NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-04-2025 7AM EDT

Episode Date: April 4, 2025

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This is out of her glass. In Lily's family, there's a story everybody knows by heart. If this story had never happened, All of us wouldn't be here right now. Sammy wouldn't be here. Nina wouldn't be here. Wally wouldn't be here. Anyone that we know wouldn't be here. So what happens when Lily's mom tells her this story is not true?

This American Life, surprising stories every week. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman. Stock markets in Asia and Europe dropped sharply today, reacting to yesterday's enormous losses on Wall Street. This morning in pre-market trading, Dow Jones' industrial average futures are down by more than 1,100 points. These drops come after President Trump announced worldwide tariffs. NPR's Scott Horsley has more. Trump has ordered tariffs that are not only higher but also broader than those we've seen before. He's planning to tax all kinds of things that we do not and cannot produce at scale here,

like tropical fruit. Even with global warming, I don't think we're going to start growing a lot of bananas in the U.S. So we're going to import the bananas, but Americans are going to pay more for them, and nervous shoppers have already started dial back their spending. NPR's Scott Horsley reporting. Trump's minimum 10 percent tariffs will start taking effect tomorrow. China has now become the first major economy to retaliate.

Chinese state media are reporting China will impose tariffs of 34 percent on all goods imported from the U.S. That will begin April 10th. The Pentagon's acting inspector general will investigate Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his use of the messaging app Signal to discuss military operations. Last month, a journalist was inadvertently added to a group chat on impending U.S. strikes

against rebels in Yemen. And here's Alaina Moore reports. The Pentagon probe follows an inquiry request sent by the top Republican and Democratic senators on the Armed Services Committee. in Yemen and bears Elena Moore reports. The Pentagon probe follows an inquiry request sent by the top Republican and Democratic senators on the Armed Services Committee. In a letter to the IG, Senators Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Jack Reed of Rhode Island say the incident raises questions

about, quote, the use of unclassified networks to discuss sensitive and classified information. The Senate committee has also said it plans to hold a hearing on the matter. Hegs committee has also said it plans to hold a hearing on the matter. Hegseth has denied that classified war plans were discussed in the Signal chat. Alaina Moore, NPR News, Washington. A note, NPR CEO Catherine Maher chairs the board of the Signal Foundation. This supports the messaging app.

The Israeli military has released details of its investigation into the single deadliest attack that Hamas led on October 7, 2023. This comes as Israeli troops expand their ground incursion in Gaza. And here's Daniel Estrin reports from Tel Aviv. The Israeli military investigated what happened at the Nova Music Festival near the Gaza border. It says dozens of police officers were overpowered by about 100 Palestinian attackers, and Israeli soldiers only arrived five hours later.

It says 344 civilians were killed there. A group representing families of victims of the Hamas attacks called the investigation superficial and demanded a state inquiry. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has resisted such an inquiry so long as the war continues. Israeli ground troops have taken over more territory in northern Gaza. Civilians were ordered to evacuate. Israel says the ground offensive will keep expanding until Hamas agrees to release hostages. Danielle Lestrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

This is NPR. The top Democrats on the Senate and House Intelligence committees are upset following news reports that the director of the National Security Agency has been fired. The New York Times and The Washington Post are reporting General Timothy Hawk has been dismissed. NPR has not independently confirmed this. The NCAA men's college basketball final four games are poised to kick off in San Antonio. The head coaches of Duke, Houston, Auburn, and Florida are preparing their teams for the semifinal games on

Saturday. Texas Public Radio's Joey Palacios has more. The locker rooms are abuzz and the court inside the 65,000 seat Alamodome is ready. Saturday's first game will see the Florida Gators versus the Auburn Tigers. Florida head coach Todd Golden will face his mentor, Bruce Pearl of Auburn. Golden says it's surreal. I know he's incredibly proud of me.

I'm incredibly grateful for him and his family and the opportunities that they provided for me. I would not be here if I didn't have my relationship and experience working with and being around Bruce and his son Stephen. The last time they met on the court was February when Florida won. Saturday's second game is Houston versus Duke. The finals are on Monday. I'm Joey Palacios in San Antonio.

Meanwhile, the women's final four is tonight in Tampa. South Korea's top court has unanimously voted to uphold the impeachment of President Yeon Song-yol. He's been suspended from office for three months. That's because he briefly imposed martial law in South Korea last December. The South Korean top court decision means that South Korea must hold a fresh presidential election within two months. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News. NPR News.