NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-29-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: April 29, 2025

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Do you remember when discovering a new artist felt like finding buried treasure? At All Songs Considered, NPR's music recommendation podcast, we put that kind of magic back into discovering new tracks. We're here to make the hunt for new music easy, delivering you the cream of the crop from every genre. We'll help you make music feel fun again, only on All Songs Considered from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, on Korova Coleman, negotiations between the U.S.

and trading partners are ongoing. They're intended to avoid some of the steep tariffs President Trump announced and then paused earlier this month. As NPR's Tamara Keith reports, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant is putting a positive spin on the economic uncertainty. In a briefing, Besant said Trump creates, quote, strategic uncertainty. But he insisted there is a process in place

to navigate the president's trade war. We have 18 important trading relationships. We'll put China to the side, 17. They are in motion. Besant didn't elaborate on the full list of countries, but expressed optimism. I could see some announcements on India. I could see the contours of a deal with the Republic of Korea coming together.

And then we've had substantial talks with the Japanese. Besant said China is under financial pressure to reduce tariffs on the United States. Tamara Keith, NPR News, The White House. Voters in Canada have chosen Liberal Party leader Mark Carney for their next Prime Minister. Canadian support for the Liberal Party surged after President Trump took office. He has imposed heavy tariffs on Canada. And while insulting Canadian leaders, he has declared Canada will become America's 51st state.

The remarks have infuriated Canadians. Mark Carney warns Trump's threats are not idle. President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never, that will never ever happen. Carney's main opponent and leader of the Conservative Party even lost his seat in the Canadian Parliament. He was seen as closely aligned with President Trump. A coalition of unions, nonprofits, and local jurisdictions are challenging the reorganization of the federal government. In Piers Andrea Shue reports, the plaintiffs argue the president cannot

undertake such massive changes without congressional approval. President Trump has said repeatedly that he has a mandate from the American people to eliminate waste and bloat in the federal government. But in its lawsuit, the coalition argues that the moves that Trump, along with Elon Musk, and the heads of close to two dozen agencies are taking violate the separation of powers that only Congress can approve shuttering or dramatically downsizing agencies that Congress itself created. The plaintiffs, which include the American Public Health Association, the City of Chicago,

and others, have asked a federal court in San Francisco to avoid Trump's executive order directing agencies to conduct mass layoffs, as well as any downsizing plans agencies have already submitted. Andrea Hsu, NPR News. Illinois State Police say a deadly car crash yesterday near Springfield does not appear to be intentional. Three children and a young adult were killed when a car plowed through a building. They were attending an after-school program. The driver has been taken to the hospital. This is NPR. A bill is on its way to President Trump's desk.

It aims to penalize those who publish and promote revenge porn. Under the act, offenders would be subject to potential prison time, a fine, or both, if they publish real or computer-generated nude images of adults or children without their consent. The First Lady has backed the bill. President Trump is expected to sign it. The Trump administration wants to defund specialized services for LGBTQ-plus youth in the U.S. through the 9-8-8 suicide and crisis lifeline.

NPR's Ritu Chatterjee reports that's according to a leaked budget proposal. While anyone calling or texting 9-8-8 can be connected to a trained counselor, LGBTQ youth receive more specialized care because they're at a higher risk of suicide. We know that LGBTQ plus youth are more than four times as likely to make a suicide attempt than their peers. Hannah Waselowski is chief advocacy officer at the National Alliance for Mental Illness. And we know that crisis services geared towards LGBTQ plus youth and young adults works. You know, these services save lives.

Since it launched, 988 has received nearly 1.3 million calls and chats from such youth. Mental health advocates are concerned that taking away the service from 988 could be devastating for individuals. Ritu Chatterjee, NPR News. International shipping company DHL says it will resume shipping packages to the U.S. that are worth between 800 and $2,500. DHL had suspended this saying President Trump's tariffs had created logistical problems. This is NPR.