NPR News: 03-20-2025 3PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 20, 2025, 3 PM EDT Summary

Hosted by Lakshmi Singh

---

1. Administration Moves to Dismantle the U.S. Department of Education

President Donald Trump is advancing his campaign promise to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. Scheduled to sign an executive action this afternoon, the plan aims to transfer educational authority back to the states. However, this significant restructuring will require Congressional approval.

Key Points:

• The proposed action claims it won't reduce essential federal funding that assists schools serving low-income students, children with disabilities, and rural communities.
• The White House emphasizes that returning control to the states will enhance educational outcomes and maintain support for vulnerable student populations.
• White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt highlighted the initiative's importance beyond education, framing it as a national security concern.

Notable Quote:

"When you look at how students around the world, particularly in China, are being educated, American students are falling behind. We're not keeping up with our allies or our adversaries, and that's a major problem for our country, and the president is fixing it."
— Caroline Levitt (00:51)

Additionally, the Department of Education has undergone significant reductions, now operating at approximately half its size since President Trump assumed office following a series of extensive layoffs.

---

2. Immigration Enforcement Targets Pro-Palestinian Activists

In recent immigration enforcement actions, authorities have detained individuals associated with pro-Palestinian protests. Badar Khansuri, an Indian national on a student visa and a Georgetown University researcher, was arrested in his Virginia home. His detention mirrors the earlier arrest of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.

Key Points:

• Khansuri is being held under an immigration law that empowers the Secretary of State to deport noncitizens deemed threats to U.S. foreign policy.
• The government accuses Khansuri of disseminating Hamas propaganda and promoting anti-Semitism on social media platforms.

Notable Quotes:

"Khansuri was actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting anti-Semitism on social media."
— Trisha McLachlan, Homeland Security Spokesperson (01:26)

Further Details: Khansuri's legal team has filed petitions seeking his release, contesting the government's characterization of his activities.

---

3. Funding Cuts Threaten Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network

The Trump administration has significantly reduced funding for the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory network, a critical infrastructure managed by the World Health Organization (WHO). This decision stems from the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO in January.

Key Points:

• The network comprises over 700 laboratories worldwide, essential for monitoring and controlling measles outbreaks.
• The annual funding cut amounts to $8 million, placing the network's sustainability at risk.

Notable Quotes:

"It would mean many, many more outbreaks, many, many more deaths and many, many more cases."
— Kate O'Brien, WHO Representative (02:29)

Implications: The WHO is actively seeking alternative funding sources to prevent the collapse of the laboratory network. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms that domestic measles laboratory funding remains unaffected.

---

4. Stock Markets Experience Declines

U.S. stock markets are experiencing downward trends during this reporting hour. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has decreased by 38 points, the S&P 500 is down by 20 points, and the Nasdaq Composite has fallen nearly 100 points.

Summary: These declines reflect broader economic uncertainties and may be influenced by recent political and international developments.

---

5. Preliminary Report on Toronto Pearson Airport Plane Crash

A Delta Air Lines regional jet crash-landed at Toronto Pearson International Airport last month. Aviation authorities have released a preliminary report indicating that the aircraft descended too rapidly, exceeding the safe descent rate by over 1,100 feet per minute.

Key Points:

• All 80 passengers and crew survived the incident, though two individuals sustained serious injuries.
• The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is continuing its investigation to determine the precise factors contributing to the excessive descent rate.

Summary: Initial findings suggest pilot error or mechanical failure could be responsible, but comprehensive analysis is ongoing to ensure future flight safety.

---

6. Muslim Foster Care Association Hosts Iftar for Youth in Michigan

Ramadan presents unique challenges for Muslim youth in non-Muslim foster homes, often leading to feelings of isolation. To address this, the Muslim Foster Care Association in Michigan organized an Iftar event to foster community and support among these young individuals.

Key Points:

• The event featured a buffet with both savory and sweet dishes, prepared by organizers and volunteers.
• Shereen Abunada, Director of Operations for the association, highlighted the recent increase in refugee Muslim minors due to expedited immigration policies, bringing the number of Muslim children in foster care in Michigan to 250, with fewer than a dozen foster homes accommodating them.

Notable Quotes:

"They expedited a lot of travel of refugee Muslim foster youth from West African countries. So we've had an influx of about 50 to 70 youth that have just recently arrived in the past couple months."
— Caroline Levitt (04:22)

Summary: The association's efforts aim to provide a supportive environment for Muslim youth during Ramadan, combating loneliness and fostering a sense of belonging within the community.

