NPR News: 03-13-2025 5PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 13, 2025 – Comprehensive Episode Summary

On March 13, 2025, NPR’s “News Now” delivered a succinct yet comprehensive update on pressing national and international issues. Hosted by Jack Speier, the episode navigates through legal battles in the White House, administrative decisions affecting federal employees, the fluctuating fortunes of Tesla, volatile stock market trends, ongoing challenges surrounding Long Covid, and emerging cybersecurity threats. Below is a detailed summary of each key segment:

---

1. White House Appeals Supreme Court on Birthright Citizenship Executive Order

Key Points:

• The Trump administration seeks Supreme Court intervention to implement a contentious executive order.
• The order targets birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who are neither citizens nor legally residing in the country.

Detailed Discussion: Jack Speier introduces the segment by highlighting the White House's legal maneuvers to enforce President Trump’s executive order aimed at restricting birthright citizenship. The order specifically applies to “children born in the US to parents who both are not citizens, who are both living in the country illegally” (00:13).

NPR’s Windsor Johnston elaborates on the current legal impasse, noting that injunctions from judges in Washington, Massachusetts, and Maryland are preventing the order’s enforcement. The administration contends that these nationwide injunctions overstep judicial authority, emphasizing a reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause. This constitutional provision traditionally grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States. The White House asserts that this does not extend to children of individuals without legal status, a stance opposed by critics who argue it constitutionally infringes on established rights (00:37).

---

2. Federal Judge Orders Rehiring of Thousands of Probationary Workers

Key Points:

• A federal judge mandates the Trump administration to reinstate thousands of probationary federal employees.
• The mass firings across several agencies were deemed unlawful, prompting immediate reinstatement orders.

Detailed Discussion: Jack Speier reports on a significant judicial ruling compelling the Trump administration to reconsider its staffing decisions. A U.S. District Court Judge determined that the mass termination of probationary workers across multiple federal agencies, including the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, and the Treasury, violated federal law (01:18). This decision arose from a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor groups advocating for the rights of these employees.

The Trump administration has publicly vowed to contest the court’s order, setting the stage for an ongoing legal battle over federal employment practices and administrative authority.

---

3. Tesla’s Declining Sales Amid Controversial CEO Elon Musk

Key Points:

• Tesla faces dwindling sales attributed partly to Elon Musk’s polarizing leadership.
• Consumer demographics reveal a split, with Democrats distancing themselves from the brand, while Republican interest remains tepid.

Detailed Discussion: Camila Domonosky delves into the challenges confronting Tesla, highlighting that sales are declining as the company grapples with the controversial reputation of CEO Elon Musk (01:18). Surveys indicate that Democratic consumers are increasingly avoiding the brand, whereas Republican consumers show only limited support.

Dr. Monica Verdusco Gutierrez provides insights into the consumer hesitancy, explaining that despite a growing Republican fan base admiring Musk’s initiatives, there remains a reluctance to adopt electric vehicles (EVs) due to perceived compromises, such as charging infrastructure and vehicle functionality like towing (02:19).

Domonosky underscores that while Musk is attracting some new Republican buyers, the overall impact of his political stances appears to outweigh the gains, leading to a net loss in consumer interest for Tesla’s EVs (02:31).

---

4. Wall Street Faces Continued Volatility Amid Trade War Tensions

Key Points:

• The stock market shows persistent instability with significant declines across major indices.
• The S&P 500 is down 10% from its previous peak, marking an official correction, while the Nasdaq and Dow Jones experience substantial drops.

Detailed Discussion: In a report on Wall Street’s performance, Jack Speier notes the absence of signs indicating a slowdown in market declines, exacerbated by ongoing trade tensions initiated by President Trump (02:46). The S&P 500 has plummeted 10% from its last peak, qualifying as a market correction. The Nasdaq, known for its technology-heavy composition, has fallen by 345 points, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average has decreased by over 500 points.

This financial turmoil reflects investor anxiety over the trade war’s impact on economic stability and corporate profitability, signaling potential longer-term repercussions for the broader economy.

---

5. Five-Year Mark: Long Covid Patients Advocate for Continued Research and Support

Key Points:

• It has been five years since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, yet Long Covid remains a significant health issue.
• Patients and advocates are urging the Trump administration to maintain focus and funding for Long Covid research.

Detailed Discussion: Marking the five-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, NPR’s Will Stone reports on the ongoing struggles of Long Covid sufferers who have yet to achieve substantial recovery (03:27). Dr. Monica Verdusco Gutierrez from UT Health Science Center in San Antonio discusses the current state of research, noting that while there are several hypotheses about the causes of Long Covid, breakthroughs in treatment remain elusive (03:46).

Domonosky emphasizes the critical need for clinical trials to develop effective treatments, to which Dr. Gutierrez responds by acknowledging the existence of numerous trials but calls for an increase in their number to adequately address the estimated 18 million adults affected in the U.S. Patient advocates are pressing the federal government to ensure that the substantial funding allocated by Congress is effectively utilized to support Long Covid research (03:49).

---

6. Rising Threat of Smishing: A New Wave of SMS-Based Phishing Scams

Key Points:

• An increasing number of Americans are targeted by “smishing” scams—phishing attempts via SMS texts.
• These scams often impersonate state toll road agencies, prompting recipients to divulge sensitive financial information.

Detailed Discussion: In a cautionary segment, Jack Speier alerts listeners about the surge in smishing scams, where fraudulent SMS messages mimic legitimate state toll road collection agencies (04:03). These messages typically warn of unpaid tolls and solicit credit card or bank account details. Experts advise recipients to resist clicking on links within such messages and to verify the sender’s authenticity before taking any action.

