federal workers in flux. elon musk doubles down on his demand for government employees to list their accomplishments or resign. president trump praising the effort, even as some departments tell workers to ignore t directive. the midnight deadline has come and gone. so what comes next? we're live in d.c. the immigration crackdown ramps up. defense seetary pete hegseth heading to guantanamo bay to visit the detention facility. while new york closes a symbol of the city's migrant crisis. another salvo in the trade war. president trump says tariffs on canada and mexico will go forward. how it could impact the price you pay. chaos in the cabin of a delta plane. a strange haze that forced the flight to turn around and return to atlanta's busy airport. and it looks like armageddon is off the table. nasa updates the odds that earth will dodge an asteroid-sized bullet in 2032. you don't want to miss a thing on this tuesday, february 25th.

"early today" starts right now. good morning. i'm frances rivera. it is day 37 of the new trump administration. and many federal workers are unsure if their jobs are safe. overnight, elon musk doubled down on his push for government employees to answer the question. what did you do last week. saying the subject of the president's discretion, they have a second chance to respond. and failure to do so will result in termination. alice barr joins me now. there are a lot of mixed messages about thidemand from musk. >> reporter: good morning, frances. that is for sure. plenty of mixed messages. more than 2 million federal workers were told they had until midnight last night to give five bullet points explaining what they did at work last week. but then the trump administration appeared to backtrack on that request, telling the heads of federal agencies that responding was voluntary, and that a

non-response to the e-mail does not mean a resignation. some departments, like state, justice and defense told employees to either wait or to not reply at all. while others, like health and transportation told their workers to reply by the monday deadline. but, according to an e-mail shared with nbc news, hhs rescinded that requirement, warning that the information could be read by foreign actors. a lawsuit has been filed in california that aims to block any firings connected to the original e-mail. nbc's bay area station visited veterans affairs hospital. >> reporter: a couple of the employees that i've talked with tell me that the mood inside right now is chaotic. they don't really know how to respond to this e-mail. >> when i go to my own healthcare provider, i want that provider to be laser focussed on my care. i don't want that provider to be worried about e-mails they're getting from some unelected

billionaire. >> reporter: president trump has not commented on musk's new threat about workers having a second chance to respond. but he did praise the original e-mail yesterday. >> by asking the question, tell us what you did this week, what he's doing is saying, are you actually working? and then, if you don't answer, like, you're sort of semi-fired, or you're fired. because a lot of people are not answering, because they don't even exist. >> reporter: three sources tell nbc news, the bullet points from the responses will be fed into an advanced a.i. ystem to determine whether someone's work is mission critical or not. musk says no a.i. system will be needed. some republicans are growing concerned. congressman rich mccormick of georgia tells nbc news he's planning to use a meeting with president trump today to get more information, and he also says he plans to reach out to elon musk to urge him to show more compassion. frances? >> alice, thank you.

defense secretary pete hegseth is visiting guantanamo bay today. he will meet with service members to tour the center. president trump has been sending undocumented immigrants to guantanamo. it currently houses 17 such detainees after 177 other migrants were sent to venezuela last week. and new york mayor eric adams says the city will close the roosevelt hotel center in manhattan. guy rosendale has the story. >> reporter: amid the bustle of midtown manhattan, the scene outside the roosevelt hotel is relatively quiet. how times have changed. compare now to scenes like this in spring ofof 2023, when the former hotel turned no an asylum seeker and humanitarian relief center at the peak of the migrant crisis. hundreds of thousands of migrants came through the doors for services and shelter, a centralized intake center for the city. but now the mayor says it's no

longer needed. >> we are announcing that the roosevelt hotel, which has served as both our asylum arrival center and a humanitarian emergency and response center for two years will be closing in the coming months. >> reporter: the mayor says right now new york is dealing with an average of 350 migrants each week, compare that to around 4,000 a week at the peak of the migrant crisis. the roosevelt, simply more than shelter. migrants received legal assistance, medical care and reconnection services. the roosevelt not alone. 53 other shelters across the city are expected to close in the coming months. the mayor saying the moves will save taxpayers millions while maintaining new york city's status as a sanctuary city. >> we will have some way of intake, some way of placing them back, place them on this feet so they can participate in the pursuit of american dream. >> our thanks to gus rosendale

for that report. chaos on board a delta airlines flight after a haze in the cabin forced it to make an emergency landing in atlanta. here's emilie ikeda. >> breathe through your nose. >> reporter: scary moments aboard this delta flight as a haze filled the cabin. the boeing 717 was only in the air for a few minutes, looping back around for an emergency landing at the world's busiest airport around 9:00 a.m. slides were deployed, and first responders helped people deplane. >> we are being evacuated off the plane. >> reporter: kristin morris was among the 94 passengers on the flight bound for south carolina. two people received medical attention, adding in a statement, nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people. the faa now investigating what

