NPR News: 03-29-2025 7AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – March 29, 2025

Host: Giles Snyder
Release Date: March 29, 2025
Duration: 5 Minutes
Source: NPR News Now

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1. Tragic Earthquake in Myanmar

Timestamp: 00:16

Giles Snyder opens the episode with a devastating report from Myanmar, where a powerful earthquake has resulted in over 1,000 deaths. The earthquake caused the collapse of multiple buildings in both Myanmar and Thailand, including a high-rise under construction in Bangkok. Rescue efforts are underway, with heavy machinery employed to clear the rubble, but dozens of construction workers remain missing.

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2. President Trump's Executive Order on Monuments

Timestamp: 00:50

President Trump signed an executive order targeting the restoration of public monuments and statues that have been removed in recent years. The order seeks to eliminate what the administration describes as "divisive race-centered ideology" from museums and research centers. Specifically, it directs the Secretary of the Interior to assess whether any monuments, statues, and memorials under the Department's jurisdiction have been altered in ways that "perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history."

Notable Insight: Seth Levy of the Southern Poverty Law Center clarifies that while over 200 Confederate symbols were removed or renamed during the 2020 racial reckoning, most were located on land managed by municipal and state authorities, raising questions about the extent of the executive order's impact.

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3. Defense Secretary Hegseth Honors Iwo Jima Veterans

Timestamp: 01:34

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended a memorial service on Iwo Jima, commemorating the 80th anniversary of one of World War II's bloodiest battles. Highlighting the enduring U.S.-Japan alliance, Hegseth emphasized the transformation of former adversaries into steadfast allies.

Quote: "I'm humbled to pilgrimage. There's no other way to put it to this hallowed ground. Over 80,000 Marines, soldiers, and sailors from our two countries fought at Iwo Jima. More than 26,000 died here today. We revere their courage." – Pete Hegseth (01:51)

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4. FAA Investigates Near-Miss Between Commercial and Military Aircraft

Timestamp: 02:13

A concerning incident near Ronald Reagan National Airport involved Delta Airlines Flight 2389 and an Airbus A319, along with four U.S. Air Force T38 Talons. During the Delta flight's ascent, one or more Talons reportedly flew dangerously close, triggering a collision avoidance alert. Prompt intervention by air traffic controllers prevented a potential disaster.

Background Context: This incident follows a tragic collision two months prior, where an American Airlines flight collided with an Army helicopter near the same airport, resulting in 67 fatalities. The FAA is actively investigating the current near-miss to prevent future occurrences.

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5. Seabed Mining Initiative by Canadian Startup

Timestamp: 03:11

A Canadian-based mining startup is proposing a groundbreaking seabed mining project in the Pacific Ocean's international waters. The company aims to extract nickel and cobalt, essential materials for electric vehicle batteries, positioning itself as a key player in the burgeoning electric car industry.

Controversy: Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, criticize the initiative as potentially harmful to marine ecosystems and accuse the company of undermining global regulatory efforts. Since the United States is not a member of the International Seabed Authority—the body crafting deep-sea mining regulations—the project's alignment with U.S. interests has been met with skepticism.

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6. Legal Halt to Deportation of Tufts University Student

Timestamp: 04:09

A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the deportation of Ramessa Osterk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University. Detained near her Boston residence, Osterk is among several individuals, including students and protesters, who have had their visas revoked under accusations of supporting Hamas by the Trump administration. Osterk had previously expressed support for Palestinians in an opinion piece, which the administration has leveraged against her.

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7. Wildfire Concerns Amid Rain Forecasts in the Carolinas

Timestamp: 04:34

Meteorologists predict rain in the mountains of South Carolina over the upcoming weekend, offering some relief to firefighters managing the Table Rock fire, which ignited a week prior under dry and windy conditions. Despite the forecast, firefighters remain anxious about the fire's spread. Additionally, eight wildfires continue to burn in the mountainous regions of neighboring North Carolina, exacerbating regional firefighting efforts.