Speier underscores the similarity of smishing to traditional email phishing, highlighting the importance of vigilance in recognizing and avoiding these deceptive tactics. He advises checking the message’s origin and being skeptical of unsolicited requests for personal information to mitigate the risk of falling victim to these scams.

---

7. Crude Oil Prices Fluctuate Amid Economic Uncertainties

Key Points:

• Following an unexpected increase in reserves, crude oil prices experienced a reversal, declining over 1%.
• This fluctuation is indicative of broader economic uncertainties impacting energy markets.

Detailed Discussion: Concluding the episode, Jack Speier discusses the recent movements in crude oil prices on the U.S. Mercantile Exchange (04:03). After showing signs of upward momentum driven by an unexpected drawdown of reserves, oil prices reversed direction, falling by more than 1%. This volatility reflects the sensitivity of energy markets to varying economic indicators and geopolitical tensions, contributing to the overall instability observed in financial markets.

---

Conclusion: NPR’s “News Now” episode on March 13, 2025, offers listeners a rapid yet thorough overview of significant developments across legal, economic, technological, and public health spheres. From high-stakes legal battles over citizenship laws to the enduring impacts of Long Covid and the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, the episode encapsulates the multifaceted challenges shaping contemporary society.

---

Note: Timestamps in brackets refer to the corresponding moments in the podcast transcript.

Transcript

[Carvana]

This message comes from Carvana. Sell your car the convenient way, enter your license plate or vin, answer a few questions and get a real offer in seconds. Go to Carvana.com today.

[Jack Speier]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Speier. The White House is appealing to the Supreme Court to allow the administration to implement President Trump's executive order that puts new restrictions on birthright citizenship. NPR's Windsor Johnston reports. The order applies to children born in the US to parents who both are not citizens, who are both living in the country illegally.

[Windsor Johnston]

The executive order is currently blocked by injunctions issued by judges in Washington, Massachusetts and Maryland. The Trump administration has petitioned the Supreme Court to intervene and allow the order to take effect, arguing that the nationwide injunctions exceed judicial authority. This legal battle centers on the interpretation of the 14th Amendment citizenship clause, which grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States. The White House argues that this provision does not apply to children of individuals without legal status. Opponents argue that the executive order violates the Constitution. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Speier]

A federal judge is ordering the Trump administration to rehire thousands of probationary workers who were let go in mass firings across multiple agencies. U.S. district Court Judge ruling the firings did not follow federal law and necessitated immediate offers of reinstatement at the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior and the Treasury. The ruling was based on a lawsuit filed by a coalition of labor groups and others. The Trump administration is vowing to fight the order. Sales at his electric car company, Tesla, are falling, at least in part because of its controversial CEO, Elon Musk. Surveys show Democrats turning away from the brand, though some Republicans are embracing it. But NPR's Camila Dominoski explains the problem for Tesla is Republicans are less interested in buying an ev.

[Camila Domonosky]

This gap in interest isn't just about ideology or eco consciousness. It's also about where chargers are located and how much buyers prioritize, say towing. Alexander Edwards runs Strategic Vision, which surveys new car buyers.

[Dr. Monica Verdusco Gutierrez]

Tesla has gained a large number of Republican fans who love what Mr. Musk is doing, but they have little interest in an electrified vehicle because of the compromises they perceive in the vehicle.

[Camila Domonosky]

Now, some Republican drivers have always liked EVs, and Musk is winning over some new fans, too. But analysts say at least for now, Musk's politics are losing more buyers than they're gaining. Camila Domonosky, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

The bleeding showed no signs of lessening on Wall street today amid the latest trade war volley from President Trump. The broadest measure of the stock market, The S&P 500 is now down 10% from last month's peak. What's known on Wall street as an official correction, the tech heavy Nasdaq is already there, down 345 points. Today, the Dow fell more than 500 points. You're listening to NPR. This week marks five years since COVID 19, was declared a pandemic. But many patients with Long Covid have yet to find meaningful recovery, and they're now making their case to the Trump administration to keep prioritizing research and NPR's will stone as the story.

[Dr. Monica Verdusco Gutierrez]

Research on Long Covid has settled on a handful of explanations for what could drive the illness, but that hasn't translated into major breakthroughs for those who need care. As many as 18 million adults are estimated to be living with Long Covid in the U.S. Dr. Monica Verdusco Gutierrez treats long COVID patients at UT Health Science Center, San Antonio.

[Camila Domonosky]

We need treatments, but you need clinical trials to get to treatments.

[Dr. Monica Verdusco Gutierrez]

There are now dozens of these trials testing drugs, but scientists say there need to be many more. Patient advocates say the federal government needs to make sure the millions of dollars set aside by Congress supports this type of Long Covid research. Will Stone, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

Millions of Americans have gotten a text like this on their phones. It claims to be coming from a state toll road collection agency and warns of an unpaid toll announced for either a credit card or bank account information. Bottom line, don't fall for it and don't click on any links in the message. The misleading scams, which have been given the name Smishing, since it's a phishing attack that essentially relies on SMS texts, is basically an effort to fool people into, experts say, much like email phishing attempts. Always check to see if you can determine where the message is coming from. If you can't, it's more likely than not it's fraudulent. After showing some upward momentum yesterday, bigger than expected drawdown of reserves, crude oil moved the other way today, oil falling more than 1% on the U.S. mercantile Exchange. I'm Jack Spier, NPR News in Washington.

[Carvana]

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.