NPR News Now: March 19, 2025, 8AM EDT

In today's episode of NPR News Now, listeners are brought up to speed with the latest developments both domestically within the United States and internationally. Hosted by Korva Coleman, the episode delves into critical geopolitical tensions, significant U.S. political maneuvers, major arrests in Turkey, the safe return of NASA astronauts, and severe weather warnings impacting the Central Plains.

U.S.-Russia Relations and Ukraine Conflict

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Plans

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced his intention to engage in a phone conversation with former U.S. President Donald Trump today. This comes on the heels of Trump's recent discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelenskyy expressed concerns over ongoing Russian aggression, highlighting that "Russia is still firing drones at [Ukraine], even hitting two hospitals overnight" (00:16).

Putin's Strategic Moves and Europe's Reaction

NPR's Eleanor Beardsley provides deeper insight into the potential implications of these high-level conversations. She explains that Europe's attention is sharply focused on the exchange, emphasizing fears that Putin might be using Trump as a strategic pawn. Beardsley cites former French ambassador Gerard Aro, who suggests, "Putin is testing the waters to see how far he can go. It's Putin's dream for Russia to be treated as a superpower, dealing one on one with the American president over the heads of the Europeans" (00:46). This perspective has Europe deeply concerned about the long-term ramifications for the continent's stability.

Judicial Oversight and Presidential Authority

Judge’s Ruling on Migrant Deportation Flights

A contentious issue within the U.S. legal system has emerged as a federal judge, James Boasberg, has ordered the Justice Department to provide additional details regarding recent deportation flights involving migrants from Venezuela. Despite Boasberg's directive to halt the use of a seldom-invoked wartime power for these deportations and to "turn the planes around," the administration did not comply in time (01:16).

President Trump's Critique of the Judiciary

Amidst these developments, President Trump publicly criticized the judiciary, stating to Fox's Laura Ingraham, "We have very bad judges, and these are judges that shouldn't be allowed. I think they, I think it is certainly at a certain point you have to start looking at what do you do when you have a rogue judge" (01:53). This remark prompted a rare response from Chief Justice John Roberts, who asserted that "for more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreements over a judicial decision. The appeals process is the place for that" (02:02).

Trump's Challenge to Federal Trade Commission Independence

Attempted Dismissal of FTC Commissioners

In a move that could redefine the balance of power between the executive branch and independent regulatory agencies, President Trump has sought to remove two Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter. NPR's Scott Horsley reports that both commissioners have vowed to contest their dismissal in court, arguing that current laws only permit removal "for cause" (02:31).

Reactions from Within the FTC

Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya accused Trump of attempting to undermine the FTC's integrity, stating, "If you take away the independence of this agency, the only people it will help are the powerful. The only people it will help are billionaires" (02:50). Conversely, FTC's Republican chairman Andrew Ferguson defended the administration's stance, expressing confidence in the president's constitutional authority to fire commissioners and assuring that the commission will "continue its work to protect consumers and police anti-competitive behavior" (02:58).

Political Turmoil in Turkey

Arrest of Istanbul's Mayor

Turkish authorities have detained Ekrem Emamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, alongside 80 other individuals. This significant arrest occurs just days before Emamoglu was poised to secure his party's nomination for the upcoming presidential race. Turkish media has swiftly accused him of orchestrating a vast conspiracy involving "corruption and bribery," aiming to destabilize the current administration. Emamoglu is recognized as one of the leading contenders against Turkey's incumbent president, adding layers of political tension to the nation's landscape (03:11).

Safe Return of NASA Astronauts

Astronauts Williams and Wilmore Land Safely

NASA celebrated the successful return of astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, who concluded their extended mission in space after more than nine months. They splashed down off the coast of Florida aboard SpaceX's Dragon capsule yesterday (03:55). Marion Summerall from Central Florida Public Media detailed that the astronauts, part of Crew 9 launched in September, were initially scheduled for an eight-day mission in June. However, after technical issues with Boeing's spacecraft, NASA opted to return the astronauts using another commercial capsule. In total, Williams and Wilmore have spent 286 days contributing to various space explorations and research (03:55).

Severe Weather Warnings Across the Central Plains

Blizzard Threat from Colorado to Minnesota

Meteorologists have issued blizzard warnings spanning from eastern Colorado to eastern Minnesota this morning. The National Weather Service warns of "heavy snow" coupled with powerful winds, forecasting visibility in certain areas to "fall to near zero" (04:32). Residents are advised to take necessary precautions as the Central Plains brace for significant winter weather conditions.

Conclusion

Today's episode of NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive overview of pressing issues ranging from international diplomacy and internal U.S. politics to significant arrests abroad, achievements in space exploration, and urgent weather alerts. The inclusion of direct quotes from key figures like President Trump and FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson provided listeners with firsthand perspectives on these unfolding stories.

Notable Quotes

• Gerard Aro, Former French Ambassador to the U.S.

  • "Putin is testing the waters to see how far he can go. It's Putin's dream for Russia to be treated as a superpower, dealing one on one with the American president over the heads of the Europeans." (00:46)

• President Donald Trump

  • "We have very bad judges, and these are judges that shouldn't be allowed. I think they, I think it is certainly at a certain point you have to start looking at what do you do when you have a rogue judge." (01:53)

• Alvaro Bedoya, FTC Commissioner

  • "If you take away the independence of this agency, the only people it will help are the powerful. The only people it will help are billionaires." (02:50)

• Andrew Ferguson, FTC Chairman

  • "I have no doubt about the president's constitutional authority to fire commissioners. The commission will continue its work to protect consumers and police anti competitive behavior." (02:58)

For more detailed updates and continuous coverage of these stories, tune into NPR News Now, your source for the latest news in just five minutes.