NPR News: 03-23-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 23, 2025

Release Date: March 24, 2025
Host: NPR
Duration: 5 minutes

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Ceasefire Negotiations Amid Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine

In the latest developments surrounding the Ukraine conflict, ceasefire negotiations commenced in Saudi Arabia on Sunday involving Ukrainian and American delegations. Concurrently, the United States is set to engage in talks with Russia on Monday, aiming to broker peace. NPR's Dale Willman reported from Washington, D.C., highlighting President Donald Trump's expressed desire to end the war:

"President Trump says he wants to end the war..." (00:16)

Despite these efforts, Moscow intensified its military actions with substantial drone attacks on Kyiv over the weekend, resulting in at least seven fatalities.

Eleanor Beardsley provided further insights into the situation on the ground in Kyiv:

"Air defenses battled a massive drone attack Saturday night in Kyiv..." (00:36)

The attacks have profoundly affected the civilian population. Beardsley described a somber scene in Kyiv on Sunday, where residents mourned at the site of a devastating apartment block strike. Among those affected was 19-year-old Tatiana, who shared her harrowing experience:

"It's everyday bombing and it's every day, like every night. It was a terrible sound and you're just laying in your bed and thinking, oh my God, this bomb going to my house or near." (00:54)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his Sunday night address, attributed the prolongation of the war to Russia and urged Ukraine's allies to intensify pressure on Moscow to reach a resolution:

"It should be clear to everyone that Russia is the one who is dragging this war out." (01:06)

Canada Heads to the Polls: Prime Minister Carney Seeks Mandate

Canada is approaching a pivotal moment as voters prepare for the national election scheduled on April 28. The election was officially called by Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday morning following the dissolution of Parliament. Dan Karpenschuk reported from Toronto, noting the tight race between Carney's Liberal Party and the Conservative opposition:

"Recent polls suggest Carney's Liberals are in a tight race with the opposition Conservatives." (01:32)

Key issues dominating the five-week campaign include tariffs and annexation. Carney has initiated significant policy changes in his brief tenure, including the elimination of the carbon tax and the expansion of dental care to over 4 million Canadians:

"In the past 10 days since he's become prime minister, he's initiated several major changes..." (01:32)

Carney has called for a decisive mandate, labeling this election as "the most consequential election in a lifetime." Conversely, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre criticizes Carney's policies as outdated, advocating for a shift away from traditional Liberal approaches:

"The Conservatives... continue to say Carney still represents the old liberals and their policies, and it's time for a change." (01:32)

Virginia Governor Youngkin Participates in Historical Reenactment

In a nod to American history, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin attended a reenactment of Patrick Henry's iconic "Give me liberty or give me death" speech on Sunday. The event commemorated the 250th anniversary of the original speech, held in the same Richmond church where it first occurred. Brad Kuttner reported from Richmond, describing the event's atmosphere:

"Protesters sang patriotic songs as they surrounded St. John's Church in Richmond's East End." (02:35)

Inside the church, Patrick Henry Jolly, the fifth great-grandson of the original speaker, delivered the historic speech. Governor Youngkin emphasized the enduring spirit of America while addressing the crowd:

"He spoke of the importance of the spirit of America. But he also acknowledged those outside criticizing him." (02:35)

Despite criticisms from demonstrators holding signs against both him and President Trump, Youngkin maintained a composed demeanor:

"I am happy to do whatever it takes to get someone to church on Sunday." (02:35)

As he departed the event, Youngkin interacted calmly with protesting individuals:

"Youngkin smiled and waved as he passed protesters when he left the event." (02:35)

Disney’s "Snow White" Tops the Box Office Yet Faces Profit Challenges

Disney's latest live-action adaptation of "Snow White" has emerged as the top-grossing film this weekend, overshadowing all competitors in the box office. Bob Mondello provided an analysis of its performance:

"Snow White easily dwarfed the competition at cinemas." (03:23)

However, despite leading the box office, the film faces financial hurdles. With worldwide earnings of $87 million against a production budget of $270 million, profitability remains uncertain:

"...only took in $87 million worldwide, and that means making back its $270 million production cost." (03:27)

Mondello explained that while Disney has successfully leveraged live-action remakes to bolster other revenue streams, the lack of immediate financial success poses concerns for Hollywood's expectations:

"Even when they don't cast a spell at the box office, they feed the company's other revenue streams..." (03:27)

This outcome contributes to a disappointing start for Hollywood in a year eagerly anticipating major box office hits.

