NPR News Now: March 21, 2025 – Comprehensive Summary

Hosted by Shea Stevens, NPR News Now delivers the latest headlines and in-depth reporting every hour. In the March 21, 2025, episode released at 2 AM EDT, the program covered significant political developments, legal battles, international conflicts, environmental lawsuits, immigration cases, and groundbreaking scientific research.

1. President Trump's Executive Order Affecting Education and Federal Agencies

Shutdown of the Department of Education

The episode opens with concerns from parents and educators regarding President Trump's executive order aimed at shutting down the Department of Education. While this move has sparked apprehension among some, it has found support among certain Republican leaders.

• Governor Mike Braun of Indiana praised the executive order, stating at [00:36] MM:SS, "I think all of the things that the federal government has been doing, if the states want the responsibility, yes, we're going to have to find out entrepreneurial ways to do it and do it sustainably. The things that we know are good, we need to keep around." Braun believes that state and parental control could lead to more sustainable and innovative educational solutions.

Legal Challenges to FTC Firings

The discussion shifts to President Trump's recent actions to remove two Democratic members from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a move that is now poised to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

• Jared Davidson, representing the legal advocacy group Protect Democracy, explains at [01:09], "The White House says that Trump has the authority to fire whomever he wants from independent agencies such as the FTC or the National Labor Relations Board or the Merit Systems protection board." He emphasizes the importance of maintaining the independence of these agencies, stating, "It's important that independent agencies remain above politics." This stance is further supported by an Unnamed Commentator at [01:35], who asserts, "They're supposed to be working for the American people and not supposed to be working in service of any one president."

The Trump administration contends that restricting presidential authority over these agencies is unconstitutional and is prepared to defend its position before the Supreme Court.

2. Legal Action Against Elon Musk's Doge Team Accessing SSA Data

A federal judge has intervened to prevent Elon Musk's Doge team from accessing personal data from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

• U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Hollander issued a temporary block, ordering Doge to delete any identifiable personal information already obtained. According to Shea Stevens at [01:54], Doge members claim their intentions are to "reduce waste and fraud at the administration." However, the judge's decision underscores the sensitivity and legal protections surrounding personal data.

3. Ukrainian Drone Attack on Russian Airbase

The episode reports on a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, highlighting a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian airbase.

• Eleanor Beardsley provides detailed coverage at [02:28], stating, "The Ingalls Air base is in the Saratov region, about 450 miles from the front lines in Ukraine." Social media footage revealed extensive damage, including fires and smoke from explosions and ammunition detonations. The base is strategically important as it houses Russia's nuclear-capable heavy strategic bombers.

Ukraine has accused the base of initiating missile strikes and terrorist activities against its civilians. The Governor of Saratov labeled the incident as the "most massive drone attack of all time," noting that approximately 30 nearby houses were damaged. This event underscores the escalating role of drone technology in modern warfare, with both Ukraine and Russia advancing their drone capabilities.

4. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Sued Over Clean Energy Funding

California, along with three other states, has initiated a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its decision to freeze $20 billion allocated for clean energy projects.

• According to Shea Stevens at [03:12], the plaintiffs argue that the EPA is "breaking the law by ending funding that was already approved by Congress." This legal challenge highlights the ongoing tensions between federal environmental policies and state-level initiatives aimed at combating climate change and promoting sustainable energy sources.

5. Immigration Case: Georgetown University Graduate Detained

The episode covers a high-profile immigration case involving Badr Khan Suri, a Georgetown University graduate fellow from India who has been detained in Arlington, Virginia.

• Shea Stevens reports at [03:12], "A federal judge says the government may not deport a detained Georgetown University graduate fellow from India." Suri faces accusations of spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting anti-Semitism on social media. His attorney, Hassan Ahmad, contends that Suri has not engaged in political activism and suggests that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)'s allegations may be influenced by the actions of Suri's father-in-law.

This case underscores the complex interplay between national security concerns and individual rights within the U.S. immigration system.

6. Breakthrough Research: Seals Can Sense Internal Oxygen Levels

In a remarkable scientific discovery, new research has revealed that seals possess the ability to perceive their internal oxygen levels, allowing them to manage their breath and avoid drowning more effectively than previously understood.

• Jonathan Lambert reports at [04:14], "When humans hold their breath, the urge to breathe is driven by a buildup of carbon dioxide in our blood, not oxygen. That's the case for virtually all other mammals, but not for gray seals." The study, published in the journal Science, involved varying the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide that captive gray seals could breathe while observing their underwater foraging behavior. The findings indicate that higher oxygen levels enable seals to stay submerged longer, while carbon dioxide levels had minimal impact. This suggests that gray seals have evolved a unique mechanism to regulate their breathing independently of carbon dioxide buildup, enhancing their ability to dive and forage efficiently.

This discovery marks the first demonstration of such an ability in animals, potentially leading to new insights into respiratory physiology and evolutionary adaptations.

Conclusion

The March 21, 2025, episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a comprehensive overview of critical issues spanning political maneuvers, legal battles, international conflicts, environmental policies, immigration cases, and scientific advancements. Through detailed reporting and expert commentary, NPR continues to inform the public on matters that shape our world.

This summary synthesizes content from the NPR News Now transcript while excluding non-content segments such as advertisements, intros, and outros to focus solely on the substantive news covered in the episode.