NPR News: 03-25-2026 6PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – 6PM EDT, March 25, 2026

Host: Ryland Barton
Episode Theme:
A concise, fast-paced update on major U.S. political, business, education, and health news, reflecting ongoing national tensions, high-profile corporate developments, and evolving trends in health and culture.

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1. Senate Stalemate Over DHS Funding

[00:00 - 01:01] | Ryland Barton & Sam Greenglass

• Key Issue:
  • Senate Democrats blocked a Republican bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which included additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
  • The shutdown has lasted 40 days, with negotiations stalled.
• Democratic Position:
  • Willing to fund TSA, FEMA, and other DHS agencies, but oppose increased funding for ICE without policy changes.
  • Want to limit harsh tactics by ICE officers.
• Triggering Events:
  • After federal officers killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, Democrats escalated policy change demands.
• Republican Response:
  • Key Senate Republicans called Democrats “counter unserious.”
  • Expressed uncertainty about negotiating paths going forward.
• Shutdown Impact:
  • Acting TSA administrator: 480 officers quit since the shutdown began.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Most Democrats say they want to fund DHS agencies like TSA and FEMA, but are unwilling to give ICE more funding at all without policy changes to limit the tactics of its officers.” — Sam Greenglass [00:24]
  • “Republicans latest offer included none of the demands they made after federal officers killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.” — Sam Greenglass [00:41]

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2. “Propaganda War” on the National Mall

[01:01 - 01:54] | Frank Langford & Mary Corcoran

• Main Points:
  • Competing displays around the National Mall illustrate a battle over public narrative.
  • Temporary satirical statue depicts a Trump-Epstein “friendship”; a giant government-sanctioned banner celebrates Trump.
  • Nonprofit activists, like Save America Movement, place satirical posters targeting Trump’s cabinet.
• Key Figures:
  • Mary Corcoran, Save America Movement: Claims the fight over images is unequal due to public funds spent on administration propaganda.
  • The White House states Trump is focused on “saving our country, not garnering recognition.”
• Notable Quotes:
  • “We are in the midst of a propaganda war.” — Mary Corcoran [01:34]
  • “No, because they're using taxpayer dollars to fund their propaganda and we're not.” — Mary Corcoran [01:39]
  • “President Trump is focused on saving our country, not garnering recognition.” — White House spokesperson, via Frank Langford [01:44]

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3. Meta’s Executive Stock Option Bets

[01:54 - 02:55] | John Ruich

• Highlights:
  • Meta (Facebook’s parent) files with the SEC: seven top executives awarded sizable stock options.
  • Stock options vest only if Meta doubles its share price within two years; an “aggressive milestone.”
  • CEO Mark Zuckerberg excluded—already worth over $200 billion.
  • Plan described as a “big bet” to retain talent as AI competition intensifies.
  • Comes amid rumors of further Meta layoffs and a $375 million jury verdict over child online protection failings.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Meta spokesperson calls the stock options plan a big bet dependent on mass future success.” — John Ruich [02:33]
• Contextual Note:
  • Tech industry-wide scramble for AI-related talent, increased regulatory and legal scrutiny.

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4. Colleges Shift to Oral Exams Amid AI Cheating Concerns

[02:55 - 03:32] | Unattributed (News Brief)

• Summary:
  • Rapid rise in AI use by students prompts college instructors to replace written exams with oral, Socratic-style questioning and mandatory office hours.
  • Educators acknowledge AI cheating is “ubiquitous but hard to police”, which undermines genuine learning.

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5. FDA Reviews RSV Baby Shot Safety

[03:32 - 04:11] | Rob Stein

• Main Talking Points:
  • FDA is reviewing the safety of monoclonal antibody shots against RSV, a virus dangerous to infants.
  • The shots cut hospitalization risk by about 80%.
  • Prompt for the review is unclear; some critics question possible links to adverse reactions.
  • Manufacturers and independent disease experts maintain evidence supports the shot’s safety.
• Notable Quote:
  • “RSV is the leading cause of hospitalizations for babies in their first year of life. The shots... can reduce that risk by about 80%.” — Rob Stein [03:36]

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6. Seafood Industry Adopts “Meat-Like” Appeal

[04:11 - 04:40] | Unattributed (News Brief)

• Exhibition Insight:
  • At Seafood Expo North America: U.S. seafood industry promotes products resembling familiar meat items (salami, meatballs, fried chicken).
  • Aims to boost low U.S. per-capita seafood consumption (19 lbs/year, vs. 45 lbs global average).
  • Shrimp, salmon, canned tuna dominate U.S. market.

