NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-21-2025 2PM EDT

Episode Date: March 21, 2025

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Man, I mean, that might have been the only time I've really faced myself. I'm Jesse Thorne on Bullseye, George Lopez on the time that he swung a bat at a pinata of George Lopez. You know, like I wasn't supposed to hit it that many times that hard. Getting very real with George Lopez on Bullseye from MaximumFun.org and NPR. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Trump administration's considering whether to invoke a state secret's privilege in its ongoing battle with U.S. District Judge James Boesberg. Boesberg has been demanding more information about last weekend's deportation flights. Though the

judge had ordered a temporary halt to the flights, the US still sent hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador. The Trump administration invoked a rarely used wartime law alleging that the deportees are dangerous Venezuelan gang members. President Trump lambasted Judge Bosberg today. He's got the authority to get bad people out of our country. And you can't stop that with a judge sitting behind a bench

that has no idea what goes on, who happens to be a radical left lunatic. Trump has said he will comply with court orders. He has also demanded Boasberg's impeachment. That drew a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts, who noted the disagreements with rulings should be left to the nation's well-established appeals process.

President Trump is directing the Small Business Administration to take over the Department of Education's federal student loans program. The administration's begun the process of dismantling the Education Department, though its abolishment would require congressional approval. Tech billionaire Elon Musk met with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon today. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports the White House has denied that Musk was briefed on China. US officials had told NPR and other media outlets that Musk was scheduled for a briefing in a secure facility known as the Tank, normally used by the Joint Chiefs, and that he be informed of sensitive Pentagon plans regarding China, including by the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Instead, Musk met with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in his office to discuss cost-cutting and innovation, according to Hegseth. Speaking at the White House soon after, President Trump said he would never show U.S. war planning to anybody, especially a businessman like Musk with interests in China. Trump called reports to the contrary false and said they're meant to undermine the relationship between the Pentagon and Musk. Quill Lawrence, NPR News. Democrats on the House Science Committee released bills this week that would stop more mass firings at five federal science agencies. NPR's Jonathan Lambert explains the bills would halt reduction in force efforts until these agencies are funded through 2026. Hundreds and hundreds of federal science agency workers have been fired at the behest of the

Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, or DOJ. While some staff are being rehired to comply with recent court orders, larger reduction in force plans still loom. For instance, staff at the National Science Foundation, or NSF, have been told to expect cuts of 25 to 50 percent. The proposed bills would stop firings at agencies, including NSF, NASA, and NOAA, but face steep odds of passing the Republican-controlled House. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News. From Washington, this is NPR. Thousands of airline passengers in London have been scrambling today after a power outage shut down Heathrow Airport.

Villa Marks reports on the disruptions at one of the world's busiest airports. A substation fire west of London caused Heathrow to shut down, forcing the diversion of more than 100 flights already in the air. Planes were rerouted to airports elsewhere in London but also other locations including as far away as Washington DC. An airport spokesperson warned passengers against arriving at the airport quote under any circumstances and warned of quote significant disruption. Bill and Marks reporting the flight tracking side Flight Radar 24 reports the incident affected more than 1,300 flights to and from Heathrow. Some flights are expected to resume later today. Farmers in South Texas are among those watching a dispute over a long-standing water treaty between

the US and Mexico. Lucio Vasquez with the Texas Newsroom reports a treaty involves water from the Rio Grande and the Colorado River. Farmers in the South rely heavily on water deliveries from Mexico, but this year they have received just a fraction of what's required under a 1944 water treaty. U.S. officials say Mexico has continuously failed to hold up its end of the agreement. Because of this, the U.S. has denied water to Mexico. It's the first time this has happened since the treaty was signed. Mexican officials say there's just less water to give due to drought. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the state of Texas, recently launched a $300 million grant program to help affected farmers.

I'm Lucio Vasquez in Houston. The Dow is down 19 points at 41,930. This is NPR News. Oh, hey there. I'm NPR News.