NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-09-2025 9AM EDT

Episode Date: May 9, 2025

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A lot of short daily news podcasts focus on just one story. But right now, you probably need more. On Up First from NPR, we bring you three of the world's top headlines every day in under 15 minutes. Because no one story can capture all that's happening in this big, crazy world of ours on any given morning. Listen now to the Up First podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Cora Vickolman.

President Trump is now saying an 80 percent tariff on imported Chinese goods quote seems right. Writing online, Trump says it's up to Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, who's meeting Chinese economic officials this weekend. Businesses in the United Kingdom are trying to figure out what a new U.S.-U.K. trade deal means for them. NPR's Lauren Freyer reports from London. Stocks are up in British car companies, Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin, after officials said this deal cuts U.S. tariffs on most British cars.

They said it also eliminates tariffs completely for British steel and aluminum and cuts U.K. tariffs on ethanol from the U.S. But President Trump said other details are still being written up. For example, it's unclear whether US e-commerce firms like Amazon will get a break from the UK digital services tax. Speaking at a conference in Iceland, the head of the UK's central bank calls the deal good news but points out tariffs are still higher than before Trump took office. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says that the migrant illegally deported to El Salvador in March will not be coming back to the U.S. Noem spoke to a Senate panel yesterday about the case of Kilmer Abrego-Garcia. The U.S. Supreme Court has told the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego-Garcia's return. Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen questioned him about his case. Simple question. Are you taking any action to facilitate his return or are you not? This administration is following and complying with all federal court orders to make sure that we...

So you are, so because the court order that you facilitate is returned. So you are, so because the court order that you facilitate is returned. So you are facilitating its return. Sir, Senator, thank you for the question. But what I would tell you is that we are following court orders and that your advocacy for a known terrorist is alarming to me. Madam Secretary. It's alarming to me because he's a human smuggler. Madam Secretary, I'm going to have to reclaim it.

And a terrorist. And he's not a U.S. citizen. Democrats say the issue is not about citizenship. It's that Abrego Garcia was denied due process, as required by the Constitution. Nearly elected Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first public mass as head of the Catholic Church this morning. NPR's Jason DeRose reports from Rome. The Bible readings for the mass in the Sistine Chapel were in English, Spanish, and Latin.

Two of them, read by women, Pope Leo began his homily in English before switching to Italian. I invite you to recognize the marvels that the Lord has done, the blessings that the Lord continues to pour out upon all of us. He preached on the story from the Gospel of Matthew in which Jesus tells the disciple Peter that he will build his church upon him, the rock. The sermon went on to warn of the dangers of practical atheism, the idea that one leads one's life without concern about God.

Jason DeRose, NPR News, Rome. You're listening to NPR News. The Defense Department is swiftly moving to kick transgender people out of the U.S. military. This follows a ruling from the Supreme Court this week allowing Trump's executive order to remove transgender service people to proceed while the case is being challenged in lower courts. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth released a video on X saying people who are known to be trans will be removed. Secretary Pete Hegseth released a video on X saying people who are known to be

trans will be removed. He also said that people who quote exhibit symptoms of gender dysphoria will also be removed. Those who don't go voluntarily will be forced out. State lawmakers in Maine are under pressure from the White House to ban transgender athletes from girls and women's sports. From Maine Public, Maddie Smith has more. Republicans in the Democratic-controlled legislature are seeking the ban. Most of the bills take aim at the Maine Human Rights Act

and gender identity protections that have existed for years but have recently garnered national attention. GOP lawmakers say those protections are unfair to female athletes and violate the spirit of Title IX, a 1972 law meant to expand opportunities for women. Most Democrats argue the ban would further harm the already vulnerable transgender community. Maine's Governor Janet Mills clashed with President Trump over the topic during a meeting

of governors at the White House. Maine is now the focus of a lawsuit by the Trump administration, which is attempting to pull Maine's $250 million in federal education funding. For NPR News, I'm Maddie Smith in Portland, Maine. Weather forecasters say the Los Angeles area will get a mini heat wave this weekend. They warn that temperatures could rise to the high 90s through Sunday. I'm Corva Coleman, NPR News in Washington. Does the idea of listening to political news freak you out? Well, don't sweat it. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.