NPR News: 03-18-2025 9AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 18, 2025, 9AM EDT – Detailed Summary

Host: Korva Coleman | Source: NPR News Now

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1. Intensification of Israeli Air Assault on Gaza

Timestamp: 00:16

Korva Coleman opens the episode by reporting on the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza. The airstrikes, which commenced overnight, have resulted in significant casualties:

• Casualties: At least 400 Palestinians killed and 560 wounded.
• Israeli Stance: Targeting "terrorist cells and infrastructure."

Key Quote:

"The Israeli military says it is targeting terrorist cells and infrastructure."
— Korva Coleman [00:16]

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2. On-the-Ground Report from Gaza

Timestamp: 00:38 – 00:58

Anas Baba, NPR's producer in Gaza, provides a harrowing account from the Al Ahli Hospital courtyard in Gaza City, the region's only fully functioning hospital in the north.

Eyewitness Testimony:

"Women and children, entire families lay dead in front of me. Here. The smell of blood mixed with gunpowder and burning flesh is returned once more."
— Eyewitness in Gaza [00:49]

Context:

• Sudden War Resurgence: Following over 15 months of conflict, Gaza experienced a brief period of relative calm as residents attempted to rebuild.
• Israeli Military Directive: Immediate evacuation orders issued for several neighborhoods amidst their "strong offensive against terrorist organizations."

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3. Deportation Case of Mahmoud Khalil in the United States

Timestamp: 01:23 – 01:42

Korva Coleman transitions to U.S. news, focusing on Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student facing deportation due to his pro-Palestinian activism.

Report by Adrienne Florido:

"Immigration agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil at his Manhattan apartment building on March 8 and flew him to Louisiana the next day."
— Adrienne Florido [01:42]

Key Points:

• Legal Battle: Khalil's legal team is petitioning for his release from custody while contesting deportation.
• Personal Stakes: His wife is pregnant, expecting their first child next month.
• Broader Implications: The legal team seeks to block future deportations related to pro-Palestinian activism or opposition to Israel's military actions in Gaza.

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4. U.S.-Russia Talks on Ukraine Conflict

Timestamp: 02:16 – 03:05

Korva Coleman reports on President Trump's scheduled phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, aiming to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war, now in its third year.

Insights from Charles Mains:

"If there are any concessions from Putin, they appear to be aimed at Trump. Putin is essentially offering Trump business opportunities, everything from rare earth minerals to investments if and when sanctions are lifted."
— Charles Mains [02:39]

Condition Highlights:

• Putin's Demands:
  • Ukraine relinquishes territories annexed by Moscow.
  • Ukraine abandons ambitions to join NATO.
• Ukraine's Agreement: A 30-day truce has been accepted, pending further negotiations.

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5. Domestic Developments in the United States

Timestamp: 03:05 – 04:47

a. Wall Street Declines

Timestamp: 03:05 & 04:47

• Current Status: Dow futures are down by nearly 100 points in premarket trading.
• Implication: Reflects investor concerns amid global and domestic uncertainties.

b. Judge's Inquiry into Migrant Deportations

Timestamp: 03:05

Korva Coleman highlights a judicial demand for answers regarding the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador, despite verbal orders to turn back the planes.

c. Gun Violence Advisory Removed

Timestamp: 03:05

• Action Taken: The US Surgeon General’s office has removed the webpage containing the June advisory on gun violence.
• Original Advisory Statement: Dr. Vivek Murthy declared gun violence a "public health crisis" causing "loss of life, unimaginable pain and profound grief."

d. California's Funding Debate: Climate Change vs. Cost of Living

Timestamp: 03:05 – 04:47

Report by Guy Marziroti:

"More fires and heat waves made worse by climate change have driven up the price of home insurance and electricity in California."
— Guy Marziroti [04:11]

Key Discussion Points:

• Funding Allocation: The state’s greenhouse gas reduction fund is currently directed toward long-term projects like housing and transit infrastructure.
• Legislative Consideration: Debating whether to divert funds to alleviate the cost of living pressures, such as providing larger credits to reduce residential electricity bills.
• Expert Insight:

  "The question for lawmakers is whether that approach is sustainable or whether we need to be thinking about giving money back to people."
  — Michael Wara, Stanford Climate Research Scholar [04:34]

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6. Closing Financial Update

Timestamp: 04:47

Korva Coleman reiterates the earlier report on Wall Street, noting that Dow futures remain down, emphasizing ongoing economic concerns.

