NPR News: 03-16-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 16, 2025, 6PM EDT

Hosted by NPR

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1. US Airstrikes in Yemen Heighten Tensions with Iranian-Backed Houthi Rebels

At the forefront of today’s international news, the United States launched airstrikes in Yemen aimed at deterring attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on military and commercial vessels navigating the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden—critical arteries for global shipping. The strikes came in response to recent attacks that resulted in the deaths of over 30 individuals and left dozens injured.

Jeanine Hurst reported from Washington at [00:16], highlighting the escalating rhetoric between the two factions:

"The US and Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are both vowing escalation after Washington launched airstrikes yesterday to deter the rebels from attacking military and commercial vessels on one of the world's busiest shipping corridors."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the US commitment to these strikes, stating at [00:34]:

"The strikes will continue until the Houthis are no longer capable of controlling which ships go through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden."

An unnamed analyst provided further insights at [00:55], linking Iran’s support to the Houthis’ capabilities:

"There’s no way the Houthis would have the ability to do this kind of thing unless they had support from Iran."

2. Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Kill Charity Workers During Ramadan

Tragedy unfolded in Gaza over the weekend as back-to-back Israeli airstrikes claimed the lives of eight staff members from a London-based charity. These individuals were engaged in humanitarian efforts during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, according to Jeanine Hurst at [01:12].

NPR’s Kat Lansdorf detailed the conflicting narratives surrounding the attack:

"The Al Hair Foundation denies that they were involved in any military activities, stating that their drone was solely used for humanitarian purposes."

Qasim Rashid Ahmed, founder of the Al Hair Foundation, clarified at [01:31]:

"They were filming for humanitarian purposes. They were not filming in a military zone. They were purely in a humanitarian area."

The Israeli military maintains that the strikes targeted a "terrorist cell," as stated by an unnamed representative at [01:45]:

"Israel says the strikes killed members of a terrorist cell, including individuals undercover as journalists."

3. Trump Administration and Elon Musk Push to Reduce Federal Workforce

Domestically, the Trump administration, in collaboration with Elon Musk, is intensifying efforts to downsize the federal workforce. Jeanine Hurst reported on [02:13] that seven additional agencies have been targeted under a recent executive order, including the Agency for Global Media, which funds Voice of America—a vital source of news for populations under authoritarian regimes.

Mara Liasson provided a detailed account at [02:20], noting the continued push despite significant opposition:

"The deep cuts continue despite pushback from federal judges and from Republicans, including Vice President Vance, who acknowledged the value of federal workers while criticizing Musk’s approach."

Vice President Vance remarked on [02:25]:

"There are a lot of good people who work in the government."

However, Musk remains steadfast in his aggressive strategy, derogatorily comparing federal employees to infamous historical figures:

"Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, and Mao Zedong didn't murder millions of people. Their public sector employees did," Musk stated in a now-deleted post on his social media platform, X.

4. Executive Order Targets Diversity Programs, Affecting Tree Planting in Black Neighborhoods

In a controversial move, the Trump administration has ordered the termination of programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within federal agencies. Jeanine Hurst highlighted at [03:12] that this directive has unexpectedly impacted initiatives such as nationwide tree planting in predominantly Black neighborhoods.

Eva Tesfai reported at [03:35] on the specific implications:

"The U.S. Forest Service terminated a $75 million contract with the Arbor Day Foundation, which was intended to distribute funds to nonprofits, towns, and tribes for environmental restoration."

The executive decision has faced criticism from organizations like Sustaining Our Urban Landscape, whose executive director, Susannah Burley, expressed frustration:

"It's absurd to cancel the money as an equity program."

An unnamed expert commented at [04:04]:

"The word equity is pervasive in the grants that were funded by this, but in a totally different context."

A spokesperson from the USDA defended the action, stating compliance with the executive orders issued by President Trump.

5. Astronauts Set to Return from Extended Mission on the International Space Station

Shifting to space exploration, NASA is preparing to bring back two astronauts who have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for an extended nine-month mission. Jeanine Hurst provided the update at [04:22], noting that a SpaceX capsule successfully delivered replacement crew members earlier in the day.

