NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-07-2025 4PM EST

Episode Date: March 7, 2025

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These days, there's so much news, it can be hard to keep up with what it all means for you, your family, and your community. The Consider This podcast from NPR features our award-winning journalism. Six days a week, we bring you a deep dive on a news story and provide the context and analysis that helps you make sense of the news. We get behind the headlines. We get to the truth. Listen to the Consider This podcast from NPR. Liveaxmelec-Live from NPR News, I'm Laxmelec-Sing. President Trump denies Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Doge Architect Elon Musk refuting... They're both great guys. And by the way, they both get along fantastically well. Marco has done unbelievably as Secretary of State and Elon is a very unique guy who's done a

fantastic job. During an Oval Office Q&A with the media President Trump shot down a question stemming from a New York Times report of an explosive cabinet room meeting where Rubio and other agency heads clashed with a billionaire entrepreneur. The Times reports must complain Rubio had not fired anyone despite orders for sweeping cuts across federal government. In about two hours, South Carolina is expected to execute 67-year-old Brad Sigmon by firing squad, a method that has never been used in the state and that has not been used in the

US in 15 years. South Carolina Public Radio's Mayan Schechter has more. Brad Sigmon was convicted in 2002 of the beating deaths of his ex-girlfriend's parents. He chose to be shot to death over the other options for execution, lethal injection and electrocution. His attorney said he faced an impossible choice among barbaric methods. According to prison protocol, he will give his final statement and be strapped into a chair. A hood will be placed over his head and an aim point on his heart. There are three members of the firing squad. All will hold rifles with live ammunition. At 67, Sigmund will be the oldest inmate put to death in South Carolina. And so far, Governor

Henry McMaster has refused to grant clemency. For NPR News, I'm Mayon Checter in Columbia, South Carolina. The Trump administration revived its old practice of putting entire families in immigration detention. NPR's Jimena Bustia reports a policy was ended during the Biden administration. According to the Department of Homeland Security, two detention centers in Texas will be reopening and retrofitted for families who enter or in the US illegally. Families have already been sent to the detention center in Carn City. DHS says these individuals have final deportation orders from a judge and that the administration

is quote not going to ignore the rule of law. But immigrant rights advocates are pushing back. During the first Trump term, doctors, psychologists, and advocates said the administration misrepresented the condition at these detention facilities and that they were harmful to the physical and psychological health of children specifically. Jimena Bustillo, NPR News. In a video posted on Fox News, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accuses two people of leaking immigration enforcement operations. She says the unauthorized disclosures put law enforcement lives in jeopardy. Fox quotes DHS spokeswoman

Tricia McLaughlin in reporting the two alleged offenders who have not yet been publicly IDed are expected to face charges. This is NPR News. The big jobs report is out. The Labor Department saying that in February, the economy gained 151,000 jobs, falling short of the 160,000 to 170,000 job gains widely projected. The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.1 percent last month. The government's also revising previous estimates down in January to 125,000 up in December to 323,000. A Houston-based company says its mission to land on the surface of the moon ended early. NPR's Jeff Brumfield reports the lander fell over. The robotic lander built by the company Intuitive Machines, sent one last picture before shutting down – an image of the gray lunar surface and planet Earth hanging on the horizon.

Also visible were the lander's feet, which were supposed to be planted firmly in the lunar soil but were instead pointed skyward. This is the second landing attempt for Intuitive Machines and the second time the landers tipped over. A touchdown last year went wonky after a landing leg collapsed. In a press conference, CEO Steve Ultimus stood by the design. We know how to control the vehicle with the center of gravity and the footprint that we have.

Intuitive Machines is one of several companies trying to land stably on the moon. NASA hopes they might one day deliver supplies to astronauts. Jeff Brumfield, NPR News. U.S. stocks end of the day higher. The Dow closed up 222 points or more than half a percent to settle at 42,801. This is NPR.