. Instead, get guidance from a licensed therapist online with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com slash NPR for 10% off your first month.
--:-- Michelle Martin: This message comes from NetSuite. What does the future hold for business? Can someone invent a crystal ball? Until then, over 42,000 businesses have future-proofed their business with NetSuite by Oracle, the number one AI cloud ERP, bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, and HR into one platform. With real-time insights and forecasting, you're able to peer into the future and seize new opportunities. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning for free at netsuite.com slash story. Plan options available. Taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.
--:-- A Martinez: After nine hours of talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian and American delegations announced an agreement on a 30-day ceasefire last night.
--:-- Michelle Martin: This comes less than two weeks after a string of harsh words by President Trump directed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky culminated in an Oval Office blowup between the two and the impression that the new administration was taking Russia's side.
--:-- A Martinez: Now, though, the pressure is on Russia to accept the American-Ukrainian deal.
--:-- Michelle Martin: We go now to NPR's Eleanor Beardsley, who is in Kyiv.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Thanks, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Eleanor, 30 days, what does that buy Ukraine?
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Well, A, that buys them peace, space, and calm to begin real talks about a long-term peace.
--:-- A Martinez: And the Trump administration announced it is resuming the sharing of intelligence and delivery of military supplies, which it had temporarily paused.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the ball is now in Russia's court.
--:-- A Martinez: Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking, and now it'll be up to them to say yes or no.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: I hope they're going to say yes, and if they do, then I think we've made great progress. If they say no, then we'll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.
--:-- A Martinez: So that's an incredible statement, A, less than two weeks after the Trump administration seemed to blame Ukraine for not wanting peace.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: How are Ukrainians reacting to this?
--:-- A Martinez: Well, President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media immediately to herald the agreement.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: He said, the American side understands our arguments, accepts our proposals, and I want to thank President Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams.
--:-- A Martinez: So again a complete turnaround for Zelensky from that disastrous Oval Office meeting.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: And as for resuming the intelligence, you know, cutting that off was seen as a real low blow to Ukrainians.
--:-- A Martinez: I arrived in Kiev last night just as the news of the deal and the renewed intel sharing was breaking.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: And I spoke to 35-year-old Dima Suhok.
--:-- Dima Suhok: I think that's great. We need this information for sure.
--:-- A Martinez: And how did you feel when it was stopped?
--:-- Dima Suhok: I feel disgusted. Less safe.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: I spoke to his friend, and she said they felt less safe because satellite intelligence not only helped on the battlefield, but it helped Ukraine defend its cities by giving advance warning of high-speed Russian missiles.
--:-- A Martinez: And having lay in bed last night on my first night in Kiev to air raid sirens and then the explosions of drones being shot down over the city, I can tell you it's nerve-wracking.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
--:-- A Martinez: Now, that meeting in Saudi Arabia was between Ukraine and the U.S.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Now what?
--:-- A Martinez: Now the U.S. delegation is set to meet with the Russians.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: There's been no official reaction from Moscow yet.
--:-- A Martinez: I spoke with Samuel Sharap, who is a Russia specialist at the think tank, the RAND Corporation.
--:-- Samuel Sharap: Thanks for having me on the show.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Samuel, what's the Russian position on this ceasefire agreement?
--:-- Samuel Sharap: Well, A, Russia has been saying that they want a long-term peace agreement, and they're willing to work with Ukraine to achieve that.
--:-- A Martinez: But what about the concerns that Russia might not accept this ceasefire?
--:-- Samuel Sharap: I think it's unlikely that Russia will reject this agreement outright. They've been saying that they want a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and this agreement seems to be a step in that direction.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Samuel.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: I'm back with you, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Eleanor, what's the next step?
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Well, A, the U.S. delegation is set to meet with the Russians, and we'll be watching to see how that goes.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Eleanor.
--:-- Michelle Martin: Now, let's talk about the Education Department. The Trump administration is cutting nearly half of the workforce.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. NPR education reporter Janaki Mehta has been following this story.
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Thanks, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Janaki, what's the scale of these layoffs?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, the announcement that came from the Department of Education Tuesday night said the agency was cutting nearly 50 percent of its staff.
