NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-04-2025 3AM EST

Episode Date: March 4, 2025

NPR News: 03-04-2025 3AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On the Thru Line podcast, the myth linking autism and vaccines was decades in the making and was a major moment for vaccine hesitancy in America, tapping into fears involving the pharmaceutical industry and the federal government. No matter how many studies you do showing that this is not a problem, it's very hard to unring the bell. Listen to Thru Line from NPR, wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens. The new U.S. tariffs on imports from Mexico are now in effect.

As NPR's Ada Peralta reports, the Mexican government has yet to announce its response. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has had a mantra about dealing with President Trump. Cool heads must prevail, she said. On Monday morning, she trotted out statistics showing a precipitous drop in both the number of migrants and drugs crossing the border. And she then quoted a popular Mexican superhero. Serenity and patience, my dear Solin, she said. The tariffs would increase the price of a broad range of goods in both countries.

Instead of antagonizing Trump with retaliatory tariffs, Mexico has chosen a quieter route, setting up phone calls with him. The hope is that the Mexican president can talk Trump into dropping the tariffs. Eder Peralta, MPR News, Mexico City. New tariffs on Canada are also in effect today, and China has already retaliated against the doubling of levies on its goods and services. Senate Democrats are expressing outrage over reports that the White House's Doge team plans to target Social Security. Oregon's Ron Wyden says the Trump administration is breaking a promise to protect earned benefits

for tens of millions of Americans. Dozier's attack on Social Security, in my view, is a first step on the path to privatizing Social Security. Washington Democrat Petty Murray says billionaires like Elon Musk are leeching off the American taxpayer. Musk calls Social Security a Ponzi scheme. Senate Republicans have confirmed billionaire Linda McMahon as the next U.S. Education Secretary. More from NPR's Cory Turner.

McMahon's confirmation vote broke along party lines. At her confirmation hearing, she told lawmakers she would faithfully execute President Trump's plans to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. In a recent NPR-PBS News Marist poll, 63 percent of Americans polled said they opposed or strongly opposed getting rid of the Education Department. Corey Turner, NPR News. The Trump administration reportedly has ordered a temporary suspension of U.S. military aid to Ukraine. According to a White House official, President

Trump wants to review the aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution. European nations are trying to forge a coalition to support Ukraine's war against Russia. The move comes days after a failed White House meeting in which President Trump had hoped to sign an economic deal with Ukraine. This is NPR. Some parts of the United States are bracing for dangerous weather this week. One storm system threatens to cause blizzard conditions in the central plains and upper Midwest. Another could cause dangerous fire conditions from the central plains to south Texas. And severe thunderstorms could unleash tornadoes from Louisiana to Mississippi. On Monday,

a blizzard forced the closing of a stretch of highway in Northern California and the closings of ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada. The Vatican says Pope Francis is back on non-invasive ventilation after suffering a new breathing crisis. Pontiff was hospitalized last month and has been undergoing treatment for double pneumonia. NPR's Ruth Sherlock has the latest. Pope Francis' overall breathing function had been improving, but in the latest update the Vatican says he's suffered two new episodes of acute respiratory crisis caused by a significant accumulation of mucus. The statement says Pope Francis then underwent two bronchoscopies to try to remove the mucus

secretions. He then received non-invasive mechanical ventilation. Pope Francis has been hospitalized for over two weeks. He's begun signing off on official documents as from Gemelli Polyclinic in an indication that he has spent time up and working. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Rome. In northern Japan, thousands of people have been evacuated amid the country's worst wildfire in decades. The blazes blamed for at least one death and the destruction of more than

80 homes. More than 2,000 Japanese troops have been called in to aid firefighting efforts. This is NPR News.