NPR News: 03-15-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 15, 2025, 11 PM EDT

Host: Dale Willman

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Presidential Action on Venezuelan Gangs Blocked by Federal Judge

Timestamp: [00:18] - [01:16]

President Donald Trump initiated a significant presidential action over the weekend, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite the deportation of Venezuelan citizens affiliated with the Trende Aragua prison gang. This move aimed to remove individuals aged 14 and older linked to the gang swiftly. However, the administration's order faced immediate legal challenges.

NPR’s Jimena Bustillo reports that a federal judge intervened promptly, halting the deportation efforts. “The order was quickly put on hold,” Bustillo explains, highlighting that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a preemptive lawsuit requesting a temporary stop on deportations. Initially seeking a two-week suspension for five men, the ACLU expanded their request to encompass a broader prohibition. Bustillo emphasized concerns from immigration advocates who argue that activating wartime authorities like the Alien Enemies Act could set a precedent for targeting and deporting individuals indiscriminately, regardless of their criminal backgrounds or immigration status.

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Devastating Tornado Strikes Central US, Leaving Over 30 Dead

Timestamp: [01:16] - [01:44]

A brutal storm system has wreaked havoc across the central United States, particularly impacting Missouri with a powerful tornado hitting on Friday night and continuing into the following day. The death toll has risen to over 30 as communities grapple with extensive damage.

Sam Page, St. Louis County Executive, provided a sobering update: “We had a tremendous amount of devastation in St. Louis County. Even we still have 45,000 homes without power. We have over a half a million reports of property damage, and people are scrambling to just try and catalog all of the damage” ([01:26]). Page expressed concerns about public safety, especially the danger posed by downed power lines amidst high winds and dry conditions that have also heightened the risk of wildfires in regions like Oklahoma, where nearly 300 homes have been destroyed.

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Hudson's Bay Company Faces Liquidation Amid Trade Wars and Financial Struggles

Timestamp: [01:44] - [02:54]

The historic Hudson's Bay Company, North America's oldest retail institution with over 350 years of operation, is on the brink of liquidation. CEO Liz Rodbell announced that without securing a viable path forward, the company may begin dissolving its entire business, potentially as soon as next week pending a court decision on Monday.

Robbell stated, “After more than 350 years, Hudson's Bay Company may shut down, affecting dozens of stores in the US and Canada and costing thousands of jobs” ([02:12]). The company is grappling with nearly $950 million in debts owed to landlords, suppliers, and other partners. Declining sales, driven by a shift in consumer behavior away from brick-and-mortar establishments, have further exacerbated financial woes. Additionally, Rodbell attributed the company's struggles to the ongoing trade tensions with the United States, which have introduced significant market uncertainty, thereby complicating efforts to secure necessary financing.

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Iran-Backed Houthi Rebels Conduct Airstrikes in Yemen; Trump Responds

Timestamp: [02:54] - [03:58]

In the volatile region of Yemen, Iran-supported Houthi rebels launched a series of airstrikes targeting the capital city. The assaults resulted in the deaths of at least 18 civilians, according to Houthi reports. In response, President Trump took to social media to claim responsibility for ordering the strikes and issued a stern warning to Iran.

“There is no place for the Houthi attacks on shipping in the Middle East,” Trump stated, justifying the military action as a necessary measure to protect regional stability and international maritime interests.

In a related development, President Trump signed an executive order on Saturday that significantly impacts U.S.-funded media organizations. The order mandates the reduction of staff at the Voice of America (VOA) and similar entities. “Virtually the entire 1,300 person staff has now been put on leave,” the director of VOA reported, signaling a major shift in the organization’s operations. Founded in 1942 to counter Nazi propaganda, VOA has expanded its mission over the decades, making this move a point of concern for media freedom and international news dissemination.

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NASA Reports Accelerated Ocean Temperature Rise and Sea Level Increase

Timestamp: [03:58] - [04:35]

NASA scientists have released a concerning report indicating that ocean temperatures are rising faster than previously anticipated. Lauren Sommer from NPR outlines that sea levels have surged by an additional 4 inches since 1993, with last year marking the highest recorded ocean temperatures to date.

“Hotter temperatures are melting huge amounts of ice that's stored in glaciers and ice sheets,” Sommer explains. This melting contributes to sea level rise, compounded by the thermal expansion of warmer water. The accelerated pace of sea level rise poses significant threats to hundreds of millions of people residing in coastal cities worldwide. NASA scientists warn that the trend is intensifying each year, underscoring the urgent need for climate action to mitigate these environmental impacts.

