NPR News: 03-26-2025 8AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 26, 2025, 8AM EDT

Hosted by NPR's Korva Coleman, this episode of "NPR News Now" delivers the latest updates on national security, international affairs, immigration policies, infrastructure incidents, environmental crises, and significant Senate confirmations.

---

National Security Chat Controversy

Timestamp: [00:16]

Korva Coleman opens the episode with a report on a controversial group chat initiated by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz using the commercial messaging app Signal. The chat included high-ranking Trump administration officials such as Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, as well as a journalist. This revelation has sparked scrutiny and led to hearings before a Senate panel.

Ryan Lucas elaborates on the situation, noting that top intelligence officials are set to testify before House lawmakers. He states, “Democrats, of course, don't have a lot of power. They're in the minority. Republicans control both houses of Congress” (00:45). Despite the Democratic minority, some GOP senators like Senate Majority Leader John Thune have expressed concerns about the security breach, with Thune emphasizing the need to “figure out what happened” (00:50).

A noteworthy point raised is the NPR CEO Katherine Marr's dual role as the chair of the nonprofit Signal Foundation, highlighting potential conflicts of interest within the story (01:10).

---

Ukraine Moves Towards Black Sea Ceasefire

Timestamp: [01:32]

Korva Coleman transitions to international news, reporting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is advocating for a ceasefire in the Black Sea region as a strategic move towards peace. This decision aims to facilitate the export of Russian grain and fertilizer, which has significant global economic implications.

Eleanor Beardsley provides deeper insights, explaining that Ukraine had previously driven Russia's Black Sea fleet and commercial vessels out of the waters through aggressive military tactics, including drone and missile attacks. Ukrainian Parliament Member Oleksandr Mereshko comments, “It means that we're trying to demonstrate that we are committed to peace and we agree with ceasefire proposals put forward by President Trump” (01:47).

However, Mereshko remains cautious, stating, “Basically, I remain skeptical, but, you know, who knows?” (02:03). He underscores Ukraine's primary goals of reclaiming prisoners of war and halting attacks on civilian infrastructure and cities (02:07).

---

Refugee Program Freeze and Legal Challenges

Timestamp: [02:16]

The episode shifts focus to domestic policy, with Korva Coleman reporting on a federal appeals court's decision to temporarily reinstate a refugee program freeze implemented by the Trump administration. This program aids individuals displaced by conflict, disasters, or persecution.

Jasmine Gars explains that President Trump had paused refugee resettlement, citing concerns over the U.S.'s capacity to absorb large numbers of refugees and the desire to ensure taxpayer money is judiciously spent. He also emphasized the need for refugees to assimilate into American society (02:16). In February, a federal judge blocked the freeze, asserting that while presidential power allows for suspending refugee admissions, it is not without limits. Refugees approved before Trump's presidency on January 20, 2021, will continue to be processed as the legal case proceeds (02:29).

---

One-Year Anniversary of Francis Scott Key Bridge Collision

Timestamp: [03:12]

Korva Coleman marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic collision between a cargo ship and the Francis Scott Key Bridge near Baltimore. The incident resulted in the collapse of sections of the bridge and the loss of six construction workers' lives. The aftermath saw the Port of Baltimore shutting down for months due to debris obstructing the river.

---

Wildfires Ravage the Carolinas

Timestamp: [03:12]

Continuing with environmental news, Coleman reports on the severe wildfires affecting the Carolinas, driven by dry conditions and strong winds. These fires have led to state of emergencies and widespread evacuations, with Blue Ridge Public Radio’s Gerard Albert III providing detailed coverage.

Gerard Albert III describes the fires as “burning since last week in rural parts of the Appalachian Mountains,” noting significant property loss and mass evacuations (03:50). E.J. Dwiggins, spokesperson for the North Carolina Forest Service, elaborates on the extreme fire behavior caused by high winds, stating, “We’re seeing pretty extreme wind conditions, which means we’re also going to see some pretty extreme fire behavior out on the fire line” (04:09). The two largest fires remain at 0% containment, with efforts hampered by the persistent windy conditions (04:28).

---

Senate Confirms Key Health Officials

Timestamp: [04:37]

In political news, Korva Coleman announces the Senate's confirmation of two pivotal nominees: Dr. Martin Makary as the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as the leader of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These appointments are expected to shape the future of U.S. health policy and regulatory frameworks.

