NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-23-2025 6PM EDT

Episode Date: March 23, 2025

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These days, there's so much news, it can be hard to keep up with what it all means for you, your family, and your community. The Consider This podcast from NPR features our award-winning journalism. Six days a week, we bring you a deep dive on a news story and provide the context and analysis that helps you make sense of the news. We get behind the headlines. We get to the truth. Listen to the Consider This podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Congress is set to return to Capitol Hill this week. The Senate will hold a hearing on whether it should confirm President Trump's pick to be the commissioner of Social Security. NPR's Deepa Sivaram reports during the recess, many lawmakers heard that their constituents

are worried the Trump administration will make changes to the program. 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 send her 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. That's NPR's Deepa Sivaram reporting.

The head of China's government is urging countries to open their markets amid rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty. The government is urging countries to open their markets amid rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainty. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports that China has invited foreign executives to a forum to boost foreign investment in China. 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. Democratic Georgia Senator John Ossoff unofficially kicked off his 2026 reelection campaign. Sam Greenglass from Member Station WABE reports the 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 in Washington. Wildfires burning in the Carolinas are prompting evacuations and an emergency declaration. The governor of South Carolina has declared a state of emergency because of a large wildfire burning in the state. In North Carolina, a mandatory evacuation order has been issued for parts of Polk County, about 80 miles west of Charlotte. Parts of the state are still working to rebuild from Hurricane Helene. Disney's Snow White is dominating the box office this weekend combined made barely half as much as Snow White did, but this live-action remake of Disney's first animated feature only took in $87 million

worldwide, and that means making back its $270 million production cost is going to be difficult. Disney has had a lot of success with live remakes of its animated classics, and even when they don't cast a spell at the box office, they feed the company's other revenue streams – Disney Plus, sales of merchandise, theme park rides, even shows on Broadway. Still, for Hollywood, it's a disappointing start in a year that has yet to have a smash hit. Bob Mandelo, NPR News. Hockey fans are watching the Washington Capitals, specifically at star Alex Ovechkin. He needs

only seven more goals in the Capitals' final 12 games this season to pass Wayne Gretzky in scoring the most goals in a career. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington. When you take a shower or get ready in the morning, how many products are you using? I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News in Washington.