Summary of NPR News Now – March 21, 2025

NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on the latest developments both domestically and internationally. Here are the key stories from the episode released on March 21, 2025:

Federal Judge Criticizes Trump Administration’s Handling of Deportation Flights

Federal Judge James Boasberg has publicly criticized the Trump administration for its inadequate response to deportation orders under the Alien Enemies Act. In a case involving the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants, Judge Boasberg expressed frustration over the administration's compliance with his emergency order aimed at temporarily halting such deportation flights.

Korva Coleman [00:16]: "Federal Judge James Boasberg is criticizing the Trump administration. He says it gave a woefully insufficient response to his orders in a case involving the alien enemies act."

Judge Boasberg is actively seeking more detailed information regarding the government's adherence to his directives, especially after several planes carrying migrants were still dispatched to El Salvador despite the court's order.

Ximena Bustillo [00:35]: "Boasberg is seeking details about the government's compliance with his order."

Complications arose as regional Immigration and Customs officials indicated that cabinet secretaries are deliberating whether to withhold evidence, citing potential risks to national security and foreign relations. The judge has mandated that the government must clarify any discussions about invoking state secrets by March 25.

Safety Concerns Over Aging Bridges Highlighted by NTSB

A tragic incident involving the Francis Scott Key Bridge near Baltimore, where a massive cargo ship collision resulted in the collapse of bridge sections and the loss of six lives, has spotlighted long-standing negligence in infrastructure maintenance.

Korva Coleman [01:19]: "Federal safety officials say that for years the state of Maryland failed to check the Francis Scott Key Bridge near Baltimore."

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) emphasized that the failure to modernize aging bridges, coupled with the increasing size of maritime vessels, has led to heightened risks. Scott Maccioni from WYPR reported that the NTSB has identified 68 other bridges nationwide that do not meet current needs and specifications.

Scott Maccioni [01:52]: "NTSB is strongly urging those bridge owners right now to conduct assessments to report back to the NTSB with remediation plans."

These affected bridges span from California to New York, underscoring a nationwide infrastructure issue that requires immediate attention to prevent future tragedies.

European Union Summit Focuses on Enhanced Support for Ukraine Amid Disagreements

European Union leaders convened at a summit to reinforce pressure on Russia to cease its military actions in Ukraine. However, internal disagreements emerged regarding the extent and form of assistance to be provided.

Korva Coleman [02:15]: "European Union leaders have agreed at a summit to keep up the pressure on Russia to end its war on Ukraine."

EU Foreign Policy Chief Kayakalis initially proposed a substantial assistance package of 40 billion euros, which did not secure sufficient backing. She subsequently adjusted the plan to include the provision of 2 million artillery shells valued at 5 billion euros to support Ukraine's defense needs.

Terri Schultz [02:27]: "She's adapted that to trying to provide 2 million artillery shells worth 5 billion euros."

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the necessity of addressing Ukraine's immediate ammunition requirements.

Ursula von der Leyen [02:43]: "Let's decide on the short term, which is the imminent needs that Ukraine has regarding the ammunition right now."

The summit also explored the development of the EU's defense industrial base, aiming to reduce security dependencies within the bloc.

Ursula von der Leyen [02:59]: "It is of utmost importance that we develop the defense industrial base in the European Union."

These discussions reflect the EU's urgent efforts to bolster defense capabilities and support Ukraine while navigating internal policy disagreements.

Israel’s Supreme Court Halts Firing of Top Domestic Intelligence Chief; Heathrow Airport Faces Major Disruption

In Israel, the Supreme Court has temporarily blocked Prime Minister’s move to dismiss the head of Shin Bet, Israel's top domestic intelligence agency. The court's decision delays the firing until April 8, allowing time for a formal hearing.

Korva Coleman [03:10]: "Israel's Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the firing of Israel's top domestic intelligence chief."

Meanwhile, Heathrow Airport in London experienced significant disruptions as a fire at a nearby substation caused a power outage, leading to the closure of the airport for the day. Authorities have ruled out foul play, but counterterrorism officials are investigating the incident.

Korva Coleman [03:10]: "International airline flights around the world have been snarled. That's because power is out at a major hub, London's Heathrow Airport."

These events have had widespread implications, from national security concerns in Israel to global travel disruptions stemming from infrastructure failures in the UK.

Breakthrough Research Sheds Light on Infant Memory Formation

New scientific research explores why individuals typically do not retain memories from their early infancy. Yale cognitive neuroscientist Nick Turk Brown and his team conducted pioneering studies using functional MRI (fMRI) scans to observe brain activity in infants.

Korva Coleman [03:10]: "People don't remember anything from the time that they were babies, but is that because people don't make memories when they're infants?"

One of the primary challenges of the study was acclimating infants to the fMRI environment.

Nick Turk Brown [04:06]: "One of the hardest parts of this study was getting the babies into the FMRI machine."

The research focused on the hippocampus, a critical region for memory formation in adults. Findings suggest that increased activity in the hippocampus when infants encounter new images is linked to better memory retention later on.

Nick Turk Brown [04:15]: "The more active the hippocampus was when seeing an image for the first time, the more likely babies were to remember it later."

Tristan Yates, a cognitive neuroscientist at Columbia, notes that while infants do seem to form memories, the ability to retrieve these memories in later life remains uncertain.

Nick Turk Brown [04:30]: "Whether we can retrieve them later in life remains an open question."

This research provides valuable insights into the developmental processes of memory and cognition in early childhood.

This episode of NPR News Now covered critical issues ranging from legal battles and infrastructure safety to international politics and groundbreaking scientific research, providing listeners with a succinct yet comprehensive overview of current events.