NPR News: 03-09-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 9, 2025, 4PM EDT – Detailed Summary

Nora Ram hosts the latest episode of NPR News Now, delivering a comprehensive overview of significant events shaping the world today. This summary encapsulates the key topics discussed, enriched with notable quotes and attributions to provide a clear and engaging narrative for those who haven't tuned in.

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1. 60th Anniversary of Selma's Historic Voting Rights Marches

Symbolic Commemoration in Selma, Alabama

Selma, Alabama, marks six decades since the pivotal voting rights marches that were instrumental in the Civil Rights Movement. In a peaceful demonstration, thousands retraced the steps of the original marchers by crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the very site where "Bloody Sunday" occurred—a day marked by brutal attacks on peaceful protesters by law enforcement.

• Debbie Elliott, NPR Reporter:

  "A far cry from the violence back then. The crowd had police protection as they retraced the footsteps of those who braved Edmund Pettus Bridge 60 years ago." [00:34]

• Sheila Bonds, Participant from the Indianapolis Coalition of 100 Black Women:

  "This is really important for us to remember for our youth to take a stand and to make sure as the US Government is making huge changes, that we are included in the change." [00:55]

Participants like Sheila Bonds emphasize the importance of remembering history to inspire younger generations to actively participate in safeguarding and advancing voting rights. Concerns were voiced regarding potential setbacks to the achievements attained by voting rights activists in 1965, highlighting the ongoing struggle for equitable voting access.

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2. Secret Service Shooting Incident Near the White House

Intrusion and Response in Washington, D.C.

A tense situation unfolded near the White House when a man brandishing a firearm was confronted by Secret Service officers. The incident occurred in the vicinity of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, leading to the man's shooting and subsequent hospitalization.

• Luke Garrett, NPR Reporter:

  "Officers shot the man just steps away from the White House grounds. He was taken to a hospital. His condition is unknown." [01:29]

Authorities identified the individual as someone previously flagged by local police, described as a suicidal individual potentially traveling from Indiana. The swift action by the Secret Service prevented further escalation, ensuring the safety of the White House and its environs. Notably, President Trump was at his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, during the incident, remaining uninvolved in the immediate response.

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3. Marco Rubio’s Diplomatic Mission and Ukraine-Russia Conflict

Efforts to Mediate Peace in Ukraine

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia to engage with Ukrainian counterparts. The primary agenda is to strategize on ways to conclude Russia's prolonged conflict in Ukraine, seeking international collaboration and support.

• Joanna Kakisis, NPR Reporter from Kyiv:

  "When Ukrainian soldiers occupied about 200 square miles of Russia's Kursk region last summer, it was the first time a foreign army had crossed into Russian territory since World War II." [02:24]

The conflict has seen Ukrainian forces occupy portions of Russia's Kursk region, an unprecedented event since World War II. While Russia has largely reclaimed the occupied territories with assistance from North Korean military forces, the situation remains volatile. Ukraine's military reports that Russian special forces infiltrated through a gas pipeline network to challenge Ukrainian positions recently. Despite these hostilities, Ukrainian commanders assert that the situation is "difficult but under control of our command," striving to maintain strategic advantages while seeking diplomatic resolutions.

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4. Congressional Funding Proposal and NEA Controversy

Potential Government Shutdown and Arts Funding Disputes

Congress faces a crucial vote this week on a funding proposal intended to sustain government programs until the end of September. Failure to pass this measure could result in a partial government shutdown once allocated funds deplete on Friday.

Concurrently, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced the removal of a contentious requirement mandating artists to certify that their projects do not promote "gender ideology" in their funding applications. This decision is a temporary measure pending the outcome of ongoing legal challenges.

• Chloe Veltman, NPR Reporter:

  "The NEA issued a declaration attesting to the removal of the new language by March 11. It comes after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of four arts groups with the US District Court for the District of Rhode Island on Thursday." [03:41]

The lawsuit, led by Vera Edelman, seeks to nullify an executive order from President Donald Trump that restricted federal funding for arts projects perceived to support gender ideology. Although the NEA has pledged to remove the discriminatory language, it has not entirely lifted the eligibility criteria, meaning funding decisions may still reflect government interpretations of the executive order.

• Vera Edelman, Lead Counsel:

  "This is a huge step towards initial relief. We won't stop fighting until these new requirements are struck down for good." [04:18]

A hearing for the case is slated for March 18, marking a significant legal battle over the intersection of government funding and artistic expression.

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5. Protests in Nepal Demand Monarchy Restoration and State Religion

Public Discontent and Calls for Political Overhaul

Nepal is witnessing substantial public demonstrations advocating for the restoration of the monarchy and the reinstatement of Hinduism as the state religion. The movement gains momentum amid widespread economic struggles and allegations of rampant corruption within the republic framework established since the monarchy's dissolution in 2006.

