NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-21-2025 11PM EDT

Episode Date: March 22, 2025

NPR News: 03-21-2025 11PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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, D.C., I'm Dale Willman. A federal judge is voicing skepticism about the White House's push to deport alleged gang members under an 18th century wartime law. NPR's Jill Rose reports that federal judge James Boesberg heard arguments about the case today. Judge Boesberg has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to quickly deport alleged Venezuelan gang members.

At a hearing in Washington, a lawyer for the Justice Department argued that the law gives the Trump administration broad powers to deport people without normal due process. The White House argues that members of the Tren de Aragua gang are invading the U.S. at the direction of the Venezuelan government. Immigrant advocates dispute that and say the Trump administration is denying these men a chance to prove they're not gang members. Judge Boesberg also seemed concerned about due process, saying the president's use of the law has, quote, frightening implications.

Joel Rose, NPR News, Washington. The Trump administration has once again stopped payments to attorneys representing unaccompanied minors in immigration courts. Texas Public Radio's Paul Flav reports that this time, the lawyers were notified their contract was terminated. The Health and Human Services Department has ordered attorneys to stop work under the contract

the second time in just over a month. Texas Public Radio has reviewed the contract termination email from Acacia Center for Justice. The contract affects more than 20,000 children. Jonathan Ryan is the managing attorney for the legal nonprofit Advocato. What happened is just like taking the parachutes away from children before you push them off the airplane.

Ryan says most attorneys with current child clients will continue their work, but the move cuts them off from future children in immigration detention. I'm Paul Flavin, San Antonio. The White House is slashing funding to major universities because of what they're calling policy disagreements and compliance issues. As MPR's Windsor Johnston reports, the move is raising concerns about the broader landscape of higher education in the U.S. The Trump administration has canceled or paused hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to universities. This week, the White House froze $175 million to the University of Pennsylvania, criticizing

its policies on transgender athletes and women's sports. Earlier this month, the administration canceled $400 million in funding to Columbia University, accusing the school of not doing enough to address anti-Semitic harassment on campus. Johns Hopkins University lost $800 million in funding from USAID, which was dismantled by the White House. Dozens of other universities are facing federal inquiries, which could lead to cuts in federal funding. Windsor-Johnston, NPR News, Washington.

Former heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman has died. He lost his first title to Muhammad Ali in their famous Rumble in the Jungle in 1974, but reclaimed the title later after coming out of retirement. George Foreman was 76 years old. Stocks finished the week higher on Wall Street, and you're listening to NPR News. Tennessee has reported its first confirmed case of measles this year, as Catherine Sweeney of Member Station WPLN reports. The CDC says 18 states have now reported more than 350 confirmed cases.

The Tennessee Health Department says the Middle Tennessee resident likely became infected in early March. Public health officials are working to identify anyone else who may have been exposed. As case numbers rise, top health officials, such as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have emphasized unproven treatment methods over increasing the vaccination rate. Chattanooga pediatrician John Heiss says that is damaging. They are not following any of the current recommendations. It's more their personal opinions or one and two studies that have not been peer reviewed or been refuted. Infectious disease doctors recommend two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine,

which offer protection for life. For NPR News, I'm Katherine Sweeney in Nashville. Measles cases in West Texas are continuing to rise. Meanwhile, health officials now report 309 cases, along with one measles-related death, and another 42 cases have been identified in New Mexico. 42 people have been hospitalized across both states. Local health officials say they expect the outbreak to continue for at least several more months. Major League Baseball has removed any references to diversity from the MLB website.

The action follows an executive order by President Trump that could lead to possible federal action against organizations using DEI programs. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News in Washington. This message comes from NYU Langone. The NYU Langone Health app gives you access to your electronic health record. PR News in Washington.