NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-20-2025 5AM EDT

Episode Date: March 20, 2025

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Public media counts on your support to ensure that the reporting and programs you depend on thrive. Make a recurring donation today to get special access to more than 20 NPR podcasts, perks like sponsor-free listening, bonus episodes, early access, and more. So start supporting what you love today at plus.npr.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says he had a positive conversation with President Trump yesterday about efforts to broaden a partial ceasefire between Russia and Kiev. Zelensky and Trump spoke by phone for about an hour. Zelensky offered his support to Russian President Vladimir Putin's pledge not to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure for 30 days.

Zelensky also requested additional air defense systems from the U.S. NPR's Eleanor Beardley is in Kyiv. She says many Ukrainians are nervously watching the diplomatic back and forth. At a key of grocery store, 27-year-old Bella, who didn't want to give her last name for fear of retaliation, says Trump seems to be pursuing a deal in favor of Putin. Which is making me insecure about what's coming, but at the same time, I don't know, I have to accept what's going on and contribute to what I can. She says drones, possibly those supplied by Iran, kept her up last night. So I've been hearing explosions and I've been hearing how the Shahed's are flying here.

Zelensky says he is committed to not striking Russian oil depots and energy infrastructure for 30 days, but he says Ukraine wants a ban on striking civilian infrastructure which Putin has not yet agreed to. Eleanor Beardley, NPR News, Kyiv. Dozens more Palestinians have been killed in the latest Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. That's according to the Gaza Health Ministry. More than 400 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks on Tuesday. That's when Israel resumed strikes targeting Hamas amidst all talks to extend a ceasefire.

Japan is marking 30 years since members of a cult used sarin nerve gas to attack Tokyo's subway system, killing 13 and sickening thousands. The cult's founder and 12 disciples were later executed. The FBI is investigating a series of attacks targeting Tesla facilities and dealerships in at least a half-dozen states. NPR's Windsor Johnston has more. Authorities say the recent attacks have taken place at Tesla locations in Nevada, Missouri, Massachusetts, Maryland, Colorado, and Oregon. In Las Vegas, security footage shows a suspect throwing molotov cocktails at a Tesla collision center with the word RESIST spray-painted at the facility. Tesla showrooms, vehicle lots, charging stations, and privately owned cars have also been targeted. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has labeled the incidents as domestic

terrorism, says the DOJ has already arrested and charged several people in connection with the attacks. Elon Musk has condemned the violence Washington. Later today, President Trump is expected to sign an executive order directing the Education Secretary to take all necessary steps to begin dismantling the Department of Education. The move has been expected for weeks and comes amid extensive layoffs at the department. Trump has said he wants to shift education oversight to the states. A federal jury in Minnesota has convicted two people in what prosecutors call the nation's largest COVID-19 fraud scheme. The case involved

a quarter billion dollars. As Matt Sepick with Minnesota Public Radio reports, the two were among 70 people charged over the last three years. Jurors convicted Amy Bach, the founder of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, and former restaurant owner Salim Said for their roles in a scheme to steal $250 million from taxpayer funded child nutrition programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lead prosecutor Joe Thompson says the defendants exploited pandemic era rule changes, set up fake meal distribution sites and submitted thousands of phony reimbursement claims. Jurors at an earlier trial convicted five others and three dozen additional people have

pleaded guilty. For NPR News, I'm Matt Sepick in Minneapolis. The Federal Reserve is leaving interest rates unchanged. The Central Bank wrapped up its latest policy meeting yesterday with Fed Chair Jerome Powell saying he and his colleagues are in no hurry to move on rates. He says the Fed is still assessing the effects of President Trump's policies on the U.S. economy, including tariffs. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News in Washington.

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