Pakistan’s Security Forces Eliminate Militants and Challenges Facing Media Under Trump

Pakistan announced a successful operation on Sunday, where security forces killed 16 militants in a remote northwestern border area. The military stated that these militants were attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan and were affiliated with the Pakistani Taliban:

"Pakistan officials say security forces killed 16 militants Sunday in a remote northwestern border area." (04:07)

Shifting focus to the United States, Dale Willman addressed the escalating tensions between the Trump administration and media organizations. During President Trump's second term, journalists are encountering increased pressures, including lawsuits, investigations, and threats to their operations:

"Media outlets are facing lawsuits and investigations and threats to their business." (04:07)

Willman noted that supporters of President Trump argue for a media recalibration to adapt to evolving information dissemination methods:

"Supporters of the president suggest that an overdue correction is in order to reflect new ways that Americans get their information." (04:07)

This dynamic underscores the fraught relationship between the administration and the press, raising concerns about press freedom and journalistic integrity.

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Note: This summary excludes non-content sections such as advertisements and sponsor messages to focus solely on the informative segments of the podcast episode.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor Message]

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[Dale Willman]

In Washington, D.C. i'm Dale Willman. Cease fire Negotiations got underway in Saudi Arabia Sunday between Ukrainian and American delegations. Talks will also be held between the U.S. and Russia on Monday, as NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. President Trump says he wants to end the war, but Moscow launched massive drone attacks on Kyiv this weekend that have killed at least seven people.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Air defenses battled a massive drone attack Saturday night in Kyiv. On Sunday, the city mourned. People gathered at an apartment block that was struck and where people died. 19 year old Tatiana, who doesn't want to give her last name, says it could happen to any of us last three months.

[Tatiana]

It's everyday bombing and it's every day, like every night. It was a terrible sound and you're just laying in your bed and thinking, oh my God, this bomb going to my house or near.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

In his nightly speech Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said it should be clear to everyone that Russia is the one who is dragging this war out. He called on Ukraine's allies to put more pressure on Russia to end the war. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News. Keev.

[Dale Willman]

Canadians are going to the polls on April 28 for a national election. As Dan Karpenschuk reports, Prime Minister Mark Carney triggered the election election call this morning with the dissolution of parliaments.

[Dan Karpenschuk]

Recent polls suggest Carney's Liberals are in a tight race with the opposition Conservatives. And this election campaign, only five weeks long, will focus on the main issue of tariffs and annexation. Talk from President Donald Trump. Carney says in the past 10 days since he's become prime minister, he's initiated several major changes, including getting rid of the unpopular carbon tax and expanding dental care to more than 4 million Canadians. So Carney has asked for a strong mandate from voters in what he described as the most consequential election in a lifetime. The Conservatives, led by Pierre Poliev, continue to say Carney still represents the old liberals and their policies, and it's time for a change. For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpenchuk in Toronto.

[Dale Willman]

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin attended a recreation of Patrick Henry's Give me liberty or Give me death speech on Sunday. The event took place 250 years to the day when it was first given in the same church in Richmond Virginia radio IQ's Brad Kutner reports that outside the church, demonstrators held signs criticizing the governor and President Donald Trump.

[Brad Kuttner]

Protesters sang patriotic songs as they surrounded St. John's Church in Richmond's East End. Inside the chapel, give me liberty or give me death, patrick Henry's fifth great grandson, Patrick Henry Jolly reenacted the famous speech, and Governor Glenn Youngkin spoke of the importance of the spirit of America. But he also acknowledged those outside criticizing him. I am happy to do whatever it takes to get someone to church on Sunday. Youngkin smiled and waved as he passed protesters when he left the event. For NPR News, I'm Brad Kuttner in Richmond.

[Dale Willman]

And you're listening to NPR News. Disney's Snow White is dominating the box office this weekend, but that may not mean she's turning a profit. As NPR's Bob Mondello tells us, Snow.

[Bob Mondello]

White easily dwarfed the competition at cinemas.

[Dan Karpenschuk]

Whistle while you work.

[Bob Mondello]

The rest of the box office top 10 combined made barely half as much as Snow White did. But this live action remake of Disney's first animated feature only took in $87 million worldwide, and that means making back its $270 million production cost. Point me in the right direction is gonna be difficult. Waiting on a wave Disney has had a lot of success with live remakes of its animated classics, and even when they don't cast a spell at the box office, they feed the company's other revenue streams, Disney sales of merchandise, theme park rides, even shows on Broadway. Still, for Hollywood, it's a disappointing start in a year that has yet to have a smash hit. Bob Mondello, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

Pakistan officials say security forces killed 16 militants Sunday in a remote northwestern border area. They say the militants were trying to enter the country from neighboring Afghanistan. The military said those who were killed were part of the Pakistani Taliban. During the first Trump administration, many journalists worried most about being called fake news. They now face a more assertive President Donald Trump, in his second term, as a blitz of action by his new administration has journalists on their heels. Media outlets are facing lawsuits and investigations and threats to their business. Supporters of the president suggest that an overdue correction is in order to reflect new ways that Americans get their information. I'm Dale Willman, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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