From CNN, I'm a FOMA DK for the five things you need to know for Tuesday, February 25th. 21 federal employees resigned today in what is being seen as a mass protest resignation against efforts from the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk. According to a federal government employee with knowledge of the resignations,
They're staffers in the United States Digital Service. Here's CNN's Sunlin Sirfati. Now these are people who work in technology, a source describing to me these are engineers, designers, data scientists. project managers after the valentine's day federal firing those mass firings that happened of which they lost 43 people within the office it was the tuesday after that happened that was the first time that those employees led their
staff meeting and the message there was clearly to try to turn the page to acknowledge that this has been a hard few weeks and kind of rallied the troops but that message according to the source did not go over well and it was then that this small group of people started to discuss ways that they could really, in essence, make their voices be heard. And the source tells me that they potentially anticipate more people to do the same in the coming days.
Tariff and inflation fears appear to be hitting a sour note with American consumers. Here's CNN's Brian Minna. and President Donald Trump's aggressive approach to tariffs is to blame. The conference board's Consumer Confidence Index, released Tuesday, fell sharply in February, posting its biggest monthly drop since August 2021. The survey also showed that people are getting worried about the labor market.
This is not good news for the Federal Reserve, which is in charge with managing interest rates. If Americans continue to expect inflation to pick up in the next few years, not only will that mean the Fed stops cutting interest rates, but it could also result in rate hikes.
A highway bridge under construction in South Korea collapsed this morning, killing at least four construction workers and injuring six others. That's according to a local official. Authorities are still unsure how the overpass in Cheonan collapsed. which is south of the capital, Seoul, but a large-scale rescue operation is underway. No passenger cars were on the overpass when the collapse happened. The Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossop.
Glossop was convicted of arranging the murder of Barry Van Treese in 1998, but he and the state attorney general questioned the conviction after new evidence emerged in recent years. The state disclosed that the man who killed Vantrese was treated for a serious psychiatric condition. The prosecutor's notes indicate that they knew about the killer's diagnosis and treatment at the time of the trial.
But according to Glossop supporters, that information was hidden from the defense. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote for the majority, quote, we conclude that the prosecution violated its constitutional obligation to correct false testimony. The ruling is a major win for Glossop, who had been scheduled for execution nine times and has eaten his last meal three times, only to have his execution stayed.
The Glossop case is one of the highest profile death penalty cases to reach the court in years. Coming up, which Fabrics retailer has gone bust? I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta. host of the Chasing Life podcast. West Texas. Wide open highways, sprawling landscapes, really beautiful country. But unfortunately now, also home to the largest measles outbreak in the state.
in 30 years. I recently traveled down to Texas to learn more about the outbreak and overall how the community is feeling about the situation. Listen to Chasing Life, streaming now wherever you get your podcasts. Fabrics retailer Joanne is going out of business. It's been a beloved shop for generations of quilters and crafters for over 80 years. The announcement comes after the Ohio-based retailer filed for bankruptcy protection last month.
the second time in a year. At the time, it cited sluggish consumer demand and inventory shortages. While shops will begin to shutter, the company said its website, joann.com, and its mobile app would remain open as it completes its final sales. That's all for now. We'll be back at 6 p.m. Eastern. This week on The Assignment with me, Audie Cornish.
The push to have bigger families and more babies is part of a movement called pronatalism. They are freaking out about declining global fertility rates. And that is real. It's a phenomenon called birth dearth. What's behind this push to start a new baby boom? Who are the voices pushing for a more pro-family America? And what exactly does that mean?
Listen to The Assignment with me, Audie Cornish, streaming now on your favourite podcast app. I'm CNN's Francesca Streets, and this week on our podcast, Chance Encounters. Bianca Guignac arrived in Italy in the summer of 2003. I woke up in the morning from my Florentine apartment. Alessandro Morelli was an Italian local from La Spezia.
Little did he know, some combination of fate, chance and luck was about to reshape his life. And I was just there for my friend's birthday party at the beach. Follow CNN's chance encounters wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you.