NPR News: 03-19-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of March 19, 2025, 4PM EDT Episode

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Producer: NPR
Release Date: March 19, 2025

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1. Social Security Administration Implements Stricter Identity Verification

[00:12]
Lakshmi Singh opens the episode by addressing significant changes within the Social Security Administration (SSA). The agency has announced new protocols requiring individuals to verify their identities in person when seeking certain services. This shift comes amid ongoing staff reductions and the closure of numerous local offices.

[00:33]
Ashley Lopez provides an in-depth look at the SSA's decision. Agency officials plan to transition over the next two weeks to a process aimed at "strengthening the identity proofing procedures for people seeking Social Security benefit claims and direct deposit changes." Previously, these verifications could be completed online using the agency's digital system. However, the new mandate necessitates personal visits to local SSA offices.

The rationale behind this move is to combat fraud. Despite these intentions, critics argue that the changes will pose substantial challenges for Americans attempting to access their benefits. Advocates highlight that the requirement forces seniors and individuals with disabilities to travel to SSA offices, which is particularly problematic as the agency continues to shut down local branches and reduce its workforce.

Quote:
"This is an effort to prevent fraud. But advocates say these changes will make it harder for Americans to collect their earned benefits and force seniors and people with disabilities to travel in person," – Ashley Lopez, NPR News.

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2. Legal Battle Over Deportation Flights Under Historic Law

[01:15]
The episode shifts focus to a contentious legal issue involving recent deportation flights executed under an 18th-century wartime law. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg has set a new deadline for the administration to provide detailed explanations regarding these deportations. Previously, he ordered the return of planes carrying alleged Venezuelan gang members removed from U.S. soil.

[01:38]
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt responds forcefully to Judge Boasberg's ruling. She states, "We don't have any flights planned specifically, but we will continue with the mass deportations." Levitt further criticizes the judge, asserting, "This judge does not have that authority. It is the opinion of this, of this White House and of this administration, and that's why we're fighting this in court." Her remarks underscore the administration's stance that the President retains executive authority over deportations, despite the judge's challenges.

[02:05]
Adding to the complexity, calls for the impeachment of Judge Boasberg have emerged. U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts counters these calls by emphasizing that disagreements with judicial rulings should be pursued through the appeals process rather than impeachment.

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3. U.S.-Ukraine Relations and the Controversy Over Abducted Children

[02:05]
In international news, President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have engaged in a phone conversation following Trump's recent discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During this call, Trump pledged assistance to Ukraine in recovering children abducted by Russia amid the ongoing conflict.

However, controversy arises as the Trump administration has terminated an aid program previously dedicated to compiling information on over 30,000 Ukrainian children believed to have been taken to Russia during the war. This decision has sparked concern among lawmakers.

[02:42]
Michelle Kellerman reports on the backlash from lawmakers who have written to Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing their worries about the aid cut. Ohio Democrat Greg Landsman highlighted the issue, stating, "The database he had been searching disappeared."

[02:57]
Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson for the State Department, clarifies the situation by asserting, "It's a lot of demographic data and a lot of satellite information that we now can't find." She further assures that the information concerning abducted children has not been deleted but is simply not housed within the State Department's current databases.

[03:12]
This development raises questions about the administration's commitment to addressing the plight of Ukrainian children amidst the broader geopolitical tensions.

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4. Surge in ADHD Prescription Use and Misuse Among Adults

[03:12]
Transitioning to health news, Lakshmi Singh introduces a study published in JAMA Psychiatry highlighting a dramatic increase in ADHD prescriptions among adults, coupled with a rise in medication misuse.

[03:29]
Katie Ruddell delves into the study's findings, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant uptick in adults taking stimulant medications for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Researchers observed that while the majority of individuals use these medications safely and effectively, over 25% of adults with prescriptions reported misuse. Misuse includes taking higher doses than prescribed, using the medication more frequently, or other unauthorized methods of consumption.

The study underscores the correlation between this misuse and the development of other substance use disorders, which poses substantial health risks. Consequently, researchers advocate for vigilant monitoring of individuals prescribed these medications to mitigate potential abuse.

Quote:
"More than 25% of adults with a prescription reported misuse. This kind of behavior is correlated with substance use disorder of other kinds that can be quite dangerous," – Katie Ruddell, NPR News.

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5. Pentagon Removes Diversity Content, Sparking Debate

[04:10]
Lakshmi Singh reports on a significant policy shift within the Pentagon. The military's official website has excised the story of Jackie Robinson, the famed athlete who served as a second lieutenant in the army before breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier. This removal is part of a broader, government-wide initiative to purge Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) content and programs intended to support the fair treatment of historically marginalized groups.

