NPR News: 03-20-2025 6AM EDT

Summary

NPR News: March 20, 2025, 6AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Source: NPR News Now
Release Date: March 20, 2025

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1. President Trump's Executive Order to Close the Department of Education

Timestamp: [00:16]

In a significant move, President Trump is expected to sign an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to commence the shutdown of the U.S. Department of Education. According to NPR's Janaki Mehta, a senior White House official confirmed the administration's intention to eliminate the department, a plan that has been anticipated since early February. The order stipulates that no department programs advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) or gender ideology will receive funding. "The move has been expected since early February," Mehta reports, highlighting that nearly half of the department's staff have already been notified of impending layoffs, with many employees set to end their roles this Friday before being placed on administrative leave.

2. Federal Judge Demands Answers on Deportation Flights

Timestamp: [01:12]

A federal judge has issued a temporary block against the Trump administration's use of wartime powers to deport Venezuelan migrants accused of gang affiliations. NPR's Joel Rose details how U.S. District Judge James Boasberg is demanding the Justice Department provide detailed accounts of the deportation flights to El Salvador, alleging potential non-compliance with judicial orders. "Judge Boasberg has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from using wartime powers to quickly deport migrants," Rose explains. The Justice Department, however, is contesting the judge's demands, arguing that Boasberg is "continuing to beat a dead horse" in their emergency filing. The deadline has been extended by Boasberg by 24 hours to allow the department to consider invoking the state secrets privilege, and an appeal against the judge's orders has been filed.

3. Federal Reserve Maintains Interest Rates Amid Tariff Impact Analysis

Timestamp: [02:08] - [02:37]

The Federal Reserve has decided to keep its benchmark short-term interest rates unchanged, as policymakers assess the economic impact of recent tariffs implemented by President Trump. Fed Chair Jerome Powell addressed the challenges of isolating the effects of the tariffs, stating, "Some of it, the answer is clearly some of it, a good part of it is coming from tariffs" ([02:23]). Powell emphasized the difficulty in distinguishing which economic changes are directly attributable to tariff increases, indicating that a portion of the current economic conditions can be linked to these policies.

4. Upcoming U.S. Economic Data and Housing Market Report

Timestamp: [02:37]

Later this morning, fresh data on the U.S. economy is expected to be released, including the National Association of Realtors' report on existing home sales for February. This report will provide insights into the current state of the housing market, a critical indicator of economic health.

5. Israeli Military Actions in Gaza Escalate

Timestamp: [02:37] - [04:10]

The Israeli military has intensified its operations in Gaza, resulting in significant casualties. According to the Associated Press, at least 58 Palestinians were killed in overnight strikes. The military has launched a new ground offensive into the enclave, with Israel's Defense Minister issuing a stern warning to Gaza residents: the return of all Israeli hostages and the removal of Hamas from power are prerequisites for ceasing military actions. This escalation underscores the ongoing and volatile conflict in the region.

6. Miami Beach Mayor Withdraws Eviction Threat Against Arts Theater

Timestamp: [02:37] - [04:10]

In a notable victory for local arts communities, the mayor of Miami Beach has retracted plans to evict and defund a local arts theater. The theater faced potential closure for screening the Oscar-winning documentary "No Other Land," which depicts the destruction of a Palestinian town in the West Bank by the Israeli government. NPR's Greg Allen reports that strong opposition from community members and elected officials persuaded the mayor to abandon the eviction efforts. City Commissioner Alex Fernandez emphasized the importance of free expression, stating, "The First Amendment is clear. Governments must never censor artistic expression, even when it is controversial or deeply offensive" ([03:53]). The mayor, who initially claimed the film contained anti-Semitic propaganda, acknowledged the importance of artistic freedom and withdrew the proposed measures.

7. International Olympic Committee Selects New President

Timestamp: [04:10]

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is in the process of selecting its next president, with seven candidates vying for the position. The chosen leader will succeed outgoing IOC head Thomas Bach and oversee the Olympic movement for the next eight years. Key issues on the agenda include the inclusion of transgender athletes in competitions and the potential ban of Russian participants in the Games. The new president will play a crucial role in addressing these and other pressing challenges facing the global sporting community.

