NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-24-2025 8AM EDT

Episode Date: March 24, 2025

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NPR informs and connects communities around the country, providing reliable information in times of crisis. Federal funding helps us fulfill our mission to create a more informed public and ensures that public radio remains available to everyone. Learn more about safeguarding the future of public media. Visit ProtectMyPublicMedia.org. Live from NPR News in Washington on Korva Coleman, Israel is considering a major ground invasion into Gaza. The goals are to fully occupy the Palestinian territory within a few months

and establish Israeli military rule over Palestinians living there. NPR's General Estrin in Tel Aviv spoke with two people who have reviewed the plans. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the classified military plans. They said the plans would have major forces occupy Gaza, pushing Palestinians into a small zone designated for civilians, and that Israel is examining options for the military to take control of distributing food at a minimal caloric amount. Both people who reviewed the plans said it was unclear if or when the plans would be carried out, or if they were a negotiation tactic to pressure Hamas to release more Israeli hostages. The military said it would not comment on future operational plans.

It has announced it's mobilizing another army division for ground operations. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. This afternoon, a federal appeals court will take up President Trump's appeal Army Division for Ground Operations. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. This afternoon, a federal appeals court will take up President Trump's appeal to block lower court judges' orders to release information about recent deportation flights. U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg wants to know why Trump used wartime power to deport hundreds of migrants when the U.S. is not at war. The power is known as the Alien Enemies Act.

President Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, says the administration will not defy the judge's order but will continue to deport migrants. I don't care about that. Judges think as far as this case, we're going to continue to arrest public safety threats and national security threats. We're going to continue to deport them from the United States. I understand this case is in litigation through the Alien Enemies Act and will abide by the court order as litigated.

He spoke to ABC News this week. Members of one of the largest unions of U.S. postal workers held rallies across the country yesterday. These were to protest the Trump administration's proposals to transform the agency. As NPR's Hansi Le Wong reports, Trump officials have floated the idea of bringing the independent mail agency under White House control. U.S. mail is not for sale! Members of the National Association of Letter Carriers in cities including

Silver Spring, Maryland demonstrated against comments last month by President Trump. He cited trouble finances at USPS and said his administration is considering having the Commerce Department take control of what Congress set up to be an independent postal service. Legal experts say that would likely violate federal law. NALC union steward Kevin Abernathy says he's also concerned about talk of privatizing the country's mail service. If they carve up and sell the postal service, we will lose small businesses, seniors, veterans, royal families, and everyday customers who trust us to deliver.

The Union of Rural Letter Carriers is sent to Rally Tuesday on Capitol Hill. Hansi Luang, NPR News, Silver Spring, Maryland. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Pope Francis has been discharged from a Rome hospital and he has returned to the Vatican. The pontiff also made his first public appearance yesterday from a hospital balcony. Firefighters in North Carolina continue to battle wildfires. State officials say more than 3,000 acres have burned. Blue Ridge Public Radio's Gerard Albert III reports from Asheville that fire crews are having trouble

with trees that were knocked over by Hurricane Helene. In western North Carolina, crews from across the state have struggled to contain a trio of wildfires that started in sparsely populated Polk County. Jeremy Waldrop is with the North Carolina Forest Service. One of the big things we've got a lot of down debris from Hurricane Helene. That is hampering a lot of the lines that we're putting in.

They are working in a lot of steep rocky terrain that's there, so that is something we have to keep in check as well for safety reasons. Waldrop says low humidity and high winds also make fighting the fire harder. States throughout the South, and even California and Oregon, have sent crews to help with the fires. For NPR News, I'm Gerard Albert III in Asheville. The genetic testing firm 23andMe says it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

and the CEO has stepped down. The company is trying to bring about a sale. Its core product is an at-home DNA testing kit. The company says it seeks to provide customers with personalized genetic insights. 23andMe says it will continue to operate during a sale process. This is NPR. Public media counts on your support to ensure that the reporting and programs you depend on thrive. Make a recurring donation today

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