NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-21-2025 12AM EDT

Episode Date: March 21, 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. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens.

President Trump has formally begun the process of closing the U.S. Department of Education. NPR's Ilyssa Natwani has details. In a ceremony at the White House, President Trump signed the executive order aimed at shuttering the department. He was flanked by students sitting at desks with state flags. The president pointed to poor national testing as a motivator for reducing the scale and the size of the department, but said the department's quote useful functions would be quote preserved in full. The department administers federal funding for k-12 schools, Pell grants, and student loans and has the ability to investigate schools. At the ceremony, Trump was joined by Republican governors from Texas, Indiana, Florida and

Ohio. The move to shutter the department has been expected since early February and comes a week after the department notified nearly half of its staff that they will be laid off. Elissa Nadwani, NPR News. The president's executive order on education could lead to less oversight of states and schools. In the Gulf States newsroom, Steven Basaha reports that it's causing concern in Alabama. Trump signed the order about an hour before Democratic Congresswoman Terry Sewell spoke

at a panel in Utah, Alabama. She got applause when she said she'd do all she could to push back. Not only am I a proud product of the black belt, but I am a proud product of public schools in the black belt. That region in Alabama is known for its rich soil, high poverty, and history of slavery. Green County Superintendent Cory Jones also worries about federal oversight going away. By taking that federal umbrella away and putting those funds in the state hands, we assume that our governor is going to do the right thing, but there's no guarantee. Jones said more than 40% of the district's funds come from the federal government. For NPR News, I'm Stephen Bissaha in Utah, Alabama.

The Pentagon has restored some of its websites highlighting the contributions of Black, Asian, and Native American veterans during World War II. Two defense officials tell NPR that the sites were removed in compliance with President Trump's guidance on diversity, equity, and inclusion. An article on baseball great Jackie Robinson was among the material that had been removed, as NPR's Tom Bowman reports. Pentagon spokesman, NPR Spokesman, NPR Pentagon Spokesman John Elliott sent out a memo saying, everyone at the Defense Department loves Jackie Robinson, as well as the Navajo Code Talkers, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the Marines at Iwo Jima, and so many others.

We salute them for their strong, and in many cases, heroic service to our country. But we do not view or highlight them through the prism of immutable characteristics such as race, ethnicity, or sex. We do so only by recognizing their patriotism and dedication to the warfighting mission like every other American who has worn the uniform. Tom Bowman reporting. You're listening to NPR. North Korea says it has test-fired new anti-aircraft missiles in response to joint military drills

between South Korea and the United States. The North's Defense Ministry alleges the drills involve simulations to destroy its underground tunnels. Friday's reported missile tests would be the North's sixth so far this year. Almost 70,000 South Africans have expressed interest in moving to the United States since reported missile tests would be the North's sixth so far this year. Almost 70,000 South Africans have expressed interest in moving to the United States since President Trump invited white Afrikaners to apply for refugee status. More from Kate Barlett and Johannesburg.

Most of those who have registered have Afrikan surnames according to the South African Chamber of Commerce in the US. Last month Trump signed an executive order claiming, without evidence, that the Afrikaans minority, descendants of mostly Dutch colonizers, were being persecuted and their land confiscated. Some Afrikaans groups say white farmers are also specifically targeted in farm murders. This week police statistics showed one farmer had been murdered in the last quarter of 2024. Four employees had also been killed. Their races were not given.

For NPR News, I'm Kate Bartlett in Johannesburg. Britain's Heathrow Airport has been closed due to a major power outage caused by a fire at an electrical substation in London. It's unclear how many flights were immediately affected by the incident. According to the tracking site FlightTrade24, around 124 inbound flights will have to be diverted to other airports. London's assistant fire commissioner says the cause of the fire is not immediately clear. This is NPR News.