NPR News: 03-28-2025 5PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 28, 2025, 5PM EDT – Detailed Summary

Hosted by Jeanine Herbst

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1. U.S. Interest in Greenland Amid Trump's Strategic Plans

Vice President Vance's Greenland Visit

Vice President Vance made a brief visit to a U.S. military base in Greenland, underscoring the administration's strategic interest in the Danish island territory. This visit comes amidst growing controversy over President Donald Trump's proposition to acquire Greenland, citing national security concerns.

President Trump's Statement on Greenland

In a compelling declaration, President Trump emphasized the geopolitical importance of Greenland:

"We need Greenland very importantly for international security. We have to have Greenland. It's not a question of, do you think we can do without it? We can't. If you look at Greenland right now, if you look at the waterways, you have Chinese and Russian ships all over the place."
(Donald Trump, 00:31)

Despite these assertions, public opinion within Greenland remains largely opposed to the U.S. acquisition plan, as indicated by recent polls.

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2. Legal Pushback Against Trump's Executive Orders Targeting Law Firms

Jenner and Block's Lawsuit

The prominent law firm Jenner and Block has initiated legal action to halt President Trump's executive order, which aims to restrict security clearances and government contracts. This marks the second major legal challenge from a large law firm against Trump's initiatives.

Firm's Arguments and President's Criticisms

Carrie Johnson reports that Jenner and Block contends the executive order infringes upon First Amendment rights, specifically free speech and association:

"Trump's executive order threatens its clients and the legal system itself."
(Carrie Johnson, 01:07)

The firm points to Trump's criticisms, including Jenner and Block's employment of a notable Trump critic and their pro bono assistance to immigrants and LGBTQ communities. A firm spokesperson expressed confidence in a favorable court outcome:

"We expect to prevail in court and quickly."
(Carrie Johnson, 01:07)

In contrast, other large law firms have sought settlements with the White House, but Jenner and Block remains steadfast in resisting capitulation.

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3. Scadden, Arf, Slate, Meager & Flom's Pro Bono Agreement

In a significant move, President Trump announced that the law firm Scadden, Arf, Slate, Meager & Flom has agreed to provide $200 million in pro bono services supporting causes favored by the administration. This agreement serves as a strategic maneuver to prevent the firm from being subjected to executive orders targeting its business operations.

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4. Missing Gaza Rescue Crew Amid Israeli Military Operations

Red Crescent and Civil Defense's Concerns

The Red Crescent and Civil Defense in Gaza are seeking answers from the Israeli military regarding a missing crew of 15 rescue workers tasked with navigating Rafah to assist civilians amidst Israeli airstrikes and advancing ground troops.

Israeli Military's Response

Mahmoud Bussell from Civil Defense reports the Israeli military's stance:

"Israel's military released a statement saying its soldiers shot out, quote, suspicious vehicles, killing a number of Hamas militants overnight on Sunday. The military says after an initial inquiry, it determined that some of the vehicles were ambulances and fire trucks."
(Mahmoud Bussell, 02:18)

This statement, made five days after the crew went missing, lacks detailed information about their fate.

Findings from Gaza

Bussell further detailed:

"The body of one missing rescue crew worker has so far been found apparently buried in the sand by an Israeli bulldozer. And he says based on what they've been able to gather from the scene, there are likely no survivors."
(Mahmoud Bussell, 02:18)

The Red Crescent corroborated these findings, noting the discovery of only four destroyed ambulances buried by sand.

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5. Devastating Earthquake Strikes Myanmar and Thailand

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar and neighboring Thailand, resulting in catastrophic damage, including the destruction of buildings and bridges. The quake has claimed at least 150 lives, predominantly in Myanmar, and left hundreds injured.

Response and Challenges in Rescue Operations

Marie Manrique, a Red Cross program coordinator, highlighted the urgency and difficulties faced in the aftermath:

"It's a developing emergency, and our priority is to ensure that affected communities receive the help that they need as quickly as possible. And we stand by as the IFRC ready to scale up our support as the needs become clearer and access allows."
(Marie Manrique, 03:40)

The region continues to grapple with aftershocks, including a significant 6.4 magnitude tremor, complicating rescue efforts and access to severely affected areas.

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6. Surge in Illegal Egg Imports Contrasted with Declining Fentanyl Seizures

Rise in Egg Smuggling Due to High Prices

High egg prices in the United States have led to a substantial increase in attempts to import eggs illegally. NPR's Bill Chappell reports a 48% rise in raw egg seizures at U.S. northern and southern borders compared to the previous year. Notably, the San Diego CBP field office experienced a staggering 158% increase in egg seizures, a trend driven by the ongoing bird flu outbreak.

