NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-24-2025 5AM EDT

Episode Date: March 24, 2025

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Making time for the news is important, but when you need a break, we've got you covered on All Songs Considered, NPR's music podcast. Think of it like a music discovery show, a well-deserved escape with friends, and yeah, some serious music insight. I'm going to keep it real. I have no idea what this story is about. Hear new episodes of All Songs Considered every Tuesday, wherever you get podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly. Delegations from the U.S. and Russia

are meeting today in Saudi Arabia. They're discussing a broader ceasefire between Moscow and Ukraine beyond energy infrastructure. U.S. officials met with ones from Ukraine yesterday in Riyadh. Russia and Ukraine have differing views on what targets are off limits in the partial ceasefire agreed to last week after President Trump held separate discussions with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine. Israeli airstrikes are continuing in Gaza targeting Hamas. Hospitals in Gaza report more than two dozen Palestinians have been killed in the latest Israeli strikes.

In southern Gaza, thousands of people are said to be trapped by Israeli forces in the city of Rafa. Israel's defense minister says the Israeli military is trying to avoid civilian casualties. Israel resumed its attacks in Gaza after talks to extend the ceasefire with Hamas stalled. Lebanon's army is accusing Israel of escalating violence in its country. NPR's Jawad Rizkallah says Israel carried out more airstrikes in Lebanon over the weekend. An Israeli drone struck a car in a Lebanese border village, killing what the Israeli military said was a Hezbollah member.

In another area of southern Lebanon, a man who'd been cleaning dust from previous Israeli attacks tells NPR he rescued a farmer nearby who was critically injured by another Israeli drone strike. Lebanon's army says Israeli ground troops also crossed the border fence and bulldozed Lebanese territory, in what it called a blatant violation of a ceasefire that was agreed in November. The army says it sent more troops to the area before Israeli forces withdrew. In a speech at a funeral Sunday, a Hezbollah lawmaker said the group is committed to that ceasefire and that the Lebanese

government would manage the response to these attacks. Jawad Rizkallah, NPR News, Damascus. There were more protests over the weekend targeting Elon Musk and the Trump administration's efforts to downsize the federal government. Here's NPR's Windsor Johnston. Demonstrators gathered outside of a Tesla dealership in Tempe, Arizona on Saturday targeting Elon Musk and his Department of Government efficiency. Protester Dan Schwartz says people didn't vote for cutting Medicaid, gutting federal agencies and siding with Russia. Posing up to Vladimir Putin. I mean this guy's a murderous thug and this is supposed to be our new friend on the world stage and Elon Musk is a symbol of much of it. There's been a surge in violent attacks against Tesla

properties resulting in arson, vandalism and destruction at dealerships and charging stations. The Justice Department has charged three people in connection with the violence. Windsor-Johnston, NPR News. Former Republican Congresswoman Mia Love of Utah has died at age 49 following treatment for brain cancer. This is NPR News. Demonstrators protesting President Trump and what they see as threats to democracy turned out over the weekend in Richmond, Virginia.

They gathered outside the church where the governor and others were marking the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry's famous speech in the run-up to the American Revolution. Brad Kutner with member station Radio IQ has more. For the land of the free. Protesters sang patriotic songs as they surrounded St. John's Church in Richmond's East End, inside the chapel. Give me liberty or give me death. Patrick Henry's fifth great-grandson, Patrick Henry Jolly, reenacted the famous speech, and Governor Glenn Youngkin spoke of the importance of the spirit of America.

But he also acknowledged those outside criticizing him. I am happy to do whatever it takes to get someone to church on Sunday. Youngkin smiled and waved as he passed protesters when he left the event. For NPR News, I'm Brad Kutner in Richmond. The scooter company Segway says it's recalling about 220,000 of its scooters sold in the U.S. because of a defect that can lead to injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says a folding mechanism on the scooters can fail, causing the handlebars to fold unexpectedly. Segway says it's received dozens of reports of the defect,

leading to injuries that range from cuts and bruises to broken bones. Consumers are being advised to stop riding the recalled scooters and request a free maintenance kit to fix the problem. Dow futures are up 315 points this morning. I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington.