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

Episode Date: February 3, 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 Herbst Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. at npr.org slash tiny desk contest. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Herbst. President Trump says stiff tariffs on Mexico, China, and Canada will start Tuesday in order

to secure the U.S. border. America's northern neighbor says it wants to find a tariff-free solution. And here's Luke Garrett reports. Canadian ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman met with Trump's border czar Tom Homan on Friday. Hillman tells ABC News that Canada is actively working to tighten the U.S. northern border, answering Trump's justification for the tariffs. We're hopeful that they don't come into effect on Tuesday.

We're ready to continue to talk to the Trump administration about that. But Hillman says Canada will respond in kind if US tariffs are imposed. So on our side, we will be implementing 25% tariffs on US products. On Sunday morning, President Trump defended his tariff on Canada, saying the country should become the 51st state to avoid import levies.

In a separate post, Trump said, quote, will there be some pain? Yes, maybe and maybe not, but we will make America great again. Luke Garrett and PR News, Washington. Mexico also says it will retaliate and China says it will take countermeasures without specifying what they would be. U.S. futures contracts are sharply lower on the news. Dow futures down 1.1 percent, Nasdaq futures are down 2.3 percent. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Panama today where he warned the country's president

about Chinese influence over the Panama Canal, saying the U.S. could take measures necessary to protect its rights under a treaty that governs operation of the canal. Panama denies the allegation. Trump wants the canal back, but Panama's president says no. And Piers Michelle Kellerman has more. Secretary Rubio says he chose the Western Hemisphere as his first trip to show that, in his words, American leadership is back in this region, which he says was neglected in the past.

He's visiting Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic. Trade and migration are top issues, but this trip comes as the Trump administration halts most foreign assistance, including in this region. The State Department says Rubio has issued some limited waivers and exemptions to some aid programs in countries that he's visiting this week, but the spokesperson did not cite any specific examples. Michelle Kelliman, NPR News, Panama City. After nearly a week-long freeze, the National Science Foundation says it will resume paying

researchers who had received grants. They had been unable to access their funds since last Tuesday when the agency froze payments as they reviewed how their grants complied with President Trump's new executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion. The freeze left hundreds of people unable to access money allocated for their salaries and research. Today's order complies with a temporary restraining order that was issued Friday requiring the NSF

to resume the payments. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. A plane and an aircraft tug vehicle collided at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport yesterday, sending the driver to the hospital with multiple injuries. As NPR's Joe Hernandez reports, it kept a week of multiple aviation disasters in the U.S. An Air Wisconsin flight was taxiing to the gate when the crash occurred, flipping the tug vehicle and pinning the 64-year-old driver underneath. Chicago police say the driver sustained head and lower body injuries and was sent to the hospital in critical condition,

but later stabilized. No passengers or crew were injured and the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. The incident in Chicago came one day after a medical transport jet crashed onto a Philadelphia street on Friday, leaving at least seven people dead, and less than a week since the deadly collision of an American Airlines plane and an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people in the worst U.S. aviation disaster in two decades. Joe Hernandez, NPR News. The 67th Grammy Awards takes place tonight in Los Angeles, but with a different vibe after the deadly wildfires

that swept the area, destroying thousands of homes and businesses and killing at least 29. The Recording Academy, which runs the awards show, changed it to a benefit to help wildfire victims. But awards will still be handed out and stars will sing. Beyoncé leads the nominations with 11, including for Album of the Year. Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Charli XCX, and Post Malone are tied for second place. Taylor Swift has six nominations, also including Album of the Year. This is NPR News.