NPR News: 03-17-2025 10PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 17, 2025, 10 PM EDT – Comprehensive Episode Summary

NPR News Now, hosted by Jack Spear, delivered a concise yet comprehensive overview of the day's most pressing news stories in its March 17, 2025, episode. Covering topics from immigration controversies and diplomatic expulsions to public health advisories and cultural developments, the episode provided listeners with insightful analysis and notable quotes from key figures involved.

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1. ACLU Challenges Trump Administration’s Deportation Policies

The episode opened with a significant legal battle as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) accused the Trump administration of violating a judge's temporary order that barred deportations. The contention centers around the administration's use of the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act to deport over 200 individuals, including suspected Venezuelan gang members, to El Salvador.

ACLU Representative highlighted the misuse of the statute, stating at [00:40] “Absolutely not. Congress could not have been clear in the statute that it has to be a foreign government or nation invading or in a declared war with the US. Fundamentally, this is about separation of powers and the Trump administration thumbing their nose at Congress and the courts.”

In a related update, Jack Spear reported that a federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s verbal directive to halt the deportations, emphasizing its non-binding nature. Despite the judge's order to turn the flights around, members of the gang Trende Aragua were deported, prompting the court to demand a sworn declaration from the U.S. Justice Department by noon the following day.

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2. Diplomatic Strain: South Africa’s Ambassador Expelled

In a rare diplomatic move, the United States revoked the diplomatic privileges of South Africa’s Ambassador, Ibrahim Rasool, declaring him Persona non grata. This decision was a direct response to Rasool’s derogatory remarks about President Trump’s MAGA movement.

Tammy Bruce, State Department spokesperson, explained at [01:33] that Ambassador Rasool made “obscene remarks about white supremacy in President Trump's MAGA movement.” Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, reinforced the gravity of the comments at [01:47], stating, “These remarks were unacceptable to the United States, not just to the president, but to every American. They were pretty much obscene when it came to the nature of what was alleged.”

The State Department summoned South African embassy staffers and issued a formal diplomatic note, underscoring the administration’s intolerance for such inflammatory statements. Michelle Kellerman from NPR added that ambassadorial expulsions of this nature are exceptionally rare, highlighting the severity of the situation.

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3. Surgeon General’s Advisory on Gun Violence Removed

Turning to public health and safety, the episode covered the recent removal of a binary advisory by the Surgeon General that labeled gun violence as a public health crisis. This action responds to a February executive order by President Trump, reversing last year’s declaration by President Biden.

Martin Costi from NPR explained, “Gun rights groups were welcoming the move.” Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, voiced strong support at [02:46], asserting, “Gun ownership is not a communicable disease. It's not a health issue. That's what bothers us. It's intellectual dishonesty.”

Conversely, gun control advocates like Gifford argued that firearms do pose significant public health risks, noting that shootings have become the leading cause of death among American children aged 1 to 17. Despite the removal of the advisory, the debate between gun rights and gun control remains deeply polarized.

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4. Stock Market Trends and EEOC Scrutiny on DEI Policies

In financial news, Jack Spear reported a positive start to the trading week with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by 353 points and the Nasdaq up by 54 points. This uptick reflects investor optimism amidst ongoing economic fluctuations.

Shifting to workplace regulations, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has taken a critical stance on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within major law firms. Andrea Lucas, the acting chair of the EEOC, sent letters to 20 leading law firms, questioning the legality of their DEI initiatives. She expressed concerns that these policies might result in “unlawful, disparate treatment in terms conditions and privileges of employment.” This move aligns with the Trump administration's broader efforts to curtail DEI programs, especially those tied to firms opposing the administration or linked to political adversaries.

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5. Broadway’s Latest Jukebox Musical: James Taylor’s "Fire and Rain"

Concluding with cultural news, the episode highlighted the expanding repertoire of jukebox musicals on Broadway. While classic acts like The Four Tops and ABBA have seen success, the introduction of singer-songwriter James Taylor marks a new addition to this genre.

Jeff London shared insights at [04:10], noting, “Ever since Mamma Mia hit it big in 2001, Broadway has featured a jukebox musical or two a season. But for every hit like Jersey Boys, there are flops. Shows featuring the music of the Beach Boys and John Lennon opened closed quickly, but the producers of the new James Taylor show are hedging their bets.” The musical, aptly titled “Fire and Rain,” features original storytelling by Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tracy Letts, who famously quoted, “I've seen fire and I've seen rain” at [04:32]. Directed by Tony winner David Cromer, the production awaits its official announcement date, promising a blend of James Taylor’s beloved tunes with fresh narrative elements.

