NPR News Now: March 7, 2025

Hosted by Doualisai Kowtow, this episode of NPR News Now delivers a comprehensive update on the latest developments in U.S. politics, legal battles, space exploration setbacks, international conflicts, and significant global figures.

1. White House Considers Closing the Department of Education

In a controversial move, President Trump is reportedly contemplating an executive order to close the Department of Education. Although White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt asserted on social media that no such order would be signed, NPR obtained a draft of the proposed executive action. This draft directs the newly confirmed Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education" (Doualisai Kowtow, 00:17).

Reporter Cory Turner delves into the implications of this potential closure, highlighting that the executive order mandates all department funding to comply with the Trump administration's new guidelines on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Turner emphasized the significant impact on federal disability laws for children, stating:

"The problem is a huge focus of federal disability law for children is inclusion. You know, before those laws in the 1970s, kids with disabilities were regularly excluded. They were turned away from schools or they were warehoused or even institutionalized."
— Cory Turner, 00:43

This proposed closure has sparked debates over the future of educational policies and support systems for children with disabilities.

2. Trump Targets Law Firms Representing Perceived Political Enemies

President Trump has intensified his campaign against law firms associated with his political adversaries. In the latest development, an executive order has been signed targeting Perkins Coie, the firm that represented Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. The order suspends any security clearances held by attorneys at Perkins Coie and restricts their access to government buildings and officials (Doualisai Kowtow, 01:11).

Ryan Lucas provides further insights into this action, noting that Perkins Coie has branded the order as "patently unlawful" and intends to challenge it legally. This directive marks the second instance where Trump has sought to penalize a law firm; previously, a similar order was issued against the firm representing former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith (Ryan Lucas, 01:28).

"The new executive order signed by Trump targets the law firm Perkins Coie. It suspends any security clearances held by attorneys at the firm."
— Ryan Lucas, 01:28

These actions have raised concerns about the politicization of legal services and the broader implications for the justice system.

3. SpaceX Starship Suffers Second Failure in 2025 Test Flights

SpaceX's ambitious Starship program faces another setback as a test flight ended in failure, marking the second such incident this year. The rocket launched smoothly from Texas, flew over the Gulf, and successfully separated from its super heavy booster. The booster was recovered by a pair of giant mechanical arms, showcasing SpaceX's reusable rocket technology (Doualisai Kowtow, 02:13; Jeff Brumfield, 02:23).

However, the mission took a turn for the worse when several of Starship's engines abruptly shut down upon entering space, leading to a loss of attitude control:

"It looks like we are losing attitude control of the ship."
— Ryan Lucas, 02:51

Subsequently, Starship tumbled out of control before exploding over the Caribbean. Elon Musk remains optimistic, asserting that the rocket will eventually fulfill its goal of carrying humans to Mars (Jeff Brumfield, 02:54).

This failure underscores the challenges SpaceX faces in developing reliable spacecraft for interplanetary travel.

4. Israel Imposes Comprehensive Blockade on Gaza

Amid escalating tensions, Israel has enforced a complete blockade on Gaza, halting all imports of food, fuel, and aid for the past five days. This blockade is intended to pressure Hamas into agreeing to a new ceasefire arrangement. With a population of 2 million, Gaza's residents are now entirely dependent on what Israel permits (Doualisai Kowtow, 03:06).

NPR's Aya Bachar reports on the dire humanitarian situation:

"Human Rights Watch says officials operating Gaza's water and waste services tell them there are only enough fuel reserves left to continue operating water facilities for one more week. Then nearly all water production from wells and one of Gaza's two functional desalination facilities will come to a halt."
— Aya Baltrawi, 03:33

Moreover, two main water plants in central Gaza, which serve 70% of the population, have ceased operations after Israel cut electricity supplies. Several Israeli rights groups have petitioned the Supreme Court to block the continuation of the blockade, arguing that using aid as a weapon of war violates international humanitarian laws (Aya Baltrawi, 03:33).

This blockade threatens to exacerbate the already precarious living conditions in Gaza, raising international concern and calls for humanitarian intervention.

5. Pope Francis Releases First Audio Message from Hospital

In a heartfelt update, Pope Francis has released an audio message for the first time since being hospitalized three weeks ago at Rome's Gemali Hospital. Speaking softly in Spanish, the 88-year-old pontiff expressed his gratitude for the prayers supporting his health:

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health. From the square. I accompany you from here. May God bless you and the Virgin protect you."
— Pope Francis, 04:16

Despite his hospitalization, Pope Francis participated in Ash Wednesday celebrations and continues to undergo respiratory and other physical therapies. His message serves as a comforting gesture to the global Catholic community during his recovery (Doualisai Kowtow, 04:16).

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now encapsulates a wide array of pressing issues, from significant political shifts within the U.S. administration and legal system to challenges in space exploration and humanitarian crises in the Middle East. Additionally, the personal well-being of a key global religious leader is highlighted, offering a moment of reflection amidst turbulent times. For those seeking a detailed understanding of these events, NPR's comprehensive reporting provides valuable insights and updates.

Note: Advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections have been excluded to focus solely on the key news stories presented in this episode.