NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-19-2025 11PM EDT

Episode Date: March 20, 2025

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Neuroscientist Ethan Cross says you may think it's healthy to vent about what's bothering you, but... The problem is you often leave that conversation feeling really good about the person you just communicated with, but all the negative feelings are still there. Sometimes they're even more activated. Tools for managing our emotions. That's on the TED Radio Hour podcast from NPR. Livea Stevens Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens.

President Trump is expected to sign an executive order to begin shutting down the Department of Education. Details from NPR's Janaki Mehta. A senior White House official confirmed to NPR that, on Thursday, President Trump plans to sign an executive action that will tell Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education. The move has been expected since early February when the White House shared its intentions, but held off on issuing the action until McMahon was confirmed in her position. The Education Department has already notified nearly half of its staff that they will be

laid off. Many of those employees will have their last day of work this Friday before being placed on administrative leave. The order also says any programs will not be funded by the department if they, quote, advance DEI or gender ideology. Janaki Mehta, NPR News. A federal judge is giving the Trump administration one more day to answer all of his questions about weekend deportations. The Justice Department is fighting the judge's order to submit details

about flights that carried Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. More from NPR's Joel Rose. U.S. District Judge James Boesberg has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from using wartime powers to quickly deport migrants from Venezuela that it accuses of being gang members. Now, Boasberg is demanding answers from the Justice Department about whether it deliberately flouted his orders when it allowed two deportation flights to continue.

But the Justice Department is pushing back. In an emergency filing, lawyers accused Boasberg of, quote, continuing to beat a dead horse. Boasberg agreed to extend his deadline for 24 hours to allow the Justice Department to consider invoking the state secret's privilege. The Justice Department has also appealed Boasberg's orders. Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Environmental Protection Agency from terminating billions of dollars in grants for clean energy projects. That story from NPR's Michael Copley.

The EPA last year awarded nonprofits about $14 billion in grants to help pay for things like solar projects in low-income communities. Congress provided the money under the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed by former President Biden. Under President Trump, the EPA said it was canceling the agreements, based in part on concerns about waste, fraud, and abuse. However, Judge Tanya Chutkin said the EPA hasn't provided evidence of wrongdoing. As for comment, the EPA pointed to a social media post by Administrator Lee Zeldin saying

he won't rest until the money is returned to the U.S. Treasury. Michael Copley, NPR News. The Federal Reserve Board has left interest rates unchanged, but indicates plans for two rate cuts this year. The Fed predicts slower economic growth in 2025 and an inflation rate of 2.7 percent, or seven-tenths of a percent above its target. This is NPR. Ben & Jerry says its CEO has been forced out by its parent company because of his political views. The Vermont-based ice cream giant has had a socially conscious mission since it was

founded in 1978 by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. The pair formed a partnership with British consumer goods company Unilever in 2000. The mayor of Miami Beach, Florida is no longer threatening to defund and evict an arts theater for showing a documentary about Palestinians in Gaza. As NPR's Greg Allen reports, the move was dropped following strong opposition from the community and other elected officials. The film No Other Land tells the story of a Palestinian town in the West Bank that was bulldozed by the Israeli government for use as a military training zone.

Miami Beach's mayor objected to its screening at an arts theater that leased space in a city-owned building. At a meeting in Miami Beach, City Commissioner Alex Fernandez was one of many who said he supported the cinema. The First Amendment is clear. Government must never censor artistic expression, even when it is controversial or deeply offensive. Miami Beach's mayor said he believes the film

contains anti-Semitic propaganda, but agreed to withdraw the eviction and defunding measure. Greg Allen, NPR News, Miami. For the eighth year in a row, Finland has been named the happiest nation in the world. That's according to the World Happiness Report, which ranks the top 20 countries with the most satisfied populations. The United States did not make the list.

Its happiness ranking fell from 23 to 24. U.S. futures are higher in after-hours trading on Wall Street. This is NPR News.