---

Sponsor Messages

Throughout the episode, NPR includes sponsor segments, such as messages from Pemco Mutual Insurance Company and Allianz Travel Insurance, offering prevention tips and travel protection plans, respectively. These segments are noted but excluded from the content-focused summary.

---

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the March 26, 2025, episode of "NPR News Now," providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the day's most pressing news topics.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor]

This message comes from Pemco Mutual Insurance Company. Their mission is to help customers worry less and live more. So they're sharing prevention tips that empower you to prevent some of life's pitfalls before they happen. Visit pemco.com prevention live from NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz says he takes responsibility for creating a group chat on the commercial messaging app Signal. Top Trump administration members used Signal recently to talk about secret war plans, including the the director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. But that chat also included a journalist. Gabbard and Ratcliffe were grilled by a Senate panel yesterday. NPR's Ryan Lucas says they will face more questions today.

[Ryan Lucas]

The same intelligence officials are testifying before House lawmakers today. They'll no doubt face more questions. But stepping back a bit, the top Democrat in the House and Senate are both calling for an investigation. Democrats, of course, don't have a lot of power. They're in the minority. Republicans control both houses of Congress. Some GOP senators have expressed concern about this security breach and how this all went down. That includes the Senate majority leader, John Thune. He told reporters yesterday that they need to figure out what happened.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Ryan Lucas reporting. A note. The CEO of NPR, Katherine Marr, also chairs the board of the nonprofit Signal Foundation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says his country is moving toward peace by accepting a ceasefire in the Black Sea. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. This will allow Russia to export its grain and fertilizer.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Ukraine had successfully chased Russia's Black Sea fleet and commercial ships from the waters with air and sea drone and missile attacks. Ukrainian parliament member Oleksandr Mereshko says the Black Sea deal is a concession from Ukraine.

[Oleksandr Mereshko]

It means that we're trying to demonstrate that we are committed to peace and we agree with ceasefire proposals put forward by President Trump.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

He says Russia violated ceasefire agreements for years after 2015, when France and Germany were trying to stop the war in the Donbass.

[Oleksandr Mereshko]

Basically, I remain skeptical, but, you know, who knows?

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Merezhko says Ukraine wants to get back its prisoners of war and stop the attacks on civilian infrastructure and its cities. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Korva Coleman]

A federal appeals court will let the Trump administration temporarily freeze a refugee program. NPR's Jasmine Gars reports. It's for people displaced by conflict, disasters or persecution after taking office.

[Jasmine Gars]

President Trump immediately paused refugee resettlement, saying that the US Lacks the ability to absorb large numbers, that taxpayers money should not be spent on this program and that there need to be assurances that refugees can assimilate into the country. In late February, a federal judge temporarily blocked that freeze, saying that while a president does have the power to suspend refugee admissions, that power is not limitless. Refugees who were approved before President Trump took Office on on January 20th will still be processed, but no new applications as the case makes its way through the courts. Jasmine Garz, NPR News, New York.

[Korva Coleman]

This is npr. It was a year ago today that a cargo ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge just outside Baltimore. Parts of the enormous bridge collapsed, killing six construction workers. The Port of Baltimore was closed for months because debris choked the river. Crews in the Carolinas continue to battle multiple wildfires. They're fueled by dry conditions and gusty winds. These have led to states of emergency and prompted evacuations. Three fires in western North Carolina have burned thousands of acres. Blue Ridge Public Radio's Gerard Albert III has more.

[Gerard Albert III]

The three fires have been burning since last week in rural parts of the Appalachian Mountains. So far, the fires have destroyed several house, forced hundreds to evacuate. High winds this week have added to the adverse conditions. E.J. dwiggins is a spokesman for the North Carolina Forest Service.

[E.J. Dwiggins]

We're seeing pretty extreme wind conditions, which means we're also going to see some pretty extreme fire behavior out on the fire line when that occurs. You can see fire, tornadoes, some pretty extreme fire behavior out there. Right now it's way too windy to have any of our aircraft resources come in, and so we're really hoping this wind will die down.

[Gerard Albert III]

The two biggest fires, Dwiggins says are at 0% containment. For NPR News, I'm Gerard Albert III in Asheville.

[Korva Coleman]

Thousands of acres have also burned in South Carolina. The Senate has confirmed two key nominees. Dr. Martin Makary will lead the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya will lead the National Institutes of Health. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

[NPR Sponsor]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Allianz Travel Insurance. Is this the year you finally plan those trips to Paris, Prague and Milan? Learn how an all trips plan can protect your trips all [e-mail].