NPR News: 03-22-2025 7PM EDT

Summary

President Trump Revokes Security Clearances of Political Adversaries

Timestamp: [00:18]

In a significant move reported by NPR’s Rebecca Rossman, President Donald Trump has revoked the security clearances of more than a dozen political adversaries. Notable figures affected by this decision include former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Rebecca Rossman explains that in a memorandum, Trump stated it was no longer in the national interest for these individuals to access classified information. This action is widely perceived as retaliation for President Biden's 2021 decision to strip Trump of his security clearance. Despite the high-profile nature of the revocations, the practical impact appears minimal. Rossman notes, “[Their] withdrawals have drawn attention, their practical effects are minimal. Security clearances for former officials are typically revoked after they leave office unless they're involved in national security matters. Many on the list haven't had active clearances in years.” ([00:32])

Mass Shooting in Las Cruces, New Mexico

Timestamp: [01:11]

A tragic mass shooting occurred last night in Las Cruces, New Mexico, resulting in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to 15 others. NPR’s Johnny Coker provides an in-depth report on the incident.

Johnny Coker details that approximately 200 people were attending an unsanctioned car show at Las Cruces Young Park when an altercation between two groups escalated into gunfire. Police Chief Jeremy Story highlighted the challenges faced by the Las Cruces Police Department, stating, “[In] a perfect world where I had 220 police officers like I'm supposed to, they probably would have been different last night. But I have no units available for most of the night prior to the shooting. I wish it would have been different.” ([01:45])

The Las Cruces Police Department is currently being assisted by state and local agencies, as well as the FBI and ATF, in their ongoing investigation into the mass shooting. ([01:55])

U.S. Stock Markets Navigate Volatile Week Amid Tariff Concerns

Timestamp: [02:07]

U.S. stock markets experienced another turbulent week marked by fluctuating tariffs, but ultimately, they edged into positive territory by the end of trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 1.2% for the week. NPR’s Maria Aspen provides a comprehensive analysis of the economic landscape.

Maria Aspen discusses the mounting economic uncertainties facing consumers, businesses, and investors, particularly the repercussions of President Trump’s aggressive new tariffs against the nation’s largest trading partners. These tariffs, which have been described as "on-again, off-again," have the potential to increase prices across a wide spectrum of goods. Aspen reports, “The Federal Reserve cut its forecast for economic growth and raised its expectations for inflation. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that tariffs are playing a role in that inflation.” ([02:21])

Echoing Powell’s sentiments, Jeremy Story comments, “Clearly, some of it, a good part of it, is coming from tariffs.” ([02:49])

Despite these challenges, the Federal Reserve remains optimistic about future interest rate reductions, stating it is still on track to cut rates twice later this year. In a hopeful development, Trump announced on Friday that there would be flexibility regarding his tariffs, providing some reassurance to investors and consumers. ([02:53])

By Friday, the Dow closed at 41,985, reflecting a resilient market amid economic headwinds. ([03:08])

Passing of Boxing Legend George Foreman

Timestamp: [03:08]

The sports world mourns the loss of boxing legend George Foreman, who passed away in Houston at the age of 76. NPR’s Steve Futterman offers a tribute to Foreman’s remarkable career and legacy.

Steve Futterman recounts Foreman’s illustrious journey, highlighting his 1973 victory over Joe Frazier to become the heavyweight champion. Despite a devastating loss to Muhammad Ali a year later, Foreman made a remarkable comeback a decade later, regaining the championship at age 45. Futterman notes, “Foreman was psychologically devastated [after his initial losses], retired, found religion, and became a preacher. Ten years later, he made an unexpected comeback… he regained the championship at 45.” ([03:27])

Beyond his achievements in the ring, Foreman gained widespread recognition through his successful marketing of the George Foreman Grill, making him a beloved figure even among those outside the sports community. ([03:27])

Remembering Kitty Dukakis

Timestamp: [04:21]

Kitty Dukakis, the wife of former Massachusetts governor and 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Mike Dukakis, has passed away at the age of 88. NPR’s Louise Schiavone covers Dukakis’s impactful life and legacy.

