NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-17-2025 5AM EDT

Episode Date: March 17, 2025

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On the embedded podcast. No, no. It's called denying a sweetened speech. It's misinformation. Like so many Americans, my dad has gotten swept up in conspiracy theories. These are not conspiracy theories. These are reality. I spent the year following him down the rabbit hole, trying to get him back. Listen to alternate realities on the embedded podcast from NPR, all episodes available now.

from NPR. All episodes available now. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. A weekend of strong storms in the U.S., largely in the south and Midwest, are blamed for at least 39 deaths and widespread power outages. Fatalities are reported in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama. Emily Mosher with Troy Public Radio has more from Troy, Alabama, southeast of Montgomery. People in Troy, Alabama who once considered themselves living in the woods say that has changed after a tornado toppled hundreds of trees around their homes. Dawn Wambles with the Alabama Disaster Relief Association has rushed to many scenes of destruction to provide

aid, but he breaks down when talking about the tornado in his own neighborhood. You see the damage and destruction to people's lives and the fact that they're just absolutely overwhelmed by the damage. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has expressed condolences to those across the state who have experienced property damage and loss of life. For NPR News, I'm Emily Moser in Troy, Alabama. President Trump says he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow about the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire between Moscow and Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One last night, Trump expressed optimism about efforts to halt the fighting for at least a month, saying in his words, I think we have a very good chance. Ukraine accepted the ceasefire proposal at talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with a U.S. delegation. That was followed by Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveling to Moscow where he met with Putin and other Kremlin officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian-backed

Houthi rebels in Yemen will continue until the rebels can no longer control which ships pass through the Red Sea. The U.S. has carried out dozens of strikes against the Houthis of late, involving ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones. President Trump's threat to place a 200 percent tariff on imports of alcohol from the European Union continues to hang over the block. Terry Schultz has more. French Prime Minister François Barreau is suggesting it was a mistake for the EU to include Kentucky bourbon on its list of U.S US goods that will be hit by tariffs next month in response to Trump's imposition of a 25% tax on imports of steel and aluminum

last week. Bayrou told French radio it was probably a misstep to treat Kentucky bourbon like a trade threat. France will suffer heavy losses as a major producer of wines and cognac if the US goes ahead with further import duties Which by who says he hopes can be headed off Trump insists the EU drop its intention to tax bourbon EU tariffs on a wide range of US goods are due to take effect In phases April 1st and April 13th for NPR news. I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels. This is NPR news from Washington I'm Terri Schulz in Brussels. This is NPR News from Washington. Federal authorities, including the FBI, are warning people about a ransomware scheme being

carried out by hackers targeting email. It involves what's known as ransomware as a service software called Medusa. Officials say Medusa has been used to carry out ransomware attacks for several years. The hackers use phishing campaigns to try to steal victims' credentials. Users are being advised to patch operating systems, software and firmware. The Vatican has released a photo of Pope Francis praying in a hospital chapel as he continues to be treated for double pneumonia. As NPR's Joe Hernandez reports, the pontiff has been hospitalized in Rome

for more than a month. The image published online by the Holy See Press Office shows Francis sitting in a wheelchair inside the hospital's private chapel. The Vatican says Francis, who was wearing a white robe and purple vestment, was praying after having just finished con-celebrating mass Sunday morning. The 88-year-old pope entered the hospital on February 14th for a case of bronchitis.

While there, he developed several other medical issues, including a polymicrobial infection and pneumonia in both lungs. But doctors now say Francis is stable and responding well to his ongoing treatments. Joe Hernandez, NPR News. College basketball's March Madness tips off this week. In the men's bracket, Auburn, Duke, Houston, and Florida are the top seeds in the 68 team tournament. In the women's bracket, UCLA, South Carolina, Texas,

and USC are the top seeds. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News in Washington.