NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-08-2025 6PM EDT

Episode Date: April 8, 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. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Trump's trade representative faced questions on Capitol Hill about the strategy behind President Trump's sweeping tariffs. NPR's Deidre Walsh reports his testimony elicited sharp questions from all sides. U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer says dozens of countries have reached out to negotiate

rather than retaliate because of the new tariffs. As the countries come to approach us, what we've told them is if you have a better idea to achieve reciprocity and to get our trade deficit down, we want to talk to you. We want to negotiate with you. But several GOP senators press Greer for answers about the impact on businesses and consumers. He declined to give a timeline for how long they would be in place. North Carolina Republican Tom Tillis, who is running for re-election in the 2026 midterms, argued the White House has about 14 months to prove its economic plans will help Americans. I wish you well, but I am skeptical. Greer will testify before a House panel on Wednesday.

Deirdre Walsh, NPR News, The Capitol. An immigration judge in Louisiana says she'll decide later this week whether a Columbia University activist involved in pro-Palestinian protests can continue to be detained by the government. 30-year-old Mahmoud Khalil, who is a legal U.S. resident, was the first to have a number of foreign-born students targeted for deportation. MPR's Adrian Flourio was in the courtroom. Judge Jamie Komen set a lightning-fast timeline. She gave the government a day to submit its

evidence to support the charge that Khalil poses a threat to the foreign policy interests of the United States and that he committed fraud on his green card application. She said that two days later on Friday, she's going to rule on whether he should be released or whether he should be deported. His lawyers were a little bit concerned that that wouldn't give them enough time to review the evidence that the government submits against him. But if the judge rules that he should be deported, that decision would be appealable. NPR's Adrian Florido in Gina, Louisiana.

Stocks rallied for a time on Wall Street today in hopes negotiations might bring a speedy end to President Trump's trade war, but as NPR's Scott Horstley reports, it didn't last with new tariffs set to take effect at midnight. Stocks rebounded early in the day as investors focused on news that South Korea and other trading partners are working to make a deal with the Trump administration. The White House press secretary says nearly 70 countries have reached out in hopes of striking a compromise. President Trump seems open to deal-making and directed his team to craft tailor-made agreements based on each country's circumstances. The short-life market rally fizzled late in the day, however, as

investors faced up to the fact that double-digit tariffs are set to take effect overnight on goods the U.S. imports from dozens of countries. Economists say those import taxes will raise prices and slow economic growth. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington. The Dow dropped 320 points. The Nasdaq was down more than 2 percent today. You're listening to NPR. A union has filed suit to stop the Trump administration from

dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services, or IMLS. It's the federal agency that gives grant money to museums and libraries. As NPR's Andrew Limbong reports, the president issued an executive order calling for an end to the program. The union is the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME. They got together with the American Library Association to file a lawsuit, claiming President Trump's dismantling of the IMLS is a violation of the separation of powers as well as a violation of the First Amendment. Last week, President Trump's new appointee to run the IMLS placed its entire staff on administrative leave, meaning any grants the agency had issued are now up in the air.

Libraries in rural areas are likely to be the hardest hit since they're the most reliant on federal funds. AFSCME President Lee Saunders wrote in a statement, library workers, quote, deserve support, not cuts. Andrew Limbong, NPR News. Clem Burke, the iconic drummer who played with punk legend Deborah Harry in the group Blondie is Died, Burke whose career spanned new wave punk to disco, died after a battle with cancer, according to the group's website, though no additional details were provided. Burke began playing drums at the age of 14 in the 1970s, answered an ad in the Village Voice, starting a decades-long career with Harry and the rest of the group. In 2006, Burke and other original members of Blondie

were inducted into the Rock and Wall Hall of Fame. Clem Burke was 70 years old. Crude oil prices continued to fall, oiled down a dollar and 12 cents a barrel to 59.58 a barrel in New York. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.