NPR News: 03-19-2025 3AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 19, 2025

1. Supreme Court Resists Impeachment Efforts Against Judge

Timestamp: 00:14

In a significant development, U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts has dismissed calls to impeach a judge who ruled against President Donald Trump's deportation policies. Shea Stevens reported from Washington:

"U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts is rejecting calls for the impeachment of a judge who ruled against President Trump's deportation plans."

University of Richmond law professor, Carl Tobias, provided further insight into the rarity of such actions:

Timestamp: 00:34

"It's only been for high crimes and misdemeanors, and usually it is something like bribery or some other clear criminal activity. And no judge has ever been impeached, much less convicted by the Senate for making decisions with which presidents and members of the Senate and House disagree."

Tobias suggests that Chief Justice Roberts aims to de-escalate tensions preceding upcoming appeals on deportation and related cases.

2. Broadcasting Giant Sues U.S. Oversight Agency Over Funding Cuts

Timestamp: 00:59

Shea Stevens introduced a lawsuit filed by a prominent U.S. government broadcaster against its supervising agency. Emily Fang provided detailed coverage:

"The broadcaster, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, is among a cluster of platforms which reach more than 400 million weekly listeners worldwide, often in authoritarian countries where the broadcasters were influential vehicles for American soft power."

The lawsuit alleges that U.S. officials breached federal law and the Constitution by halting congressionally approved funding. Stephen Kapis, president of Radio Liberty, strongly opposed President Trump's directive:

Timestamp: 01:22

"This is not the time to cede terrain to the propaganda and censorship of America's adversaries."

3. Trump and Putin Negotiate Partial Ceasefire Amid Ukraine Conflict

Timestamp: 02:08

A telephone dialogue between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has led to a tentative partial ceasefire in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, as reported by Shea Stevens and detailed by Charles Maynes:

"Both the White House and the Kremlin praised talks between Putin and Trump as an open and frank two and a half hour exchange focused on Ukraine and U.S.-Russian relations."

Key Outcome:

Timestamp: 02:24

"Putin agreed to a 30-day halt on strikes on all energy infrastructure in Ukraine."

However, the talks did not achieve Trump's broader ceasefire ambitions. The Kremlin stated that any extensive resolution is contingent upon ending all Western military and intelligence support to Ukraine, a scenario deemed unlikely due to ongoing backing from the U.S. and European allies.

4. Tesla Excluded from Vancouver Auto Show; Miami Beach Faces Theater Funding Controversy

Timestamp: 03:04

The Vancouver International Auto Show organizers have decided to exclude Tesla, citing security concerns linked to protests over Elon Musk's actions. Shea Stevens highlighted the decision:

"Organizers of the Vancouver International Auto show have removed Tesla from the event citing security reasons in wake of ongoing protests over owner Elon Musk's actions."

In Miami Beach, controversy arises over an art house theater's screening of the documentary "No Other Land", which depicts the destruction of a Palestinian community in the West Bank. Greg Allen reported:

Timestamp: 03:53

"The film 'No Other Land' won an Oscar for best documentary but has been criticized by Israeli officials as one sided and is a, quote, carefully crafted piece of demagoguery."

Mayor Stephen Miner has threatened to revoke the theater's lease and withdraw $40,000 in grant funding unless it cancels the screening, labeling the documentary as anti-Semitic. The Miami Beach city commission is expected to vote on the matter later in the day.

5. Istanbul’s Mayor Arrested Amid Corruption and Terrorism Allegations

Timestamp: 04:23

In a major political upheaval, the mayor of Istanbul, a prominent rival of President Erdogan, has been detained following an investigation into corruption and alleged links to terrorism. The arrest followed a police search of the mayor’s residence and the invalidation of his university diploma. A state-run news agency reported that Turkish prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for dozens more individuals implicated in the probe, signaling a broad crackdown.

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This summary provides an overview of the key topics discussed in the NPR News Now episode released on March 19, 2025. For comprehensive details, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.

Transcript

[Fred Hutch Cancer Center]

This message comes from Fred Hutch Cancer center, whose discovery of bone marrow transplants has saved over a million lives worldwide. Learn how this and other breakthroughs impact the [e-mail] LookBeyond.

[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. U.S. supreme Court Justice John Roberts is rejecting calls for the impeachment of a judge who ruled against President Trump's deportation plans. University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias says judicial impeachments for any reason are extremely rare.

[Carl Tobias]

It's only been for high crimes and misdemeanors, and usually it is something like bribery or some other clear criminal activity. And no judge has ever been impeached, much less convicted by the Senate for making decisions with which presidents and members of the Senate and House disagree.

[Shea Stevens]

Tobias says Chief Justice Roberts is likely trying to lower the rhetoric ahead of appeals of rulings on deportations and other cases. A US Government broadcaster is suing the agency that oversees it. The lawsuit alleges U.S. officials violated federal law and the Constitution by cutting off the plaintiff's congressionally approved funding. Details from NPR's Emily Fang.

[Emily Fang]

The broadcaster, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, is among a cluster of platforms which reach more than 400 million weekly listeners worldwide, often in authoritarian countries where the broadcasters were influential vehicles for American soft power. The broadcasters are funded through something called the U.S. agency for Global Media, with money appropriated by Congress. President Trump ordered that agency to dismantle the broadcaster and other platforms, including Voice of America last Friday, which radio for Europe, Radio Liberty argues only Congress can do. The broadcaster's president, Stephen Kapis, said in a statement, quote, this is not the time to cede terrain to the propaganda and censorship of America's adversaries. Emily Fang, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

In a telephone call on Tuesday, President Trump and his Russian counterpart Putin made an agreement on a partial ceasefire for Ukraine. As NPR's Charles mainnes reports, the two leaders failed to agree on Trump's more expansive ceasefire and peace proposals.

[Charles Maynes]

Both the White House and the Kremlin praised talks between Putin and Trump as an open and frank two and a half hour exchange focused on Ukraine and U. S. Russian relations. The most significant outcome, Putin agreed to a 30 day halt on strikes on all energy infrastructure in Ukraine. However, the talks fell short on Trump's proposal for a wider ceasefire in all land, sea and air attacks, a proposal Kyiv had previously accepted. A Kremlin's statement maintains any broader resolution would hinge on an end to all Western military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine, but that's an unlikely scenario given Kyiv currently receives backing from not only the US but but its allies in Europe. Charles Maynes, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are flat in after hours trading on Wall Street. This is npr. Organizers of the Vancouver International Auto show have removed Tesla from the event citing security reasons in wake of ongoing protests over owner Elon Musk's actions. In Washington, Executive Director Eric Nichols says Tesla had been given multiple opportunities to withdraw itself because of concerns for the safety of event workers, exhibitors and attendees. Officials in Miami beach are considering whether to evict and end funding for an art house theater that's showing a controversial documentary. As NPR's Greg Allen reports, the film depicts the destruction of a Palestinian community on the West Bank.

[Greg Allen]

The film no Other Land won an Oscar for best documentary but has been criticized by Israeli officials as one sided and is a, quote, carefully crafted piece of demagoguery. In Miami Beach, Mayor Stephen Miner asked an arts theater that leased space in a city owned building to cancel its plans to screen it. After the theater refused, he drew up a proposal to cancel their lease and withdraw $40,000 in grant funding. He says the documentary is anti Semitic. Miami Beach's city commission is set to vote on the issue later today. Greg Allen, NPR News, Miami Beach.

[Shea Stevens]

The mayor of Istanbul, a key rival of President Erdogan, has been arrested as part of an investigation into corruption and alleged ties to terrorism. The arrest came a day after Turkish police searched the official's home and a university invalidated his diploma. A state run news agency says Turkish prosecutors have issued arrest warrants for dozens others who have been named in this the investigation. This is NPR News.

[Fred Hutch Cancer Center]

This message comes from bombas. Socks, underwear and T shirts are the top three requested clothing items by people experiencing homelessness. Bombas makes all three and donates one item for every item purchased. Go to bombas.com NPR and use code NPR for 20% off.