NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-19-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: March 20, 2025

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Am I a propagandist? A truth teller? An influencer? There's probably no more contested profession in the world today than mine, journalism. I'm Brian Reed, and on my show, Question Everything, we dive head first into the conflicts we're all facing over truth and who gets to tell it. Listen now to Question Everything, part of the NPR Podcast Network. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The Israeli military says it has launched a new ground offensive in Gaza, sending troops back into areas that they'd retreated from during an early two-month ceasefire. It comes a day after Israel broke the ceasefire with a series of air strikes

that killed more than 400 Palestinians, including many children and wounded hundreds more. Embarrassed Kat Lonsdorf reports. In a statement, the Israeli military called it a, quote, targeted ground operation, saying the aim is to expand what it calls the security perimeter separating the enclave from southern Israel. The actions come as Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz released a video statement addressed to, quote, Gaza residents.

Speaking in Hebrew with Arabic subtitles, Katz said the video was to, quote, Gaza residents. Speaking in Hebrew with Arabic subtitles, Kat said the video was the, quote, final warning to return all the hostages and remove Hamas from power. What comes next will be much harsher, and you will bear the full consequences, he said, warning of more evacuation orders. He said that Israel will, quote, act with force

beyond anything you have ever seen. Kat Lonsdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv. The North Dakota jury has found Greenpeace must pay hundreds of millions of dollars to a pipeline company. NPR's Alejandro Burundu reports the case stems from protests over the Dakota Access oil pipeline nearly a decade ago. Greenpeace members and thousands of others participated in months-long protests led by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. Energy Transfer, the company that built the pipeline, claimed that Greenpeace defamed

them, trespassed, and helped others to do so, and damaged the company's reputation. The jury agreed, assigning damages of more than $650 million. Sushma Raman is the interim executive director of Greenpeace USA. She says the lawsuit was an intimidation tactic that could have a chilling effect on protests even outside the environmental movement. All of it should be a cause of concern to people who participate in peaceful protests, who organize advocacy efforts, who show up in solidarity. Greenpeace plans to appeal the verdict.

Arundhya Burunda, NPR News. More Americans are taking prescriptions for ADHD than ever before and some are misusing the medicines. That's according to a new study from JAMA Psychiatry, viewers Katie Riddle reports. During the pandemic, many adults started taking stimulants for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The researchers who conducted this study looked at how people are using these drugs in light of this new demand. They underscored that most people do use stimulants safely and effectively and emphasized that it's important to keep them widely available. However, they did also find that more than 25% of adults with a prescription reported misuse.

That means taking too much of a drug or too often or any other ways their doctor did not prescribe. That means taking too much of a drug or too often or any other ways their doctor did not prescribe. This kind of behavior is correlated with substance use disorder of other kinds that can be quite dangerous. The researchers called for careful monitoring of people using these drugs. Katie Rettl, NPR News. On Wall Street, the Dow is up 383 points today. You're listening to NPR. As President Trump continues to try to get Ukraine and Russia to agree to discuss ending their now three-year-old war prompted by Russia's invasion, Trump today spoke with Ukrainian

President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump described it as a good telephone call that would be a sharp contrast from the fiery Oval Office meeting the two world leaders had just a few weeks ago where Trump lectured Zelensky. According to the White House, the two agreed on a partial ceasefire for energy infrastructure. Trump also suggested the U.S. take ownership of Ukrainian power plants to ensure their security.

Miami Beach's mayor has dropped an effort to evict and defund an art cinema after the theater refused to cancel screenings of this year's Oscar-winning documentary. As NPR's Greg Allen reports, the mayor backed off after 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.

Critical futures prices followed stocks higher today that was on some new government data, showing demand for fuel picking up. Oil rose 26 cents a barrel to settle at 67.16 a barrel in New York. 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 brightest News in Washington.