Critics argue that such DEI initiatives undermine individual merit and introduce discriminatory practices. Supporters, however, have long advocated for DEI as essential for fostering an inclusive and equitable environment within government institutions.

The removal of Jackie Robinson's story not only erases a pivotal moment in both military and sports history but also signals a larger trend of diminishing support for DEI efforts across federal agencies.

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6. Stock Market Update

[04:10]
Concluding the episode, Lakshmi Singh provides a brief financial update. U.S. stocks closed higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining 383 points, an increase of nearly 1%, reaching 41,964. This positive performance reflects investor confidence amidst the day's political and economic news.

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Final Note:
This episode of NPR News Now comprehensively covered pivotal issues ranging from policy changes in the Social Security Administration and legal battles over deportations to international relations concerning Ukraine, health trends in ADHD medication use, governmental shifts in DEI policies, and a snapshot of the stock market's performance. By integrating detailed reports and direct quotes from key figures, the episode offers listeners a thorough understanding of the day's most pressing news.

Transcript

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Social Security Administration has announced it will soon require people seeking some services to prove their identities in person. These changes come at a time when the agency is making cuts to its staff and closing various local offices. Here's NPR's Ashley Lopez.

[Ashley Lopez]

Agency officials say over the next two weeks they're going to transition to a process that, quote, strengthens the identity proofing procedures for people seeking Social Security benefit claims and direct deposit changes. Instead of doing this on the agency's website, which has an online identity proving system, people will have to go in person to a local Social Security office. Agency officials say this is an effort to prevent fraud. But advocates say these changes will make it harder for Americans to collect their earned benefits and force seniors and people with disabilities to travel in person at a time when the Social Security Administration is closing local offices across the country and reducing staff. Ashley Lopez, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

A court order deadline's now up for the administration to answer questions about last weekend's deportation flights carried out under an 18th century wartime law. U.S. district Judge James Boasberg seeking more details about the administration's actions even though he'd ordered the planes carrying alleged Venezuelan gang members out of the US to be turned around. This afternoon, White House press Secretary Caroline Levitt criticized the judge's ruling.

[Caroline Levitt]

We don't have any flights planned specifically, but we will continue with the mass deportations. And I would just like to point out that the judge in this case is essentially trying to say that the president doesn't have the executive authority to deport foreign terrorists from our American soil. That is an egregious abuse of the bench. This judge does not have that authority. It is the opinion of this, of this White House and of this administration, and that's why we're fighting this in court.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Trevor's call for Boasberg's impeachment, US Chief Justice John Roberts pushed back, saying disagreement with a judge's ruling should be addressed in the appeals process. More Presidents Trump and Zelensky of Ukraine spoke by phone a day after Trump's conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. President Trump is promising to help Ukraine get back children who were abducted by Russia, but his administration canceled an aid program that was gathering information about more than 30,000 Ukrainian children believed to have been taken to Russia during the course of the war. Here's NPR's Michelle Kellerman.

[Michelle Kellerman]

In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, some lawmakers raised concerns about the aid cut to Yale researchers gathering information about Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Ohio Democrat Greg Landsman tells NPR the database he had been searching disappeared.

[Tammy Bruce]

It's a lot of demographic data and a lot of satellite information that we now can't find.

[Michelle Kellerman]

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce says the information about abducted children has not been deleted but is not housed at the State Department.

[Lakshmi Singh]

That's NPR's Michelle Kellerman. More Americans are taking prescriptions for ADHD than ever before, and more are misusing the medicines than ever before. That is according to a new study from JAMA Psychiatry. NPR's Katie Riddle has details.

[Katie Ruddell]

During the pandemic, many adults started taking stimulants for attention deficits hyperactivity disorder. The researchers who conducted this study looked at how people are using these drugs in light of this new demand. They underscored that most people do use stimulants safely and effectively and emphasized that it's important to keep them widely available. However, they did also find that more than 25% of adults with a prescription reported misuse. That means taking too much of a drug or too often or any other ways their doctor did not prescribe. This kind of behavior is correlated with substance use disorder of other kinds that can be quite dangerous. The researchers called for careful monitoring of people using these drugs. Katie Ruddell, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Pentagon's website no longer includes the military story of the legendary Jackie Robinson, a second lieutenant in the army who went on to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball. It's the latest in the government wide purge of diversity, equity and inclusion content and programs that were designed to promote the fair treatment of historically marginalized groups. But President Trump and other critics argue DEI undermines individual merit and has a discriminatory effect. Before the close, U.S. stocks were trading higher, with the Dow up 383 points, or nearly 1% at 41,964. It's NPR.

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