NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-19-2025 10PM EDT

Episode Date: March 20, 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. President Trump is expected to sign an executive order tomorrow that would seek to shutter the Department of Education. That's according to a senior White House official who's confirmed the timing to NPR. The order had been expected since the White House revealed its plans to close the department

and began laying people off last week. The move was already being challenged by a group of Democratic state attorneys general who filed a suit seeking to block the administration dismantling the department and laying off nearly half its staff. Trump cannot close the agency without congressional approval which needs at least 60 votes, something that could prove difficult unless some Democrats agree. The Social Security Administration has announced it will soon require people

seeking some services to prove their identities in person. The changes come at a time the agency's making cuts to its staff and closing local offices. More from NPR's Ashley Lopez. Agency officials say over the next two weeks they're going to transition to a process that quote strengthens the identity proofing procedures for people seeking social security benefit claims transition to a process that, quote, strengthens the identity proofing procedures for people seeking Social Security benefit claims and direct deposit changes. Instead of doing this on the agency's website, which has an online identity-proving system,

people will have to go in person to a local Social Security office. Agency officials say this is an effort to prevent fraud, but advocates say these changes will make it harder for Americans to collect their earned benefits and force seniors and people with disabilities to travel in person at a time when the Social Security Administration is closing local offices across the country and reducing staff.

Ashley Lopez, NPR News. Parts of the Midwest are still reeling from tornadoes last week, and they're getting what amounts to a one-two punch today. Millions in areas of the Midwest and the Great Plains facing blizzard conditions as well as the risk of high winds. National Weather Service has about 72 million people that are under a wind advisory or warning today. Kansas and central Wisconsin could see anywhere from a few inches to upwards of a foot of snow. Strong winds and dry conditions also pose wildfire risks in the parts of the West.

Stocks rallied today after the Federal Reserve left the door open to further interest rate cuts this year. NPR's Scott Horstley reports the Dow Jones Industrial Lavage was up more than 380 points. Updated forecasts from Fed officials show on average they expect two quarter point interest rate cuts this year, but for now at least the central bank is holding its benchmark rate steady. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell says he and his colleagues are trying to assess how President Trump's tariffs and other policies will affect the U.S. economy. So far, Powell says, the impact is far from certain.

We're not going to be in any hurry to move. We're well positioned to wait for further clarity. Members of the Fed's rate-setting committee now think inflation will be a little bit higher and economic growth a little bit slower than they were projecting three months ago. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. The Nasdaq rose 246 points today. The S&P was up 60 points. You're listening to NPR. The European Union today outlined steps it says device maker Apple must take toward making its operating systems work better with competing technologies.

It's the first time the EU has moved to compel a technology company to comply with Block's digital rule book known as Digital Markets Act. The 27-member Executive Commission last year laid out some steps it wants Apple to take to comply. A Hollywood filmmaker has been arrested and charged with trying to defraud Netflix of millions of dollars. NPR's Mandelito Albanco reports that he'd been working on a TV series that was never completed.

In 2018, Netflix paid Carl Eric Wrench $44 million to make White Horse, later named Conquest, a science fiction TV series about artificial humans. He filmed some of the series in Brazil and other countries, then reportedly asked for another $11 million to complete production. But the FBI and the acting U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York say instead of delivering the series, Reinch spent that extra $11 million on himself, speculating on cryptocurrency

and spending lavishly on high-end furniture and antiques, five Rolls Royces and a Ferrari. The 47-year-old director was indicted on charges of wire fraud, money laundering and unlawful monetary transactions. He could face decades in prison. Mandelito Del Barco, NPR News. Lawmakers in Mexico City have voted to ban bullfighting in the capital, the decision this week setting off a firestorm among bullfighters in celebrations on the part of animal rights activists.

A unanimous vote would ban the killing of bulls as well as the use of sharp objects that can injure the animals. 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 News in Washington.