Decline in Fentanyl Interceptions

Conversely, the Trump administration has frequently cited the smuggling of the lethal opioid fentanyl as a justification for imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico. However, CBP data reveals a downward trend in fentanyl interceptions, with only 63 interceptions last month—among the fewest in at least three years.

"But the CBP says interceptions of fentanyl have been falling. Last month, there were 63 fentanyl interceptions, among the fewest in at least three years."
(Bill Chappell, 04:09)

This contrast highlights shifting priorities and challenges in border security enforcement.

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7. Market Movements and Economic Concerns

Stock Market Declines

Wall Street experienced sharp declines, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping 715 points. This downturn is attributed to ongoing concerns about inflation, weakened consumer sentiment, and uncertainty surrounding President Trump's evolving tariff policies.

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provided a comprehensive overview of pressing global and domestic issues, ranging from geopolitical maneuvers in Greenland and legal battles against executive orders, to humanitarian crises in Gaza and Myanmar, alongside significant economic and security-related developments in the United States.

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For more updates, visit NPR News Now.

Transcript

[Carvana]

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herst. Vice President Vance made a quick visit to a US Military base in Greenland today amid controversy over President Trump's plans to gain control of the Danish island territory. Trump says the US Needs Greenland for national security.

[Donald Trump]

We need Greenland very importantly for international security. We have to have Greenland. It's not a question of, do you think we can do without it? We can't. If you look at Greenland right now, if you look at the waterways, you have Chinese and Russian ships all over the place.

[Jeanine Herbst]

But polls show most Greenlanders oppose the idea. The law firm Jenner and Block is suing to stop President Trump's executive order targeting at security clearances and government contracts. NPR's Kerry Johnson reports. It's the second time a big law firm has gone to court over Trump's bid to punish them.

[Carrie Johnson]

The Jenner firm says Trump's executive order threatens its clients and the legal system itself. In a new lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, D.C. the big law firm says Trump's order violates First Amendment protections for free speech and association. The president called out Jenner and Block for employing a prominent Trump critic who once investigated Trump and for its pro bono work to help immigrants and LGBTQ people. A spokesman for the firm says they expect to prevail in court and quickly. A pair of other prominent big law firms have sought to reach settlements with the White House, but Jenner says capitulating is not in its DNA. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And today, Trump announced the law firm Scadden, Arf, Slate, Meager and Flom agreed to provide $200 million in pro bono work for causes that Trump supports to avoid an executive order targeting its business. The Red Crescent and Civil Defense in Gaza are demanding answers from Israel's military about the whereabouts of a crew of 15 who are heading into Rafah to rescue people from Israeli airstrikes and advancing ground troops. NPR Zaya Batrawi has more.

[Mahmoud Bussell]

Israel's military released a statement saying its soldiers shot out, quote, suspicious vehicles, killing a number of Hamas militants overnight on Sunday. The military says after an initial inquiry, it determined that some of the vehicles were ambulances and fire trucks. These findings were announced five days after the crew of 15 went missing. The statement offers no further details on the fate of the crews. Inside Gaza, civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Bussell says the body of one missing rescue crew worker has so far been found apparently buried in the sand by an Israeli bulldozer. And he says based on what they've been able to gather from the scene, there are likely no survivors. The Red Crescent says it's found only four destroyed ambulances that it, too says were buried in the sand. Eyel Baltrawi, NPR News, Dubai.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Stocks sharply lower on Wall street amid concerns about inflation, weak consumer sentiment and President Trump's changing tariff threats. The Dow down 715 points. This is NPR. A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake rocked Myanmar and neighboring Thailand today, destroying buildings and bridges and killing at least 150 people, mostly in Myanmar. Hundreds are injured. Officials in Myanmar say it struck this afternoon and it was felt more than 600 miles away in Thailand, Red Cross program coordinator Marie Manrique says there are concerns about how rescuers would be able to reach some affected areas.

[Marie Manrique]

It's a developing emergency, and our priority is to ensure that affected communities receive the help that they need as quickly as possible. And we stand by as the IFRC ready to scale up our support as the needs become clearer and access allows.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The area has been hit with several aftershocks, including one where with a magnitude of 6.4, high egg prices in the US have led to more attempts to bring in eggs into the country illegally. NPR's Bill Chappell has more.

[Bill Chappell]

Customs and Border Protection said this week that seizures of raw eggs have risen by 48% on the northern and southern US borders compared to last year. In San Diego, the CBP field office reported 158% more seizures of eggs, a trend sparked by the bird flu outbreak. As those figures go up, another important number is going down. The Trump administration often cites smuggling of the deadly opioid fentanyl as one reason to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico. But the CBP says interceptions of fentanyl have been falling. Last month, there were 63 fentanyl interceptions, among the fewest in at least three years. Bill Chappell, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News.

[Carvana]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.