NPR News Now - NPR News: 03-07-2025 11PM EST

Episode Date: March 8, 2025

NPR News: 03-07-2025 11PM ESTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Public media counts on your support to ensure that the reporting and programs you depend on thrive. Make a recurring donation today to get special access to more than 20 NPR podcasts, perks like sponsor-free listening, bonus episodes, early access, and more. So start supporting what you love today at plus.npr.org. Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Wall Street ended a volatile week as President Trump implemented and then again delayed some of his tariffs. NPR's Maria Aspin reports that while stocks closed higher today, it was down the week overall. Trump spoke from the Oval Office where he was signing an executive order creating a task force ahead of the 2026 World Cup to be held in the U.S. American businesses are feeling the

whiplash of President Trump's on-again off-again tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China. So are investors. Major stock indices plunged when the tariffs went into effect, then rallied the first time Trump gave a partial reprieve, but still ended down for the week. NYU professor Anna Tavis says that business owners don't like this news onslaught any more than consumers. Anna Tavis, NYU Professor, NYU Business School of Business Businesses don't like uncertainty.

Anna Tavis, NYU Business School of Business And some businesses are really worried about the tariffs becoming permanent, especially the automakers, retailers, and other consumer-facing companies that would be directly affected. Best Buy CEO warned this week that price increases for American consumers are, quote, highly likely. Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York. President Trump is denying reports of tensions within his administration. The denial comes after New York Times reporting about an argument during a Cabinet meeting

between Elon Musk, whom Trump has brought on to cut personnel and spending, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Piers Daniel-Kurtzleben reports. Trump spoke from the Oval Office, where he was signing an executive order creating a task force ahead of the 2026 World Cup to be held in the U.S. When a reporter asked about friction between Rubio and Musk, Trump's reply was testy. No, Tlesh, I was there. You're just a troublemaker. And you're not supposed to be asking that question because we're talking about the World Cup.

Elon gets along great with Marco and they're both doing a fantastic job. There is no clash. Trump told reporters this week that he had told cabinet secretaries that they, not Musk, are in charge of staff reductions. Danielle Kurzlaven, NPR News, The White House. Two top congressional Democrats are pressing Secretary of State Rubio about a now-cancelled effort to purchase $400 million worth of Teslas, NPR's Bobby Allen reports. In a letter to Rubio, US representatives Gregory Meeks and Jared Moskowitz said a push to buy

$400 million worth of Tesla vehicles represented a serious violation of federal procurement laws that would unlawfully enrich Elon Musk, a top White House official. The Democrats are asking Rubio whom from the State Department or Musk's cost-cutting unit tried to buy hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Teslas. The letter from top Democrats on the House Committee on Foreign Relations follows NPR's reporting showing that the move to purchase $400 million worth of Teslas first started in the Trump administration, not during Biden's term, as Trump officials have suggested.

The lawmakers are asking Rubio to show documents were not backdated to place the blame on Biden officials. Bobby Allen, NPR News. And you're listening to NPR News. Ten years after then, President Barack Obama committed the U.S. to achieving the UN's global goals by 2030. The Trump administration says it rejects and denounces the same goals. Those goals include such actions such as ending poverty, reaching gender equality, and tackling

climate change. They also include providing clean water and sanitation for all people and quality education for every child. Dolly Parton's husband died this week. He inspired some of her biggest songs, including one that came out this morning, as NPL's Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento reports. Carl Dean was not a big country music fan, but he stood by the side of one of country's most enduring voices until his death on Monday. His wife, Dolly Parton, released this song in his memory. If you hadn't been there, where would I be? Parton met Dean when she was 18 years old, and he was at the heart of this 1973 hit.

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene. Jolene was about a bank teller who paid Dean a little too much attention. But Parton told NPR the song was a lighthearted joke. As she wrote on Instagram, Dean was the star of her life story. Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR News. Shane Lowry shot a 67 today and took a two-stroke lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational underway in Orlando this weekend.

His only bogey came when he missed a four-foot punt on the 16th hole. Lowry is the only player to break 70 on both days of the tournament so far. Wyndham Clark had a bogey on the 15th following his tee shot going out of bounds. He shot a 71 and is in second. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News. At this year's Oscars, Enora took home the award for best picture, Zoe Saldana and Kieran Culkin also picked up wins,

and Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo delivered a show-stopping opening number. Ah! For a recap of all the highlights, listen to the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR.