NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-08-2025 5AM 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 Dave Mattingly. Stocks in Asia rebounded today following a day of steep losses. Japan's Nikkei index closed up 6 percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index gained about 1.5 percent. A day earlier, the Hang Seng lost more than 13 percent, its worst single day of declines

in nearly three decades, amid investor worries about President Trump's sweeping tariffs and a global trade war. Beijing says it will not be intimidated by President Trump's tariffs and threats to impose additional ones on goods imported from China. As NPR's John Ruich reports, Beijing says it will continue to take countermeasures in response to what it calls U.S. bullying. Trump made the threat of additional tariffs on social media.

It's a response to Beijing's decision to match his 34% tariff on Chinese goods announced last week as part of his worldwide tariff agenda. In a strongly worded statement, China's Commerce Ministry says the threat of additional tariffs is, quote, adding a mistake on top of a mistake. It said the action exposes the extortionate nature

of the United States and China will never accept it. If Trump follows through, Chinese goods entering the US will be hit with tariffs amounting to 104%. China's Commerce Ministry was defiant. It said China would match the US step-for-step if it keeps going down this path and deploy countermeasures to safeguard its rights and interests. John Rewich, NPR News, Beijing. As the Trump administration continues downsizing the government, some federal agencies continue to give employees a choice, were signed with pay and benefits through September or risk being fired later. As NPR's Andrea Hsu reports, the deadlines for federal employees to make

that decision is approaching. Tens of thousands of federal employees to make that decision is approaching. Danielle Pletka Ten of thousands of federal employees accepted the original deferred resignation offer back in late January, but far more were leery, unsure of what they were agreeing to or if the government would honor the terms. While not all of those concerns have been resolved, many more workers are considering the deal this time, now that agencies have announced mass layoffs ahead. The problem is at most agencies, there's little information about who or what will be cut. And in most cases, employees have only been given a week or two to make their decision. With fears of an economic recession growing, many federal employees wonder how long it might take them

to find a new job. Andrea Hsu, NPR News. Andrew Shue, NPR News The U.S. Supreme Court says the Trump administration may continue to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members, citing an 18th century wartime law. However, in its 5-4 ruling, the high court also said those facing deportation must be given notice and the opportunity to contest it on a case-by-case basis. The U.S. Supreme Court says the legal challenge to the deportations brought by the ACLU and the group Democracy Forward should have been brought in Texas. This is NPR News from Washington.

The University of Florida is celebrating its third national championship in men's Division I college basketball. As Joey Palacios with Texas Public Radio reports, March Madness wrapped up last night in San Antonio with the Gators rallying to beat the Houston Cougars 65-63. The Florida Gators took a bite out of the Houston Cougars inside the Alamodome, closing a 12-point gap in the second half. This is Florida's third national championship win. The last wins were in 2006 and 2007. Head coach Todd

Goltan says he's proud of everyone in his program. I do think what separates us and what has separated us all season long is our team talent and the way our guys have played together and for each other all year and because of that we can call each other national champions for the rest of our lives. Florida Guard Walter Clayton jr. was named the Final Four's most outstanding player. I'm Joey Palacios in San Antonio. On Sunday, UConn won the Women's National Championship. The drummer of the iconic rock band Blondie has died. Clem Burke

was 70 years old. The band says Burke died of cancer. Blondie had four number one songs in the 1970s and early 80s, including Rapture and Heart of Glass. In 2006, Burke and the other original members of the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, having sold 42 million records. NASA says astronaut Johnny Kim and two Russian cosmonauts are on their way to the International Space Station. They launched from Kazakhstan today aboard a Russian spacecraft for roughly an eight-month mission. I'm Dave Mattingly in Washington.

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