NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-04-2025 5AM EST

Episode Date: March 4, 2025

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NPR informs and connects communities around the country, providing reliable information in times of crisis. Federal funding helps us fulfill our mission to create a more informed public, and ensures that public radio remains available to everyone. Learn more about safeguarding the future of public media. Visit ProtectMyPublicMedia.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingly.

New U.S. tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China went into effect this morning. President Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico and an additional 10 percent tariff on goods imported from China. NPR's Ader Peralta reports on reaction from the Mexican government. 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 Solín, 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. Adr Pralta, in Per News, Mexico City. China responded to the tariffs by imposing its own tariffs on a variety of U.S. agricultural imports as well as blacklisting more than 20 American companies. President Trump is pausing U.S. aid to Ukraine. That's according to a White House official. The move comes days after Trump and Vice President Vance clashed with

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office. Tariffs, Ukraine, the downsizing of the federal government and border security are expected to be among the issues President Trump talks about tonight when he addresses a joint session of Congress. NPR's Elena Moore has a preview. Though similar, this won't be a state of the union address. Those happen after a president's first year in office. This joint address lets a newly sworn in president lay out their agenda. And Trump's first few weeks have been busy. His administration has taken steps to dramatically reshape the federal government, crack down on illegal immigration, and redefine the U.S. role abroad.

His supporters are thrilled, his detractors dismayed. Trump's remarks are set to kick off at 9 p.m. Eastern. Alaina Moore, NPR News, Washington. The Senate has confirmed President Trump's choice of Linda McMahon to serve as Education Secretary in a vote along party lines. The former professional wrestling executive and head of the U.S. Small Business Administration was confirmed 51 to 45. The White House has made clear it wants McMahon to help dismantle the Education Department. The Trump Administration has cut staff programs and research thus far.

The man charged with killing seven people and injuring dozens more at a July 4th parade in Illinois nearly three years ago has pleaded guilty to all counts. He withdrew his not guilty plea yesterday ahead of trial. This is NPR News. The chairman and CEO of the nation's largest grocery store chain has resigned following an investigation into his personal conduct. NPR's Alina Seljuk says Rodney McMullen had been with Kroger for more than four decades. Kroger has shared little detail about what exactly CEO Rodney McMullen had done to lead to his resignation. The company says its board learned about his certain personal conduct just over a week

ago. It hired outside counsel to investigate, which found this conduct to be unrelated to the company's business and not involving Kroger employees, but still counter to Kroger's corporate policy on business ethics. McMullen originally joined the company 47 years ago as a part-time stocker. He held many executive positions before becoming the CEO in 2014. Most recently, McMullen oversaw Kroger's failed attempt to buy its direct rival Albertsons. The mega merger collapsed in December after more than two years, halted by several courts.

Alina Seluk, NPR News. The world's largest manufacturer of semiconductors, TSMC, is planning to invest $100 billion in the U.S. That's according to President Trump, who made the announcement yesterday. The Taiwan company has previously announced $65 billion in U.S. investments. TSMC produces chips for companies including Apple and Intel. Wall Street is coming off a day of steep losses as the U.S US imposes new tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. The Dow lost 649 points yesterday or close to 1.5%.

The S&P lost more than 1.75%. The NASDAQ dropped more than 2.5%. I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington.