NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-05-2025 12PM EDT

Episode Date: April 5, 2025

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These days, there is a lot of news. It can be hard to keep up with what it means for you, your family, and your community. Consider This from NPR is a podcast that helps you make sense of the news. Six days a week, we bring you a deep dive on a story and provide the context, backstory, and analysis you need to understand our rapidly changing world. Listen to the Consider This Podcast from NPR. Noor Rahm Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noor Rahm. Shortly before three o'clock this morning, the Republican-led U.S. Senate approved a blueprint for trillions of dollars in spending for tax, defense, and immigration policy. NPR's Claudia Grisales reports the House takes it up next, but there are political hurdles.

Claudia Grisales Congressional Republicans are racing to enact key elements of President Trump's domestic policy. But Senate and House lawmakers already face some major divides on what that final multi-trillion-dollar measure should look like. It reimagines defense, energy, immigration, and tax policy spending, including plans to extend tax cuts passed during Trump's first term and lifting the U.S. debt limit by $5 trillion to avert a potential breach this summer. But House Republican fiscal hawks say the Senate blueprint does not reduce enough of the federal deficit, with some saying it's time to cut into Medicaid.

But that's a political third rail for many Senate Republicans and even some of their moderate House counterparts. Claudia Risales, NPR News. Wall Street had its worst day in five years yesterday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 2,000 points. Stocks started dropping after President Trump announced he's imposing tariffs on most imported products. NPR's Maria Aspin reports the sell-off hurts most Americans.

About 60 percent of U.S. households own stocks, according to the Federal Reserve. And you know, the market is where people usually have their retirement savings invested through 401Ks or other retirement plans. But President Trump, who once really cared about how the stock market was doing, seems to be shrugging off this week's crash and what it means for all of his constituents. He posted on Truth Social this morning that, my policies will never change and this is a great time to get rich. Danielle Pletka NPR's Maria Aspin. China announced today the market has spoken and is imposing a 34%

levy on US goods. Palestinian medical officials say they have obtained video footage that refutes Israel claims about the killing of 15 aid workers in Gaza last week. NPR's Daniel Estrin has more. The UN says rescue crews in Gaza recently discovered the bodies of 15 aid workers. Israel's military says it targeted the vehicles because they appeared suspicious and were operating in the dark without emergency lights. The Palestine Red Crescent Society released a video. It says a paramedic filmed on his phone found with his body.

There's heavy gunfire. The rescue vehicles have headlights and red emergency lights on. A man's voice says, Mom, forgive me. This is the path I chose to help people. Israel says a high-level military investigation is taking place to determine whether to open a criminal investigation into misconduct. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. This is NPR News.

The National Weather Service is forecasting more rain today in parts of the South and Midwest, already soaked by days of severe storms. Several communities are still recovering from tornadoes this week that destroyed entire neighborhoods. At least seven people died. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says a 9-year-old boy was killed by floodwaters as he walked to a school bus stop. Today, hundreds of protests against President Trump are planned in all 50 states. A rally in D.C. gets underway at this hour. NPR's Amy Held reports.

Half a million people are signed up for more than 1,200 protests. Some 150 groups, including unions, veterans, and civil rights organizations, are behind today's mass action called Hands Off, as organizers work to distill disparate voices to a unifying message. Trump's cuts help his billionaire friends and hurt the average American. In D.C., Julia Camino is a student loan recipient who credits the Department of Education for helping her achieve her education. So I'm here to say that the executive order is attacking it. The funding cuts, the attacks on Title IX, all of that, they will hurt students like me.

The main protest is happening near the White House on the National Mall. Amy Held and PR News. In hockey, Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitol scored the 894th goal of his career last night, matching the record of hockey great Wayne Gretzky when he retired 26 years ago. Ovechkin will have a chance to break his record since the caps of six games left this season. I'm Noora Rahm, NPR News in Washington. Since Donald Trump took office in January, a lot has happened. The White House Budget NPR News in Washington.