went wrong. aviation analyst john cox says it looks more serious than it is. >> this is likely an air conditioning or pressurization issue, and that would not have these people in danger at all. >> reporter: on sunday, fighter jets escorted this american airlines plane to rome after it was diverted because of an e-mailed bomb threat later found not credible, according to a source familiar with the situation. and last week, a delta regional jet crash landed on a snowy toronto runway, even flipping upside down. smokey scene in atlanta, further advance concerns over flying. after 11 days in the hospital, pope francis is still in critical condition this morning. although the vatican says he is showing a slight sign of improvement. there is currently no prognosis. nbc medical contributor john torres explains. >> as a physysician, that usual

means that we are at a stage where his condition can improve rapidly or deteriorate just as rapidly. >> the pope has resumed some work after a weekend of respiratory crisis with double pneumonia and mild kidney failure. he felt well enough to resume his nightly call to the catholic church in gaza. president trump says the u.s. is very close to an agreement with ukraine on a mineral rights deal. the announcement coming during a joint press conference with french president macron. trump calling the meeting an important step in ending the russia-ukraine war. but the two leaders displayed stark differences on russia. >> when i got here, we were treated with great respect, and they want, they want to end this war. >> and this is a responsibility of russia. not by ukraine, but by russia because they were the one to aggress. >> macron was the first european leader to visit the white house

since trump took office last month. >> reporter: frances, good morning. the growing rift between the united states and europe over the issue of the war in ukraine was on full display yesterday. notably, trump did not meet macron at the entrance of the west week during the meeting. it was clear the two are on different pages. trump, for example continued to show hesitation to call putin a dictator. trump continued to state that his goal was peace as soon as possible. macron said europe and ukraine share this goal, but they do not want an agreement that is weak. at one point during their press conference, trump brought up the issue of money loaned to the ukrainian government, claiming falsely that europe had guarantees ukraine would pay them back whereas the united states didn't. macron interrupted to correct trump saying these were not loans but real money and that europe had given more of it. despite the apparent disagreements between the two,

macron did say the meeting was a turning point to end the war in ukraine. the two leaders agreed on a european proposal to deploy european peacekeeping forces to ukraine once a peace deal is achieved. and while all of this was going on, the united states voted against a united nations resolution condemning russia's invasion of ukraine on the third anniversary of the war. this puts the united states in a camp witrussia, belarus and north korea. frances? >> matt, thank you. now to an optimistic update from nasa. the space agency has downgraded the threat from an asteroid. a space rock as big as a football field is expected to buzz by earth in 2032. the chance has dropped to .004%. telescopes were able to get a better look at the asteroid, allowing scientists to better predict its path. much of the country is

feeling a spring thaw. angie lassman is tracking warmer temperatures. a little appetizer we're getting here. >> it is w welcome relief after the week we had last week with bitter cold temperatures. not the story today. the temperatures 20, even close to 30 degrees above normal in some spots across the country. one of those places, wichita. 77 degrees today. dallas in the mid-70s. mid-60s for st. louis. even out east, mid-60s to low 70s. this winter kind of warmth is going to stay with us tomorrow too. minneapolis tops out at 43 degrees. new york city at 53. still 70s across parts of the south as well. things look kind of mild. we end up into the upper 50s to low 60s for parts of the tennessee valley. upper 40s on friday in philadelphia. 69 degrees for saturday in raleigh, and still the 70s on tap for jackson. mild conditions are going to last into the weekend in some spots. we do have a little bit of rain and snow we're tracking across

the northeast. it's a weak system, not all that indianapolis tops out at 57 degrees. detroit ends up at 46 with mostly-sunny skies today. and that's a look at your forecast, frances. back to you. early today is back in a minute with the trouble brewing at starbucks. and president trump steps up his tariff threats against mexico and canada. how it could impact prices. da. how it could impact prices. eddie, no. frasier, frank. frank? —fred, how are you? —fred! support up to 7 brain health indicators, including memory. when you need to remember, remember neuriva. mom's gonna love this! alright kids come on. it's time for bed! ( ♪♪ ) good morning, mr. snuggles.

