NPR News: 03-21-2025 5AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 21, 2025 – Episode Summary

Hosted by Dave Mattingly

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

Reporter: Deepa Shivaram

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at significantly reducing the scope of the Department of Education. While the department won’t be entirely eliminated—an action requiring congressional approval—the order seeks to scale down its operations. President Trump justified this move by pointing to declining reading and math test scores during the pandemic.

“We're not doing well with the world of education and in this country, and we haven't for a long time,” Trump stated [00:53].

Despite the reduction, essential programs such as Pell grants, Title I resources, and funding for students with disabilities and special needs will continue. These programs will be managed by other federal departments and agencies, ensuring that support for vulnerable student populations remains intact.

Key Points:

• The executive order targets a significant reduction of the Department of Education.
• Complete elimination would require an act of Congress.
• Programs supporting disadvantaged students will continue under different management.

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2. Justice Department Charges Individuals in Violent Attacks on Tesla Facilities

Reporter: Windsor Johnston

The Justice Department has charged three individuals in connection with a series of violent attacks on Tesla dealerships and facilities across the United States. Attorney General Pam Bondi has labeled these attacks as acts of domestic terrorism.

“These attacks represent a clear and present danger to our communities and the stability of our society,” stated AG Pam Bondi [01:14].

Details of the charges include:

• Oregon: A suspect was charged with throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership while armed with an AR15 rifle.
• Colorado: Another individual faced charges for attempting to ignite Tesla vehicles.
• South Carolina: A third person was charged with vandalizing Tesla charging stations with anti-Trump messages before setting them on fire.

Authorities have linked these attacks to resentment over mass layoffs orchestrated by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. If convicted, the defendants could face prison sentences ranging from five to twenty years.

Key Points:

• Three individuals charged with attacks on Tesla facilities.
• Attacks deemed acts of domestic terrorism.
• Motivated by anger over Tesla’s mass layoffs.

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3. NTSB Recommends Urgent Bridge Safety Assessments

Reporter: Jennifer Homendy

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended that 68 bridges across the United States undergo evaluations to assess their vulnerability to catastrophic collapse from vessel collisions. This urgent safety measure affects 19 states.

“The lack of timely assessments can lead to preventable tragedies,” emphasized NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy [02:26].

Homendy criticized the Maryland Transportation Authority for failing to assess the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore for decades. Last year, a cargo ship collided with the bridge support, causing large sections to collapse and resulting in the deaths of six maintenance workers.

Key Points:

• 68 bridges recommended for safety evaluations.
• Focus on preventing collapses from vessel collisions.
• Criticism of Maryland Transportation Authority’s inaction on the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

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4. Heathrow Airport Closure Due to Electrical Substation Fire

Heathrow Airport in London experienced significant disruptions as a fire at a nearby electrical substation knocked out power to the facility. The closure affected thousands of airline flights, causing widespread delays and cancellations.

Key Points:

• Fire at electrical substation led to Heathrow Airport shutdown.
• Major disruptions to flights affecting thousands of passengers.
• Highlights the impact of infrastructure failures on global transportation hubs.

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5. Kirsty Coventry Elected as First Female and African President of the IOC

Reporter: Dave Mattingly

In a historic election, Kirsty Coventry has been elected as the International Olympic Committee’s first female president and the first African to hold the position. Coventry, a two-time Olympic gold medalist from Zimbabwe, was chosen from among seven candidates and will serve an eight-year term.

Key Points:

• Kirsty Coventry breaks barriers as first female and African IOC president.
• Brings a diverse perspective to the leadership of the International Olympic Committee.
• Coventry’s background as an Olympic champion underscores her commitment to sports.

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6. Boston Celtics Sold for a Record $6.1 Billion

Reporter: Tovia Smith

A consortium led by Tech CEO William Chisholm of Symphony Technology Group has agreed to purchase the NBA’s Boston Celtics for a staggering $6.1 billion, setting a new record for a sports franchise in North America. Current CEO Wick Grousbach will remain with the team for the next three years pending approval by the NBA Board of Governors.

“Chisholm appreciates the importance of the Celtics and burns with a passion to win,” stated Wick Grousbach [03:52].

This sale follows the record-breaking $315 million contract signed by superstar Jayson Tatum last summer, reflecting the escalating financial landscape of professional sports.

