NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-02-2025 6AM EDT

Episode Date: May 2, 2025

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Hey, it's Aisha Harris from Pop Culture Happy Hour. If you love NPR podcasts, you'll want the new NPR Plus podcast bundle. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat selection of NPR Plus podcasts with sponsor-free listening and bonus episodes. Plus, you'll be supporting public radio. Check it out at plus.npr.org. Live from NPR News in Washington on Corva Coleman, President Trump has closed a trade loophole that lets consumers buy cheap goods from China without paying any steep tariffs.

The targeted goods have to be worth $800 or less. Consumers often buy them from companies in China and Hong Kong like Tamu or Xi'an. A federal judge in Texas has ruled that President Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act to detain and deport certain Venezuelan immigrants from South Texas is unlawful. And Percerio Martinez Beltran reports this is the first time a federal judge has ruled the act cannot be used against the alleged gang members. The Venezuelan men in this Texas case are accused of being members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that the president describes as invading the United States. US District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., a Trump appointee, wrote the administration does not have the authority to detain the

men. That's because the gang's criminal activities, while harmful, do not constitute an invasion or predatory incursion as understood under the Alien Enemies Act. His decision covers all of the southern district of Texas, which includes Brownsville, McAllen and Houston. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News, Austin. President Trump has signed an executive order targeting federal funding for public broadcasting. He's trying to ban local public radio and public television stations from using taxpayer dollars to support NPR and PBS. trying to ban local public radio and public television stations from using taxpayer dollars to support NPR and PBS.

Trump accuses both networks of left-wing political bias. Both NPR and PBS have repeatedly said each is fair in their coverage. This week, President Trump has been touting his work after 100 days in office. Some voters who backed Trump in last year's election are not entirely pleased. From St. Louis Public Radio, Jason Rosenbaum reports some farmers in Missouri are hoping Trump eases back on some of his tariffs that they feel are destructive to their industry. Brian Kage co-owns a farm near Maysville in northern Missouri. He joined 58 percent of Missourians who voted for Trump, partly because he was uncomfortable

with Democrats' fiscal, environmental and social policies. But Kagee says tariffs laid out by the president will ultimately hurt his bottom line, especially if they make chemicals, fertilizer and equipment more expensive. You know, it's just a government interference into the markets that affect our lives every day. Kagey says he hopes public backlash over tariffs will push Republicans to once again embrace free market principles like they did before Trump became the GOP's leader roughly a decade ago. For NPR News, I'm Jason Rosenbaum in St. Louis. An NPR poll out this week shows a majority of respondents believe Trump's tariffs will

hurt the economy, but two-thirds of Republican respondents say these will help. On immigration, a majority said they disapprove of the president's work, but a majority of GOP respondents approve. This is NPR. Relief agencies are warning loudly food is running out in Gaza. Some are warning of famine. Israel has blocked all aid into Gaza for the past two months. The World Food Program says this is the longest closure by Israel since the war started.

The organizations are demanding that Israel comply with international law. Israel says it's trying to force Hamas to release hostages. Europe is preparing new sanctions against Russia. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports France's foreign minister spoke after discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barreau says America and Europe have converging objectives concerning Russia's war in Ukraine. The only obstacle to peace in Ukraine today is Vladimir Putin, he said, referring to the Russian president.

Barrow said Europeans are going to join American initiatives to bring peace with a 17th package of sanctions against Russia. He said Europe wants to coordinate on substance and timing with America. I promised Senator Lindsey Graham we would do so, said Barrow. Eleanor Beardsley in Pierre News, Paris. The Labor Department releases its latest jobs data this morning for the month of April. The report will shed light on job growth last month. This week, the private firm ADP said that new jobs in the private sector grew by just

62,000 in April. That is the smallest increase reported in the private sector since last summer. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington. Does the idea of listening to political news freak you out? Well, don't sweat it. The NPR Politics Podcast makes politics a breeze. Every episode will break down the day's headlines into totally normal language and make sure that you walk away understanding what the day's news might mean for you.

Take a deep breath and give politics another chance with the NPR Politics Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts.