NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-15-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: March 15, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. In a highly unusual move, President Trump delivered an openly political speech at the Department of Justice on Friday. As NPR's Tamara Keith reports, it was an airing of grievances and much more. Just a year ago, Trump was facing charges brought by the Justice Department. Now he's back in office and has scores to settle. During his lengthy remarks at Justice Department headquarters, Trump attacked his perceived enemies and complained about how he has been mistreated.

And I believe that CNN and MSDNC, who literally write 97.6 percent bad about me are political arms of the Democrat Party. And in my opinion, they're really corrupt and they're illegal. What they do is illegal. Presidents have typically tried to avoid any appearance of political interference in the justice system. Tamara Keith and PR News the White House. The latest federal government shutdown threat has been avoided. The Senate Friday passed a six-month spending bill just hours before the shutdown was scheduled to take place. The vote was 54 to 46. Dr. Mehmet Oz testified before senators on Friday in his bid to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. As MPR Selena

Simmons Duffin reports, Oz was asked about how he would navigate big cuts to Medicaid. Dr. Mehmet Oz is a medical doctor who rose to fame with his long-running TV program, The Dr. Oz Show. In the Senate Finance Committee, he assured lawmakers he was ready for this very different job. Everything I have done in my life, educationally and professionally, has prepared me for this precise moment in time. Senators were mostly friendly with Oz, and he bantered easily with lawmakers from both parties. If confirmed, he'll oversee an enormous budget of $1.5 trillion per year. The agency provides health coverage for nearly half the country, but it could be facing dramatic changes and big cuts in the Republican budget plan.

Oz wouldn't answer directly yes or no, whether he would oppose cuts to Medicaid. He's expected to be confirmed. Selena Simon-Stuffffen, NPR News, Washington. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be closing down several temporary immigrant processing facilities in Texas. Texas Public Radio's Mara Navarro has our details on that story. CBP reported a steady drop in immigrant encounters along the southwest border with less than 300 apprehensions per day in February. As a result, CBP says it has officially closed down a temporary tent-like immigrant processing

facility in Eagle Pass that it refers to as soft-sided. Agents assigned to the facility will now return to field operations. CBP also plans to close soft-sided facilities in Donna and Laredo, as well as Yuma and Tucson, Arizona. The agency says it now has the full capability to manage the detention of immigrants at its permanent facilities. I'm Marianna Barro in San Antonio. And you're listening to NPR News.

Media mogul Sean Combs appeared in court on Friday in New York City where he's facing federal charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. At the hearing, he pleaded not guilty to a new indictment, as MPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento reports. Federal prosecutors filed a superseding indictment against Sean Combs on March 6th. It does not contain new charges against Combs, but it does describe a pattern of coercion and control, alleging that Combs forced his employees to work long hours and threaten them so they would do what he asked. Combs, who has been in custody since his arrest last September, pleaded not guilty to the

new indictment. The rapper and businessman still faces federal charges that include sex trafficking by force, racketeering conspiracy, and transporting for prostitution. Jury selection for Combs' trial will begin in New York City on May 5th. Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento, NPR News. An appeals court has lifted a ban on presidential executive orders aimed at ending government support for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The decision allows the orders to be enforced as a lawsuit against them moves forward.

The three-court panel said the sweeping ban had gone too far, but two of the judges also acknowledged the anti-DEI orders could raise concerns about First Amendment rights. Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia are tied for the lead halfway through the Players' Golf Championship that's now underway in Florida this weekend. Lee was in the lead until he bogeyed on the par-5 ninth hole. The two are one shot ahead of JJ Spawn, Rory McIlroy and Colin Moorkower two strokes off the lead.

I'm Dale Willman, NPR News. This message comes from NYU Langone. The NYU Langone Health App gives you access to your electronic health record. Keep track of your visits, lab results, and images all in one place. Better health starts with a better health system.