NPR News: 03-18-2025 2AM EDT

Summary

Trump and Putin to Discuss Ceasefire in Ukraine

At [00:18], Shay Stevens opens the episode by reporting that President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to engage in a phone conversation on Tuesday aimed at negotiating efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. Charles Maines delves deeper into the potential framework of this truce, outlining a proposal that would initiate a 30-day ban on all military attacks by both Moscow and Kyiv. The strategy is designed as a trial period, with the hope that its success would lead to its renewal and eventually pave the way toward a lasting peace.

Maines notes, “[...] Ukraine signed on to the ceasefire plan following negotiations with the US and Saudi Arabia last week," highlighting the recent diplomatic engagements that have steered Kyiv towards this agreement. He further explains the conditional nature of the deal: “The idea is that the deal has always been contingent on Russia doing the same. You know, will Putin reciprocate or not?” This underscores the uncertainty surrounding Russia's commitment to the ceasefire and the critical role of mutual adherence in achieving peace.

White House's Doge Takes Control of the U.S. Institute of Peace

Shay Stevens transitions to a significant development involving the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) at [01:21]. NPR’s Michelle Kellerman reports that officials associated with "Doge" have forcibly entered the USIP building with police assistance.

George Moose, the acting President of USIP, issued a brief statement at [01:36]: “Doge has broken into our building. They came with someone that the Trump administration has tried to put in charge." He emphasizes the illegitimacy of the takeover, clarifying, “[...] the US Institute of Peace is a think tank funded by Congress. It is not a government agency, and the president can only fire board members for cause.”

George Foote, an attorney for USIP, voiced strong opposition at [01:51]: “We're very confident that what's happened here under the guise of a change of control is wrong and will be upheld in court. But we were having civil discussions about that and then suddenly muscle arrives with guns and we're kicked out of the building.” This incident highlights internal conflicts and raises questions about external influences on independent institutions.

Release of Additional JFK Assassination Files

At [02:20], Shay Stevens announces that more documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy are slated for release. Giles Snyder expands on this at [02:29], revealing that President Trump has committed to releasing approximately 80,000 pages of documents linked to the assassination, though the exact number of previously undisclosed pages remains unclear.

Snyder states, “The vast majority of more than 6 million pages in its collection have been declassified,” emphasizing the extensive nature of the archival releases. Under Trump’s administration, following his inauguration in January, an executive order was signed to expedite the release of not only JFK’s documents but also those pertaining to the assassinations of his brother, Robert Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Additionally, Trump was named board chair of the Kennedy Center last month after reportedly leading a significant leadership change within the institution.

Escalation and Ceasefire in the Middle East

Shay Stevens reports at [03:13] on a tragic escalation in Gaza, where Palestinian health officials have confirmed that at least 200 people were killed and dozens more injured following a series of Israeli airstrikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the assaults by citing a "lack of progress and talks to extend a ceasefire and release more hostages," asserting that Hamas has rejected all offers, including a proposal for a permanent truce.

Furthermore, NPR’s Lauren Frayer covers the recent ceasefire declarations by Syria and Lebanon after their most severe border clashes since the removal of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Frayer explains that the conflict began due to an incident involving what some Lebanese officials described as smugglers or a tribal dispute, while the Syrian government termed it a “kidnapping of Syrian soldiers by Hezbollah militants”. The situation escalated with Lebanese villages coming under shelling, prompting Lebanon's president to order a return of fire. Frayer reports that diplomatic efforts, including direct phone calls from Lebanon's president to Syrian officials during a conference in Brussels, have been instrumental in diffusing tensions. “Lebanon's army says it has returned the bodies of Syrian soldiers and is communicating with its Syrian counterparts,” Frayer summarizes at [03:51].