---

Closing Market Update

Reiterating the earlier market trends, the Dow Jones is currently down by 29 points, the S&P 500 has decreased by 17 points, and the Nasdaq Composite is down 86 points, marking a nearly half-percent drop overall.

---

This summary captures the key discussions and insights from the March 20, 2025, episode of NPR News Now. For full details, listeners are encouraged to access the podcast directly.

Transcript

[Carvana]

This message comes from Carvana. Sell your car the convenient way, enter your license plate or vin, answer a few questions and get a real offer in seconds. Go to Carvana.com today.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump will soon begin the process of dismantling the US Department of Education. This afternoon, Trump is scheduled to sign an executive action that aims to deliver on his campaign promise to shutter the federal agency. Doing so will require an act of Congress. The White House says the action will not cut key federal funding streams that help schools serve low income students, kids with disabilities and rural communities. The administration says it wants to return education authority to the states. Earlier today, White House press Secretary Caroline Levitt said the closure is also a national security issue.

[Caroline Levitt]

When you look at how students around the world, particularly in China, are being educated, American students are falling behind. We're not keeping up with our allies or our adversaries, and that's a major problem for our country, and the president is fixing it.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Today, a week after sweeping layoffs, the department will soon be down to roughly half the size it was when President Trump took office. Immigration officials have detained a second person in connection with pro Palestinian protests. Badar Khansuri was arrested in his Virginia home earlier this week under the same authority used to arrest Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. NPR's Heman Abustillo has more.

[Heman Abustillo]

Khansuri, a national of India, is in the US On a student visa, which allows him to teach and study as a Georgetown University researcher. India Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested him and moved him to a detention center in Louisiana, according to a detention database. Khonsuri's lawyers have petitioned for his release. The government says that he was detained under an immigration law that allows the secretary of state to deport noncitizens the government sees as a threat to US foreign policy. Trisha McLachlan, a spokesperson for Homeland Security, said on social media that Khonsui was actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting anti Semitism on social media. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The administration has cut funding for a worldwide network of more than 700 labs that test for measles. NPR's Gabriela Emanuel has details.

[Gabriela Emanuel]

The Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory network is funded by the US but run by the World Health Organization. In January, President Trump decided to withdraw from the WHO and pulled funding, including for these labs.

[Kate O'Brien]

And so this lab network is now under severe threat of collapse.

[Gabriela Emanuel]

Kate O'Brien is with the WHO.

[Kate O'Brien]

It would mean many, many more outbreaks, many, many more deaths and many, many more cases.

[Gabriela Emanuel]

A spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said funding for domestic measles labs continues. The WHO says it's looking for other sources of support for the global network. The price tag, $8 million annually. Gabriela Emanuel, NPR News. U.S. stocks are trading lower this hour.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The dow is down 38 points, the S&P is off 20, and the Nasdaq is down nearly 100 points. This is NPR News. New details today about the plane crash at Toronto's Pearson International Airport last month. Aviation authorities in Canada say the Delta Air Lines regional jet descended too quickly at a rate of more than 1,100ft per minute when it crash land. The country's Transportation Safety Board says in its preliminary report today that the rate of descent was nearly twice as fast as it should have been. All 80 people on board survived, but two people were seriously injured. Ramadan it can be a lonely experience for Muslim youth in non Muslim homes. The Muslim Foster Care association in Michigan has held an IFTAR to bring some of those youth together to break their fast. Nargis Rahman of member stationwdet has more.

[Shereen Abunada]

Organizers and volunteers of the Muslim Foster Care association put the final touches to the buffet style iftar, a roll of savory Thai food and sweet pastries. Director of operations for the association, Shereen Abunada, says resettlement agencies recently brought in more refugee Muslim minors in anticipation of changing immigration policies.

[Caroline Levitt]

They expedited a lot of travel of refugee Muslim foster youth from West African countries. So we've had an influx of about 50 to 70 youth that have just recently arrived in the past couple months.

[Shereen Abunada]

The association says there are 250 Muslim children in foster care in Michigan, but less than a dozen Muslim foster homes. For NPR News, I'm Nargis Rahman in Detroit.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Dow's down 29 points, S&P is off 17, and the Nasdaq is down 86 points, or nearly half a percent. This is NPR News.

[Carvana]

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.