NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-25-2025 6AM EDT

Episode Date: March 25, 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 Korva Coleman. The White House National Security Council says a group of top secret text messages among senior Trump administration officials appears to be authentic and it's reviewing this.

A reporter was inadvertently invited into the chat. He says the chat covered explicit details about a pending U.S. attack in Yemen. Democrats such as California Representative Sarah Jacobs want a pending U.S. attack in Yemen. Democrats, such as California Representative Sarah Jacobs, want a congressional investigation. I think there needs to be real consequences because this has real implications for the security of our service members. But House Speaker Mike Johnson is less worried. The administration is addressing what happened, apparently in an inadvertent phone number,

made it onto that thread. They're going to track that down and make sure that it doesn't happen again. What you did see, though, I think, was top-level officials doing their job, doing it well. But the explicit details involving names and locations of U.S. service personnel were apparently shared on devices that could be hacked by anyone. Some of the people on that text chain reportedly included the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Both are supposed to appear today at a pre-scheduled hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. President Trump's nominee to lead the Social Security Administration faces a Senate confirmation hearing today.

NPR's Windsor Johnston has more. Global tech firm executive Frank Bisognano will go before the Senate Finance Committee. Lawmakers are expected to question him about the Trump administration's decision to slash thousands of jobs at the agency and close several field offices. The cutbacks have led to difficulties for beneficiaries trying to access services, including longer wait times for phone calls, with many being disconnected. Starting next Monday, millions of Americans will not be able to verify their identity over the phone, creating challenges for older adults who may have limited access to online services or can't visit a Social

Security office in person. Windsor-Johnston, NPR News, Washington. The wife of Vice President Vance is poised to visit Greenland this week along with Trump administration officials. The visit carries significance. NPR's Deepa Sivaram reports President Trump has repeatedly suggested the U.S. should take over Greenland, a territory controlled by Denmark. Trump says the visit from Mrs. Vance and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz is not a provocation

and that the visit is purely friendly. But he repeated his claim that Greenland is interested in being, quote, taken care of by the U.S. I think Greenland's going to be something that maybe is in our future. I think it's important. It's important from the standpoint of international security. Vance, along with one of her sons, is attending cultural events in Greenland, including the national dog sledding race.

Walz, for his part, will visit a U.S. military base. Deepa Sivaram, NPR News. You're listening to NPR. President Trump is dominating the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the job permanently. Susan Manares has previously worked in leadership at the Federal Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.

She holds a PhD, not a medical degree. Manares will now face a Senate confirmation hearing. In women's NCAA college basketball, the Sweet 16 teams are set, but the tournament was overshadowed last night when one of college basketball's biggest stars suffered an injury. Greg Eklund explains. Southern California sophomore Juju Watkins, a first-team All-American and this season's Big Ten player of the year, had to be carried off the floor in the first quarter of the Trojans' second round game against Mississippi State.

Watkins was grabbing her right knee when she was down, which stirred up a reaction from her coach, Lindsey Gottlieb. I mean, I'd be lying if I told you that I wasn't rattled, you know, seeing Juju on the floor and crying. I mean, this is a human game. Despite what the team describes as a season-ending injury to Watkins, USC rallied to build its lead and easily handled Mississippi State 96 to 59.

For NPR News, I'm Greg Eklund. A court in Japan has ordered the unification church to be dissolved in that country. This is part of an investigation that began with the 2022 assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. An investigation into his slaying revealed close ties between the church and some Japanese lawmakers. The unification church says it will appeal immediately.