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Episode Date: March 22, 2025

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Hey, I'm Scott Schaeffer. 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 Janene Hurst. The Israeli military has ordered the demolition of dozens of Palestinian homes in the Janene refugee camp in the occupied West Bank. NPR's Kat Lahnstorf reports it's been a focal point of Israel's extended military operation in the territory. In an order obtained by NPR, Israeli Commander Avi Bluth instructed troops to demolish 95 residential buildings

in the neighborhood beginning this week. This is part of a two-month-long operation that Israel says is for counterterrorism. The military has already emptied the camp of residents. The Israeli military told NPR the demolitions are a, quote, operational necessity and that residents can contact authorities to, quote, explore the possibility of getting their belongings. Palestinian officials in Jenin tell NPR that Israel has yet to allow residents to collect personal items. More

than 40,000 Palestinians in the West Bank have been displaced by Israel's military operation there. Israeli officials have said that those who have fled will not be allowed to return. Kat Lonsdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv. In West Texas, 500 Army troops are being deployed to an isolated stretch of the border as part of the Trump administration's military push. Officials say the deployment will involve the use of combat striker vehicles and troops deployed

inside a national park. From Marfa Public Radio, Travis Bubinek has more. The Army says the troops will be supporting border patrol agents in the Big Bend region, a sparsely populated part of the West Texas desert that's historically had among the lowest numbers of illegal border crossings in the Southwest. CBP reported apprehending fewer than 200 people in the region last month. Major General Jared Stefani says the troops will not be directly involved in arresting people.

We will not be actively on patrols. We'll be at detection and monitoring sites to provide that information to Border Patrol to then go out and do their law enforcement function. The Army says some of the troops will be stationed inside Big Bend National Park located on the southern border. For NPR News, I'm Travis Bubenek in Marfa. FLIGHTS AT BRITTON'S HEATHROW AIRPORT ARE SLOWLY RESUMING. ABOUT 18 HOURS AFTER A FIRE,

AN ELECTRICAL SUBSTATION NEARBY LEAD TO A POWER FAILURE CLOSING EUROPE'S BUSIEST AIRPORT. NEARLY 1,400 FLIGHTS IN AND OUT OF THE AIRPORT WERE AFFECTED TODAY. HEATHROW AIRPORT CEO THOMAS WILLBY SAYS THIS WAS AN UNPRESIDENTED SITUATION AND THAT THEY DON'T SHUT DOWN THE flights in and out of the airport were affected today. Heathrow Airport CEO Thomas Wilby says this was an unprecedented situation and that they don't shut down the airport unless they have severe safety concerns. Continuities of certain sizes we cannot guard ourselves against 100% and this is one of them. This has been a major incident. I mean short of anybody getting hurt this is as big as it gets. The disruptions are expected to last for several days as airlines work to get planes back in place. Authorities

are investigating the cause of the blaze, but the UK's Energy Secretary says there's no suggestion of foul play. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. South Africans are marking the 65th anniversary of an apartheid era massacre that became a defining moment in the country's struggle for freedom. From Johannesburg, Kate Bartlett has more. On March 21, 1960, apartheid police shot dead 69 unarmed protesters in Johannesburg who were among thousands of black people demonstrating against the hated past laws.

This was the system by which non-white South Africans had to carry specific identity documents wherever they went that restricted their movements in certain areas under racial segregation laws. The event became known as the Sharpville Massacre after the township where it took place. It helped galvanize the international movement against apartheid. Since democracy, the date has been a public holiday known as Human Rights Day. Political parties are holding commemorations across the country. For NPR News, I'm Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg. The NASA spacecraft is set to make its second close brush with the

Sun tomorrow. Scientists say they hope the data from the Parker Solar Probe will help them better understand the sun's outer atmosphere and what drives the solar wind. The Parker Probe made its record-breaking first pass in December, within 3.8 million miles of the sun, flying closer than any object sent before. It was launched in 2018 to get a close-up look at the Sun

and is the fastest spacecraft built. All Street was higher by the closing bell, the Dow up 32 points, the NASDAQ up 92, S&P 500 up 4. I'm Janene Herbst, NPR News in Washington. This message comes from Wondery. Kiki Palmer is that girl, and she's diving into the brains in Washington.