NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-06-2025 4PM EDT

Episode Date: April 6, 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. NORA RAMM Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. President Trump's tariffs appear to be unpopular with voters, but as NPR's Mar Eliason reports, Trump does not appear to be backing off. MAR ELIASON In the past, President Trump has reversed course

when the markets or voters reacted negatively to his policies. But this time, White House advisors say he is staying the course and Trump himself posted last week quote, by policies will never change. A majority of Americans tell pollsters they disapprove of Trump's tariffs and the S&P 500 is down by 15% since Inauguration Day. It's also unclear which of Trump's stated reasons for the tariffs will win out. The White House sometimes says they're meant to be permanent in order to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. and bring in enough money, hundreds of billions of dollars, to pay for

tax cuts and balance the budget. Other times, Trump has suggested the tariffs are just a negotiating tactic. Mara Laiusen, NPR News. U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins says looming job cuts in the agency are not a step towards privatizing the service. From member station WDET, Quinn Klinefelder reports. The VA is considering eliminating more than 80,000 jobs, and the Trump administration is trying to terminate collective bargaining at the agency.

Unions call it an attempt to begin moving the VA to the private sector. But VA Secretary Doug Collins says veterans already use more than just government healthcare. With all due respect to the unions, quit scaring people. We're not in favor of privatization. The VA will always have a place for our veterans in this country.

We'll have many who work in a VA themselves that get their healthcare here, and they may get some of their healthcare in the community. Collins contends VA is focusing on improving customer service while reducing its bureaucracy. For NPR News, I'm Quyen Kleinfelter in Detroit. Health officials in Texas confirm a second unvaccinated child has died of measles in that state. An unvaccinated adult died in New Mexico last month. Federal health officials confirm more than 600 measles cases nationwide. Supporters of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen are taking to the streets

today, days after a court barred her from running for president in 2027. Rebecca Rossman reports. A new video from Le Pen's National Rally Party is urging people to protest what it calls, quote, the tyranny of judges. Last week, Le Pen was convicted of embezzling millions in EU funds and sentenced to a five-year ban from holding public office. The ruling has triggered outrage from her supporters and concern for the French judiciary. Police are now stationed outside the home of the lead magistrate who has received death threats. Le Pen had been leading in early polls for the 2027 presidential race.

Party leaders say today's demonstration will be peaceful and a show of public support for her candidacy despite the court's decision. Rebecca Rossman, NPR News, Paris. This is NPR News in Washington. Germany today marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp. U.S. soldiers liberated the Nazi camp on April 11th of 1945. Holocaust survivors from across Europe attended today's memorial.

Former German President Christian Wolf called for an active commitment to democracy and the preservation of humanity. Hockey has a new all-time scoring leader. Alex Ovechkin, the Washington capital star, scored the 895th goal of his career today, enough to finally overtake hockey's all-time great, Wayne Gretzky. NPR's Becky Sullivan reports. It couldn't have been a more fitting goal for Ovechkin, a Capitals power play with number eight drifting all alone by the left face-off circle.

A teammate passed him the puck, he squared up the shot, and made history. Wayne Gretzky claimed the NHL goals record back in 1994, and by the time he retired five years later, many in hockey wondered if anyone would ever break it. Then along came Alex Ovechkin, the Russian goal scoring machine in Washington. It's taken him 20 seasons to get here. He's 39 now. And in a TV interview after breaking the record, Ovechkin said it was a relief to have it done. Finally, no one's going to ask me about when you're going to do it.

So it's over. Right now we just have to focus on the game. Next up up the playoffs and he hopes a second Stanley Cup. Becky Sullivan in PR News. In college basketball the women's NCAA championship is underway at this hour between South Carolina and the University of Connecticut. The men's final is tomorrow between Houston and Florida. I'm Nora Rahm, NPR News.