In today's newsletter: A rift between the presidents of the U.S. and Ukraine spills into public view. Republicans are divided on "school choice" programs that allot public money to private schools. And a look back into Elon Musk's first foray into high-level politics. 

Here's what to know today.

President Donald Trump falsely called his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator” yesterday as a rift between the two nations’ leaders spilled into public view and further complicated efforts to end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. In a post on Truth Social, Trump also called for a presidential election in Kyiv after Zelenskyy accused him of living in a Russian “disinformation bubble.”

“There is frustration,” a White House official said, accusing Zelenskyy and some other European leaders of trying to “denigrate” Trump’s peace efforts.

Privately, Ukrainian officials were alarmed after Zelenskyy was told his meetings with top Trump administration officials could be canceled if he didn’t swiftly agree to certain demands, including one asking that Ukraine give the U.S. ownership of half of its rare earth minerals. The officials were also worried about whether Ukraine joining NATO would be on the table in negotiations. And they were concerned when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. may withdraw a significant number of its troops from Europe.

From Trump’s perspective, Zelenskyy was showing resistance to what Trump viewed as reasonable asks. Trump also grew incensed over Ukraine’s public complaints about being excluded from talks between the U.S. and Russia about ending the war.

So how did Trump go from delivering harsh rhetoric about Russia after the 2024 election to announcing that his team would negotiate with Putin's government to end the war? NBC News’ reporters interviewed more than two dozen U.S. and European officials and other people with knowledge of private meetings and discussions between and within the Trump administration and the Ukrainian government.

Read the full story here.

More Trump administration and politics news:

Some Republicans split on Trump's call for 'school choice'

Idaho is set to join more than two dozen states that have some form of public funding for private schools after the state Senate voted yesterday in favor of a bill to provide up to $5,000 in tax credits for students attending them. A similar bill in Texas appears likely to succeed, as well. But Republicans in some states, including Mississippi and South Dakota, have chosen not to advance bills this year that would expand financial support for private schools. It's one of the few visible chasms in a party that has widely supported President Donald Trump's agenda.

"School choice," as proponents call it, has drawn support from many conservative governors who see it as an issue of parents' rights. Trump has framed it as a way to give parents more control over their children's education. However, in small communities, there are concerns about losing much-needed public school funding. For example, a superintendent in rural Mississippi wrote recently on Facebook that he fears the loss of transportation and special education programs.

The debate shows a looming battle within the GOP and a "litmus test" for lawmakers, one education policy expert said. And the stakes for those who don't comply with the national GOP's view are rising.

Bodies of youngest Hamas hostages returned to Israel after propaganda-filled ceremony

Hamas released the bodies of four deceased Israeli hostages on Thursday, parading four black caskets on a stage against a backdrop of propaganda slogans and behind white, red-paint-spattered missiles that bore the phrase "they were killed by USA bombs."

In what is likely to be one of the defining images of the war in Gaza, the four caskets sat on a raised platform in front of smiling illustrations of three members of the Bibas family, who became a symbol of the cruelty of the Palestinian militant group’s Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, and 84-year-old Oded Lifshitz.

Among the bodies handed over by the Palestinian militant group were those of Kfir and Ariel Bibas, who at nine months and four years old were the two youngest captives seized in the attack that started the Israel-Hamas war.

Ralph Yarl shooter dies days after pleading guilty

Andrew Lester, the 86-year-old white man who pleaded guilty and faced up to seven years in jail in the wrong-house shooting of Black teen Ralph Yarl, has died, prosecutors in Clay County, Missouri said yesterday. The prosecutors did not say how or when Lester died. He had been scheduled for sentencing on March 7.

In the April 2023 incident, Yarl, then 16 years old, rang Lester's doorbell, mistaking it for the house where he was supposed to pick up his siblings. Lester fired multiple shots, grazing Yarl in the head and striking him in the arm.

In a statement yesterday, Yarl's family said Lester never apologized for his actions, and "now, another black child harmed by prejudice will never see the man who shot him face the full weight of the justice system." Yarl's family have also expressed frustration with Lester and prosecutors in the case. 

A look back at Musk's first foray into high-level politics

Elon Musk’s rapid and disorienting makeover of the federal government is one of the early signature stories of President Donald Trump’s second administration. And it’s one that none of Musk’s early fans in the professional political class could have predicted less than a decade ago.

Over the last month, my mind has drifted back to the 2017 bipartisan National Governors Association Conference in Rhode Island, which I covered. Governors there were absolutely jazzed to hear from Musk, then a prominent but still somewhat mysterious tech mogul with a more flexible political worldview, particularly when it came to AI and government regulations. I recently checked in with some of the leaders in the audience that day. It was an interesting exercise — and rather revealing, in that most didn’t wish to reminisce about the time they welcomed Musk with open arms.

— Henry Gomez, senior political reporter

Lester Holt on what it takes to lead in a newsroom

Anchoring a network news program requires more than just sharp reporting and presenting skills. Nightly News’ anchor Lester Holt sat down with NBCU Academy to discuss what it takes to lead in a newsroom.

How do you lead in the newsroom? I know that people watch me very carefully sometimes. Sometimes it’s just encouraging words at the right time. The pandemic was suddenly on us and people were being sent home. I remember saying to the younger folks: “This could be the biggest story of your career. The country is shutting down, and none of us have ever been through anything quite like it.”

When you started your career, how did leaders help you? I started in local news in New York at age 23, so I was swimming in the deep end, no question. I had people who influenced me, mentors. Sometimes you don’t appreciate it until you look back — “Wow, I made a lot of dumb mistakes, and they didn’t fire me.” They stuck with me, and I applaud them for that.

NBCU Academy is a free, award-winning education program for developing new skills and advancing careers in journalism, media and tech.

Believe it or not, your hairbrush needs a deep clean every other week to remove residue and product buildup. The NBC Select team spoke with experts about tips to maintain your brushes and combs. Plus, the team found the best deals at Nordstrom's sneaker sale, which has discounts up to 65% off on brands including Hoka, Nike, Asics and more.

Thanks for reading the Morning Rundown. Today's newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. 

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