NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-09-2025 2AM EDT

Episode Date: April 9, 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 Shea Stevens. Despite announcements that the Trump administration is ready to talk tariffs, mixed messages continue to royal global markets. More from NPR's Meyer Lyson. According to White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, the president has directed his trade

team to create tailor-made deals for each country. It's still not clear what Trump's goal is, to eliminate trade imbalances in goods but not services with every country in the world or to use the big tariffs to bring in what he says will be trillions of dollars of revenue. Levitt says 70 countries have reached out to the White House since Trump announced the tariffs. The Israeli prime minister has already been to the White House and next week the leaders

of El Salvador and Italy will come. Financial markets all over the world have reacted negatively to Trump's tariffs, but they've rebounded a bit when the White House messaging started focusing more on negotiating deals. Mara Eliason, NPR News. The IRS has reached a deal with immigration authorities to share tax information on some migrants who do not have legal status. The New York Times and the Washington Post are quoting sources as saying the acting IRS commissioner has resigned in protest. Melanie Krauss would be the third acting commissioner to lead that agency this year. State lawmakers have turned back an attempt to bring Nebraska

in line with most other winner-take-all states. As NPR's Giles Snyder reports, Nebraska's blue dot has survived an effort to change how the state awards presidential electoral votes. Nebraska Republicans failed to overcome a filibuster. Two GOP lawmakers broke with the party despite a pressure campaign by Republican Governor Jim Pillin. The winner-take-all push heated up during the 2024 presidential campaign when there was speculation that the race could be decided

by just one vote, Omaha's Blue Dot Second Congressional District. Nebraska is one of only two states that split their electoral votes by congressional district. Giles Snyder reporting. The State Department says it's aware of reports that Ukraine has captured two Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia. As NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports, the news is adding to the Trump administration's frustration in getting a ceasefire deal. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce says it is disturbing to see Chinese citizens

fighting on behalf of Russia in Ukraine. China is a major enabler of Russia in the war in Ukraine, China provides nearly 80% of the dual-use items Russian leads to sustain the war. 80% comes from China. She says the US will know in a matter of weeks whether Russia is serious about peace. Bruce adds that a deadly Russian ballistic missile strike on President Volodymyr Zelensky's hometown further heightens, in her words, President Trump's urgent call for peace. Michelle Kelliman, NPR News, the State Department.

You're listening to NPR. At least 500 cases of measles have now been confirmed in West Texas, the epicenter of an outbreak that spread to multiple states. At least three people have died from the disease, including two children. In a post online, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says the MMR vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles. Some children who've tested positive for the disease are reportedly too young to be fully vaccinated.

Tony Award-winning songwriter William Fenn has died at the age of 73, then was best known for quirky, and at times highly personal musicals, among them, Falsettos. Jeff London has this report from New York. The Massachusetts native studied at Williams College and first burst on the scene in the 1970s and 80s with a trio of off-Broadway

musicals centered around a gay neurotic New York character named Marvin, much like Finn himself. Two of them were combined in 1992 as falsettos. Finn won the Tony for best score. In 1998, he wrote a new brain based in part on his own medical struggles and near-death experience. And in 2005, his most popular show, the 25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.

US futures are down over 2% as President Trump's global tariffs kick in. Asian markets are mostly lower, down over 4.5% in Tokyo, and down nearly 2% in Hong Kong. This is NPR News. 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.