NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-17-2025 4PM EDT

Episode Date: March 17, 2025

NPR News: 03-17-2025 4PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Making time for the news is important, but when you need a break, we've got you covered on All Songs Considered, NPR's music podcast. Think of it like a music discovery show, a well-deserved escape with friends, and yeah, some serious music insight. I'm going to keep it real. I have no idea what this story is about. Hear new episodes of All Songs Considered every Tuesday, wherever you get podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Laxmelea

Levy. The White House is defending the recent deportation of 261 individuals to El Salvador. The administration claims they're members of violent gangs. A judge issued a written order over the weekend to try to get the plane turned around, but the White House says the planes took off before the order was entered. There is an emergency hearing on the case in about an hour. And PRC Peshavaram has the latest. P.P. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said of those who were deported, 137 were deported under the Alien Enemies Act. 101 were Venezuelan people deported under regular Title 8 proceedings,

and 23 were members of the MS-13 gang. She calls the deportations a quote, counter-terrorism operation against Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang, which President Trump designated as a foreign terrorist group last month. In response to concerns about lack of due process, Levitt said that DHS officials are quote, sure about the identities of the individuals on the plane. The U.S. paid El Salvador $6 million to detain the people who were deported. Deepa Sivaram, NPR News, The White House. President Trump says he will speak with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin tomorrow. The Trump administration continues to pursue a ceasefire deal in Ukraine. Trump

has said he is cautiously optimistic about a peace deal. NPR's Charles Main says that's despite a list of concerns that Putin raised about the ceasefire plan. President Putin is on record saying he supports Trump's ceasefire proposal in principle, but the Kremlin leader also laid out a laundry list of issues that he insists require further discussions. That includes how to keep Ukraine from using the ceasefire to rearm, who would monitor the agreement, and what penalties might exist for violating its terms. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Russia of stalling for time to improve its

battlefield position. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to demand what a senior Russian foreign ministry official called ironclad security guarantees, excluding Ukraine from NATO membership, and ruled out NATO-aligned European peacekeepers monitoring any ceasefire if and when it comes. Charles Maynes, NPR News. Parents can help their teenagers by talking to them about what they're watching online. That's a recommendation from a new report about screens and teens from the American Psychological Association. Here's NPR's Katie Riddle. It's not so much time spent watching screens but what they're watching that

can be dangerous for teens. That's why talking to them is important. Mitch Prenstein is chief science officer with the APA. It can really open up the door to conversations that these days I think happen so rarely because there's so many devices and opportunities for kids to do this independently now. Parents don't need to have all the answers, says Prenstein. They just need to stay engaged. Katie Riddle, NPR News. From Washington, this is NPR News. Forever 21 has declared bankruptcy for the second time.

The fast fashion chain was once a formidable anchor for American malls nationwide. It first went bankrupt five years ago and has been a shell of its former self since then. More from NPR's Alina Seljuk. Forever 21 grew massive in the early 2000s by making designer style fashion accessible, bringing runway styles to mall shoppers for cheap prices. This was the dawn of fast fashion, the chain expanded aggressively and over time struggled to compete with even faster, even cheaper online rivals. Companies like ASOS and Boohoo and now Shien Temu, shipping ultra-fast fashion from China.

Forever 21 survived its first bankruptcy in 2019 as a smaller company with new owners. Now it's back on the auction block, losing money and shoppers, blaming online competition and high inflation, warning that this could be the end of the line. Forever at liquidation. Alina Seluk, NPR News.

This is the day of Shamrock top hats, caps and all leather green apparel. As people around the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day with parades from Dublin and London to Savannah and New York City. New York City where the Emerald Society of the NYPD marched down Fifth Avenue to loud cheers. The event was expected to draw millions of people. U.S. stocks have ended the day mostly higher, with the Dow up more than 400 points at last check. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.

When you take a shower or get ready in the morning, how many products are you using? me sing NPR News.