Thursday morning news: March 13, 2025

Ukraine » The world will await Russia’s response. Two days after Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States, President Trump said a U.S. delegation was on its way to Moscow.

TRUMP: People are going to Russia right now as we speak, and hopefully we can get a ceasefire from Russia.

The ceasefire proposal that Ukraine agreed to this week also calls for both sides to spend that time negotiating a lasting peace.

Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy heard here through a translator:

ZELENSKYY: If we are going to have 30-day truce, these 30 days will have to be used to put certain matters on paper.

President Trump briefly halted military aid to Ukraine to pressure Kyiv to the bargaining table. And he hinted that he’s prepared to play hardball with Russia as well, if it comes to that, possibly through sanctions and tariffs.

But he stressed that he’s not anxious to do that, and that he is hopeful that Moscow will agree to a ceasefire and further peace talks.

Trump hosts Irish prime minister » At the White House on Wednesday, Trump hosted  Ireland's Prime Minister in the Oval Office.

TRUMP:  Thank you very much. It's a great honor to have Micheál Martin, Taoiseach — Ireland, it's a special place and he's a very special guy.

The two leaders honored the annual White House Shamrock Ceremony, a tradition that dates back to the Truman administration in 1952.

Martin called it a great honor:

MARTIN:  To celebrate St. Patrick's, uh, with you. Uh, and I thank you for your hospitality, uh, and the warmth of your reception.

Trade war » The annual ceremony is a symbol of the two nations' close partnership. But it does come at a time of trade uncertainty.

The European Union, of which Ireland is a part, just announced retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods in response to new U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports that took effect on Wednesday.

But Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the EU measures won’t change the president’s mind.

LUTNICK:  Nothing's going to stop that until we've got a big, strong, domestic steel and aluminum, uh, capability. And by the way, he's going to add copper to that mix too.

Trump sees strong domestic production of things like computer chips, steel, and aluminum as vital to America’s economic future and national security.

The EU announced the tariffs on about $28 billion dollars worth of U.S. goods will begin on April 1st.

Inflation down » The trade war has triggered some anxiety on Wall Street in recent days, but:

SOUND: (Closing bell)

Markets finished up on Wednesday, encouraged by better-than-expected inflation numbers for February.

Inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index, rose 2.8% compared to February of last year. That’s better than the 2.9% analysts expected. And it breaks a four-month trend of rising inflation rates.

Education Department » Education Sec. Linda McMahon says big cuts at the Department of Education were necessary and part of an effort to return power over education back to the states.

MCMAHON: We are not taking away education. The President never said that. He's taken the bureaucracy out of education so that more money flows to the states.

Roughly 2,000 workers at the Education Department have been laid off or agreed to retire or resign. That’s about half the department’s workforce.

Those affected by the cuts will receive pay and benefits through early June.

President Trump's ultimate goal is to shutter the department completely, but that would require an act of Congress.

Khalil hearing » Demonstrators shouted outside of a federal courthouse in lower Manhattan on Wednesday in support of Mahmoud Khalil. That's the Columbia University student who helped lead pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protests on campus last year.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt:

LEAVITT: Secretary Rubio revoked this individual's visa based on the Immigration and Nationality Act because this individual clearly poses an adversarial effect—consequence—to the foreign policy and national interest of our great country.

The Trump administration charges that Khalil showed solidarity with Hamas, a designated terror group, and that is grounds for deportation.

Khalil’s attorneys say he is now a legal U-S citizen and argue that the administration is violating his First Amendment rights.

A judge has temporarily halted his deportation while his legal challenge plays out.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is on the proverbial cutting block. Is that a good thing or bad? Plus, finding faith and hope through disability.

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