NPR News: 03-09-2025 7AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 9, 2025

Hosted by NPR's Windsor Johnston

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1. U.S. House Republicans Unveil Government Spending Plan to Prevent Shutdown

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has introduced a government spending plan aimed at averting a partial shutdown slated for the end of the week. This legislative package is designed to maintain government operations through the fall while allowing House Republicans to prioritize President Trump's agenda.

Eric McDaniel of NPR explains, “It is sort of clearing House Republicans to do list in order to focus on Trump's priorities, basically keeping the lights on through the fall while they focus on the policy stuff” (00:39). The proposed legislation primarily involves maintaining current funding levels but introduces an $8 billion reduction overall. Notably, the plan includes increased defense spending juxtaposed with significant cuts to domestic programs, reflecting a strategic shift in federal budget allocations.

2. National Endowment for the Arts Drops Gender Ideology Clause Amid Legal Battle

In a significant development, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has agreed to eliminate a controversial requirement that mandated artists to certify they would not promote "gender ideology" in their funding applications. This decision comes as a response to an ongoing legal challenge led by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on behalf of four arts groups.

Chloe Veltman reports, “The NEA issued a declaration attesting to the removal of the new language by March 11” (01:31). Despite this removal, the NEA has not fully rescinded its eligibility criteria, meaning funding applications could still be denied if deemed contradictory to the previous executive order by President Trump. Veltman adds, “We won't stop fighting until these new requirements are struck down for good” (02:08). A hearing is scheduled for March 18, underscoring the ongoing legal contention surrounding this issue.

3. Revenge Attacks Intensify in Syria, Targeting Alawite Communities

Syria is witnessing a surge in retaliatory violence, with human rights organizations reporting that hundreds have been killed in recent days. These attacks predominantly target Alawite communities—the same religious minority to which the ousted President Bashar al-Assad belongs—as the new Syrian government endeavors to reassert control over the region.

Jane Araf of NPR details, “The killings targeted Alawite communities... the new government has been fighting loyalists of the old regime on the Mediterranean coast” (01:31). The escalation follows clashes in areas previously lacking a formal army or police force since the regime's fall, leading to the influx of various fighters blamed for the increased violence. Syrian President Ahmed Ashara has made efforts to reassure minority groups of their safety, stating that protecting these communities is a top priority for his administration. Araf concludes, “This is the biggest challenge to central government rule since he took power” (02:18).

4. Alabama Commemorates Bloody Sunday; New York Battles Severe Brush Fires

Alabama is observing the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, a landmark event in the civil rights movement when peaceful demonstrators fighting for voting rights were violently attacked in Selma. This brutal confrontation was pivotal in garnering national support for the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Concurrently, New York is grappling with a series of brush fires on Long Island, exacerbated by dry conditions and strong winds. Bruce Konviser reports, “Dozens of firefighting companies are battling the flames that have prompted local evacuations and a highway closure” (03:12). Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency, deploying the New York National Guard to assist firefighters. The National Weather Service had previously issued a fire alert, noting that “winds in excess of 30 mph were whipping flames across a miles long radius Saturday night” (03:48), significantly hindering firefighting efforts.

5. Devastating Cyclone Strikes Eastern Australia, Leaving Trail of Destruction

A powerful cyclone has struck the eastern coast of Australia, resulting in widespread power outages affecting over 300,000 customers. The storm has claimed one confirmed death and injured a dozen troops deployed for emergency response in the hardest-hit regions of Southeast Queensland and New South Wales.

Officials report that this cyclone is unprecedented in over half a century for these areas, overwhelming local infrastructure and emergency services. Efforts are ongoing to restore electricity and provide assistance to affected communities. The severity of the cyclone underscores the increasing challenges posed by extreme weather events in the region.

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Timestamp Reference:

• 00:39: Eric McDaniel discussing the U.S. spending plan
• 01:31: Chloe Veltman on NEA's decision and Jane Araf on Syria
• 02:08: Chloe Veltman's statement on legal challenges
• 02:18: Jane Araf concluding the Syria report
• 03:12: Bruce Konviser on New York brush fires
• 03:48: Detailed weather conditions affecting firefighting efforts

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on March 9, 2025. For a comprehensive understanding, listening to the full episode is recommended.

Transcript

[Progressive Insurance]

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[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The Republican controlled house has released the details of a government spending plan ahead of a deadline to avert a partial government shutdown at the end of the week. NPR's Eric McDaniel reports. The legislation contains a number of provisions backed by President Trump.

[Eric McDaniel]

What it is is sort of clearing House Republicans to do list in order to focus on Trump's priorities, basically keeping the lights on through the fall while they focus on the policy stuff. But it is interesting as far as stopgap measures go. Like most extensions, it keeps funding basically unchanged. But this time they're increasing defense spending and paring back domestic spending with changes to the funding levels for lots of individual programs, though in the end it's just an overall spending reduction of about $8 billion.

[Windsor Johnston]

That's NPR's Eric McDaniel reporting. The National Endowment for the Arts has agreed to remove a requirement forcing artists to certify that they will not promote gender ideology in their funding applications pending the results of a legal challenge. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports. Arts group sued the NEA last week over the requirement.

[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.

[Progressive Insurance]

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

[Chloe Veltman]

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

[Windsor Johnston]

Human rights groups in Syria say hundreds of people have been killed in revenge attacks in recent days. NPR's Jane Araf reports. The new Syrian government has flooded the region with fighters to try to restore orders.

[Jane Araf]

The killings targeted Alawite communities, the same religious minority to which deposed Syrian President Bashar al Assad belonged. The new government has been fighting loyalists of the old regime on the Mediterranean coast. And the killings began there after government forces were killed in clashes. Syria has no army or even police force since the fall of the regime, and other fighters that the government now blames for the killings rushed in after the ambush. Syrian President Ahmed Ashara has tried to reassure minorities the government will protect them. This is the biggest challenge to central government rule since he took power. Jane Araf, NPR News, Damascus.

[Windsor Johnston]

This is NPR News. Alabama is marking the 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday this weekend. It was a pivotal event in the civil rights movement when voting rights demonstrators were brutally attacked in the city of Selma. The violence galvanized support for the Voting Rights act of 1965. Emergency crews are working to contain a series of brush fires that broke out on New York's Long island on Saturday. Bruce Konviser reports that dry conditions and strong winds are fueling the flames.

[Bruce Konviser]

Dozens of firefighting companies are battling the flames that have prompted local evacuations and a highway closure. Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency, enabling the New York National Guard to provide air support for the firefighters on the ground. The National Weather Service had issued a fire alert warning prior to the burst of flames. The service noted that the grounds were dry from a dearth of rain, humidity was low and winds were high. Winds in excess of 30 mph were whipping flames across a miles long radius Saturday night, making it difficult for firefighters to get the flames under control. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Konfeiser in New York.

[Windsor Johnston]

A powerful cyclone has left more than 300,000 customers without electricity along the eastern coast of Australia. Officials say say one person has been confirmed dead and a dozen troops responding to emergencies have been injured. Southeast Queensland and New South Wales are among the hardest hit regions. Forecasters say those areas haven't been hit by a cyclone in more than 50 years. This is NPR News in Washington.

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