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groceries to vehicles. cnbc's karen gilchrist is here with the details. good morning, karen. >> good morning, frances. yes, president trump's favorite word back on the table. tariffs. president trump saying monday that they would move ahead with tariffs on canada and mexico. now this after they were postponed for a month after ageing with the trading partners to boost their policing efforts around the borders. now these 25% import charges will affect a huge range of goods, likely fruit and vegs and liquor. it's unclear whether the latest announcement is another sort of negotiating tactic by the president to sort of steer new concessions from these partners or whether indeed it will provoke retaliatory tariffs from the likes of canada and mexico.

now elsewhere, starbucks has said it will be laying off 1,100 staff in its corporate offices. and it will not be filling hundreds of other open roles. now this won't affect workers in its cafes, but it is all parts of the efforts to overhaul the coffee chain and improve efficiencies as he said. this follows similar moves by reducing the complexity of menus and personalizing service to entice people back to starbucks. still to come. find out the popular stars performing at the oscars. and not even prison can stop the second coming of the fyre festival. the rebirth of the infamous music fest. rth of the infamous music fest. i got somebody for that! ♪♪ i got somebody for that. ♪♪ i got somebody for that! you guys got somebody for peyronie's disease? ♪♪

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festivals that can sell out with no artists. >>fter a decade after it first flamed out, the fyre festival is set to light up the world of the arts and the internet once more. tickets for the second edition of the infamous music festival went on sale monday. prices range from $1400 to $1.1 million for the four-day event. founder billy mcfarland told savannah sellers that they have yet to book any artists. it is slated to run from may 30 to june 2nd on a mexican island. you would think if this is something this grand and big that artists would be able to commit early on, and that's the scary part, right? >> you would think, also, though, they might be a little apprehensive with the history of the festival. but it seems like they're going for it. now to the dynamic duo bringing a taste of oz to the dolby theater.

ariana grande and cynthia erivo will be performers. both are contenders for their roles in "wicked". the ceremony will also feature queen latifah, doja cat, ray and lisa group from blackpink. we remember "i'm just ken" from last year. you know these two are going to put on a show. >> and they've been shut out of all the other major awards. "wicked" has kind of been shut out. we'll see. when we come back, why doordash is dishing out millions to its workers in new york state. and one last triumph. details on a final tour. triump. details on a final tour. double denim is back. so chic. ♪♪ and take quality very, very seriously. ♪♪ ceramic. they're highly trained, deal making professionals.

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practices. a puppy theft caught on camera. video captured one of the suspects allegedly faking a seizure while another grabs two english bulldog puppies from a display case. the puppies are still missing. apple is expanding operations in the u.s. plans include a manufacturing facility in texas, as well as hiring 20,000 employees. wu-tang clan is heading out for their final tour starting june 6 in baltimore and ending in philadelphia. imore and endin in philadelphia. to the heat? that's it. take it up a notch. looks like ordinary antiperspirants can't take the heat. ordinary antiperspirants can't fight sweat better than secret clinical. mom's gonna love this! alright kids come on. it's time for bed! ( ♪♪ ) good morning, mr. snuggles. make breakfast special with the cocoa

and hazelnutty goodness of nutella. ( ♪♪ ) can neuriva support your brain health? mary, janet, hey! eddie, no. frasier, frank. frank? —fred, how are you? —fred! support up to 7 brain health indicators, including memory. when you need to remember, remember neuriva. [♪♪] when you need are you one of the millions of americans who suffer from an upset stomach after a big meal? try pepto bismol. unlike some products, pepto coats and soothes your digestive system, to provide fast 5-sympmptom reli. stock up on pepto today.

it might look like a little lemonade stand, but it's much sweeter and comes with a side of advice. our zinhle essamuah takes us to grandma's stand. >> reporter: on a frigid tuesday in new york, a simple question led people to pause their busy days and reflect. >> what experience helped shape -- >> who i am. >> it's a great question. >> reporter: this is a popup where strangers share this stories and grandmothers listen. once a week you go out of your way and take out the grandma stand. >> mm-hm. >> reporter: why did you get it started? >> my grandma turned 94 and couldn't travel anymore. >> reporter: it was started to connect his grandma virtually to his community in new york. >> i put a laptop and headphones and a chair and let anyone talk to my grandma. >> reporter: thousands followed the project online for years. but the stand stalled in 2018

after matthew's grandmother died at 102 y years o. >> she wanted to be seen. she wants, in her own words, old people to be seen. >> reporter: now the project is back. jennaeoberts suggested her grandma. grandma flo retired from teaching teaching five teaching five years ago. >> i strive to be the person who sees good in everyone. >> reporter: that's exactly what she did. >> can i give you a hug? >> yes! >> reporter: zinhle essamuah, nbc news, new york. >> and the grandma stand comes with advice and hugs? even better. now to a brazilian couple that has officially broken the record for the longest marriage.

the 105 and 101 wife tied the knot 84 years ago, saying i do in 1940. they built a life together working in agriculture and raising 13 children. fast forward to today. their family has blossomed to 55 grandchildren, 60 great grandchildren and 14 great great grandchildren. so their secret? maria says, it is all about love. and they need a stand of their own, right, with all that advice and all the years they have. coming up on "today", another breakfast chain scrambling to fight sky high egg prices. denny's is the latest to add a surcharge. and there,s more news on the way. re.