NPR News: 03-16-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of March 16, 2025, Episode

Host: Nora Ramm
Release Date: March 16, 2025

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1. Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Deportation Order Under Alien Enemies Act

At the outset of the episode, Nora Ramm reports a significant legal development concerning immigration and national security. A federal judge has halted President Trump's attempt to deport migrants under the outdated Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a law originally designed to swiftly remove foreigners during times of war. Ramm states:

"A federal judge has blocked President Trump from deporting migrants under the Alien enemies Act of 1798, which allows the US to quickly remove foreigners during a war." [00:17]

Despite this judicial intervention, Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserts that the administration continues its efforts to remove gang members. Rubio disclosed that "hundreds of gang members have been sent to El Salvador" and shared a video purportedly showing the deportees. However, it remains uncertain if these actions proceeded following the judge's order.

Continued Military Actions Against Houthi Rebels

The discussion transitions to ongoing military operations in the Middle East. Secretary Rubio emphasized the continuation of airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, asserting their necessity to disrupt the group's maritime activities:

"Secretary Rubio says airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen will continue as long as necessary." [00:52]

President Trump justified the strikes by highlighting the need to protect shipping routes in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks. Rubio reinforced this stance, adding that the U.S. must prevent the Houthis from "constrict[ing] and control[ing] shipping" and underlined the importance of warning Iran to cease its support for the group.

Expert Analysis on Iranian Involvement

An unnamed analyst provides context to Iran's involvement with the Houthis, explaining:

"What we can't ignore and the reason why the president mentioned Iran is because the Iranians have supported the Houthis. They provided them intelligence. They provided them guidance. They've provided them weaponry." [01:05]

This support is portrayed as a critical factor enabling the Houthis to carry out their operations.

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2. Trump Administration’s Cuts to Voice of America and International Broadcasting Networks

Nora Ramm shifts focus to media and international relations, highlighting severe budget cuts implemented by the Trump administration targeting Voice of America and other U.S.-funded international networks. Ramm reports:

"The Trump administration is making severe cuts to the Voice of America and other international networks funded by the U.S. government." [01:22]

David Folkenflick on Media Shutdowns

David Folkenflick of NPR provides an in-depth analysis of the situation:

"Journalists found themselves locked out of their studios Saturday morning. Within a few hours, more than a thousand journalists at Voice of America were told they were on immediate indefinite paid leave." [01:42]

Folkenflick explains that these moves extend to sister networks such as Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Liberty, all of which historically provided uncensored news and modeled American democratic values during World War II and the Cold War. The actions taken by Trump officials, particularly towards the end of his first term, have previously been criticized as abuses of power. Folkenflick notes the uncertainty surrounding potential legal challenges to the current cuts.

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3. Devastating Storms Across the Southern United States

The episode covers the aftermath of a major weekend storm that resulted in over 30 fatalities across the Midwest and Deep South, primarily due to dust storms and tornadoes. Ramm introduces the report from Pat Duggans of Alabama Public Radio:

"A huge weekend storm has left more than 30 people dead from the Midwest to the Deep South. Officials are blaming dust storms and tornadoes for the fatalities." [02:20]

Pat Duggans on Alabama’s Struggles

Pat Duggans provides a detailed account of the storm's impact in Alabama:

"Alabama declared an emergency ahead of the storm's arrival, but appears to have been spared some of the worst. Nevertheless, tornado sightings were reported northwest of Tuscaloosa and southeast of the state capital of Montgomery, and damage was widespread." [02:36]

Notable incidents include a school bus being tossed onto a high school near Birmingham and a gas station being flipped onto its roof. Infrastructure suffered significantly, with roads remaining impassable due to fallen trees and power lines, resulting in thousands experiencing power outages. The National Weather Service is actively investigating the intensity of the tornadoes reported across the southern United States.

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4. Pope Francis' First Public Appearance After Hospitalization

Nora Ramm reports a notable development from the Vatican:

"The Vatican released a photograph of the pope today, the first in more than a month when he was hospitalized with respiratory problems." [03:11]

The photograph depicts Pope Francis in a wheelchair within the hospital chapel, celebrating Mass alongside other priests. The Vatican assures the public that the 88-year-old pontiff is "breathing unaided," signaling his improved health status.

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5. Lincoln Center Receives Historic $50 Million Donation for Dance Initiatives

Switching to arts and culture, Ramm highlights a significant philanthropic contribution to Lincoln Center:

"Lincoln center for the Performing arts has received $50 million for dance initiatives. NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports." [03:11]

Elizabeth Blair on the Pascalano Donation

Elizabeth Blair elaborates on the donation's impact:

"The $50 million donation comes from philanthropists Lynn and Richard Pascalano. The goal? Transform Lincoln Center's contemporary dance programming." [03:48]

The funding aims to support contemporary dance performances globally and nurture the next generation of dance artists. Mariko Silver, Lincoln Center's president and CEO, emphasizes the challenges faced by the contemporary dance community in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lincoln Center, renowned for housing institutions like Juilliard, the New York City Ballet, and the School of American Ballet, plans to utilize the funds to foster artistic innovation and resilience within the dance sector.