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This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key topics discussed in the NPR News Now episode released on March 18, 2025. For detailed information, listeners are encouraged to access the full podcast.

Transcript

[NPR Announcer]

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The Israeli military says its air assault on Gaza is ongoing. Airstrikes started overnight and health authorities in Gaza say the Israeli strikes have killed at least 400 Palestinians. At least 560 others have been wounded. Israel says it is targeting terrorist cells and infrastructure. NPR's Kat Lansdorf has more.

[Anas Baba]

NPR's producer in Gaza, Anas Baba, stood in the courtyard of the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City, the only fully functioning hospital in the north, where scores of bodies were laid out following the strikes.

[Eyewitness in Gaza]

Women and children, entire families lay dead in front of me. Here. The smell of blood mixed with gunpowder and burning flesh is returned once more.

[Anas Baba]

In Gaza, he says people are in shock at the sudden return of war. The strikes come after a relatively quiet several weeks, as Palestinians in Gaza had tried to start picking up the pieces after more than 15 months of war. The Israeli military has told residents from several neighborhoods to evacuate immediately, saying that Israel has, quote, launched a strong offensive against terrorist organizations. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Korva Coleman]

In the US A former Columbia University graduate student is asking a federal judge to be released from custody. Mahmoud Khalil is being detained in Louisiana. NPR's Adrian Florido reports. The Trump administration is trying to strip Khalil of his green card and deport him over his pro Palestinian activism.

[Adrienne Florido]

Immigration agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil at his Manhattan apartment building on March 8 and flew him to Louisiana the next day. The government is resisting his lawyer's attempts to have him returned to New York. He wants to be released from custody while he fights deportation. Khalil's wife is pregnant with their first child and expects to give birth next month. The petition filed by his legal team also asks the federal court to temporarily block the Trump administration from arresting anyone else for deportation because of their pro Palestinian activism or for protesting Israel and its military operation in Gaza. Adrienne Florido, NPR News, New York.

[Korva Coleman]

President Trump is scheduled to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone this morning. Trump has been urging Russia and Ukraine to end the war three years after Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine has agreed to a 30 day truce, but NPR's Charles mainnes reports. Before Russia will agree to a specific truce, Putin has set several conditions that.

[Charles Mains]

Ukraine give up territory annexed by Moscow and end its ambitions to join NATO. I put the question of what, if anything, the Kremlin was giving up to Sergei Markov. He's a former Putin spokesman. His answer? A promise not to seize more Ukrainian territory. That is the concession. If there are any concessions from Putin, they appear to be aimed at Trump. Putin is essentially offering Trump business opportunities, everything from rare earth minerals to investments if and when sanctions are lifted.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Charles Mains reporting. On Wall street, in premarket trading, Dow futures are lower. This is npr. A federal judge is demanding a sworn written response from the Justice Department by noon Eastern Time today. U.S. district Judge James Boasberg wants details of how hundreds of Venezuelan migrants were deported to El Salvador over the weekend that happened even though the judge verbally ordered the US Planes to be turned around. The office of the US Surgeon General appears to have taken down the webpage that included an advisory on gun violence. That advisory was issued last June by then Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. He declared gun violence a public health crisis that leads to loss of life, unimaginable pain and profound grief. The California legislature is considering whether to divert funding for climate change toward efforts to lower the cost of living in that state. Residents are facing rising energy prices, among other costs. From member station kqed, Guy Marziroti has.

[Guy Marziroti]

More 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 in transit. Stanford climate research scholar Michael Wara says the question for lawmakers is whether that.

[NPR Announcer]

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.

[Korva Coleman]

And again on Wall street and pre market trading, Dow futures are down by nearly 100 points. This is NPR.

[NPR Announcer]

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