Key Points:

• Boston Celtics sold for a record $6.1 billion.
• Purchase led by William Chisholm of Symphony Technology Group.
• Current CEO to stay on for three years; awaiting NBA approval.
• Reflects the increasing valuation of major sports franchises.

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7. McNeese State University's Historic NCAA Basketball Upset

Reporter: Dave Mattingly

In a landmark moment for McNeese State University, the men's basketball team, seeded 12th, upset the 5th seed Clemson Tigers with a close score of 69-67 in the NCAA tournament. This victory marks the school's first-ever tournament win, making it one of the most memorable days in the university's history.

Key Points:

• McNeese State's men's basketball team achieves first NCAA tournament win.
• Defeated 5th seed Clemson with a score of 69-67.
• Represents a significant milestone for the university’s athletic program.

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This summary provides an overview of the key stories covered in the NPR News Now episode released on March 21, 2025. For detailed updates and continuous news coverage, listeners are encouraged to tune into NPR News Now.

Transcript

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[Dave Mattingly]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. Critics of President Trump's effort to close the Department of Education are hoping members of Congress will oppose it. NPR's Deepa Shivaram says the president signed an executive order order yesterday that calls for the department to be dismantled.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Trump's order vastly scales down the Education Department, but it can't be entirely eliminated because that would require an act of Congress. The president cited reading and math test scores that declined during the pandemic as one of the reasons to close down the department, which has already laid off hundreds of staff.

[Donald Trump]

We're not doing well with the with the world of education and in this country, and we haven't for a long time, trump said.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Things like pell grants, Title 1 resources and funding for students with disabilities and special needs will remain intact, but will be managed by other departments and agencies. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News, the White House.

[Dave Mattingly]

Trump has said he wants to shift oversight of education from the federal government to states. The Justice Department says three people are facing charges in connection with violent attacks on Tesla dealerships and facilities across the US Attorney General Pam Bondi characterizes the attacks as domestic terrorism. NPR's Windsor Johnston says if found guilty, the defendants could face potential sentences of five to 20 years in prison.

[Windsor Johnston]

One of the suspects is charged with throwing Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership in Oregon while armed with an AR15 rifle. Another person is facing charges for attempting to ignite Tesla vehicles at a location in Colorado. The Justice Department has charged a third person in South Carolina with vandalizing Tesla, charging stations with messages against President Trump before setting them on fire. Authorities have linked the attacks at Tesla locations to anger over the seemingly arbitrary firings of tens of thousands of people overseen by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Windsor Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

[Dave Mattingly]

The National Transportation Safety board is recommending 68 bridges across the US be evaluated for their risk of catastrophic collapse from a vessel collision. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy says the assessments are needed in 19 states as an urgent safety measure. At a news conference yesterday, Homendy criticized the Maryland Transportation Authority for not having assessed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore over decades. Large sections of the bridge collapsed last year after a cargo ship hit a bridge support, killing six maintenance workers on the bridge at the time. London's Heathrow airport is closed today because of a fire at a nearby electrical substation. The fire knocked out power to the airport, disrupting airline flights for thousands. This is NPR News. The International Olympic Committee has its first female president. Kirsty Coventry was elected yesterday from among seven candidates. The 41 year old Zimbabwe sports minister also becomes the first African to hold the IOC president's job. Coventry is a two time Olympic gold medal swimmer. She will hold the position for eight years. A group of investors led by Tech CEO has agreed to purchase the NBA's Boston Celtics. As NPR's Tovia Smith reports, the purchase price is a record for a sports franchise in North America.

[Tovia Smith]

The Celtics went on the market shortly after the team won its 18th NBA championship last June. The record breaking $6.1 billion sale is to a group headed by William Chisholm of Symphony Technology Group. Current CEO Wick Grousbach would stay on for the next three years. The deal still needs to be approved by the NBA Board of Governors. It follows another record breaking Salz deal last summer when superstar Jayson Tatum signed the largest ever NBA contract for $315 million years. In a statement, Grausback said Chisholm appreciates the importance of the Celtics and burns with a passion to win. Tovia Smith, NPR News, Boston.

[Dave Mattingly]

The president of McNeese State University in Louisiana says yesterday was the biggest day or one of the biggest in the school's history. The men's 12th seeded basketball team upset number five seed Clemson 69 to 67 in the NCAA basketball tournament. It was the school's first tournament win. I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington.

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