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

Episode Date: March 26, 2025

NPR News: 03-26-2025 4PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Imagine, if you will, a show from NPR that's not like NPR, a show that focuses not on the important but the stupid, which features stories about people smuggling animals in their pants and competent criminals in ridiculous science studies, and call it Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me because the good names were taken. Listen to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Yes, that is what it is called wherever You Get Your Podcasts. Lakshmi Singh Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Atlantic has released the full contents of a high-level signal group chat about U.S. military attacks on Yemen hours before they happened earlier this month.

The magazine's editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to that thread and has reported seeing classified information shared by Defense Secretary Pete Hegsath. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says someone made a big mistake during a diplomatic trip in Jamaica. Rubio repeatedly told reporters the Pentagon maintains, though, that no classified material was disclosed. The Pentagon's made it clear that nothing on there would have endangered the lives or the mission, and the mission's been very successfulka Rubio says a signal chat, which involved a number of people, including National Security Advisor Mike Walz and Vice President J.D. Vance, was set up for purposes of coordinating how everyone was going to communicate with

or notify other parties. While congressional Democrats say the revelations highlight serious security concerns and said as much at a House committee hearing with the nation's top intelligence officials today. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports lawmakers are calling for people to be held accountable. Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee pushed Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe for answers, particularly after the full group chat chain was made public by The Atlantic. It showed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth texting details on timing, weapons, and attack sequencing

of the U.S. airstrikes in Yemen. Here's Colorado Democrat Jason Crow. Nobody is willing to come to us and say this was wrong. This was a breach of security and we won't do it again. Crow, who is a former U.S. Army Ranger, said the refusal to accept responsibility is outrageous and a leadership failure, and he called on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to resign. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

The European Commission's advising citizens to stockpile enough food to be self-sufficient for 72 hours in case of a crisis in Europe. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports it's part of a new strategy to respond to what the European Commission calls a, quote, new reality of growing risks and uncertainty on the continent. The European Commission says it's trying to better prepare Europeans to deal with natural disasters, cyber attacks, and geopolitical crises, including the possibility of a war. Europe in recent years has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the conflict in Ukraine, and extreme weather events linked to climate change. The document says, quote, none of the major crises of the past years were isolated

or short lived. Europe cannot afford to remain reactive. Among the many recommendations listed, the commission says Europeans should begin to stockpile food and identify possible shelters to protect them in a crisis. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Rome. The White House says this hour President Trump's expected to announce tariffs on auto imports, details expected shortly from the Oval Office. The Dow Jones industrial average has closed down 132 points at last check. You're listening to NPR News. The U.S. is getting closer to exhausting its options for paying its bills if the debt limit remains unchanged. That's a warning today from the Congressional Budget Office. On its website, the CBO estimates

that the government's ability to borrow using extraordinary measures will probably be exhausted by August or September of this year. The CBO says if the government's borrowing needs are much greater than it projects, the U.S. could run out of resources as early as late May if the debt limit is not raised or suspended. To name two internet famous eaglets, tens of thousands of people from around the world have been tuning into a live stream to watch the baby eagles hatch and grow. They're in a nest in the mountains east of Los Angeles. From member station KVCR, Madison Amit has the latest. The gangly gray chicks that hatched three weeks ago are about eight inches tall now, and they've stolen the spotlight from their parents, Jackie and Shadow. Sandy Steers, who runs the camera, says the two surviving eaglets, a third didn't make

it, are just getting the hang of things. They have learned to wingersize, flap their wings up and down, and build up their muscles and build up their balance. And Steers is working to get them names. She's invited viewers to submit their ideas, for $5 a pop. The money goes to maintaining the live stream. On Friday, a random list of up to 25 finalists will be generated. Next week, local third through fifth graders will vote for their favorites.

For NPR News, I'm Madison Aumann. LACHMIE SINGH, NPR NEWS ANCHOR, NPR NEWS ANCHORS The Nasdaq has closed down more than 2 percent. S&P was down more than 1 percent. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News in Washington.