NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-17-2025 10PM EDT

Episode Date: March 18, 2025

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Am I a propagandist? A truth teller? An influencer? There's probably no more contested profession in the world today than mine, journalism. I'm Brian Reed, and on my show, Question Everything, we dive head first into the conflicts we're all facing over truth and who gets to tell it. Listen now to Question Everything, part of the NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The ACLU contends the Trump administration violated a judge's temporary order barring deportations. That's after the administration used an 18th century wartime law to fly more than 200 people, including suspected Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador. Leigh Clarent is with the ACLU's immigrant rights project.

On the larger picture of whether the alien enemies act is being used properly, absolutely not. Congress could not have been clearer in the statute that it has to be a foreign government or nation invading or in a declared war with the US. Fundamentally, this is about separation of powers and the Trump administration thumbing their nose at Congress and the courts.

At a hearing today, a federal judge was incredulous at the contention from the Trump administration. His directive to turn the flight around was not binding because it was made verbally. He ordered the U.S. Justice Department to provide a sworn declaration by noon tomorrow. Members of the gang Trende Aragwa were deported despite his order to turn the planes around. South Africa's ambassador to the U.S. has had his diplomatic privileges revoked and has to leave the country by Friday. U.S. has declared him persona non grata over comments he made about the Trump administration. We hear more from MPR's Michelle Kalman.

It is rare for the U.S. to expel an ambassador. In this case, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce says Ambassador Ibrahim Rasool made what she calls obscene remarks about white supremacy in President Trump's MAGA movement. These remarks were unacceptable to the United States, not just to the president, but to every American. It was, they were pretty much obscene when it came to the nature of what was alleged.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced his decision to expel Russell on social media Friday and Bruce says South African embassy staffers were summoned to the department and given a formal diplomatic note. Michelle Kelliman, NPR News, the State Department. The Surgeon General's office has taken out a binary advisory calling gun violence a public health crisis. As NPR's Martin Costey explains, gun rights groups are welcoming the move. Last year, President Biden's Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis,

angering gun rights groups who saw this as an attempt to pathologize gun ownership. Now the government has taken down the advisory and related websites in response to a February executive order by President Trump. Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, welcomes the change. Gun ownership is not a communicable disease. It's not a health issue. That's what bothers us. It's intellectual dishonesty. But gun control groups such as Giffords say guns do pose a risk to public health, given that shootings have become the leading cause of death for American kids ages 1 through 17. Martin Kosty, NPR News. Docs are starting the new training week on a bit of an upswing. The Dow rose 353 points.

The NASDAQ was up 54 points today. This is NPR. The agency that enforces laws banning discrimination in the workplace is telling 20 major law firms their policies meant to boost diversity, equity, and inclusion may be illegal. The acting chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sending letters to the law firms requesting detailed information on their DEI programs. Andrea Lucas expressed concerns the firm's policies, policies quote may entail unlawful disparate treatment in terms conditions and privileges of employment. The Trump administration has aggressively been

seeking to rein in DEI programs. Some of the firms that received the letters of challenged Trump's policies or have ties to political opponents. Carole King, the Four Tops and ABBA have all been the subjects of Jut Bach's musicals shows that use pop music to tell the story on Broadway. Now you Carole King, the Four Tops, and ABBA have all been the subjects of Jukebox Musicals, shows that use pop music to tell the story on Broadway. Now you can add singer-songwriter James Taylor to the list. Jeff London says the new project is being developed by two Tony Award-winning artists. Ever since Mamma Mia! hit it big in 2001, Broadway has featured a Jukebox musical or

two a season. But for every hit like Jersey Boys, there are flops. Shows featuring the music of the Beach Boys and John Lennon opened and closed quickly. But the producers of the new James Taylor show are hedging their bets. I've seen fire and I've seen rain Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tracy Latz is writing an original story for

the show called Fire and Rain, and Tony winner David Cromer will direct. No production date has been announced. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York. And I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. This message comes from Wondery. Kiki Palmer is that girl, and she's diving into the brains of entertainment's best and in Washington.