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6. SpaceX’s Crew Replacement Mission to the International Space Station

Concluding the episode, Ramm covers advancements in space exploration:

"SpaceX capsule arrived at the International Space Station early this morning, delivering a replacement crew for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams." [04:28]

The replacement crew was initially intended for a short-term mission but ended up spending nine months in space due to complications with their original Boeing Starliner spacecraft, which returned to Earth empty after encountering problems. The newly arrived crew is anticipated to return to Earth later in the week, marking a successful continuation of the mission despite earlier setbacks.

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Conclusion

This episode of "NPR News Now" delivered a comprehensive overview of breaking news across various sectors, including federal immigration policies, international relations, severe weather impacts, significant developments in the Vatican, major philanthropic endeavors in the arts, and advancements in space exploration. Each segment provided in-depth information, expert insights, and timely updates, ensuring listeners are well-informed on the day's most pressing issues.

Transcript

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[Nora Ramm]

In Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. A federal judge has blocked President Trump from deporting migrants under the Alien enemies Act of 1798, which allows the US to quickly remove foreigners during a war. Despite the order, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said hundreds of gang members have been sent to El Salvador and posted a video. It's not clear if the plane landed after the judge's order. Secretary Rubio says airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen will continue as long as necessary. President Trump said he ordered the strikes yesterday to stop the Houthis from attacking ships in the Red Sea. Rubio says the US Must deny the Houthis the ability to constrict and control shipping. Rubio says it's also important that the US Warned Iran to stop supporting the group.

[Unnamed Analyst]

What we can't ignore and the reason why the president mentioned Iran is because the Iranians have supported the Houthis. They provided them intelligence. They provided them guidance. They've provided them weaponry. I mean, there's no way the Houthis, okay, the Houthis would have the ability to do this kind of thing unless they had support from Iran.

[Nora Ramm]

He appeared on CBS's Face the Nation. The Trump administration is making severe cuts to the Voice of America and other international networks funded by the U.S. government. As NPR's David Folkenflick reports, the move follows a decree by President Trump to eliminate all activity at the organizations that is not required by law.

[David Folkenflick]

Journalists found themselves locked out of their studios Saturday morning. Within a few hours, more than a thousand journalists at Voice of America were told they were on immediate indefinite paid leave. Similar moves would strip its sister networks of all federal funding, including Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty. These networks were set up first in World War II and the Cold War to offer uncensored news that also modeled American democracy, including bad news and dissent from official positions. Trump officials took aim at Voice of America at the end of his first term. Some of their actions were later found to be abuses of power. It's unclear whether there will be legal challenges this time. David Folkenflick, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

A huge weekend storm has left more than 30 people dead from the Midwest to the Deep South. Officials are blaming dust storms and tornadoes for the fatalities. Residents in Alabama are cleaning up from significant damage. Pat Duggans of Alabama Public Radio reports.

[Pat Duggans]

Alabama declared an emergency ahead of the storm's arrival, but appears to have been spared some of the worst. Nevertheless, tornado sightings were reported northwest of Tuscaloosa and southeast of the state capital of Montgomery, and damage was widespread. Near Birmingham, a school bus was tossed onto a local high school. Elsewhere, a gas station was flipped onto its roof. Roads remained impassable Sunday due to down trees and power lines, and thousands of outages were reported. Investigators with the National Weather Service are working to establish the intensity of tornadoes reported across the southern U.S. for NPR News, I'm Pat Duggans in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

[Nora Ramm]

This is NPR News in Washington. The Vatican released a photograph of the pope today, the first in more than a month when he was hospitalized with respiratory problems. It shows Pope Francis sitting in a wheelchair in front of an altar in the hospital chapel. The Vatican says it was taken today while he was celebrating Mass with other priests. It appeared the 88 year old pontiff was breathing unaided. Lincoln center for the Performing arts has received $50 million for dance initiatives. NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports. It's the largest gift in the New York institution's history.

[Elizabeth Blair]

The $50 million donation comes from philanthropists Lynn and Richard Pascalano. The goal? Transform Lincoln Center' contemporary dance programming. In a statement, Lincoln center says the money will support contemporary dance performances from across the globe and the next generation of dance artists. The center's president and CEO, Mariko Silver, notes these are challenging times for the contemporary dance community as we continue recovering from the height of the COVID 19 pandemic. Lincoln center is home to Juilliard, the renowned New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet, both co founded by George Balanchine. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

SpaceX capsule arrived at the International Space Station early this morning, delivering a replacement crew for Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. They've spent nine months in space on what was supposed to be a week long mission. They had arrived on a Boeing Starliner that eventually returned to Earth empty because of problems. They're now expected to return home sometime this week. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

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