--:-- A Martinez: And what parts of the agency were affected?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: The cuts are certainly wide-ranging, hundreds of employees from the Federal Student Aid Office, just under 250 employees from the Office of Civil Rights and another 100 plus from the Institute of Education Sciences.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the impact on families with students with special needs?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, the Office for Civil Rights, where Sharia Smith works, is responsible for making sure students aren't being discriminated against at school, and that includes students with disabilities.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the legality of these cuts?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, some of these education department offices are protected by law, but it's not clear yet whether the Ed Department has retained enough employees to fulfill those functions.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Janaki.
--:-- Michelle Martin: Now, let's talk about the government shutdown. The House has passed a stopgap funding bill.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales has been following this story.
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Thanks, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Claudia, what's the plan?
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Well, A, the Republican plan extends a current stopgap spending plan through the end of the fiscal year, so through September 30th at lower 2024 levels.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the impact on Democrats?
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Well, A, Democrats wanted a plan that would put limits on Trump's ability to make cuts and dismantle the federal government, but it's not clear yet whether they'll support this stopgap funding bill.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Claudia.
--:-- Michelle Martin: And finally, let's talk about trade. President Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum are now in effect.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. The EU is hitting back with tariffs of their own.
--:-- Michelle Martin: We'll have more on that story later.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks for joining us on Up First.
--:-- Michelle Martin: And thanks to our correspondents and guests for their reporting and analysis.
--:-- [Up First theme music plays]
--:-- A Martinez: This message comes from BetterHelp. It's only human to ask others for advice, like turning to your barista, hairdresser, or a taxi driver for life advice. But when you're looking for help about relationships, anxiety, depression, or other clinical issues, they may not have all the right answers. Instead, get guidance from a licensed therapist online with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com slash NPR for 10% off your first month.
--:-- Michelle Martin: This message comes from NetSuite. What does the future hold for business? Can someone invent a crystal ball? Until then, over 42,000 businesses have future-proofed their business with NetSuite by Oracle, the number one AI cloud ERP, bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, and HR into one platform. With real-time insights and forecasting, you're able to peer into the future and seize new opportunities. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning for free at netsuite.com slash story. Plan options available. Taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.
--:-- A Martinez: After nine hours of talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian and American delegations announced an agreement on a 30-day ceasefire last night.
--:-- Michelle Martin: This comes less than two weeks after a string of harsh words by President Trump directed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky culminated in an Oval Office blowup between the two and the impression that the new administration was taking Russia's side.
--:-- A Martinez: Now, though, the pressure is on Russia to accept the American-Ukrainian deal.
--:-- Michelle Martin: We go now to NPR's Eleanor Beardsley, who is in Kyiv.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Thanks, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Eleanor, 30 days, what does that buy Ukraine?
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Well, A, that buys them peace, space, and calm to begin real talks about a long-term peace.
--:-- A Martinez: And the Trump administration announced it is resuming the sharing of intelligence and delivery of military supplies, which it had temporarily paused.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the ball is now in Russia's court.
--:-- A Martinez: Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking, and now it'll be up to them to say yes or no.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: I hope they're going to say yes, and if they do, then I think we've made great progress. If they say no, then we'll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.
--:-- A Martinez: So that's an incredible statement, A, less than two weeks after the Trump administration seemed to blame Ukraine for not wanting peace.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: How are Ukrainians reacting to this?
--:-- A Martinez: Well, President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media immediately to herald the agreement.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: He said, the American side understands our arguments, accepts our proposals, and I want to thank President Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams.
--:-- A Martinez: So again a complete turnaround for Zelensky from that disastrous Oval Office meeting.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: And as for resuming the intelligence, you know, cutting that off was seen as a real low blow to Ukrainians.
--:-- A Martinez: I arrived in Kiev last night just as the news of the deal and the renewed intel sharing was breaking.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: And I spoke to 35-year-old Dima Suhok.
--:-- Dima Suhok: I think that's great. We need this information for sure.
--:-- A Martinez: And how did you feel when it was stopped?
--:-- Dima Suhok: I feel disgusted. Less safe.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: I spoke to his friend, and she said they felt less safe because satellite intelligence not only helped on the battlefield, but it helped Ukraine defend its cities by giving advance warning of high-speed Russian missiles.
--:-- A Martinez: And having lay in bed last night on my first night in Kiev to air raid sirens and then the explosions of drones being shot down over the city, I can tell you it's nerve-wracking.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
--:-- A Martinez: Now, that meeting in Saudi Arabia was between Ukraine and the U.S.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Now what?