8. Amtrak CEO Resigns Amid Privatization Talks

Timestamp: [04:10] - [04:56]

Stephen Gardner, the CEO of Amtrak, has resigned after three years at the helm. His departure follows a direct appeal from billionaire Elon Musk, who advocates for the privatization of the national rail system. Musk, who is also spearheading government cost-cutting initiatives, stated that "the national rail system needs to be fixed," signaling a shift towards potential privatization efforts that could reshape Amtrak's future operations.

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Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump is expected to sign an executive order today. NPR's Janaki Mehta reports. It will direct the secretary of Education to start shutting down the U.S. education Department.

[Janaki Mehta]

A senior White House official confirmed to NPR that President Trump plans to sign an executive action that will tell education secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education. The move has been expected since early February, when the White House shared its intentions but held off on issuing the action until McMahon was confirmed in her position. The Education Department has already notified nearly half of its staff that they will be laid off. Many of those employees will have their last day of work this Friday before being placed on administrative leave. The order also says any programs will not be funded by the department if they advance DEI or gender ideology. Janaki Mehta, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

A federal judge is giving the Trump administration one more day to answer all of his questions about deportation flights last weekend. NPR's Joel Rose reports the Justice Department is fighting the judge's order to submit details about the flights that deported hundreds of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador.

[Joel Rose]

U.S. district Judge James Boasberg has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from using wartime powers to quickly deport migrants from Venezuela that it accuses of being gang members. Now Boasberg is demanding answers from the Justice Department about whether it deliberately flouted his orders when it allowed two deportation flights to continue. But the Justice Department is pushing back. In an emergency filing, lawyers accused Boasberg of, quote, continuing to beat a dead horse. Boasberg agreed to extend his deadline for 24 hours to allow the Justice Department to consider invoking the state secrets privilege. The Justice Department has also appealed Boasberg's orders. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

Policymakers for the Federal Reserve have opted to keep their benchmark short term interest rates where they are. Fed Chair Jerome Powell says he and his colleagues are trying to trace how President Trump's new tariffs have affected the US Economy over the past couple of.

[Jerome Powell]

Months, 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.

[Korva Coleman]

There will be fresh data on the US Economy later this morning. The national association of Realtors will release its report for existing U.S. home sales during February. The Israeli military continued to strike Gaza overnight. The Associated Press reports at least 58 Palestinians were killed, according to hospitals in Gaza. The Israeli military says it has launched a new ground offensive into the Palestinian enclave. Israel's defense minister says Israel is giving Gaza residents their final warning to return all Israeli hostages and to remove Hamas from power. You're listening to npr. The mayor of Miami Beach, Florida, has dropped an effort to evict and terminate funding for a local arts theater. The theater refused to cancel screenings of this year's Oscar winning documentary film. NPR's Greg Allen reports. The mayor relented after hearing strong opposition from the community and elected officials.

[Greg Allen]

The film no Other Land tells the story of a Palestinian town in the west bank that was bulldozed by the Israeli government for use as a military training zone. Miami Beach's mayor objected to its screening at an arts theater that that leaves space in a city owned building. At a meeting in Miami Beach, City Commissioner Alex Fernandez was one of many who said he supported the cinema.

[Alex Fernandez]

The First Amendment is clear. Governments must never censor artistic expression, even when it is controversial or deeply offensive.

[Greg Allen]

Miami Beach's mayor said he believes the film contains anti Semitic propaganda, but agreed to withdraw the eviction and defunding measure. Greg Allen, NPR News, Miami.

[Korva Coleman]

The International Olympic Committee is selecting its next president. Today. There are seven candidates. One will succeed outgoing IOC leader Thomas Bach. The winner will lead the Olympic organization for the next eight years. The new leader will address issues from transgender athletic competition to the ban on official Russian participation from the Games. The head of the passenger railroad, Amtrak, is resigning. Stephen Gardner has led Amtrak for three years. He's leaving after billionaire Elon Musk called to privatize Amtrak. Musk, who also oversees the government cost cutting effort, Doge, says the national rail system needs to be fixed. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.

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