NPR News: 03-20-2025 12AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Comprehensive Summary of March 20, 2025 Episode

Released on March 20, 2025

---

1. Legal Battle Over US Institute of Peace Board Takeover

Host: Shea Stevens
Reporter: Ryan Lucas

In a significant legal development, a federal judge has declined to temporarily block Doge's (likely a typographical error for "Doge") attempt to take over the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP), a congressionally funded think tank based in Washington, D.C. This decision comes amidst a lawsuit filed by former board members of USIP seeking to reverse the removal of their positions and prevent Doge from accessing the institute's resources.

During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell expressed strong disapproval of Doge's aggressive maneuvers to seize control of USIP. She highlighted actions such as "threatening criminal prosecution" and deploying "armed law enforcement to remove senior employees from the building" as particularly offensive (01:15). Despite these concerns, Judge Howell identified ambiguities within the lawsuit and doubted its chances of succeeding based on its merits, leading her to deny the request for a temporary restraining order.

2. President Trump's Executive Order on the Department of Education

Host: Shea Stevens

President Donald Trump is anticipated to sign a pivotal executive order on Thursday aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. The draft of the order instructs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to initiate the process of devolving educational authority back to individual states. Furthermore, the order seeks to eliminate federal funding for programs and activities centered around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as well as those related to "gender ideology."

This move aligns with Trump's broader agenda to reduce federal oversight and increase state-level control over education policies. The implications of this order could lead to significant shifts in how educational programs are funded and administered across the nation.

3. Federal Reserve Maintains Benchmark Interest Rate

Host: Shea Stevens
Reporter: Ryan Lucas
Federal Reserve Chairman: Jerome Powell

In economic news, the Federal Reserve has opted to keep its key benchmark interest rate unchanged. Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, commented on the decision, stating, "The overall economy is strong and wages are growing faster than inflation, which is still higher than the Fed's 2% target" (01:52).

Powell further elaborated on the complexities of inflation, noting that "goods inflation moved up pretty significantly in the first two months of the year. Trying to track that back to actual tariff increases... very, very challenging" (01:52). He acknowledged that while some inflationary pressures stem from tariff hikes, disentangling their exact impact remains difficult.

Despite the persistent inflation rates, the Fed's latest quarterly projection remains consistent with its December outlook, suggesting a cautious but steady approach to monetary policy amidst a robust economic landscape.

4. Russia-Ukraine POWs Released in Ceasefire Talks

Host: Shea Stevens
Reporter: Eleanor Beardsley

A glimmer of hope emerges from the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine as both nations have released 175 prisoners of war each. This development marks the 62nd prisoner exchange since the full-scale invasion began three years ago. Eleanor Beardsley reports that the Ukrainian army shared emotional footage on social media, showcasing newly liberated soldiers who were "thin with shaved heads" and "wrapped in a Ukrainian flag" (02:28).

One poignant moment captured a POW tearfully informing his mother of his homecoming. Despite the exchanges, thousands of prisoners remain detained by both sides, though exact numbers are unclear. Additionally, the exchange included the return of 22 seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers who were not part of the standard POW swaps. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously highlighted the dire physical and psychological conditions of those returned, emphasizing the human cost of the prolonged conflict.

5. Greenpeace Ordered to Pay Over $660 Million for Pipeline Protest

Host: Shea Stevens
Reporter: Bobby Allen

In a landmark decision, a North Dakota jury has mandated that the environmental organization Greenpeace pay more than $660 million in damages related to protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline. The legal case originated from demonstrations in 2016 and 2020, where activists attempted to obstruct the pipeline's construction, particularly its crossing over the Missouri River. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, a key opponent of the project, expressed concerns that the pipeline would jeopardize their downstream water supply.

Despite the successful protests leading to the pipeline's activation in May 2017, the financial ramifications for Greenpeace underscore the escalating tensions between environmental activism and infrastructure development. The court's decision reflects the judiciary's stance on balancing civil disobedience with legal accountability.

6. AI Copyright Case Heads to Supreme Court

Host: Shea Stevens
Reporter: Bobby Allen

A contentious legal battle over the role of artificial intelligence in creative processes is escalating to the U.S. Supreme Court. The case involves Missouri computer scientist Stephen Thayer, who seeks to have an AI recognized as the author of an image titled "A Recent Entrance to Paradise." Thayer contends that while the U.S. Copyright Office grants copyrights to works assisted by AI, the AI itself should be acknowledged as the creator.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals previously ruled against Thayer, asserting that under the Copyright Act of 1976, only works created by humans qualify for copyright protection (04:00). The court emphasized that the legislation, which has been in place for 49 years, does not account for non-human authorship. Thayer, undeterred by the setback, plans to challenge the decision, highlighting the evolving discourse around AI's capabilities and rights in creative domains.

