NPR News Now - NPR News: 05-12-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: May 12, 2025

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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. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korova Coleman. Stocks opened sharply higher this morning as the U.S.

and China agreed to a temporary break from triple digit tariffs. NPR's Scott Horsley reports the Dow Jones industrial average soared a thousand points in early trading. The U.S. is slashing tariffs on imports from China from 145 percent to 30% for the next 90 days. In exchange, China is temporarily cutting its tax on imports from the US to just 10%. The move is a relief for many businesses that rely on Chinese imports. The earlier triple-digit tax had brought much of the cargo traffic between the two countries

to a standstill. The remaining tariffs are still significantly higher than Americans were used to paying, however, and because the tariff relief has an expiration date while negotiations continue, there's still considerable uncertainty over what the trade landscape will look like in three months. Scott Horsley, MPR News, Washington. President Trump says he may speak to China's president by the end of this week. President Trump is speaking right now at the White House.

He is poised to sign an executive order that he claims will cut prescription drug prices between 30 to 80 percent. The president tried to do this in his first administration, but he was blocked by the courts. The program was later ended by then-President Biden. President Trump is leaving today for his next foreign trip. He'll spend four days in the Middle East, including in Qatar. NPR's Franco Ordonia says there's been a lot of questions about a potential gift from Qatar.

And just this weekend, the White House acknowledged they're in discussions with the Qataris about possibly accepting a luxury plane that could serve as a temporary Air Force One until the new one is finished. And Piers Franco Ordoña is reporting. The White House released a statement saying that any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. But many critics, including Democrats, say

the Constitution forbids any president from accepting such presidents without congressional approval. But many critics, including Democrats, say the Constitution forbids any president from accepting such presidents without congressional approval. A Kurdish militant group that's waged a 40-year insurgency in southern Turkey, Iraq and Syria says it is disbanding. Duri Baskarin reports on the end of the PKK. In a statement to a pro-Kurdish news outlet, the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, announced it would disarm and end its armed struggle as part of a peace deal with the Turkish government. Although the PKK expressed willingness to disband after a request by its

imprisoned leader in February, the Turkish military continued airstrikes on their positions in northern Iraq. Over the weekend, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his government is getting closer to the goal of a quote, terror-free Turkey. The PKK launched its insurgency against the Turkish state in the early 1980s, citing poor treatment of Turkey's Kurdish minority. The conflict has caused thousands of deaths in the more than 40 years that have followed. You're listening to NPR. Hamas says it will release a hostage today who has dual American and Israeli citizenship.

Edan Alexander is expected to be transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross, then taken to an Israeli hospital. Separately, a Hamas official, speaking anonymously, told NPR Alexander is being released in return for unspecified things that the U.S. has promised. No details have been released, but the official hinted it might mean the release of more Palestinian prisoners and fresh aid delivered into Gaza. Israel has released a statement.

It says that Israel has not committed to a ceasefire of any kind, but only to a safe corridor to allow Alexander to be released. The United Kingdom's Prime Minister announced an overhaul of his country's immigration rules. NPR's Lauren Frayer has more from London. It'll be harder to get work, family and student visas to the UK. Immigrants will have to pass a higher level English test and most will have to spend at least 10 years here before even applying to settle in the UK, rather than five years, as is the case now. In a speech, Prime Minister Keir Starmer says,

Make no mistake, this plan means migration will fall. It will also limit employers' ability to hire overseas workers for low-skilled roles. Starmer says these measures are needed to maintain social cohesion, drive investment in the local workforce, and prevent Britain from becoming a quote island of strangers. But this plan also comes just after a far-right anti-immigrant party made big gains in municipal elections. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, London. Again on Wall Street, the Dow is up a thousand points. You're listening to NPR.

Know that fizzy feeling you get when you read something really good, watch the movie everyone's is up a thousand points. You're listening to NPR.