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For Further Listening:

• [News about investing, health, AI cheating, and more, updated hourly at NPR News Now.]

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Transcript

[A]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Senate Democrats have blocked a Republican effort to fund the Department of Homeland Security that included more money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. NPR's Sam Greenglass reports negotiations to end the 40 day long DHS shutdown have stalled.

[B]

The measure would have funded all of dhs, including ice, except for the unit responsible for enforcement and removal operations. Most Democrats say they want to fund DHS agencies like TSA and fema, but are unwilling to give ICE more funding at all without policy changes to limit the tactics of its officers. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says Republicans latest offer included none of the demands they made after Federal officers killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. Key Senate Republicans have called Democrats counter unserious and say they're not sure where talks can go from here. Meanwhile, the acting TSA administrator says 480 officers have quit since the shutdown began. Sam Greenglass, NPR News, Washington.

[A]

A battle of political images is playing, playing out around the National Mall in Washington, D.C. nPR's Frank Lankvitt reports on how the president and his critics are duking it out.

[C]

A temporary statue went up in front of the US Capitol earlier this month, satirizing the friendship between President Trump and the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Nearby, in an administration approved display, Trump's stern face stares down from a giant banner on the Department of Labor. Mary Corcoran runs the Save America Movement. It's a nonprofit which has placed posters around D.C. making fun of Trump's cabinet.

[D]

We are in the midst of a propaganda war.

[C]

Is it a fair fight?

[D]

No, because they're using taxpayer dollars to fund their propaganda and we're not.

[C]

The White House dismissed criticism saying, quote, president Trump is focused on saving our country, not garnering recognition. Frank Langford, NPR News, Washington.

[A]

Executives at Facebook parent company Meta stand to see their compensation soar, according to new SEC filings, the company's GR granting stock options to many of its top leaders. But the payout depends on hitting aggressive milestones. NPR's John Ruich has more.

[E]

Seven of Meta's top executives have been granted tens of thousands of share options each, but they'll only vest if the company's share price starts hitting high targets within the next two years. The first milestone represents almost a doubling of the current share price. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is not included in the program. He's already worth more than $200 billion. A Meta spokesperson calls the stock options plan a big bet dependent on mass future success. It comes as tech companies scramble to retain talent and compete in artificial intelligence. It also comes amid reports that Meta is planning more layoffs as it focuses resources on AI. And Meta is fighting a $375 million jury verdict this week after the company was found liable for failing to protect children from online predators. John ruich, NPR News.

[A]

U.S. stocks largely rose today. This is NPR News. A growing number of U.S. college teachers are replacing written exams with oral ones to help combat an AI crisis in higher education. Some are pairing Socratic style questioning with written assignments or requiring students to attend office hours. Instructors say they know student use of AI is ubiquitous but hard to police, and it's undermining student learning. The FDA is reviewing the safety of shots that can protect babies against RSV. As NPR's Rob Stein reports, the review is raising fears about restricting highly effective immunization.

[F]

RSV usually just causes cold like symptoms, but the virus can be dangerous to very young babies. In fact, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalizations for babies in their first year of life. The shots, known as monoclonal antibodies, can reduce that risk by about 80%. It's unclear what prompted the FDA's new safety review, but some critics have raised questions about whether the shots have been linked to adverse reactions. The companies that make the shots an independent infectious infectious disease experts, however, say there's plenty of evidence the shots are very safe. Rob Stein, NPR News.

[A]

The seafood industry is betting people in the US Will finally eat more seafood if it looks more like meat. At the recent Seafood Expo North America in Boston, many products resembled salami, meatballs, fried chicken and more. Americans have notoriously limited appetite for seafood. They consume just about 19 pounds a year, compared to a global average of 45 pounds. Most of the seafood Americans eat eat is shrimp, salmon and canned tuna. This is NPR News.

[G]

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