The incoming astronauts will take four days to familiarize themselves with the ISS operations before the departing astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, begin their return journey. Originally slated for a one-week stay following a Boeing Starliner capsule mission last June, delays arose due to safety concerns, ultimately leading NASA to delay the homecoming until now.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and updates presented in the NPR News Now episode from March 16, 2025. For more detailed coverage, listeners are encouraged to tune into NPR’s broadcasts.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Hurst]

In Washington, I'm Jeanine Hurst. The US And Iranian backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are both vowing escalation after Washington launched airstrikes yesterday to deter the rebels from attacking military and commercial vessels on of the world's busiest shopping corridors. More than 30 people were killed, dozens injured. The Houthis say they will meet escalation with escalation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the strikes will continue until the Houthis are no longer capable of controlling which ships go through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. And he says it's 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've provided them intelligence, they've provided them guidance, 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.

[Jeanine Hurst]

Speaking there on CBS's Face the Nation, a London based charity has confirmed eight of its staff members were killed by back to back Israeli airstrikes in Gaza this weekend. The organization says they were carrying out humanitarian work for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. NPR's Kat Lansdorf has more.

[Qasim Rashid Ahmed]

In a video statement on the Al Hair Foundation's Facebook page, founder Qasim Rashid Ahmed said the group had been using a drone to film and document how to add a thousand more tents for displaced Palestinians to the northern area of Beit Lehia.

[Unnamed Representative]

They were filming for humanitarian purpose. They were not filming on military zone. They were purely on humanitarian area.

[Qasim Rashid Ahmed]

The area where the strikes happened is designated as a free movement area by the Israeli military. Israel says the strikes killed members from a, quote, terrorist cell, including individuals undercover as journalists. And the drone is being used to carry out attacks against Israeli forces in Gaza. The Al Hair foundation denies that. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jeanine Hurst]

President Trump and Elon Musk are continuing their efforts to shrink the federal workforce. NPR's Mara Liaison has more.

[Mara Liasson]

Seven more agencies were targeted in an executive order Friday night, including the Agency for Global Media, which funds Voice of America, often the only nonpartisan source of news for people living under authoritarian regimes. The deep cuts continue despite pushback from federal judges and from Republicans, including Vice President Vance, who told NBC News that there are, quote, a lot of good people who work in the government. Vance also said that Musk had made mistakes with the mass firings. But Musk is sticking with his chainsaw approach. He disparages and even savages federal workers, calling them corrupt and incompetent. He recently posted on X, his social media platform, that, quote, joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler and Mao Zedong didn't murder millions of people. Their public sector employees did. That post was later deleted. Mara Liasson, NPR News.

[Jeanine Hurst]

You're listening to NPR News. The Trump administration has ordered agencies to end programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Aziva Testfi of member station WWN reports that order is hitting some unexpected targets, including a nationwide effort to plant trees in majority Black neighborhoods.

[Eva Tesfai]

The U.S. forest Service terminated a $75 million contract with the Arbor Day Foundation. The national organization was going to distribute that money to nonprofits, towns and tribes across the country. Trees can reduce heat, take up stormwater and improve air quality. A New Orleans nonprofit, sustaining our urban Landscape was supposed to use those funds to restore trees lost to Hurricane Katrin Katrina. Executive director Susannah Burley says it's absurd to cancel the money as an equity program.

[Unnamed Expert]

The word equity is pervasive in the grants that were funded by this, but in a totally different context.

[Eva Tesfai]

A USDA spokesperson said the agency was complying with Trump's executive orders. For NPR News, I'm Eva Tesfai in New Orleans.

[Jeanine Hurst]

The two astronauts stuck on the International Space Station for nine months are finally set to come home this week. This after a SpaceX caps capsule arrived at the station this morning, delivering their replacements. The four newcomers will spend the next four days learning the station's ins and outs from Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. And then those two head home. They were supposed to be gone for just a week last June when they took a Boeing Starliner capsule up there. But that craft had so many problems, NASA thought it wasn't safe enough to bring them home. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

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