7. Financial Markets Overview

Host: Shea Stevens

In the financial sector, U.S. futures are trending higher in after-hours trading on Wall Street, signaling optimism among investors. Conversely, the Asia Pacific markets are predominantly down, with Hong Kong's market experiencing a decline of 1%. These movements reflect the intricate dynamics of global financial markets and the varying economic sentiments across different regions.

---

Timestamp Reference:

• 01:15: Legal Battle Over USIP Board Takeover
• 01:52: Federal Reserve Decisions and Powell's Comments
• 02:28: Russia-Ukraine POW Releases
• 04:00: AI Copyright Case

Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been excluded from this summary to focus on the substantive news topics discussed during the 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. A federal judge is refusing to temporarily block joja's takeover of a congressionally funded think tank in Washington. As NPR's Ryan Lucas reports, the request was made in a lawsuit by former members of the nonprofit U.S. institute of Peace, or USIP.

[Ryan Lucas]

The lawsuit seeks to reinstate the board members who were removed and to block Doge from further accessing the institute or its systems. At a hearing in federal court in Washington, D.C. u.S. District Judge Beryl Howell said she was very offended by how Doge has moved to take over usip. That includes threatening criminal prosecution and showing up with armed law enforcement to remove senior employees from the building. But Judge Howell says there is confusion in the lawsuit and that she has concerns about its likelihood of success on the merits. She therefore denied the former USIP board member's request for a temporary restraining order blocking Doge's actions while the lawsuit proceeds. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

President Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Thursday calling for the shutdown of the US Department of Education. A draft of the order directs education secretary Linda McMahon to take steps to return education authority to the states. It also calls for the elimination of any department funding to programs or activities involving diversity, equity and inclusion or gender ideology. The Federal Reserve has left its key benchmark rate unchanged. Chairman Jerome Powell says the overall economy is strong and wages are growing faster than inflation, which is still higher than the Fed's 2% target.

[Jerome Powell]

Goods inflation moved up pretty significantly in the first two months of the year. Trying to track that back to actual tariff increases, given what was tariff and what was not, very, very challenging. So some of it, the answer is clearly some of it, a good part of it is coming from tariffs.

[Shea Stevens]

Powell says the Fed's latest quarterly projection is the same as the one issued in December. Russia and Ukraine have each released 175 prisoners of war. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports that it's one positive, tangible aspect of ongoing ceasefire talks.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

The Ukrainian army posted emotional videos on social media of the newly liberated soldiers. All were thin with shaved heads. Each was wrapped in a Ukrainian flag. One POW cried as he called his mother to tell her he was finally home. Thousands of prisoners of war are being held by both sides, though the exact numbers are not known. It is the 62nd prisoner exchange since the full scale invasion. Three years ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on social media that those returned from captivity have health problems, severe injuries and traumas. 22 seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers were also returned outside of the POW exchange.

[Shea Stevens]

Eleanor Beardsley reporting. This is npr. A North Dakota jury has ordered the environmental group Greenpeace to pay more than $660 million for damages to an oil pipeline. The case stems from protests in 2016 and 20 when demonstrators tried to block construction of the Dakota Access pipeline and its Missouri river crossing. The project had been opposed by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, which feared the pipeline would contaminate its downstream water supply. The pipeline has been delivering oil since May 2017. A federal appeals court in Washington has rejected a computer scientist's bid to copyright a piece of art that he created using artificial intelligence. But as NPR's Bobby Allen reports, the plaintiff plans to take take his fight to the U.S. supreme Court.

[Bobby Allen]

The D.C. circuit of Appeals wrote, this case presents a question made salient by recent advances in artificial intelligence. Can a non human machine be an author under the Copyright act of 1976? Its answer, no. And that's because the 49 year old law says only a work made by a human can be copyrighted. The Missouri computer scientist Stephen Thayer says he guided his AI to create an image called A Recent Entrance to Paradise, and the AI deserves to own it. The copyright office has granted copyright to work assisted by AI, but Thayer says the AI itself should be an author. The federal appeals court rejected this. Thayer says he is appealing. Bobby Allen, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are higher in after hours trading on Wall Street. On Asia Pacific market shares are mostly lower, down 1% in Hong Kong. This is NPR.

[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. Bombus makes all three and donates one item for every item purchased. Go to bombus.com NPR and use code NPR for 20% off.