NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-23-2025 2PM EDT

Episode Date: March 23, 2025

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On the embedded podcast. No, no. It's called denying a sweetened speech. It's misinformation. Like so many Americans, my dad has gotten swept up in conspiracy theories. These are not conspiracy theories. These are reality. I spent the year following him down the rabbit hole, trying to get him back. Listen to alternate realities on the embedded podcast from NPR.

All episodes available now. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Rahm. The Health Ministry in Gaza says the number of Palestinians killed since the start of Israel's war with Hamas has topped 50,000. The latest toll comes after Israel resumed the war in Gaza following about two months of relative quiet during a ceasefire that ended this month. NPR's Hadil El-Shalchi reports. The new death toll in Gaza includes hundreds of Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes since the war started up again last week.

This comes as the Israeli military said it launched an offensive near Rafah in southern Gaza where the military has also ordered mass evacuations of Palestinians. Hamas says among those killed in Israel's latest strikes was one of the group's last political leaders based in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Minister said last week that the military was getting ready to seize more territory in Gaza. It's been more than three weeks that Israel blocked all aid, including food and medical supplies, into the Strip. Hadil Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

Russia launched a huge drone attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv overnight. The mayor says at least three people were killed, including a young child. Delegations from Ukraine and the U.S. are meeting in Saudi Arabia today on ending Russia's three-year war. The U.S. officials will meet tomorrow in Saudi Arabia with a Russian delegation. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff called Fox News he expects progress will be made this week that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants peace. On another program this morning, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz says there already have been discussions about prisoner exchanges.

President Trump has spoken to both leaders about prisoner exchanges. Both the Russians and Ukrainians exchanged prisoners, nearly 200, immediately following their call. And he's also talked about the future of these children. He was interviewed on CBS's Face the Nation. Georgia's Democratic Senator John Ossoff unofficially kicked off his 2026 reelection campaign with a weekend rally railing against President Donald Trump. From member station WABE, Sam Greenglass reports the Georgia Senate race is expected to be

among the most contentious and expensive in the country. Election Day 2026 is nearly two years away, but Democrats like Senator Ossoff are hoping to turn frustration over Trump's moves to abruptly slash government and punish political enemies into victories. Georgia will bow to no king. Ossoff and fellow Democrat Senator Raphael Warnock pulled off surprise wins in 2021.

But last year, Trump recaptured the state and Ossoff says Democrats must respond. Maybe right now you feel surrounded by darkness. You might be wondering if there's a way out. But Atlanta, we don't have the luxury of despair. The Republican Senate field is largely frozen, as term-limited Georgia Governor Brian Kemp weighs a run. For NPR News, I'm Sam Greenglass in Atlanta.

This is NPR News. Pope Francis is back at the Vatican today after he released from the hospital where he'd been treated since February 14th. He had respiratory problems that developed into pneumonia in both lungs. His doctors say he'll need at least two months of rest and rehabilitation before resuming his normal activities. What may be the longest running band in pop music history has announced its retirement.

Vicki Barker reports from London. -♪ Selling little bottles of Love Potion number nine. -"Their 1960s hits Love Potion number nine, Needles and Pins and Don't Throw Your Love Away helped the searchers sell tens of millions of records on both sides of the Atlantic. But now the band has confirmed that after 68 years on the road, they're giving it all up. 83-year-old lead guitarist John McNally told The Guardian they still find performing incredibly energizing, but increased traffic on the roads of 21st century Britain has made traveling

between gigs just too stressful. The Searchers will play their last ever show at the Glastonbury Festival this June. For NPR News, I'm Vicki Parker in London. Conan O'Brien is to receive the award for lifetime achievement in comedy at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts tonight. He was named the latest recipient of the honor in January, about three weeks before President Trump ousted the longtime president

and replaced the board of directors with loyalists, who then named Trump the chairman of the traditionally nonpartisan organization. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington. A lot happens in Washington.