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Alex Ovechkin Nears NHL's All-Time Goal Record

Timestamp: [04:35] - [04:58]

In the world of sports, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin is on the verge of surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s long-standing NHL record for the most career goals. During the Capitals' recent 5-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks, Ovechkin netted his 887th career goal, placing him just eight goals shy of Gretzky’s legendary tally.

The 39-year-old Russian powerhouse continues to defy age, boasting 34 goals in the current season alone. Fans and commentators alike are eagerly anticipating when Ovechkin will finally break the all-time goal record, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest hockey players in history.

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now covered a broad spectrum of pressing issues, from significant political actions and natural disasters to economic challenges faced by historic companies, international conflicts, alarming climate change data, and notable achievements in sports. Each segment provided in-depth analysis and insightful commentary, ensuring listeners remain well-informed on the latest developments shaping our world.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump filed a presidential action this weekend that invokes a law passed in 1798. The the action targets members of the Trende Aragua, the Venezuelan prison gag. But the order was quickly put on hold. As NPR's Jimena Bustillo reports, a federal.

[Jimena Bustillo]

Judge blocked the administration from using the Alien Enemies act to deport anyone. The order came down just hours after Trump issued an action that would expedite removal of all Venezuelan citizens 14 and older found to be members of the gang. The block came from a preemptive lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union asking for the court to first stop the government from deporting five men for two weeks. They later asked the judge to issue a broader block. The wartime authority allows for people to be deported without going through immigration courts. Immigration advocates fear that invoking this also opens the door for targeting and deportations of other individuals, regardless of their status or criminal records. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

More than 30 people are now dead from a major storm system moving across the central US at this hour in Missouri. Tornado struck Friday night and into today. Sam Page is the same St. Louis county executive.

[Sam Page]

We had a tremendous amount of devastation in St. Louis County. Even we still have 45,000 homes without power. We have over a half a million reports of property damage, and people are scrambling to just try and catalog all of the damage.

[Dale Willman]

Page says his main concern is that someone won't notice a downed power line and be injured. High winds and dry conditions, meanwhile, have increased the risk of wildfires in parts of the region, including Oklahoma, where almost 300 homes have been destroyed. Canadian and department store Hudson's Bay says unless it can find a viable path forward, it will begin liquidating its entire business. Dan Carpentek reports that the CEO of North America's oldest retail company says the trade war sparked by President Trump has worsened existing problems.

[Liz Rodbell]

After more than 350 years, Hudson's Bay Company may shut down, affecting dozens of stores in the US and Canada and costing thousands of jobs. The company says efforts to find financing have not been successful, and it now faces full liquidation. That could come as early as next week, pending a court appearance on Monday. The company owes about $950 million to landlords, suppliers and other partners and has faced lower sales in recent years mainly because of shifts in consumer spending away from walk in business. Hudson's Bay CEO Liz Rodbell also blames trade tensions with the US that she says have created market uncertainty. For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpenschuk in Toronto.

[Dale Willman]

Iran backed Houthi rebels in Yemen say a series of airstrikes hit the capital city on Saturday night, and the Houthis say at least 18 civilians were killed. In a social media post, President Trump says he ordered those strikes and issued a warning to Iran as well. Among the reasons for the strike, the administration cited Houthi attacks on shipping in the Middle East. You're listening to NPR News. President Trump signed an order Saturday that will decimate the staff of the Voice of America and other U S. Funded media organizations. The VOA was founded in 1942 to combat Nazi propaganda during World War II by offering accurate and unbiased news to Europe. Its role has expanded over the years to include broadcasts around the world. The organization's director says virtually the entire 1, 300 person staff has now been put on leave. A new report from NASA scientists shows that ocean temperatures rose increasingly faster than expected last year. As NPR's Lauren Sommer reports, sea levels are rising as the climate gets hotter.

[Lauren Sommer]

Hotter temperatures are melting huge amounts of ice that's stored in glaciers and ice sheets. That water is causing sea levels to rise, which have already gone up 4 inches since 1993. But last year, the oceans rose even more than expected. That's because sea levels also rise when oceans get warmer, because warmer water expands. Last year, ocean temperatures were the hottest ever recorded and drove most of the sea level rise. NASA scientists say the pace of sea level rise is increasing year by year. That threatens hundreds of millions of people who live in coastal cities. Lauren Sommer, NPR News, Washington.

[Dale Willman]

Capital star Alex Ovechkin is drawing closer to beating Wayne Gretzky's long held NHL record for most career goals. He scored a goal in the third period as the Capitals beat the San Jose Sharks 5 to 1. It was his 887th career goal and he's now just eight away from breaking the all time leader. The 39 year old Russian has 34 goals so far this season. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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