NPR News: 03-18-2025 3PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 18, 2025, 3PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Source: NPR
Description: The latest news in five minutes, updated hourly.

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1. Israel Ends Ceasefire, Launches New Offensive in Gaza

Key Points:

• Ceasefire Termination: Israel has declared the ceasefire in Gaza over and has initiated a new military offensive named Operation Strengthen Sword.
• Violence Escalates: Overnight airstrikes resulted in the deaths of over 400 people and injured at least 500 in Gaza, according to local health officials.
• Netanyahu's Announcement: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the intensification of actions against Hamas in his televised address.

Notable Quote:

"From now on, Israel will take growing action against Hamas with greater intensity. From now on, negotiations will only be under fire. Hamas has already felt over the last 24 hours the Israeli strength. And I want to promise to you and to Hamas this is just the beginning."
— Benjamin Netanyahu [00:41]

Background:

• Previous Ceasefire: In January, a six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas led to the release of 33 hostages by Hamas and close to 2,000 Palestinian prisoners by Israel.
• Ceasefire Phases: The first phase concluded in early March without initiating the second phase, as Israel demanded additional hostages' release before resuming war talks.

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2. U.S. and Russia Agree to Commence Ceasefire Talks in Ukraine

Key Points:

• Bilateral Discussions: President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to initiate talks aimed at achieving a ceasefire in Ukraine.
• Focus Areas: Discussions will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire and maritime negotiations in the Black Sea.
• Middle East Involvement: The talks are set to start in the Middle East region.

Notable Quote:

"Any move toward peace will begin with a, quote, energy and infrastructure ceasefire as well as negotiations on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea."
— Asma Khalid, NPR News [01:36]

Context:

• Preceding Events: This agreement follows a high-profile phone call between Trump and Putin, marking Trump's first conversation with the Russian leader since Ukraine's recent month-long ceasefire.
• Objective: The ultimate goal is to achieve an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine through diplomatic negotiations.

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3. Administration Revises Policies on Segregated Facilities in Federal Contracts

Key Points:

• Policy Change: A recent memo from the General Services Administration alters the stance on segregated facilities in federal contracts.
• Implications: Facilities such as restaurants and waiting rooms are no longer explicitly banned in contracts.
• Legal Perspective: Despite the memo, businesses remain legally bound to comply with existing anti-segregation and anti-discrimination laws.

Notable Quote:

"So it's symbolic, but it's incredibly meaningful in its symbolism."
— Melissa Murray, Law Professor at NYU [02:58]

Details:

• Executive Orders Influence: The change was prompted by President Trump's executive orders on diversity, equity, and inclusion and gender identity.
• Civil Rights Protections: Melissa Murray highlighted that civil rights protections regarding segregation have been in place since the 1960s, reinforcing that businesses must adhere to these enduring laws despite the memo.

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4. DOJ Defends Migrant Deportation Flights Amid Judicial Opposition

Key Points:

• Deportation Controversy: The Department of Justice is defending recent deportation flights carrying alleged Venezuelan gang members, despite a U.S. District Judge's order to halt the flights.
• Presidential Reaction: President Trump took to social media, seemingly calling for the impeachment of the judge overseeing the case.
• Judicial Integrity: Chief Justice John Roberts intervened, stating that such calls for impeachment are inappropriate.

Notable Quote:

"It's only been for high crimes and misdemeanors, and usually it is something like bribery or some other clear criminal activity."
— Carl Tobias, University of Richmond Law Professor [03:45]

Analysis:

• Legal Boundaries: Carl Tobias emphasized that impeachment of a judge for a decision based on presidential disagreement is unprecedented, as impeachment is reserved for serious offenses like bribery.
• Historical Context: No judge has ever been impeached solely for a judicial decision, highlighting the gravity and unlikelihood of such an action.

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5. California Legislature Debates Redirecting Climate Funds to Reduce Living Costs

Key Points:

• Funding Reallocation: The California Legislature is considering redirecting funds from the state’s greenhouse gas reduction initiatives to programs aimed at lowering the cost of living.
• Economic Pressures: Rising energy prices and other living costs have significantly impacted residents, prompting the need for financial relief measures.
• Current Fund Allocation: A substantial portion of the state’s greenhouse gas reduction fund currently supports long-term projects in areas like housing, transportation, and urban transit.

Notable Quote:

"Approach is sustainable or whether we need to be thinking about giving money back to people."
— Michael Worra, Stanford Climate Research Scholar [04:35]

Insights:

• Potential Shifts: Lawmakers are weighing whether maintaining sustainable long-term projects is feasible or if immediate financial assistance to residents should take precedence.
• Proposed Solutions: This could involve providing larger credits to help lower residential electricity bills, thereby directly addressing the financial strain on Californians.

