NPR News: 03-24-2025 6AM EDT

Summary

NPR News: March 24, 2025, 6 AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Source: NPR News Now
Duration: 5 minutes

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International Relations: U.S. and Russia Engage in Ceasefire Talks

At the outset of today’s episode, Korva Coleman reported on the significant developments in international diplomacy as U.S. and Russian officials prepare to resume talks in Saudi Arabia aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine. A U.S. delegation met with Ukrainian officials yesterday to discuss a potential partial ceasefire, to which both Ukraine and Russia have tentatively agreed in principle. However, Eleanor Beardsley highlights uncertainties regarding the implementation timeline.

"It's not clear when that might take effect." (00:34)

In further discussions, Beardsley conveyed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's stance on broadening the ceasefire to include additional infrastructure targets. Zelenskyy, speaking last night, emphasized the need for global pressure on Russia to halt its actions, stating:

"Everybody, the U.S., Europe, the world needs to put more pressure on Russia to stop this terror." (00:34)

Zelenskyy criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for prolonging the conflict, noting that previous negotiations in Saudi Arabia yielded only a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure, thereby labeling Russia as the primary party sustaining the war.

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U.S. Domestic Politics: Trump's Greenland Ambitions and Supreme Court Ruling on Louisiana's Congressional Map

In U.S. political news, Coleman reported President Trump's ongoing assertion that the United States should take control of Greenland, a territory currently under Danish sovereignty. Deepa Shivaram elaborated on the administration's actions, noting that Second Lady Usha Vance is set to visit Greenland alongside National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

"Trump has continued to say the US will acquire the territory, despite leaders in Denmark and Greenland rejecting that the territory is rich in natural resources, and Trump says the US needs it for international security." (01:23)

Simultaneously, the U.S. Supreme Court is slated to hear arguments concerning Louisiana's newly drawn congressional map, which includes a second majority-black district. Stephen Bisaha from the Gulf States newsroom explains the controversy:

"If the Supreme Court agrees with the lower court, that could further weaken the Voting Rights Act, and a new map will have to be drawn in Louisiana." (02:12)

The case challenges whether the map's consideration of race constitutes racial gerrymandering, potentially impacting the political landscape by affecting the Republican majority in Congress.

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Public Health: Rising Tuberculosis Cases

Health officials have raised concerns over an 8% increase in tuberculosis (TB) cases reported last year compared to 2023. This uptick signals a public health challenge that authorities are monitoring closely to mitigate further spread.

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Global Affairs: Pope Francis Returns to Vatican

In religious news, Coleman informed listeners that Pope Francis has been discharged from a Rome hospital and has returned to the Vatican. This marks his first public appearance since recovery, as he addressed the public from a hospital balcony over the weekend.

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Sports: NCAA Basketball Tournament Updates

Transitioning to sports, Greg Eklund provided updates on the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments. Notably, the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies, the two-time defending men's champions, were eliminated by the Florida Gators with a score of 77-? (exact score incomplete in transcript). Dan Hurley, UConn’s coach, reflected on the loss:

"Just get caught up in this tidal wave of success that we've had and, you know, you just lose perspective." (03:54)

With Florida advancing to the Sweet 16, the tournament sees a shift as the Gators become one of seven SEC teams remaining. On the women's side, the University of South Carolina, the defending champions, secured their place in the Sweet 16 after defeating Indiana University 64-53.

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Obituaries: Tribute to Kitty Dukakis

In obituaries, Coleman announced the passing of former Massachusetts First Lady Kitty Dukakis at the age of 88. Dukakis was celebrated for her advocacy on mental illness and addiction, drawing from her personal experiences. She gained national attention during her husband, Governor Michael Dukakis's, 1988 presidential campaign.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on March 24, 2025. For comprehensive coverage, listeners are encouraged to tune into NPR's ongoing updates.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. U.S. and Russian officials are supposed to open fresh talks today in Saudi Arabia about ending Russia's war in Ukraine. A US Delegation met Ukrainian officials yesterday. Both Ukraine and Russia have agreed in principle to a partial ceasefire. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley says it's not clear when that might take effect.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to broaden the ceasefire to include other infrastructure. He spoke last night. Here he is, and he basically says, you know everybody, the U.S. europe, the world needs to put more pressure on Russia to stop this terror. And Zelenskyy said after the last meetings in Saudi Arabia, where Russian President Vladimir Putin would only agree to stop targeting energy infrastructure, that it should be clear to everyone that Russia is the only one who's dragging out this war.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reporting. President Trump continues to say he wants the US to take control of Greenland. The world's largest island does not belong to the U.S. it's a territory of Denmark. NPR's Deepa Shivaram reports. This week, second lady Usha Vance will visit the island, joined by national Security Adviser Mike Waltz.

[Deepa Shivaram]

Usha Vance will travel to Greenland with one of her children and a US Delegation on Thursday to visit his historical sites and learn about Greenlandic heritage, according to the White House. They'll also attend Greenland's national dog sled race. Waltz will separately visit a US Military base in Greenland this week as well. According to a White House official, the visits come as Trump has continued to say the US Will acquire the territory, despite leaders in Denmark and Greenland rejecting that the territory is rich in natural resources, and Trump says the US Needs it for international security. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

The U.S. supreme Court will hear arguments today over Louisiana's congressional map. At issue is whether the map was unconstitutionally drawn to create the state's second majority black district. From the Gulf States newsroom, Stephen Bisaha reports.

[Stephen Bisaha]

States can consider race as they draw their maps. In fact, federal judges in recent years have ruled it necessary to comply with the Voting Rights act and give black voters more power in states like Alabama. That shift in congressional lines is part of the reason why the Republican majority in Congress is as narrow as it is right now. Louisiana's governor approved its new congressional map in 2024 and created a second majority black district to better reflect the state's demographics. But a lower court ruled the consideration of race in drawing the map went too far and declared it unconstitutional and racial gerrymandering. If the Supreme Court agrees with the lower court, that could further weaken the Voting Rights act, and a new map will have to be drawn in Louisiana. For NPR News, I'm Stephen Bassarha.

[Korva Coleman]

Federal health officials say that tuberculosis cases are on the rise. They say that There was an 8% increase in TB cases last year compared to what was reported in 2023. You're listening to NPR. Pope Francis has been discharged from a Rome hospital and has returned to the Vatican. Francis also made his first public appearance from a hospital balcony this weekend. There will be a new champion this year in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. That came after two time defending champion Connecticut fell to the Florida Gators yesterday. Greg Eklund has more on the men's and women's tournaments.

[Greg Eklund]

To reach the Sweet 16, UConn would have to knock off a number one seed, the University of Florida. But the Gators prevailed 77, and UConn Huskies coach Dan Hurley says he'll be going through what he calls rewiring in the upcoming off season.

[Dan Hurley]

Just get caught up in this tidal wave of success that we've had and, you know, you just, you lose perspective.

[Greg Eklund]

With Florida moving on to the Sweet 16, the Gators are one of seven SEC teams still alive. The women's defending champion is the University of South Carolina, which advanced to the Sweet 16 after a 6453 win over Indiana University. For NPR News, I'm Greg Eckund.

[Korva Coleman]

Former Massachusetts first lady Kitty Dukakis died over the weekend at 88. According to her family, she was an outspoken advocate for people with mental illness and addiction, and she drew on her own experiences. Kitty Dukakis also gained national prominence when her husband, Massachusetts Democratic Governor Michael Dukakis, ran for and lost the 1988 US presidential election. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, from Washington.

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