Louise Schiavone highlights Dukakis’s courageous openness during the 1988 presidential campaign, where she revealed her struggles with addiction and depression. Her 1990 autobiography, Now You Know, and her subsequent book, Shock, detailed her dependence on alcohol and drugs, as well as her experience with electroconvulsive therapy. She attributed significant improvement in her condition to this treatment, stating, “She says that [electroconvulsive therapy] greatly diminished her depression.” ([04:21])

Dukakis’s candid discussions brought important conversations about mental health and addiction to the forefront, leaving a lasting legacy of advocacy and resilience. ([04:21])

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This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key topics covered in the NPR News Now episode released on March 22, 2025. For more detailed information, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.

Transcript

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[Louise Schiavone]

In Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone. President Trump has revoked security clearances for more than a dozen political adversaries, including former officials from the Biden administration. NPR's Rebecca Rossman has More affected are.

[Rebecca Rossman]

Former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In a memorandum, Trump said it was no longer in the national interest for them and around a dozen others to access classified information. The move is widely seen as retaliation for Biden's decision to strip Trump of his clearance in 2021. While the withdrawals have drawn attention, their practical effects are minimal. Security clearances for former officials are typically revoked after they leave office unless they're involved in national security matters. Many on the list haven't had active clearances in years. Rebecca Rossman, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

No arrests have been made in connection to a mass shooting in Las Cruces, New Mexico, last night. They killed three individuals and wounded 15 more. Johnny Coker of member station KRWG Public.

[Johnny Coker]

Media reports Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy story says some 200 people were gathered at Las Cruces Young park for an unsanctioned car show when an altercation between two groups led to an exchange of gunfire. Story said his department has been struggling with efforts to address public safety concerns at Yonge Park, a popular music and events venue.

[Jeremy Story]

In a perfect world where I had 220 police officers like I'm supposed to, they probably would have been different last night. But I have no units available for most of the night prior to the shooting. I wish it would would have been different.

[Johnny Coker]

The Las Cruces Police Department said they're being assisted by state and local agencies as well as the FBI and the ATF in their investigation. For NPR News, I'm Johnny Coker.

[Louise Schiavone]

U.S. stock markets had another volatile week full of tariff whiplash, but they inched into positive territory by yesterday's end of trading. The dow closed up 1.2% for the week. NPR's Maria Aspen has details.

[Maria Aspen]

Consumers, businesses and investors are all facing mounting economic uncertainty. They're especially worried about the potential impact of President Trump's steep new tariffs against the country's largest trading partners. The on again, off again tariffs could raise prices on a wide range of goods. This week, the Federal Reserve cut its forecast for economic growth and raised its expectations for inflation. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that tariffs are playing a role in that inflation.

[Jeremy Story]

Clearly, some of it, a good part of it, is coming from tariffs.

[Maria Aspen]

But the Fed also said that it's still on track to cut interest rates two times later this year. Meanwhile, Trump on Friday offered investors and consumers a glimmer of hope when he said there would be flexibility on his tariffs. Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York.

[Louise Schiavone]

The Dow closed up Friday at 41,985. This is NPR News in Washington. Boxing legend George Foreman, who became the oldest man ever to win the heavyweight championship title, has died in Houston. He was 76. Steve Futterman has more.

[Steve Futterman]

George Foreman was a 24 year old boxer with a powerful punch when he won the heavyweight championship in 1973 over Joe Frazier. But just one year later, Foreman, a huge favorite, lost against an aging Muhammad Ali and Ali's famous rope, a dope defense. After a second loss, Foreman, psychologically devastated, retired. He found religion and became a preacher. Ten years later, he made an unexpected comeback. Foreman, overweight but with a new affable personality, returned to the ring. In 1994 at the age of 45, he regained the championship. Foreman has played off the miracle for non sports fans. He was known for marketing a namesake portable plug in grill. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Los Angeles.

[Louise Schiavone]

Kitty Dukakis has died. She was 88, the wife of former Massachusetts governor and 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Mike Dukakis. She revealed during the campaign that she had struggled with addiction and depression. Her autobiography, now youw Know, came out in 1990, followed by a second book, Shock. In these, she wrote about her dependence on alcohol and drugs and about her treatment with electroconvulsive therapy. She says that that greatly diminished her depression. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

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