--:-- A Martinez: Now the U.S. delegation is set to meet with the Russians.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: There's been no official reaction from Moscow yet.
--:-- A Martinez: I spoke with Samuel Sharap, who is a Russia specialist at the think tank, the RAND Corporation.
--:-- Samuel Sharap: Thanks for having me on the show.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Samuel, what's the Russian position on this ceasefire agreement?
--:-- Samuel Sharap: Well, A, Russia has been saying that they want a long-term peace agreement, and they're willing to work with Ukraine to achieve that.
--:-- A Martinez: But what about the concerns that Russia might not accept this ceasefire?
--:-- Samuel Sharap: I think it's unlikely that Russia will reject this agreement outright. They've been saying that they want a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and this agreement seems to be a step in that direction.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Samuel.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: I'm back with you, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Eleanor, what's the next step?
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Well, A, the U.S. delegation is set to meet with the Russians, and we'll be watching to see how that goes.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Eleanor.
--:-- Michelle Martin: Now, let's talk about the Education Department. The Trump administration is cutting nearly half of the workforce.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. NPR education reporter Janaki Mehta has been following this story.
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Thanks, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Janaki, what's the scale of these layoffs?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, the announcement that came from the Department of Education Tuesday night said the agency was cutting nearly 50 percent of its staff.
--:-- A Martinez: And what parts of the agency were affected?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: The cuts are certainly wide-ranging, hundreds of employees from the Federal Student Aid Office, just under 250 employees from the Office of Civil Rights and another 100 plus from the Institute of Education Sciences.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the impact on families with students with special needs?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, the Office for Civil Rights, where Sharia Smith works, is responsible for making sure students aren't being discriminated against at school, and that includes students with disabilities.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the legality of these cuts?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, some of these education department offices are protected by law, but it's not clear yet whether the Ed Department has retained enough employees to fulfill those functions.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Janaki.
--:-- Michelle Martin: Now, let's talk about the government shutdown. The House has passed a stopgap funding bill.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales has been following this story.
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Thanks, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Claudia, what's the plan?
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Well, A, the Republican plan extends a current stopgap spending plan through the end of the fiscal year, so through September 30th at lower 2024 levels.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the impact on Democrats?
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Well, A, Democrats wanted a plan that would put limits on Trump's ability to make cuts and dismantle the federal government, but it's not clear yet whether they'll support this stopgap funding bill.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Claudia.
--:-- Michelle Martin: And finally, let's talk about trade. President Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum are now in effect.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. The EU is hitting back with tariffs of their own.
--:-- Michelle Martin: We'll have more on that story later.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks for joining us on Up First.
--:-- Michelle Martin: And thanks to our correspondents and guests for their reporting and analysis.
--:-- [Up First theme music plays]
--:-- A Martinez: This message comes from BetterHelp. It's only human to ask others for advice, like turning to your barista, hairdresser, or a taxi driver for life advice. But when you're looking for help about relationships, anxiety, depression, or other clinical issues, they may not have all the right answers. Instead, get guidance from a licensed therapist online with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com slash NPR for 10% off your first month.
--:-- Michelle Martin: This message comes from NetSuite. What does the future hold for business? Can someone invent a crystal ball? Until then, over 42,000 businesses have future-proofed their business with NetSuite by Oracle, the number one AI cloud ERP, bringing accounting, financial management, inventory, and HR into one platform. With real-time insights and forecasting, you're able to peer into the future and seize new opportunities. Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning for free at netsuite.com slash story. Plan options available. Taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.
--:-- A Martinez: After nine hours of talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian and American delegations announced an agreement on a 30-day ceasefire last night.
--:-- Michelle Martin: This comes less than two weeks after a string of harsh words by President Trump directed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky culminated in an Oval Office blowup between the two and the impression that the new administration was taking Russia's side.
--:-- A Martinez: Now, though, the pressure is on Russia to accept the American-Ukrainian deal.
--:-- Michelle Martin: We go now to NPR's Eleanor Beardsley, who is in Kyiv.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Thanks, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Eleanor, 30 days, what does that buy Ukraine?
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Well, A, that buys them peace, space, and calm to begin real talks about a long-term peace.
--:-- A Martinez: And the Trump administration announced it is resuming the sharing of intelligence and delivery of military supplies, which it had temporarily paused.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the ball is now in Russia's court.
