NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-21-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: March 22, 2025

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Am I a propagandist? A truth teller? An influencer? There's probably no more contested profession in the world today than mine, journalism. I'm Brian Reed, and on my show, Question Everything, we dive headfirst into the conflicts we're all facing over truth and who gets to tell it. Listen now to Question Everything, part of the NPR Podcast Network. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Hurst. The Justice Department is opening a criminal investigation into what it says is a leak of classified intelligence related to the Venezuelan prison gang.

NPR's Ryan Lucas reports this comes after President Trump invoked a wartime statute last week to similarly deport suspected members of the gang. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch announced the criminal investigation into what he calls, quote, the selective leak of inaccurate but nevertheless classified information from U.S. intelligence agencies about Tren de Aragua. He says the department will not tolerate what he calls politically motivated efforts by the deep state to undercut Trump's agenda by leaking false information to the New York Times. The department does not specify what reporting in the Times prompted the investigation,

but the newspaper reported this week that a US intelligence assessment had concluded that Tren de Aragua is not directed by Venezuela's government, a conclusion that contradicts President Trump's assertions. Ryan Lucas, 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 has more. 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 Flavins, San Antonio. The Pentagon's removal of digital content related

to diversity, equity, and inclusion has military experts worry that young women and minorities might be less likely to join up. And here's Bill Chappell has more. From 2005 to 2023, the number of active duty women in the military rose by 12 percent, while the number of men fell by more than 10 percent, according to Pentagon data. Minorities are one-third of the active duty enlisted ranks. But Bobby Jones, president of the nonpartisan group Veterans for Responsible Leadership,

says the new agenda is sending a message to potential recruits who aren't white and male. In the black community, I know for a fact, conversations now are about should we let our kids serve in the military, which is a very big problem. The Pentagon didn't respond directly to NPR's questions about recruiting, saying instead that it's proud of America's heroes and heritage. Bill Chappell, NPR News. President Trump picked Boeing to build the Air Force's sixth generation fighter jets called the F-47. He says an experimental version of the plane has been secretly flying for around five years. The Pentagon says the planes will

have stealth and penetration capabilities that far exceed the current fleet. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The U.S. is barring Argentina's former president and another top ex-official from entering the country due to what the State Department says was their, quote, abusive power and corruption. And Pierce Carey-Kahn reports the visa bans were announced by the secretary of state late today. The U.S. has Argentina's former president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, and her former planning minister were involved in significant corruption and bribery schemes that netted them millions of dollars.

Kirchner is a polarizing and leading figure in Argentina's leftist opposition. She was convicted of corruption and sentenced to six years in prison. She denies any wrongdoing and is not in prison. The current president, a far-right libertarian, Javier Millet, is a close ally of President Trump. Millet is facing tough midterm elections. His party is new and needs more lawmaker support to pass his cost-slashing agenda through Congress. Kari Kahn, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro. Amid looming tariff threats on drug imports from President Trump, Johnson & Johnson says

it will boost U.S. investments by 25 percent, with more than $55 billion in four new factories in the U.S. in the next four years. The pharmaceutical giant says that will add some $100 billion a year to the U.S. economy. J&J's rival, Eli Lilly, also announced plans for new U.S. factories last month, saying it will invest $27 billion in U.S. production facilities over the next five years. I'm Janene Herbst,

and you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Hey, I'm Scott Schaefer. And I'm Marisa Lagos. We host Political Breakdown. With the 2024 election over and President Trump in the White House, Washington.