• Nora Ram, NPR Host:

  "Thousands of people demonstrated in Nepal today calling for the South Asian nation to return to a monarchy. The last king gave up his throne in 2006 in response to street protests." [04:28]

Protesters argue that the republican system has failed to address economic woes and corruption effectively, believing that a monarchical system could provide more stable and culturally aligned governance. Additionally, there is a strong sentiment among demonstrators to reinstate Hinduism officially, reflecting the deep-seated cultural and religious identity of Nepal.

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Conclusion

NPR News Now continues to provide timely and in-depth coverage of pivotal events across the globe. From commemorating historic civil rights milestones and addressing immediate security concerns in the U.S., to navigating complex international conflicts and legal battles over artistic freedoms, the podcast ensures listeners are well-informed. Additionally, the unfolding political dynamics in Nepal add to the rich tapestry of global news, underscoring the interconnectedness of societal issues worldwide.

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For more updates and detailed news analysis, stay tuned to NPR News Now.

Transcript

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[Nora Ram]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ram. Selma, Alabama is marking 60 years since historic voting rights marches there. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports. Thousands came today to symbolically cross Selma's Edmund Pettus Bridge, where law officers attacked peaceful demonstrators in what became known as.

[Debbie Elliott]

Bloody Sunday, a far cry from the violence back then. The crowd had police protection as they retraced the footsteps of those who braved Edmund Pettus Bridge 60 years ago.

[Sheila Bonds]

Turning around, ain't gonna let nobody.

[Debbie Elliott]

Sheila Bonds made the pilgrimage with the Indianapolis Coalition of 100 Black Women.

[Sheila Bonds]

This is really important for us to remember for our youth to take a stand and to make sure as the US Government is making huge changes, that we are included in the change.

[Debbie Elliott]

Bonds and others say they fear a rollback of gains achieved by voting rights activists in 1965. Debbie Elliott, NPR News, SELMA.

[Nora Ram]

The Secret Service says a man brandishing a firearm in Washington, D.C. was shot by Secret Service officers near the White house this morning. NPR's Luke Garrett reports.

[Luke Garrett]

By mid morning, in the shadow of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House, only remnants of yellow police tape remained. Around midnight, Secret Service officers saw a man who looked like someone local police had warned them about, described as a suicidal individual, possibly on his way from Indiana. Officers went up to him and saw he had a gun. The Secret Service says officers shot the man just steps away from the White House grounds. He was taken to a hospital. His condition is unknown. President Trump was at his home in Mar A Lago, Florida, during the shooting. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Nora Ram]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio heads to Saudi Arabia tomorrow, where he's to meet with his counterparts from Ukraine there, discuss ways to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Ukraine's military says Russian and North Korean troops are trying to surround Ukrainian soldiers who who have occupied part of a western Russian region since last year. NPR's Joanna Kakisis reports from Kyiv.

[Joanna Kakisis]

When Ukrainian soldiers occupied about 200 square miles of Russia's Kursk region last summer, it was the first time a foreign army had crossed into Russian territory since World War II. The surprise attack embarrassed the Kremlin. Russia has since managed to take back most of that territory with the help of thousands of North Korean soldiers. And now Ukraine's military confir to NPR that Russian special forces crept through miles of a gas pipeline to storm Ukrainian positions this weekend in a statement, Ukraine's military grouping in Kursk said, the situation remains, quote, difficult but under control of our command. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Nora Ram]

This is NPR News in Washington. Congress is expected to vote this week on a proposal to pay for government programs through the end of September. If Congress does not, there could be a partial government shutdown after some money runs out Friday. The National Endowment for the Arts has agreed to remove a requirement forcing artists to certify they will not promote gender ideology in their funding applications pending the results of a legal challenge. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports.

[Chloe Veltman]

The NEA issued a declaration attesting to the removal of the new language by March 11. It comes after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of four arts groups with the US District Court for the District of Rhode island on Thursday. The suit seeks to revoke an executive order issued by President Donald Trump preventing the use of federal funds for art that can be seen as promoting gender ideology. However, the NEA has not yet agreed to remove its eligibility criteria, so applicants still won't get funding if the government thinks their project contradicts the executive order. Vera Edelman is the lead counsel on the case.

[Vera Edelman]

This is a huge step towards initial relief. We won't stop fighting until these new requirements are struck down for good.

[Chloe Veltman]

Hearing date is scheduled for March 18. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Nora Ram]

Thousands of people demonstrated in Nepal today calling for the South Asian nation to return to a monarchy. The last king gave up his throne in 2006 in response to street protests. Now protesters blame the republic for a struggling economy and widespread corruption. They're also calling for Hinduism to be reinstated as a state religion. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News.

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Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.