--:-- A Martinez: Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking, and now it'll be up to them to say yes or no.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: I hope they're going to say yes, and if they do, then I think we've made great progress. If they say no, then we'll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.
--:-- A Martinez: So that's an incredible statement, A, less than two weeks after the Trump administration seemed to blame Ukraine for not wanting peace.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: How are Ukrainians reacting to this?
--:-- A Martinez: Well, President Volodymyr Zelensky took to social media immediately to herald the agreement.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: He said, the American side understands our arguments, accepts our proposals, and I want to thank President Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams.
--:-- A Martinez: So again a complete turnaround for Zelensky from that disastrous Oval Office meeting.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: And as for resuming the intelligence, you know, cutting that off was seen as a real low blow to Ukrainians.
--:-- A Martinez: I arrived in Kiev last night just as the news of the deal and the renewed intel sharing was breaking.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: And I spoke to 35-year-old Dima Suhok.
--:-- Dima Suhok: I think that's great. We need this information for sure.
--:-- A Martinez: And how did you feel when it was stopped?
--:-- Dima Suhok: I feel disgusted. Less safe.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: I spoke to his friend, and she said they felt less safe because satellite intelligence not only helped on the battlefield, but it helped Ukraine defend its cities by giving advance warning of high-speed Russian missiles.
--:-- A Martinez: And having lay in bed last night on my first night in Kiev to air raid sirens and then the explosions of drones being shot down over the city, I can tell you it's nerve-wracking.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
--:-- A Martinez: Now, that meeting in Saudi Arabia was between Ukraine and the U.S.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Now what?
--:-- A Martinez: Now the U.S. delegation is set to meet with the Russians.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: There's been no official reaction from Moscow yet.
--:-- A Martinez: I spoke with Samuel Sharap, who is a Russia specialist at the think tank, the RAND Corporation.
--:-- Samuel Sharap: Thanks for having me on the show.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Samuel, what's the Russian position on this ceasefire agreement?
--:-- Samuel Sharap: Well, A, Russia has been saying that they want a long-term peace agreement, and they're willing to work with Ukraine to achieve that.
--:-- A Martinez: But what about the concerns that Russia might not accept this ceasefire?
--:-- Samuel Sharap: I think it's unlikely that Russia will reject this agreement outright. They've been saying that they want a peaceful resolution to the conflict, and this agreement seems to be a step in that direction.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Samuel.
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: I'm back with you, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Eleanor, what's the next step?
--:-- Eleanor Beardsley: Well, A, the U.S. delegation is set to meet with the Russians, and we'll be watching to see how that goes.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Eleanor.
--:-- Michelle Martin: Now, let's talk about the Education Department. The Trump administration is cutting nearly half of the workforce.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. NPR education reporter Janaki Mehta has been following this story.
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Thanks, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Janaki, what's the scale of these layoffs?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, the announcement that came from the Department of Education Tuesday night said the agency was cutting nearly 50 percent of its staff.
--:-- A Martinez: And what parts of the agency were affected?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: The cuts are certainly wide-ranging, hundreds of employees from the Federal Student Aid Office, just under 250 employees from the Office of Civil Rights and another 100 plus from the Institute of Education Sciences.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the impact on families with students with special needs?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, the Office for Civil Rights, where Sharia Smith works, is responsible for making sure students aren't being discriminated against at school, and that includes students with disabilities.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the legality of these cuts?
--:-- Janaki Mehta: Well, A, some of these education department offices are protected by law, but it's not clear yet whether the Ed Department has retained enough employees to fulfill those functions.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Janaki.
--:-- Michelle Martin: Now, let's talk about the government shutdown. The House has passed a stopgap funding bill.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. NPR congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales has been following this story.
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Thanks, A.
--:-- A Martinez: So, Claudia, what's the plan?
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Well, A, the Republican plan extends a current stopgap spending plan through the end of the fiscal year, so through September 30th at lower 2024 levels.
--:-- A Martinez: And what about the impact on Democrats?
--:-- Claudia Grisales: Well, A, Democrats wanted a plan that would put limits on Trump's ability to make cuts and dismantle the federal government, but it's not clear yet whether they'll support this stopgap funding bill.
--:-- A Martinez: Thanks, Claudia.
--:-- Michelle Martin: And finally, let's talk about trade. President Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum are now in effect.
--:-- A Martinez: That's right. The EU is hitting back with tariffs of their own.
