NPR News Now: March 29, 2025

Hosted by Dale Wilman, NPR News Now delivers the latest updates in five minutes, capturing key events from around the globe. This episode, released on March 29, 2025, covers significant developments in international relations, legal battles, natural disasters, and economic fluctuations. Below is a comprehensive summary of the episode's main topics, enriched with notable quotes and detailed insights.

1. U.S.-Canada Relations and Potential Trade War

Timestamp: 00:16

Dale Wilman opens the episode with a discussion on the recent communication between President Donald Trump and Canada's new Prime Minister, Justin Carney. This marks their first conversation, primarily focusing on the possibility of a trade war between the two nations.

• President Trump described the call as "extremely productive," indicating a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue.

• Prime Minister Carney emphasized Canada's resilience and unity, stating, "Canada cannot be pushed around. Canada is strong, but we're even stronger when we are united. And our response to these latest tariffs is to fight, to protect and to build."

Negotiations regarding a new bilateral relationship are slated to commence post the Canadian elections scheduled for April 28.

2. Legal Battles Over Independent Agency Appointments

Timestamp: 00:16 – 01:07

Continuing from Wilman's introduction, the episode delves into a significant legal development where the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that President Trump has the authority to dismiss two members of independent agencies, overturning a lower court's decision to reinstate them.

NPR's Andrea Hsu provides an in-depth analysis:

• Fired Members: In January, Trump dismissed Gwen Wilcox from the National Labor Relations Board and in February, Kathy Harris from the Merit Systems Protection Board. Both were Democratic appointees overseeing workplace-related grievances.

• Legal Implications: Federal law restricts the president's power to remove agency members solely for cause, such as neglect of duty or malfeasance. This statute has been upheld by the Supreme Court for over 90 years.

• Trump Administration's Stance: The administration contends that these legal restrictions are unconstitutional, asserting that the president should have comprehensive control over the executive branch.

3. Devastating Wildfires in South Carolina

Timestamp: 01:52 – 02:44

Dale Wilman reports on the alarming wildfire situation in the South Carolina mountains, where more than 10,000 acres have been consumed by flames amidst increasingly favorable conditions for such disasters.

Reporter Scott Morgan from South Carolina Public Radio highlights:

• Fire Incidents: The initial blaze originated at Table Rock Mountain, with a second fire igniting at Persimmon Ridge nearly a week later. Despite extensive efforts, including the deployment of air crews that have released nearly 750,000 gallons of water, containment remains elusive.

• Governor's Statement: Governor Henry McMaster expressed the severity of the situation, stating, "We’ve never had quite a fire quite like this. We've had some big ones. You’ve seen the movie The Perfect Storm. Well, this, this might be the perfect fire." (02:21)

• Contributing Factors: A combination of dry, windy, and sunny weather, coupled with forest debris, fuels the fires. Additionally, tornado-felled trees from Hurricane Helene are obstructing firefighting efforts, complicating access to affected areas.

4. Aviation Near-Miss and Stock Market Decline

Timestamp: 02:44 – 03:28

Dale Wilman transitions to an aviation safety concern near Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., where the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated an investigation into a near-collision between a Delta commercial jet and a U.S. Air Force jet. This incident mirrors previous tragedies at the same airport, including a commercial jetliner and a military helicopter crash earlier this year.

Concurrently, the episode reports a significant downturn in the stock market:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Dropped by 715 points.
• NASDAQ: Fell by 481 points.
• S&P 500: Declined by 112 points.

These declines reflect broad investor concerns amidst ongoing global and national challenges.

5. Escalating Drone Attacks in Ukraine

Timestamp: 03:28 – 04:03

NPR's Eleanor Beardsley covers the intensified drone assaults in Dnipro, Ukraine, where Russian forces continue to target civilian areas. The latest attacks have resulted in at least four fatalities and 15 injuries.

• Immediate Impact: A drone strike caused a roof to collapse in Dnipro, as depicted in a harrowing video where a woman pleads, "Guys, whoever's in Dnipro, can you come help?"

• Further Destruction: A multi-functional complex housing restaurants and hotels was hit, exacerbating the casualties and hindering rescue efforts. Firefighters battling the ensuing fires were momentarily overrun by panic, fearing additional strikes, although no secondary attacks occurred.

6. Massive Earthquake in Myanmar and Regional Tensions

Timestamp: 04:17 – 04:55

The episode concludes with two significant international events:

• Myanmar Earthquake:

  • A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday midday, causing extensive devastation.
  • The death toll has surpassed 140, with expectations of further casualties as rescue operations continue.

• Israeli Airstrike on Lebanon:

  • Israel conducted an airstrike targeting a Hezbollah drone storage facility in Lebanon, marking its first such action in the region since November.
  • Military officials confirmed that an evacuation order was issued prior to the attack to minimize civilian harm.

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of pressing global and national issues, ranging from political negotiations and legal disputes to natural disasters and international conflicts. Through timely reporting and insightful analysis, listeners are kept informed of events shaping the current landscape.

Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been intentionally omitted to focus solely on the informative aspects of the podcast.