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Episode Date: April 7, 2025

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This message comes from Mint Mobile. Mint Mobile took what's wrong with wireless and made it right. They offer premium wireless plans for less and all plans include high-speed data, unlimited talk and text, and nationwide coverage. See for yourself at mintmobile.com slash switch. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Herbst. President Trump's widespread tariffs on most imported products from most countries that went into effect this weekend have rattled Wall Street and world markets. And today, many of his cabinet members went on Sunday talk shows to defend their boss. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins tells CNN the 50 countries want to negotiate their

tariffs with Trump. But consumers are worried about the threat of a recession, which some economists say is now possible this year. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson, though, doesn't agree. Scott Besson, U.S. Secretary of State for the Department of State Affairs, I think we could see from the jobs number on Friday that was well above expectations that we are moving forward. So I see no reason that we have to price in a recession. Speaking there on NBC's Meet the Press.

Vietnam is asking President Trump to delay the implementation of sky-high tariffs that he announced last week. And Pierce John Rooich reports the government of the Southeast Asian country wants to negotiate, and it's dangling the prospect of zero tariffs on US imports. Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son met the US ambassador on Sunday. Son proposed that Trump hold off on implementing the tariffs on Vietnam in order to create an environment conducive to negotiations. In his tariff blitz last week, Trump hit Vietnam with a 46% levy. That's among the highest of any country. It's due to take effect on Wednesday Sun said the US tariffs are not consistent with the reality of bilateral economic and trade

Cooperation which has been booming. He said Vietnam is ready to negotiate and even reduce its tariffs on US goods to zero Vietnam is among the earliest countries seeking negotiations Which could be a test of Trump's willingness to haggle over his protectionist trade agenda. John Ruech, NPR News, Beijing. Around the country, hundreds of affordable housing renovations are at risk after the Trump administration froze a billion-dollar program. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports the goal was to make older places more livable and energy efficient.

In Emporia, Virginia, Trinity Woods Senior Living desperately needs new central air conditioning. Their old system died three years ago. Resident Dena Moore says summers are too hot even for bingo nights. Last year it was a god awful. The Department of Housing and Urban Development had awarded them and hundreds of other places money for an upgrade, potentially including solar panels. But now HUD says energy efficiency does not fit its mission. Julia Gordon oversaw the HUD program under President Biden and says it would help private

industry that's providing badly needed affordable housing. This is how government works at its best. Legal challenges allege that freezing this congressionally approved funding is unlawful. Jennifer Lutton, NPR News. U.S. futures contracts are lower Dow futures down about three and a half percent. You're listening to NPR News. In West Texas a second child has died from measles. The hospital treating the young girl says she was unvaccinated. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on social media today that he's in West Texas visiting the children's families.

Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic, says he sent the CDC there last month to help the state with vaccines, saying on X that the MMR vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles. Health officials there say there are more than 600 cases of measles around the country since the outbreak began in late January. For the first time this year, Hollywood has a blockbuster. And as NPR's Bob Mandello reports, it actually looks like a block. Minecraft the Movie is a kids' flick inspired by a video game. Anything you can imagine is possible.

As long as what you imagine can be built out of blocks. Reviews were mixed, and estimates suggested an opening weekend of around $55 million, but Minecraft topped that on its opening day. This place makes no sense. It will close out the weekend with about $157 million in North America alone. That's almost double this year's previous biggest opening. And it's the highest opening ever for a movie based on a video game. Minecraft is doing nearly as well overseas.

Its worldwide ticket sales after three days total more than $300 million. Bob Mandelo, NPR News. In U.S. futures contracts on Wall Street. Dow futures are down about 3.5%. NASDAQ futures are down 4.8%. S&P 500 futures are down nearly 4%. You're listening to NPR News. You want to follow what's happening in Washington, D.C., but you don't want to be scrolling your phone all day.

I'm Scott Detro, and NPR has a podcast that can help. It's called Trump's Terms, stories about big changes the 47th president is pursuing on his own terms. They're short, they're focused episodes that tell you calmly, factually, what is happening and what isn't. Listen to Trump's Terms from NPR.