NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-03-2025 3PM EDT

Episode Date: April 3, 2025

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Imagine, if you will, a show from NPR that's not like NPR, a show that focuses not on the important but the stupid, which features stories about people smuggling animals in their pants and competent criminals in ridiculous science studies, and call it Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me because the good names were taken. Listen to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Yes, that is what it is called wherever You Get Your Podcasts. Lakhshmi Singh Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakhshmi Singh. The Pentagon watchdog is expected to launch an investigation into Defense Secretary Pete

Hegseth's use of the Signal Messaging app. Today, Acting Inspector General Stephen Stebbins announced his office would review Hegseth's use of the commercial texting app to discuss military strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen last month. Security concerns were raised after a journalist revealed he was mistakenly included in the group chat. NPR CEO Catherine Maher is chair of the board of the foundation that oversees the app. US stocks have tanked as President Trump presses ahead with new sweeping tariffs. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick tells CNN that Trump's reordering global trade, he also

had this warning for US trading partners. If you're angry and you fight back to the greatest customer in the world, you're going to lose. We are the sumo wrestler of this world. We are the biggest economy, the biggest customer. You can't fight back against your customer. Yesterday, Trump announced 10% tariffs on all countries, additional reciprocal tariffs on some trading partners,

and 25% tariffs on imports of cars and parts took effect today. Critics warn these tariffs are a bad move, one that will translate into a surge in prices, weigh on customers, and push the country into a recession. French President Emmanuel Macron is urging French companies to pause investment in the US until there is more clarity on Trump's new global tariffs.

NPR's Rebecca Rossman has more. Speaking to French business leaders today, Macron called Trump's terms quote, brutal and unfounded. He recommended companies suspend investment in the US until the trade duties are clarified, stating that continuing investments while facing these penalties would send the wrong message. Under the new levies, all European Union countries are being taxed at 20 percent. Mac Qualtz suggested a halt investment is one of the most hawkish responses yet among EU leaders. He also called for a strategic European response, including the potential for a tax on digital services, targeting U.S. tech giants who make significant profits

from European markets. Rebecca Rossman and PR News, Paris. U.S. District Judge James Boesberg hears a challenge this hour to the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The law gives the president authority to detain or deport nationals of an enemy nation during wartime or invasion. It had not been invoked since World War II until last month.

President Trump used it as the basis to deport to Central America hundreds of migrants accused of being members of violent gangs, the president designated foreign terrorist organizations. The Dow is down roughly 1400 points. This is NPR News. States are beginning to pause plans to bring high-speed broadband to rural Americans who lack at-home internet. NPR's Bobbi Allen reports this because the administration's making changes to a federal program to nudge states towards satellite service. Under a $42 billion grant program passed by Congress in 2021, fiber optic cables are set to extend into rural areas to connect millions of underserved Americans. But the Trump administration now says states should delay

construction to consider options like Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service. Policy analyst Drew Garner says Trump's changes to the initiative are aimed at giving Musk Starlink a boost. He is trying to take your tax dollars for himself and in return he will give you slower, more expensive internet service. Trump officials say after years of delay, their plan will bring internet to remote communities most efficiently. Bobbi Allen, NPR News.

The government of Hungary has withdrawn its country from the International Criminal Court shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sought under an ICC arrest warrant, arrived in the country for a state visit. Here's NPR's Rob Schmitz. Populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán invited Netanyahu to Budapest in November, a day after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli leader over allegations of war crimes in Gaza, where Israel launched its offensive following an attack by Hamas-led fighters on southern Israel. Israel has rejected these accusations. As a founding

member of the ICC, Hungary is theoretically required to arrest and hand over anyone subject to a warrant from the court, but Orban made clear Hungary would not respect the ruling. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin. The Dow is down more than 3 percent, SMP has fallen more than 4 percent, Nasdaq's down 5 percent. It's NPR.