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Conclusion: This episode of NPR News Now delivers a comprehensive overview of significant global and national events, from natural disasters and environmental issues to political developments and aviation safety concerns. By integrating expert insights and firsthand accounts, the podcast ensures listeners are well-informed about pressing matters shaping the world today.

Transcript

[NPR Announcer]

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[Giles Snyder]

In Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Myanmar's military led government says the death toll from yesterday's powerful earthquake now tops 1,000. The collapsed buildings in Myanmar and Thailand and Bangkok. Rescuers are using heavy equipment to move rubble from the site of a collapsed high rise that was under construction. Dozens of construction workers are missing. President Trump signed an executive order this week that, among other things, aims to restore some public monuments and statues that have been removed. As NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento reports, President.

[Isabella Gomez Sarmiento]

Trump's executive order calls for removing, quote, divisive race centered ideology from museums and research centers. It also calls on the secretary of the Interior to determine whether any monuments, statues and memorials under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior have been removed or renamed to, quote, perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history.

[Seth Levy]

I'm not actually aware of any removals on National Park Service land.

[Isabella Gomez Sarmiento]

Seth Levy of the Southern Poverty Law center says although the racial reckoning of 2020 led to the removal or renaming of more than 200 Confederate symbols, many of those were on land controlled by municipalities and state governments. It's unclear how many sites will be impacted by the new order. Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth joined Japanese leaders for a memorial service on Iwo Jima. 80 years ago today, the Pacific island was a scene of a bloody battle during the Second World War. Hegseth said the U. S. Japan alliance shows how yesterday's Emmy has become today's friend.

[Pete Hegseth]

I'm humbled to pilgrim. There's no other way to put it to this hallowed ground. Over 80,000 Marines, soldiers and sailors from our two countries fought at Iwo Jima. More than 26,000 died here today. We revere their courage.

[Giles Snyder]

Hexith is on his first trip to Asia as defense secretary. The FAA says it's investigating a close call between a commercial jet and military planes near WA Washington. NPR's John Stempen has more.

[John Stempan]

In a statement, the FAA says Delta air lines flight 2389 and Airbus 319 was cleared for takeoff from Ronald Reagan National Airport yesterday afternoon. During ascent, at least one of four Air Force T38 talons apparently passed under the Delta jet. According to reports, the Talons were part of a flyover nearby Arlington National Cemetery. An onboard collision avoidance alert activated in the Delta cockpit. Air traffic controllers issued new flight instructions to the pilots and all of the aircraft steered away. Two months ago, 67 people died when an American Airlines flight on approach to Reagan national collided with an army helicopter. That investigation is ongoing. John Stempan, NPR News, Washington.

[Giles Snyder]

And you're listening to NPR News. A mining company says it's aiming to partner with the US Government on a first of its kind seabed mining project beneath international waters in the Pacific Ocean. Daniel Ackerman reports on the bid to acquire Critical Minerals.

[Seth Levy]

The metals company is a Canada based mining startup. They plan to collect nickel and cobalt from the deep ocean floor. The firm says those metals can be used in electric car batteries. But critics say deep sea mining is unproven and could harm the marine environment. For more than a decade, most of the world's countries have been working together to draw up regulations for a deep sea mining industry. That effort is part of the International Seabed Authority, but the United States is not a member of the group and isn't bound by its rules. Greenpeace calls the company's intent to work with the US A slap in the face to international cooperation. The US Department of Commerce didn't immediately comment on the matter. For NPR News, I'm Daniel Ackerman.

[Giles Snyder]

A federal judge in Boston has temporarily halted the deportation of a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts University. Ramessa Osterk was detained near her Boston home on Tuesday, becoming one of several students and protesters who have had their visa revoked by the Trump administration, which accuses her of supporting Hamas. She wrote an opinion piece last year voicing support for Palestinians forecasts calling for rain in the mountains of South Carolina this weekend, but firefighters worry it won't be enough to help them corral the Table Rock fire. That fire started a week ago and has been spreading in dry, windy conditions. At least eight wildfires are burning in the mountains of neighboring North Carolina. I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington.

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