NPR News Now - NPR News: 06-04-2025 8PM EDT

Episode Date: June 5, 2025

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As NPR's daily economics podcast, the indicator has been asking businesses how tariffs are affecting their bottom line. I paid 800,000 today. You paid $800,000 in tariffs today. Yes. Wow. And what that means for your bottom line. Listen to the indicator from Planet Money.

Find us wherever you get your podcasts. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Donald Trump's tariff hikes on imported steel and aluminum are now in effect. The administration upping the tariffs to 50 percent and move that will potentially raise the cost of everything from automobiles to cans to paper clips. In an interview on NPR's All Things Consider, Martha Gimble of Yale's Budget Lab explains. We're now expecting car prices to go up by about 13% in the short run. It's going to be a pretty big hit for people and cars are already an incredibly expensive purchase.

So 13%, that's real money. The average price of a new car at just under $49,000 in May, tariffs could take the average new vehicle price well above $50,000. Higher tariffs are going to affect for most countries, though not at the moment for Britain, which has reached its own deal with the administration. Trump has argued the latest import taxes are necessary to protect U.S. industries. NATO defense ministers in some two dozen countries that support Ukraine met at Alliance headquarters in Brussels. Terry Schultz reports U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hagseth, whose predecessor established the group, was not among them.

The U.S. abandoned chairing monthly meetings of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group after the inauguration of Donald Trump. Now, for the first time, a U.S. Defense Secretary didn't attend at all. NATO Chief Mark Rutte was left trying to answer questions about what that might mean for the group that collects and coordinates military support for Ukraine. The US is completely committed to NATO, completely committed to our joint endeavors when it comes to Ukraine. There is no reason to doubt that. Hegseth will join Thursday's meeting of defense ministers.

They'll focus on approving the next set of NATO military obligations and a high U.S. priority on teeing up an agreement for all 32 countries to spend 5 percent of GDP on defense. For NPR News, I'm Terri Schulz in Brussels. Hundreds gathered today at the site of Sunday's attack in Boulder, Colorado against a group raising awareness for hostages held in Gaza. For Member Station KUNC, Lucas Brady Woods reports. It was an emotional scene with some attendees in tears as Colorado Governor Jared Polis,

faith and community leaders addressed the crowd. They called for unity and for an end to anti-Semitism. Boulder rabbi Mark Soloway said hate speech has eroded the safety of his community and many others. Jews here and all over America and all over the world have not been feeling safe not physically safe and not emotionally safe in the face of demonizing hate speech. 15 people were wounded in Sunday's attack. The suspect is facing federal hate crime and

additional state charges. For NPR News, I'm Lucas Brady Woods in Boulder, Colorado. Stocks recent run-up ran into a bit of a roadblock today with a mixed close on Wall Street. The Dow fell 91 points. The Nasdaq rose 61 points. The S&P 500 closed up a fraction at 59.70. You're listening to NPR News in Washington. The U.S. Education Department is threatening Columbia University's accreditation, the latest salvo in the conflict between the Trump

administration and elite colleges. The department's Office of Civil Rights sent a notice to the accrediting body that audits Columbia, saying the school is in violation of anti-discrimination laws and therefore fails to meet standards for accreditation. Columbia University has not responded to requests for comment.

President Trump's plan to attend opening night of Les Mis at the Kennedy Center next week. As NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports, the hub of Washington art scene has become unwittingly politicized. President Trump is a big fan of Les Miserables. At campaign rallies, he used to make his entrance to one of its most stirring anthems, blaring from loudspeakers, and the U.S. Army Chorus recently performed it at the White House. Since Trump abruptly ousted Kennedy Center leadership and disparaged past programming,

several artists have canceled shows. And according to CNN, at least 10 members of the touring cast of Les Mis have decided not to appear in the Kennedy Center production. The president will be joined by the First Lady, Vice President J.D. Vance, and the Second Lady, Elizabeth Blair, NPR News, Washington. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is taking steps to rename a Navy ship named for gay rights icon Harvey Milk.

It's the latest move by Hegseth and the administration to purge what it considers to be diversity, equity and inclusion references in the military. The US NS Harvey Milk is named for the slain gay rights activist who served as a sailor during the Korean War. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington. This message comes from NYU Langone. The NYU Langone Health app gives you access to your electronic health record. Washington.