NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-24-2025 2AM EDT

Episode Date: April 24, 2025

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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 Detrow, 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 Term terms from NPR.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens. A coalition of Democratic Attorneys General is suing to block President Trump's tariffs. From member station KJZZ in Phoenix, Cameron Sanchez reports. The 12 Attorneys General argue that Congress, not the president, holds the power to impose tariffs. The suit notes that in emergencies, the president has the power to create tariffs, but says that Trump is overstepping his bounds and illegally declaring tariffs at his whim. The lawsuit is co-led by Arizona Attorney General Chris Mays.

We are facing an unprecedented and lawless presidency, one that has made a habit over the last three months of disregarding the separation of powers and ignoring the two other co-equal branches of government. The attorneys general are specifically challenging four of Trump's executive orders and argue the tariffs will leave Americans shouldering high costs. For NPR News, I'm Cameron Sanchez in Phoenix. Tensions were high at a town hall meeting hosted by Republican Senator Chuck Grassley Wednesday in the south-central Iowa community of Norwood. Some audience members expressed their disagreement over federal layoffs, mass deportations and

tariffs. Grassley was pressed on the Trump administration's response to the U.S. Supreme Court order to return a Maryland man who was illegally deported to El Salvador. It also said to the district judge that you should be careful that you don't interfere with the constitutional responsibilities of the federal government to conduct our foreign affairs,

which is totally within the executive branch of government. Grassley drew a mixed response by saying there would be no debate over the whereabouts of Gilmar Obrego-Garcia if President Biden had policed the border. A relief rally continued on Wall Street Wednesday. NPR's Scott Horsley reports that all of the major stock indexes rose by more than 1 percent.

Investors are cautiously optimistic there could be some easing of trade tensions between the U.S. and China. Treasury Secretary Scott Besson says there's an opportunity for a big deal between the world's two largest economies, though so far the Trump administration has not offered to relax its triple-digit tariffs on imports from China. Boeing is one of the nation's largest exporters and one of the blue-chip firms that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The jetmaker's stock gained altitude after Boeing reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss.

Tesla shares were also up. After CEO Elon Musk promised to spend more time running the company and less time in Washington, Tesla suffered a sharp drop in sales and profits in its most recent quarter. Scott Horsley, MPR News, Washington. P.J. WIPE, CNN, WJP. Cardinals have been meeting to prepare for the funeral of Pope Francis and the conclave to elect his successor.

A public viewing of Francis' casket at St. Peter's Basilica resumes Thursday. The Vatican estimates more than 19,000 people have paid their respects. This is NPR. U.S. European and Ukrainian officials ended peace talks in London Wednesday without reaching an agreement. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is ruling out any peace plan that requires his nation to cede land to Russia. President Trump warned Zelensky that he is prolonging the war by refusing to recognize Russian control of Crimea, which Russia has occupied since 2014.

Speaking in India Wednesday, Vice President J.D. Vance said the U.S. would walk away from the peace process if Russia and Ukraine do not reach a deal soon. In Louisiana, a bill to ban the addition of fluoride to drinking water has advanced in the state Senate. The Gulf States newsroom's Drew Hawkins has the story. Louisiana state legislators debated the bill Wednesday evening. Republican state Senator Mike Facey wrote the bill. So I just don't understand why we were putting such a poison into our water.

Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham supports the bill, but many Louisiana dentists have come out against it. Dr. Jeffrey Kirst, director of Louisiana Dental Association, says studies that found fluoridated water can affect IQ and other medical conditions are related to high doses of fluoride. And we don't fluoridate at even half of that level. We're below half of that. The bill is now headed for a floor debate. Utah is the only other state to ban water fluoridation. For NPR News, I'm Drew Hawkins in New Orleans. U.S. futures are flat in after hours trading on Wall Street.

On Asia Pacific market, shares are mixed. Up a fraction in Tokyo, down 1% in Hong Kong. This is NPR News. At NPR News.