NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-23-2025 4PM EDT

Episode Date: March 23, 2025

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Noor Rahm Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Rahm. Congress returns to Capitol Hill this week. The Senate is to hold a hearing on whether it's confirmed Frank Bigg's Inano as commissioner of Social Security. During the recess, many lawmakers heard that their concerned citizens are worried the Trump administration will make changes. NPR's Deepa Shivram has more. This is a program that's been around since the 1930s that supports millions of retired people, disabled people, and making any changes to it is politically risky. Democrats have been responding to the comments from Secretary Lutnick. They've also been quick to center any comments on social

security from Elon Musk, for example, who has made comments inflating how much fraud takes place with social security benefits and who recently called the benefit a Ponzi scheme. NPR's Deepa Shivaram, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had commented that if his mother-in-law didn't receive her social security check, she wouldn't call and complain that it's the fraudster who always makes the loudest noise, yelling and complaining. The head of China's government urged countries to open their markets amid rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports China has invited foreign executives to a forum to boost foreign

investment in China. Anthony Kuhn, NPR's National Press Secretary, said that China's foreign policy is a key factor in China's economic growth. Premier Li Chang's speech to the China Development Forum tried to instill confidence in the government's plan to jumpstart growth by boosting consumer spending and proactive economic policies. A lot of his remarks appeared aimed at the U.S. Lee said that China is not against competition itself, it's just against competition aimed at holding others back. Leaders of American corporations including Apple, FedEx, Boeing, Qualcomm, and Pfizer

were at the two-day forum. Lee also met with Montana Senator Steve Daines, the first U.S. member of Congress to visit China since President Trump took office. Lee told Daines that the U.S. and China should choose dialogue over confrontation. Anthony Kuhn in PR News, Beijing. Voters in Canada will be going to the polls on April 28th for a national election. As Dan Karpenschuk reports, Prime Minister Mark Carney triggered the election call this morning with the dissolution of the Parliament.

Recent polls suggest Carney's Liberals are in a tight race with the opposition Conservatives, and this election campaign, only five weeks long, will focus on the main issue of tariffs and annexation talk from President Donald Trump. Carney says in the past 10 days, since he's become Prime Minister, he's initiated several major changes, including getting rid of the unpopular carbon tax and expanding dental care to more than four million Canadians. So Carney has asked for a strong mandate from voters in what he described as the most consequential election in a lifetime.

The Conservatives, led by Pierre Pau Pierre Poliev continue to say Carney still represents the old liberals and their policies and it's time for a change. For NPR News, I'm Dan Karpanchuk in Toronto. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Pope Francis was released from the hospital today where he'd been treated since February 14th. His doctors say the 88 year old Pontiff has recovered from pneumonia but will need to rest for at least two months before resuming his duties. The governor of North Carolina has declared a state of emergency because of wildfires burning in the state in an area still recovering from Hurricane

Helene. A mandatory evacuation order was issued last night for parts of Polk County, warning residents that if they didn't leave, roads could be blocked and they could be trapped. New research shows that seals can perceive internal oxygen levels to keep themselves from drowning. It's the first time that such an ability has been demonstrated in animals. NPR's Jonathan Lampert reports, When humans hold their breath, the urge to breathe is driven by a buildup of carbon dioxide in our blood, not oxygen. That's the case for virtually all other mammals, but not for gray seals,

according to a study published today in the journal Science. Researchers varied the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide captive gray seals could breathe, and then watched how long they stayed underwater to find food. The higher the oxygen levels, the longer seals stayed under. But carbon dioxide levels had little effect, suggesting seals evolved a new way of not drowning. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News. It was 250 years ago today that Patrick Henry delivered his

give me liberty or give me death speech. He spoke at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia. The church is holding reenactments today, which have all sold out. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News in Washington.