NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-07-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: April 8, 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 Jack Spear. President Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House today and again talked about how he thinks the U.S. should control Gaza. MPR's Michelle Kalman reports Trump has been floating the idea

since coming to office. Netanyahu's visit comes just weeks after the Israeli military resumed a major ground offensive in Gaza, shattering hopes that a ceasefire would be extended to get more hostages out. Trump is talking about a new ceasefire and his vision for Gaza. I think it's an incredible piece of important real estate, and I think it's something that we would be involved in, but having a peace force like the United States there controlling and owning the Gaza Strip

would be a good thing. Trump says Palestinians should be, in his words, moved around to different countries to make Gaza a, quote, freedom zone. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department. The Supreme Court today ordered a brief administrative stay, allowing a time to consider legal questions The Trump administration admits that it mistakenly deported Kilmar Abrego-Garcia, an El Salvadoran citizen who's been living in the United States for almost 15 years. The administration now says the deportation was an error, but that it is under no obligation to get him released from a notorious prison in El Salvador and returned to his wife and

son in the U.S. A federal judge in Maryland ordered the government to do just that by midnight tonight, but the Trump administration appealed to the high court. And this afternoon, Chief Justice John Roberts issued a brief administrative stay to allow the justices time to consider the issues in the case. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington. Stocks won wildly today as investors look for signs of a possible ceasefire in President Trump's trade war. NPR's Scott Horsley reports the Trump administration is sending conflicting signals about where

trade policy might be going. Stocks have mostly nosedived in the U.S. and around the world since President Trump announced his sweeping tariffs last week, but domestic stocks briefly rallied on hopes the administration might be willing to suspend some of those tariffs as it negotiates with other countries. President Trump spoke by telephone with Japan's Prime Minister, and the head of the European Commission said her side is always ready to make a good deal. The short-lived rally is a sign of just how desperate many investors are for some relief from the tariffs, which threaten to raise prices and slow economic growth.

Trump is warning of even higher tariffs on imports from China if that country moves forward with its own taxes on U.S US exports. Scott Horsley, Impair News, Washington. That rally mostly fizzled. The Dow was down 349 points today. You're listening to NPR. President Trump says the US and Iran are participating in direct talks over the Middle Eastern countries nuclear program. Trump saying, quote, we are having talks with Iran they've begun and we'll go on Saturday. We'll have a very big meeting we'll see what can happen. Trump's remarks come as Russia, China and Iran were slated to hold consultations at the expert level on Iran's disputed nuclear program. Trump has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran unless it comes

to an agreement with Washington. The Trump administration is forming a special team to investigate complaints against transgender athletes. The government says it is receiving an increasing number of complaints from people who don't want transgender athletes in girls and women's sports. MPR's Kristen Wright reports. The Justice Department and the Department of Education are forming the Title IX Special Investigations Team.

The government says the unit will streamline complaints, speed up investigations, and resolve cases faster. Education Secretary Linda McMahon made the announcement on X. The establishment of this team will benefit women and girls across this nation who have been subjected to discrimination and indignity in their educational activities. McMahon says the team will address a quote, staggering number of complaints. This, as the education department was recently

gutted to half its size. President Trump issued an executive order in February banning transgender athletes from women's sports. But critics say these athletes make up only a handful of players on teams. Kristin Wright, NPR News, Washington. Critical futures prices continue to slide today amidst ongoing global market jitters

oiled down $1.29 a barrel to $60.70 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. 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 switch.