NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-09-2025 6AM EST

Episode Date: March 9, 2025

NPR News: 03-09-2025 6AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

At this year's Oscars, Anorah took home the award for Best Picture, Zoe Saldana and Kieran Culkin also picked up wins, and Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo delivered a show-stopping opening number. For a recap of all the highlights, listen to the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Congress is up against the clock to pass a spending bill to keep the government funded through September. Republicans in the House introduced the details of the bill last night, but it's unclear whether

they have the votes to approve the plan. Republicans have tight margins in both the House and Senate and may need Democratic votes to get it across the finish line. NPR's Eric McDaniel reports, based on the text of the legislation, Republicans seem to believe they can pass it without support from Democrats. Overall, the stopgap measure doesn't make big changes to government funding. But the changes that are there are consequential. A little more money for the Pentagon, a little less money for non-defense programs. Democrats are blasting the changes that are there are consequential. A little more money for the Pentagon, a little less money for non-defense programs. Democrats are blasting the changes, and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has needed their

support to pass previous funding bills. This time, he thinks, though, with President Trump's backing, he can ride his one-vote margin all the way to the finish line. But that, of course, is just half the story. The Senate has a de facto 60-vote threshold to pass legislation, and there are just 53 Republican senators. It remains to be seen whether Republican majority leader John Thune could get at least seven Dems on board and get this bill to the president's desk. Eric McDaniel and Peer News Washington. House Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled that he would like to bring the bill to the floor

by Tuesday. Members of the Liberal Party of Canada will elect their new leader today in Ottawa. Dan Karpanchuk reports the winner will become the country's next Prime Minister. The new leader is almost certain to be former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney. The only other candidate with any real chance is former Deputy Prime Minister Christia Freeland, a long-time member of Justin Trudeau's inner circle.

The new leader, in addition to facing the tariffs coming from President Donald Trump, will have only two weeks before the Canadian Parliament resumes. And by inheriting only a minority government, it's widely expected that the new leader will have to call a national election. If it's Carney, he will need to win a seat and there will be a need for a strong mandate to deal with the trade war. Meanwhile, the voting today will mark the end of Trudeau's decade as prime minister. He will step down after discussions with the new leader.

For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpanchuk in Toronto. The governor of New York has declared a state of emergency after a series of wind-driven brush fires broke out on Long Island. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine says one firefighter is hospitalized with injuries. So far we've had one injury, a second degree. We have a number of minor injuries, but an injury that required transportation to Stony Brook Hospital, to the burn center, a second degree burn on the face of one of our firefighters. Governor Kathy Hochul says state agencies are responding to the fires around the Pine Barrens,

a wooded area that's home to many towns east of New York City. The fires have forced the evacuation of a military base and the closure of a major highway. This is NPR News in Washington. The mayor of San Jose is offering a plan to help people who are experiencing homelessness. Elise Minuchian of Member Station KQED reports under the proposed ordinance, unhoused people would be offered shelter three times before being arrested. San Jose resident Jacqueline Eden says she hopes the effort to reduce homelessness will be productive.

They're not just telling them, hey, we're going to arrest you. They're giving them three chances to, maybe the first time they don't accept it. Do they say, okay, we'll just think about it? Mayor Matt Mahan's plan would make San Jose the latest California city to attempt to reduce unsheltered homelessness. The move comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year to allow arrests of people who are sleeping in public. Critics of Mahan's plan point to a report from February that shows most city shelter beds are already full. They say the mayor's proposal won't help unhoused people get what they need, permanent, stable housing. For NPR News, I'm Elise Minuchin. Plans to remove the iconic Black Lives Matter street mural in Washington, D.C. will begin on Monday.

The decision to erase it comes a week after Republicans in the House introduced legislation giving the city an ultimatum, remove it, or risk losing federal funding. The mural was painted on the street in front of the White House back in 2020, after peaceful protesters were tear gassed by police. The demonstrations were part of a nationwide outcry over the death of George Floyd, who was killed by police in Minneapolis. This is NPR News. Here on Shortwave, we believe that science is for everyone and that every question is

worth asking, no matter your age. My name is Willie and my question is, is magic real? Our podcast is for the curious at heart. Come embrace your inner child when you listen now to Shortwave from NPR.