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

Episode Date: March 17, 2025

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Hey, I'm Scott Schaefer. And I'm Marisa Lagos. We host Political Breakdown. With the 2024 election over and President Trump in the White House, there's going to be a lot to keep up with this year. Political Breakdown has got you covered. We'll bring smart analysis, a wide range of voices, and even some laughs. Join us for Political Breakdown every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from KQED, part of the

NPR Network. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The ACLU wants a federal judge to force the Trump administration to state under oath whether it violated a judge's order temporarily barring deportations. Leca Lernt with the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project says after the administration used an 18th century wartime law to fly more than 200 people including suspected Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador they want answers. On the larger picture of whether the Alien Enemies Act is being used properly, absolutely not. Congress could not have been clear 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. The administration meanwhile says when the judge issued the order to end the deportations the individuals were already outside the US. Here's White House press secretary Caroline Lovett. All of the planes that were subject to the written order, the judge's written order, took off before the order was entered in the courtroom on Saturday. And the administration will, of course,

be happily answering all of those questions that the judge poses in court later today. That hearing getting underway at this hour. President Trump says he intends to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow. The discussion between the two world leaders comes as Trump continues to push for an end to Russia's war against Ukraine, something viewed by many as an opportunity for Trump to continue his moves to reorient US

foreign policy. Trump told reporters flying on Air Force One about the plan meeting. Part of the conversation about ending the war is expected to focus on land and power plants. Russia started the war with its invasion of Ukraine three years ago. The Department of Veterans Affairs will phase out treatment of gender dysphoria. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports it follows an executive order to end any distinction between sex and gender by the government. Last week the VA rescinded a memo that protected gender affirming care. And now VA Secretary Doug Collins says treatment for gender dysphoria will be

discontinued. Collins said trans-identifying vets are still welcome at the VA for other care. But advocates say the change in policy means they will not feel welcome or safe at VA facilities, and they warn that discouraging trans vets from getting critical health care will have dire consequences. VA research shows that trans veterans have higher rates of death by suicide. The VA provides health care and benefits for about 9 million veterans.

VA estimates that fewer than one-tenth of one percent identify as trans. Quill Lawrence, NPR News. Americans are opening their wallets a bit last month, though the slight rise in retail spending in February showed consumers remain cautious. Commerce Department reports retail sales rose two-tens of 1%. Sales were higher at grocery stores, home and garden outlets, and online. Sales fell at auto dealers, restaurants, and electronics stores. Stock gained ground to start the week on Wall Street.

The Dow rose 353 points. This is NPR. Residents across parts of the South and the Midwest are cleaning up today after a string of deadly tornadoes over the weekend. A weather system that contains strong storms and gusty winds also sparked wildfires in areas including Oklahoma where flames destroyed more than 400 homes. The weather system is blamed for the deaths of at least 39 people. The Missouri tornadoes killed at least a dozen people. Six people died in Mississippi. The Chinese automaker has unveiled a new battery system the company claims can recharge as

quickly as a gas car can refuel. Car makers around the world have been working to make electric vehicles charge faster and drive longer. More from MPR's Camila Dominovski. At BYD's press conference, a giant screen was totally packed with eye-popping stats about the new platform. It claims a top charging speed of 1,000 kilowatts. In the States, the very fastest chargers top out at 350 kilowatts.

BYD says that one five-minute charge can take a car 400 kilometers. That's about 250 miles. But that will require building a whole new charging network that can deliver that much energy. The new vehicles are not yet for sale, and you won't be seeing them in the U.S. Both the Biden and Trump administration have worked to keep Chinese cars out. Camila Dominovski, NPR News.

Researchers have long wondered how iguanas made their way to Fiji, and now they have a theory. They say the Fijian iguanas, whose closest relatives appear to be desert iguanas found in North America, may have floated as far as 5,000 miles on rafts of vegetation. Research is published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. Making time for the news is important, but when you need a break, we've got you covered NPR News in Washington.