NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-04-2025 4PM EST

Episode Date: March 4, 2025

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Hey, it's Scott Detter, the host of Trump's Terms, a podcast where we bring you short, focused episodes about the 47th president and the biggest changes he is trying to make. A lot of those changes will be front and center during his address to a joint session of Congress on March 4th. In the days after, we will bring you stories not just about what he said, but about what is actually happening and what isn't happening. Listen to Trump's Terms from NPR. Janine Hurst Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine

Herbst. President Trump gives an address to a joint session of Congress tonight, his first since returning to the White House for his second term. He's expected to lay out his agenda on the economy and foreign policy. And Pierce Daniel Kirtzleben has more. Danielle Kirtzleben There's a pretty unusual dynamic hanging over this speech. This Congress, which is narrowly controlled by Republicans, they have been remarkably acquiescent to Trump's norm-shattering moves. And that acquiescence has come even as Trump has consolidated wide-ranging governmental powers into the executive branch, including powers that Congress historically has had, things like imposing tariffs.

Danielle Pletka In Pierce Danielle Kurtzleben reporting. Business and farm groups are hoping for a quick resolution to President Trump's new trade war. And here's Scott Horsley reports stiff new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China went into effect today. Both the Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau Federation are hoping for a quick reversal of the tariffs. Bob Hemesath, who raises corn and hogs in eastern Iowa, worries that rural communities will pay a heavy price for the trade war if international customers take their business elsewhere. We saw this the last go-around with China.

They went to South America, to Brazil and Argentina. And once you lose those export markets, it's awful hard to get them back. President Trump's decision to tax imports from three of America's biggest trading partners has already led to a sharp sell-off in the stock market, along with warnings from economists of higher prices for U.S. consumers. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. And China, Mexico and Canada plan to retaliate. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's levying tariffs on U.S. goods.

Canada will be implementing 25 percent tariffs against $155 billion worth of American goods. China says it's imposing tariffs on U.S. farm products, and Mexico says it will announce retaliatory tariffs on Sunday. The VFW, one of the country's largest vet groups, is warning of harmful cuts at Veterans Affairs. And Ferris Quill Lawrence has more. In a congressional hearing, VFW commander Al Lippart condemned the cuts of thousands of VA staff as indiscriminate. When I was wounded in Vietnam, or shrapnel, instead of just taking my arm off, the medics took the time to just pick out the

pieces. That's the way that we need to be addressing these issues. It needs to be with a scalpel and not just a saw. Congress has given veterans these benefits by law, Lippert said. It's a contract. This is not an ask. Honor the contract. The new secretary of the VA says cutting staff and hundreds of contracts will improve VA services. Quill Lawrence, NPR News. Wall Street Lower just at the close, the Dow down 670 points, NASDAQ down 65. You're listening to NPR News.

The Supreme Court is weighing today's oral arguments on Mexico's lawsuit against U.S. gun manufacturers on whether they can be held liable for allegedly aiding and abetting the illicit flow of weapons south of the border. Mexico wants to hold them accountable for a sharp rise in violence that Mexico says can be traced to their products. The suit alleges that the gun dealers often sell weapons to buyers who are operating as straw men to traffic them across the border and into Mexico. Mamma Mia! the popular musical featuring ABBA songs is returning to Broadway for a six-month run starting in August. Jeff London has more. Mamma Mia! opened on Broadway in October of 2001, a little over a month after the

9-11 terror attacks. And its mixture of pop tunes and an escapist story set on a Greek island proved irresistible to audiences. It ran for 5,773 performances, making it the ninth longest-running show in Broadway history. After ten years away and numerous productions around the world and on cruise ships, it's coming back. Producer Judy Kramer told the New York Times, it celebrates women, it's about second chances, it's about hope, and it's not political. It brings audiences together.

For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York. And as the trade war escalates, Wall Street lower at the close, the Dow down 670, NASDAQ down 65, S&P 500 down 71. I'm Janene Herbst, NPR News in Washington.