NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-26-2025 4AM EDT

Episode Date: March 26, 2025

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Support for NPR in the following message come from the estate of Joan B. Kroc, whose bequest serves as an enduring investment in the future of public radio and seeks to help NPR produce programming that meets the highest standards of public service in journalism and cultural expression. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee have grilled Trump administration officials on a messaging app group chat that shared sensitive military information with the journalist. CIA Director John Ratcliffe acknowledged that the incident should not have happened and that the government has secure communication systems that could have been used.

As NPR's Ryan Lucas reports, top intelligence officials denied that any classified material was shared, but Democrats want some answers. The administration is very much trying to say that this is all much ado about nothing. But I will say the information discussed in the chat is exactly the sort of intelligence a sophisticated adversary like Russia or China would want on the US. And the officials in the chat are all top of the target list of foreign intelligence services. Now, as for what's next, Democrats on the Intelligence Committee made this clear that

they want to get to the bottom of it. Ryan Lucas reporting. NPR CEO Catherine Maher is chair of the Signal Foundation board, which supports the platform that was used in the controversial group chat. White House Border Czar Tom Homan is expressing hope that immigration enforcement officials will soon gain access to tax data. As NPRC Manobustio reports, administration officials say they want to use the information to crack down on people who do not have legal status. Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC

Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, NPRC Manobustio-Homan, to crack down on people who do not have legal status. Homan told reporters at the White House that he thinks and hopes that the Internal Revenue Service will soon share data with the Department of Homeland Security. Homan said that those without legal status may use American Social Security numbers to find work. Sharing IRS data could help identify those using fake or stolen numbers. Employers can face hefty fines for knowingly hiring people without authorization to work in the U.S. That's a particular concern in industries like agriculture or construction.

But companies say they don't know if records are falsified. Jimena Bustillo, NPR News. The health ministry in Gaza says more than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel's war with theos began 17 months ago. As NPR's Sadil Al-Shalchi reports, the death toll increased again this month following the end of a two-month-long ceasefire. The new death toll in Gaza includes hundreds of Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes since the war started up again last week.

This comes as the Israeli military said it launched an offensive near Rafah in southern Gaza where the military has also ordered mass evacuations of Palestinians. This comes as the Israeli military said it launched an offensive near Rafah in southern Gaza, where the military has also ordered mass evacuations of Palestinians. Hamas says among those killed in Israel's latest strikes was one of the group's last political leaders based in Gaza. The Israeli defense minister said last week that the military was getting ready to seize more territory in Gaza. It's been more than three weeks that Israel blocked all aid, including food and medical supplies, into the strip. Hadil Alshalchi, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

US futures are unchanged and after hours trading on Wall Street, Asia Pacific markets are mixed. This is NPR. President Trump has signed an executive order that requires proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. Critics say the move could disenfranchise millions of voters and will likely end up in court. The order also requires states to remove non-citizens from voter rolls. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is heading to a regional gathering in Jamaica where migration and drug trafficking will be high on the agenda. As NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports, the trip also takes Rubio to South America.

Secretary Rubio is a former Florida senator, a Cuban-American, and his aides point out that he has deep ties to the Caribbean and Latin America. Special envoy for Latin America, Mauricio Claver-Caron, says the secretary of state wants to focus on energy security in a region that was once, in his words, extorted by Venezuela. Rubio will also be talking about how the U.S. can help develop energy industries in Suriname and Guyana during stops there. As for Haiti, Rubio's aides say he will be hearing from Haitian officials and regional

partners in Jamaica on how they can help Haitian police prevent gangs from retaking the capital of Port-au-Prince. Michelle Kelliman, NPR News, the State Department. Five lions who were traumatized by the war now have a new lease on life in England. The lions, all found near the front line of Russia's war in Ukraine had been abandoned by their owners. Earlier this month, the animals were flown to the Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent County, about 50 miles southeast of London.

This is NPR News.