Harvard College Announces Tuition Waivers for Low-Income Undergraduates

In an educational development, Shay Stevens shares at [04:37] that Harvard College is implementing a significant financial aid initiative. The institution will waive tuition for undergraduate students from families earning less than $200,000 annually, provided they meet the admission criteria. Furthermore, applicants from households with incomes below $100,000 will benefit from additional support, including free meals, housing, healthcare, and travel expenses. This move underscores Harvard’s commitment to increasing accessibility and reducing financial barriers for talented students from diverse economic backgrounds.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on March 18, 2025. From high-stakes international diplomacy and institutional takeovers to significant educational reforms and pivotal historical document releases, the episode provides a comprehensive overview of pressing global and national issues.

Transcript

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[Shay Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shay Stevens. President Trump and Russian President Putin plan to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine during a phone call on Tuesday. NPR's Charles Maines reports on what might be included in a possible truce would.

[Charles Maines]

Place a 30 day ban on all attacks by both Moscow and Kyiv. The idea being here that if it works, renew it and keep doing so as a path to eventual peace. Now, Ukraine signed on to the ceasefire plan following negotiations with the US And Saudi Arabia last week. In doing so, Kyiv appeared to smooth over differences stemming from that combative Oval Office meeting last month, of course, when President Trump and Vice President Vance berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky before the press. In the aftermath, Trump put a hold on all American military and intelligence support to Ukraine, a penalty he had then lifted as soon as Kiev signed on to the U.S. proposal. But the idea is that the deal has been always contingent on Russia doing the same. You know, will Putin reciprocate or not?

[Shay Stevens]

NPR's Charles Maine's reporting. The White House office Doge has taken over the U.S. institute of Peace. As NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports. Officials with the nonprofit say Doge workers forced their way into the building Tuesday with the help of police.

[George Moose]

In a brief statement, USIP acting President George Moose writes, quote, doge has broken into our building. They came with someone that the Trump administration has tried to put in charge. An attorney for usip, George Foote, has been fighting this in court.

[George Foote]

We're very confident that what's happened here under the guise of a change of control is wrong and will be upheld in court. But we were having civil discussions about that and then suddenly muscle arrives with guns and we're kicked out of the building.

[George Moose]

The US Institute of Peace is a think tank funded by Congress. It is not a government agency, and the president can only fire board members for cause. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Shay Stevens]

More files on the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy are expected to be released on Tuesday. More from NPR's Giles Snyder.

[Giles Snyder]

President Trump told reporters at the Kennedy center in Washington, D.C. that people have been waiting for this for decades. He said some 80,000 pages linked to President Kennedy's assassination will be released, although it's unclear how many are already public. The National Archives says the vast majority of more than 6 million pages in its collection have been declassified. After he was sworn in in January, Trump signed an executive order directing the release of the docum documents as well as those related to the assassinations of Kennedy's brother, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. Trump was at the Kennedy center for a board meeting. He was elected board chair last month after he led a purge of Kennedy center leadership. Jahil Snyder, NPR News.

[Shay Stevens]

You're listening to NPR. Palestinian health officials say at least 200 people were killed and dozens more are wounded following a series of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu says he ordered the attacks because of lack of progress and talks to extend a ceasefire and release more hostages. He says Hamas has rejected all offers, including a proposal for a permanent truce. Syria and Lebanon have declared a ceasefire after their most serious border clashes since the ousting of Syrian dictator Assad. NPR's Lauren Frayer reports.

[Lauren Frayer]

It started with what some Lebanese officials say were smugglers or a tribal dispute. The Syrian government called it a kidnapping of Syrian soldiers, soldiers by Hezbollah militants who have operated in the area but denied any involvement. Lebanese villages came under shelling. The country's president says he ordered his army to return fire. Four journalists embedded on the Syrian side were among those lightly wounded. As things escalated, Lebanon's president says he also phoned his foreign minister at a Syrian aid conference in Brussels and asked him to reach out to Syrian officials there to defuse tension. Lebanon's army says it has returned the bodies of Syrian soldiers and is communicating with its Syrian counterparts. Lauren Frayer, NPR News, Beirut.

[Shay Stevens]

Harvard College is waiving tuition for undergraduates from families earning less than $200,000 a year if they meet admission standards. Qualified applicants from homes with annual incomes under $100,000 will also receive free meals, housing, health care and free travel. This is NPR News.

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