NPR News Now - NPR News: 02-01-2025 7PM EST

Episode Date: February 2, 2025

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Usher, Yo-Yo Ma, Boy Genius, Shaka Khan, Billie Eilish, Weird Al, one thing all these big stars have in common, they've all played behind NPR's Tiny Desk. And if you enter NPR's Tiny Desk Contest between now and February 10th, you could be next. Unsigned musicians can find out more and see the official rules at npr.org slash tiny desk contest. Janine Hurst Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. at npr.org slash tiny desk contest. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Hurst. President Trump is following through with his threat to impose steep new tariffs on

imports from Canada, Mexico, and China. raised the cost of goods purchased from some of the country's biggest trading partners. President Trump issued executive orders Saturday, slapping a 25 percent tax on most imports from Canada and Mexico, along with an additional 10 percent tax on imports from China. The tariffs have the potential to raise the cost of a wide variety of imported goods, including fruits and vegetables, flat-screen televisions, and auto parts. Trump did order a lower 10 percent tariff on Canadian crude oil, which could mitigate the effect on U.S. gasoline prices. Midwestern oil refineries are heavily dependent on Canadian crude. In a social media post, Trump said he's taking the action to address the flow of illegal drugs and immigration.

The targeted countries are expected to respond with retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports. Scott Horsley, Impair News, Washington. Democrats have elected Ken Martin, the former head of the Minnesota Democratic Party, as their next party chair. Minnesota Public Radio's Dana Ferguson has more. Democrats from around the country gathered just outside Washington, D.C. to pick a new leader after a bruising loss in the presidential election. Ken Martin faced off against Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wickler, former Maryland Governor

Martin O'Malley and a few others. He replaces former chair Jamie Harrison. Martin says the party will take a tougher tack against Republicans. I've always viewed my role as a chair of the Democratic Party to take the low road so my candidates and elected officials can take the high road, meaning I'm going to throw a punch. So Donald Trump, Republican Party, this is a new DNC. Martin says he'll quickly start a review of the 2024 election and build out a war room to combat misinformation. For NPR News, I'm Dana Ferguson, National Harbor, Maryland. The World Health Organization says 50 Palestinians, mostly children, crossed out of Gaza for medical

treatment today. They left through the southern Ra'aqa crossing into Egypt, the first time it's opened in nearly nine months. And Piers Katlansdorf has more. Until last May, when the Israeli military took it over, Ra'aqa was the main crossing for aid into Gaza in the war, and also the only way Palestinians could leave, even if in limited numbers. Opening it for medical evacuation is part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Mohammed Abu Jalala was accompanying his 14-year-old

nephew today. Jalala says his nephew needs treatment after an Israeli airstrike left him with a head wound and burns all over his body. His injury happened in the last month of the war. Thank God, or I don't think he would have made it, Jalala told NPR's producer in Gaza, Anas Baba. Medical evacuations like this are set to continue.

Aid groups say thousands are in need. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Tel Aviv. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is taking his first trip PR News from Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is taking his first trip as the Trump administration's top diplomat traveling to Panama today. Panama's president says he's ready to talk about migration and trade, but ruled out any discussion with Rubio over control of the Panama Canal, which Rubio plans to visit tomorrow.

President Trump has said he wants to take over the canal if they don't decrease fees for U.S. ships using the waterway. Rubio will also visit El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. This year's Sundance Film Festival is winding down this weekend in Park City, Utah, and Piers Mondalito-Barco reports the annual gathering for independent films had a rocky start for filmmakers and film sales. Before premiering his film, The Legend of Ochi, at Sundance this week, director Isaiah Saxon

lost his Altadena home in the wildfires that ravaged LA. My dad's side of the family are Ukrainian, Jewish vaudeville performers from the Lower East Side, so there's never another thought, other than the show must go on. The fires also destroyed the homes of Saxon cinematographer and editor and delayed the film's release. But it was one of the few going into this festival with a distributor. Film sales are slower than usual this year.

Even festival award winners such as the war satire Atropia and featured twinless with Dylan O'Brien are still waiting. So far, NEON acquired the body horror film together starring Alison Brie and Dave Franco and Netflix bought the film Train Dreams with Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones. Mandelita Del Barco, NPR News. And I'm Janine Hurst and you're listening to NPR News from Washington. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies, sending And you're listening to NPR News from Washington.