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Conclusion

Today's episode of NPR News Now covered significant global and national developments, including escalating conflict in Gaza, diplomatic efforts towards peace in Ukraine, policy changes affecting federal contracts, contentious deportation practices, and legislative debates in California. Notable figures such as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and legal experts provided in-depth insights into these pressing issues, offering listeners a comprehensive overview of current events shaping our world.

Transcript

[Carvana Representative]

This message comes from Carvana. Finance your next car the convenient way with customizable, transparent terms all online. Make your budget work for you and swap hassle for convenience with Carvana.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Israel is declaring the ceasefire in Gaza is over. Overnight, the military launched airstrikes which Gaza health officials say killed more than 400 people and injured at least 500 others across Gaza. Israel says it has started a new offensive dubbed Operation Strengthen Sword. Heard through an interpreter, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a televised address a short time ago.

[Benjamin Netanyahu]

From now on, Israel will take growing action against Hamas with greater intensity. From now on, negotiations will only be under fire. Hamas has already felt over the last 24 hours the Israeli strength. And I want to promise to you and to Hamas this is just the beginning.

[Lakshmi Singh]

In mid January, Israel and Hamas agreed to an initial ceasefire of six weeks in which Hamas released 33 of its hostages, both living and dead. In return, Israel released close to 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees who had been held in Israeli prisons. At the start of March, the first phase of the ceasefire ended. The second phase did not begin. Israel demanded more hostages be released before entering end of war talks. The White House says that President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to start talks toward a ceasefire in Ukraine. Here's NPR's Asma Khalid.

[Asma Khalid]

This news follows a highly anticipated phone call between Trump and his Russian counterpart as the American president tries to broker a truce. This is the first conversation Trump has had with Putin since Ukraine agreed last week to a month long ceasefire. Trump would like Russia to agree to that pause as well, with the goal ultimately to reach an end to the war in Ukraine. According to the White House, Trump and Putin agreed any move toward peace will begin with a, quote, energy and infrastructure ceasefire as well as negotiations on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea. And talks to do this will begin in the Middle East. Asma Khalid, NPR News, the White House.

[Lakshmi Singh]

A recent administration memo advises federal agencies that segregated facilities such as restaurants and waiting rooms are no longer explicitly banned in contracts. NPR's Selena Simmons Duffin reports.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

The change came in a public memo issued last month by the General Services Administration, which was prompted by President Trump's executive orders on diversity, equity and inclusion and the one about gender identity. It includes a list of nine clauses to exclude in future contracts. One of them explicitly prohibits contractors from having segregated facilities like restaurants and housing and drinking fountains. Melissa Murray is a law professor at nyu. She says businesses still have to comply with laws that ban segregation and discrimination.

[Carvana Representative]

So it's symbolic, but it's incredibly meaningful in its symbolism.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

She notes these civil rights protections from the federal government have been on the books since the 1960s. Selena Simmons Duffin, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

It's NPR. The Department of Justice is defending last weekend's migrant deportation flights carrying alleged Venezuelan gang members, even though a US District judge ordered the administration to turn the planes around. Today, government lawyers insisted the administration did not violate the court's written order. On social media, President Trump appeared to call for the judge's impeachment. US Chief Justice John Roberts then stepped in, saying such calls were not appropriate. University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias says no judge has ever been impeached for a decision with which a president disagreed.

[Guy Marziroti]

It's only been for high crimes and misdemeanors, and usually it is something like bribery or some other clear criminal activity.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Tobias speaking with npr. The California Legislature is considering whether to divert funding for climate change toward efforts to lower the cost of living in the state. Residents are facing rising energy prices, among other costs. From member station kqed, Guy Marziroti reports.

[Guy Marziroti]

Fires and heat waves made worse by climate change have driven up the price of home insurance and electricity in California. Right now, money in a state greenhouse gas reduction fund largely goes toward long term projects like building, housing and transit. Stanford climate research scholar Michael Worra says the question for lawmakers is whether that.

[Carvana Representative]

Approach is sustainable or whether we need to be thinking about giving money back to people.

[Guy Marziroti]

That could mean larger credits to lower residential electricity bills. For NPR News, I'm Guy Marziroti in San Jose.

[Lakshmi Singh]

I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.

[Carvana Representative]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR NewsNow +@ +npr.org. that's +npr.org.