NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-03-2025 2AM EDT

Episode Date: April 3, 2025

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Support for NPR in the following message come from the estate of Joan B. Croc, whose bequest serves as an enduring investment in the future of public radio and seeks to help NPR produce programming that meets the highest standards of public service in journalism and cultural expression. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. President Trump Wednesday said the US will impose a minimum 10% tariff on all imported goods from 185 nations and up to 60 nations or trading blocs will pay a higher rate because of their trade policies. The president insists this effort will bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. Historic executive order instituting reciprocal tariffs on countries throughout the world.

Reciprocal. That means they do it to us and we do it to them. Very simple. Can't get any simpler than that. But many economists are warning the tariffs will cause inflation to rise. The Senate Wednesday voted to cancel President Trump's tariffs on Canada by repealing the emergency order he used to issue them. But as NPR's Deidre Walsh reports, this vote is largely symbolic.

The Senate approved a nonbinding resolution to undo President Trump's 25 percent tariffs on Canada. Maine Republican Susan Collins was one of four GOP senators to join Democrats to rebuke the Trump administration's policy and argue it would impose new costs on businesses and consumers. The Maine economy is integrated with Canada, our most important trading partner. Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine sponsored the resolution and said the emergency order the president used, citing the fentanyl crisis to impose new tariffs, unfairly targeted a longtime ally.

Other supporters pointed out that Mexico and China, not Canada, were largely responsible for the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. The House of Representatives is not expected to take up the measure. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News. At least a dozen Israeli airstrikes hit Syria late Wednesday. The Israeli military says it targeted Syria's military capabilities. But Syrian state media says there are civilian casualties. NPR's Lauren Fraer reports from Damascus.

Footage shared on social media shows explosions lighting up the sky over the Syrian city of Hama. Israel says it struck military infrastructure there as well as an air base in homes and a scientific building in the capital Damascus. State media say dozens of Israeli military vehicles also made an incursion deeper into southern Syria. Israel used to attack often under Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who allowed Iran to transfer weapons through this country. But that arms route was cut off with Assad's ouster late last year. Syria's new government has not attacked Israel and says it does not plan to. But Israel has sought to disarm it nonetheless, with hundreds of

air and artillery strikes in recent months. Lauren Freyer, NPR News Damascus. Large parts of the South and the Midwest are under weather alerts as forecasters are warning people from Texas to upstate New York to be on the lookout for tornadoes and thunderstorms. This is NPR. Police in Nashville, Tennessee have released their final investigative report

into the deadly 2023 mass shooting at the Covenant School, as well as the shooter who killed six people. From member station WPLN, Paige Fleigler reports. The report details findings from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department's two-year-long investigation into the Covenant School shooting and shooter Audrey Hale. Police say Hale had been planning a mass shooting for several years before entering the Covenant School shooting and shooter Audrey Hale. Police say Hale had been planning a mass shooting for several years before entering the Covenant School in March 2023 and fatally shooting three students and three employees. They found no indication of a grudge against

the school where Hale was a former student. The shooter's firearms were obtained legally despite ongoing mental health issues. The report goes on to say that Hill wrote of wanting to emulate the Columbine shooters. Police determined that the assailant acted alone in the planning and execution of the attack. Hill was killed by police during the shooting. No other charges are expected. For NPR News, I'm Paige Flager in Nashville.

Tesla said Wednesday that sales of its electric vehicles dropped by 13 percent of the first quarter of the year, and the company delivered three hundred thirty six thousand vehicles, making this the worst showing since the second quarter of twenty twenty two. the company to sell 390,000 vehicles. The weaker-than-expected demand is likely due to a combination of factors, competition from other automakers to make electric vehicles, its aging line of vehicles, and Elon Musk's involvement in politics. This is NPR. Support for NPR.