NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-07-2025 10AM EST

Episode Date: March 7, 2025

NPR News: 03-07-2025 10AM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman. Stocks opened mixed this morning as the Labor Department reported a modest uptick in hiring last month. NPR's Scott Horsley reports the Dow Jones Industrial Average was essentially flat in early trading. U.S. employers added 151,000 jobs in February, slightly more than the month before. Job gains were tallied in health care, construction, and manufacturing. Bars and restaurants cut workers during the month and so did the federal government. The unemployment rate inched up in February to

4.1 percent, even as the overall workforce shrank. Average wages last month were up 4 percent from a year ago, which is likely more than enough to outpace inflation. Wages have been climbing faster than prices for nearly two years now. That boosts workers' real buying power and helps to support consumer spending, which is the biggest driver of the U.S. economy. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. In remarks to reporters in the Oval Office yesterday, President Trump said he told his cabinet that they are in charge of staff reductions, not billionaire Elon Musk. NPR's Bobby Allen reports Trump seems to be reining in Musk's authority.

Since Trump took office, Musk has been exerting wide and unusual control over federal agencies. In his capacity as a special government employee in the White House, Musk has pushed the termination of thousands of federal workers and the near total dissolution of some agencies. In his big speech to Congress this week, Trump praised Musk for doing it. But now Trump is telling his cabinet and other officials they are in charge of policy and firings, not Musk. Elon has been really teaching everybody about the numbers that you can do. But what I want is I want the numbers, but I also want to keep the good people. This follows lawmakers of both parties raising concerns about Musk's chainsaw approach.

Bobbi Allen, NPR News. A new poll captures what Americans think about the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Trump administration has terminated more than 90 percent of the program's worth tens of billions of dollars. And Piers Gabriel-Emanuella reports the agency did everything from supporting local journalists in foreign countries to providing clean water in refugee camps. A new poll from KFF, a health policy research and news organization, found six in ten American adults think the cuts will lead to more humanitarian and health crises.

And just under half of those surveys expect funds to be redirected to domestic programs. Opinions varied sharply along party lines, with Democrats worrying about new global crises and Republicans focused on domestic programs. Gabrielle Immanuel, NPR News. Meanwhile, a federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to pay the money it owes to some global health groups. Their payments stopped when President Trump froze U.S. foreign aid. The judge says the Trump administration has until Monday at 6 p.m. Eastern time to pay

the groups. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. President Trump says he sent a letter this week to Iranian leaders. Trump says he told them he hopes Iran will be open to negotiating a deal to curb its nuclear program. In an interview on Fox Business News, Trump says if the U.S. has to go in militarily, it will be a terrible thing for them. Former President Barack Obama successfully negotiated a deal with Iran to rein in its

nuclear program, but Trump withdrew it in his first administration, calling the pact horrible. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a possible White House contender, has made comments, suggesting he does not support transgender female athletes playing on women's sports teams. CAP Radio's Laura Fitzgerald reports. On the first episode of Newsom's new podcast, he spoke with conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.

But like, would you do something like that? Would you say no men in female sports? Well, I think it's an issue of fairness. I completely agree with you on that. LGBTQ plus advocates and democratic state lawmakers are strongly criticizing Newsom for the comments. Assembly member Chris Ward of San Diego chairs the legislative LGBTQ caucus. We were certainly caught off guard and woke up incredibly sickened and disgusted

about seeing somebody who's been an ally of our community use this language. A recent New York Times and Ipsos poll found 67% of Democrats nationally say transgender athletes should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. For NPR News, I'm Laura Fitzgerald in Sacramento. Democrats nationally say transgender athletes should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. For NPR News, I'm Laura Fitzgerald in Sacramento. The European railroad company Eurostar has canceled all its high-speed trains between London and Belgium today. Workers have found an unexploded World War II bomb.

It's near the tracks, just outside Paris. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.