NPR News: 03-24-2026 12AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 24, 2026, 12AM EDT

Episode Summary & Key Updates

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Main Theme

This concise episode delivers breaking news and major updates from around the U.S., including an airline disaster at LaGuardia Airport, Homeland Security changes under President Trump, increased airport security during a government shutdown, federal intervention in Memphis crime, abortion rates, and key legal decisions on abortion and late-arriving ballots.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. LaGuardia Airport Crash and Concerns Over Air Traffic Control

• Incident: A crash occurred between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport, resulting in the death of two pilots and many injured.
• Mayor Zoram Mamdani's Statement:
  • "As we continue to learn information, we will share it with you. And in the meantime, let us keep those who died in our thoughts and continue to hope for a quick recovery for those who are injured." (00:28)
• Ongoing Investigation: NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy emphasized it is "too soon" to discuss air traffic control staffing as the cause.
• Context: The incident has reignited debates about air traffic staffing shortages.

2. Homeland Security Developments and Airport Security Disruptions

• Mark Wayne Mullen Confirmed:
  • Oklahoma Senator Mark Wayne Mullen confirmed as Homeland Security Secretary after Kristi Noem’s firing. (00:39)
  • The vote was 54-45, largely along party lines.
• Homeland Security Funding Stalemate:
  • The department has been unfunded for over a month due to disputes over immigration enforcement.
• Federal Response at Airports:
  • President Trump ordered armed federal immigration officers (ICE) to major airports to support unpaid TSA workers during the shutdown.
  • Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport faces long security lines, with travelers advised to arrive four hours early. (01:37)
  • TSA Union Perspective:
    • George Boreck, TSA union leader:
      • "They're not trained to our level. They don't know what we do on a day to day basis, you know. And an officer that becomes a TSA agent spends weeks and months trying to get to get certified." (01:54)
  • Homeland Security has been shut down since February 14. (02:08)

3. Federal Crime-Fighting Task Force in Memphis

• Six-Month Report:
  • Federal task force led to a 4.43% decrease in overall crime compared to last year. (02:36)
  • Thousands of federal personnel and National Guard deployed.
• Local Response:
  • Praise for resources, but concern over emphasis on immigration arrests and military-like presence:
    • Unnamed local official:
      • "You have now developed a reputation as a city that's coming back stronger than any city in the country because of what's happened with crime." (02:43)
  • Announcement: National Guard troops in U.S. cities will now get active duty benefits. (02:52)

4. Abortion Rates Remain Steady Despite State Bans

• Report Findings:
  • The number of abortions performed in 2025 (1,126,000) stayed effectively the same as 2024. (03:44)
  • Quote — Isaac Maddow Zimit, Guttmacher Institute:
    • "That's pretty much unchanged from 2024." (03:44)
  • Geographic Shift: More abortions now occur in states with bans due to telemedicine and medication by mail.
    • "The biggest shift was that there were more abortions in states with abortion bans." — Isaac Maddow Zimit (03:50)
  • Efforts to curtail telemedicine face ongoing legal disputes and legislative action.

5. Bill Cosby Found Liable in Civil Sexual Assault Lawsuit

• Jury Ruling:
  • Bill Cosby found liable for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 1972 by a Santa Monica jury; millions awarded in damages. (04:12)
  • Cosby’s legal team vows to appeal.

6. Supreme Court Skeptical of Late Ballot Counting Laws

• Case Overview:
  • The Court's conservative majority questions state laws that allow the counting of late-arriving mail ballots. (04:12)
  • Impacts: Could affect the rules in 13+ states, D.C., and also touch deadlines for military and overseas voters in an additional 15 states.
  • Ruling anticipated by late June.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Zoram Mamdani, NYC Mayor:
  • “Let us keep those who died in our thoughts and continue to hope for a quick recovery for those who are injured.” (00:28)
• George Boreck, TSA Union Leader:
  • “They’re not trained to our level. They don’t know what we do on a day to day basis... weeks and months trying to get certified.” (01:54)
• Isaac Maddow Zimit, Guttmacher Institute:
  • “That’s pretty much unchanged from 2024.” (03:44)
  • “The biggest shift was that there were more abortions in states with abortion bans.” (03:50)
• Unnamed Local Official in Memphis:
  • “You have now developed a reputation as a city that’s coming back stronger than any city in the country because of what’s happened with crime.” (02:43)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:13 – LaGuardia Airport crash update and mayoral statement
• 00:39 – Homeland Security secretary confirmation, department funding issues
• 01:37 – Airport delays and ICE support at TSA checkpoints in Atlanta
• 02:16 – Crime decline in Memphis and task force impact
• 03:14 – Steady abortion numbers and telemedicine’s role
• 04:12 – Bill Cosby civil verdict; Supreme Court ballot case

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The episode presents an up-to-the-minute briefing on key national issues, blending rapid-fire reporting with direct quotes and a clear delineation of how national events are playing out at the local level.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. New York City Mayor Zoram Mamdani is seeking to reassure the traveling public following Sunday night's crash at New York's LaGuardia Airport.