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Closing Remarks

Jack Spear concluded the episode by reiterating the day's highlights, providing listeners with a succinct yet thorough overview of the major news events. From legal disputes and international diplomacy to public health policies and the arts, this episode of NPR News Now ensured that audiences were well-informed on the latest developments shaping the nation and beyond.

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End of Summary

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The ACLU contends the Trump administration violated a judge's temporary order barring deportations. That's after the administration used an 18th century wartime law to fly more than 200 people, including suspected Venezuelan gang members, to El Salvador. Leak alert is with the ACLU's Immigrant.

[ACLU Representative]

Rights Project on the larger picture of whether the Alien Enemies act is being used properly. Absolutely not. Congress could not have been clear in the statute that it has to be a foreign government or nation invading or in a declared war with the US Fundamentally, this is about separation of powers and the Trump administration thumbing their nose at Congress and the courts.

[Jack Spear]

At a hearing today, a federal judge was incredulous at the contention from the Trump administration. His directive to turn the flight around was not binding because it was made verbally. He ordered the US Justice Department to provide a sworn declaration by noon tomorrow. Members of the gang Trende Aragua were deported despite his order to turn the planes around. South Africa's ambassador to the US has had his diplomatic privileges revoked and has to leave the country by Friday. The US has declared him Persona non grata over comments he made about the Trump administration. We HEAR More from NPR's Michelle Kellerman.

[Tammy Bruce]

It is rare for the U.S. to expel an ambassador. In this case. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce says Ambassador Ibrahim Rasool made what she calls obscene remarks about white supremacy in President Trump's MAGA movement.

[Marco Rubio]

These remarks were unacceptable to the United States, not just to the president, but to every American. It was they were pretty much obscene when it came to the nature of what was of what was alleged.

[Tammy Bruce]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced his decision to expel Rasool on social media Friday, and Bruce says South African embassy staffers were summoned to the department and given a formal diplomatic note. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Jack Spear]

The surgeon general's office has taken down a binary advisory calling gun violence a public health crisis. As NPR's Martin Costi explains, gun rights groups are welcoming the move.

[Martin Kasti]

Last year, President Biden's surgeon general declared gun violence a public health cris, angering gun rights groups who saw this as an attempt to pathologize gun ownership. Now the government has taken down the advisory and related websites in response to a February executive order by President Trump. Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment foundation, welcomes the change.

[Alan Gottlieb]

Gun ownership is not a communicable disease. It's not a health issue. That's what bothers us. It's intellectual dishonesty.

[Martin Kasti]

But gun control groups such as Gifford say guns do pose a risk to public health, given that shootings have become the leading cause of death for American kids ages 1 through 17. Martin Kasti, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

Stocks are starting the new trading week on a bit of an upswing. The Dow rose 353 points. The Nasdaq was up 54 points today. This is NPR. The agency that enforces laws banning discrimination in the workplace is telling 20 major law firms their policies meant to boost diversity, equity and inclusion may be illegal. The acting chair of the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sending letters to the law firms requesting detailed information on their DEI programs. Andrea Lucas expressed concerns the firm's policies may entail unlawful, disparate treatment in terms conditions and privileges of employment. The Trump administration has aggressively been seeking to rein in DEI programs. Some of the firms that received the letters have challenged Trump's policies or have ties to political opponents. Carole King, the Four Tops and ABBA have all been subjects of jukebox. Jukebox musicals, shows that use pop music to tell the story on Broadway. Now you can add singer songwriter James Taylor to the list. Jeff London says the new project's being developed by two Tony Award winning artists.

[Jeff London]

Ever since Mamma Mia. Hit it big in 2001, Broadway has featured a jukebox musical or two a season. But for every hit like Jersey Boys, there are flops. Shows featuring the music of the Beach Boys and John Lennon opened closed quickly, but the producers of the new James Taylor show are hedging their bets.

[Tracy Letts]

I've seen fire and I've seen rain.

[Jeff London]

Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Tracy Letts is writing an original story for the show called Fire and Rain. And Tony winner David Cromer will direct. No production date has been announced. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.

[Jack Spear]

And I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

[Amazon Business Representative]

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