[Zoram Mamdani]

As we continue to learn information, we will share it with you. And in the meantime, let us keep those who died in our thoughts and continue to hope for a quick recovery for those who are injured.

[Giles Snyder]

The crash between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck that had been given the green light to cross a Runway killed two pilots and sent scores to the hospital. The accident has revived concerns over air traffic control staffing, but NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters at LaGuardia on Monday that it's too soon to discuss that. The Senate has confirmed Oklahoma Republican Senator Mark Wayne Mullen to be President Trump's next home Homeland security secretary. The 54 to 45 vote was mostly along party lines, with mostly Democrats opposed. Mullen takes over at DHS after the firing of Kristi Noem. The department has also been without funding for more than a month as Democrats square off with the White House over immigration enforcement. Those armed federal immigration officers in tactical gear began deploying to some of the busiest U.S. airports Monday. President Trump ordered the deployment to support TSA officers during the DHS shutdown. Amanda Andrews, Georgia Public Broadcasting reports Atlanta

[Amanda Andrews]

travelers are being advised to arrive four hours ahead of their flights. At Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, lines have been stretching into the parking lot as TSA officers continue to work without pay. George Boreck is a TSA union leader. He says ICE can't do what security screening agents do.

[George Boreck]

They're not trained to our level. They don't know what we do on a day to day basis, you know. And an officer that becomes a TSA agent spends weeks and months trying to get to get certified.

[Amanda Andrews]

The Department of Homeland Security has been shut down since February 14th. For NPR News, I'm Amanda Andrews in Atlanta.

[Giles Snyder]

Six months after President Trump sent a multi agency task force to fight crime in Memphis, White House officials visited the city Monday to tout its success. From member station wkno, Christopher Blank reports that overall crime in Memphis is down about 4.43percent compared to a year ago.

[Christopher Blank]

The Trump administration surged thousands of federal personnel in September from more than 30 agencies, including the National Guard.

[Unnamed Local Official]

You have now developed a reputation as a city that's coming back stronger than any city in the country because of what's happened with crime.

[Christopher Blank]

Local officials and Democrats have warily praised the extra resources, but they've criticized the administration's emphasis on immigration arrests and the visibility of National Guard troops. The president announced that these troops troops and other guards people deployed in US Cities will now receive the same military benefits as active duty troops. For NPR News, I'm Christopher Blank in Memphis.

[Giles Snyder]

This is npr. According to a report published Tuesday, the number of abortions in the United States was the same in 2025 compared to the year before. NPR Selena Simmons Duffin explains that there's one major reason why that's true. Despite abortion bans in 13 states, a

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

new report from the Guttmacher Institute finds There were 1,126,000 abortions provided by clinicians in 2025.

[Isaac Maddow Zimit]

That's pretty much unchanged from 2024.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

Isaac Maddow Zimit is one of the report's authors.

[Isaac Maddow Zimit]

There were shifts, though, in where those abortions were occurring.

[Selena Simmons Duffin]

The biggest shift was that there were more abortions in states with abortion bans. That's because the Food and Drug Administration allows abortion medication to be prescribed through telemedicine and sent through the mail. Abortion opponents are practice through court challenges and new laws. Selena Simmons Duffin, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

Now to California, where a civil jury has found Bill Cosby liable for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 1972. Following a nearly two week trial, jurors in Santa Monica awarded the woman millions in damages. Cosby's lawyers say they plan to appeal. The Supreme Court's conservative majority appears skeptical of state laws that allow the counting of late arriving mail ballots. The court heard arguments Monday in a case from Mississippi that could also affect voters in 13 other states and the District of Columbia. More forgiving deadlines from military and overseas votes and an additional 15 states could also be impacted. A ruling is expected by late June. I'm Giles Snyder, NPR News.

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