NPR News Now - NPR News: 08-03-2025 3AM EDT

Episode Date: August 3, 2025

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Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. President Trump announced new tariff rates for more than 60 countries this week. It's his latest move in a months-long effort to get deals with America's trading partners. NPR's Jackie Northam tells us about the effect negotiations are having on one country on that list. Canada, one of the U.S.'s largest trading partners, wasn't spared from this latest round of tariffs. Trump ratcheted up levies on many goods to 35 percent, citing what he called a flood

of fentanyl crossing the border, despite many sources disputing that claim, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was elected about three months ago largely on the belief he could wrangle Trump, said he was disappointed, but that Canada will continue to negotiate with the US on the trading relationship. That's NPR's Jackie Northam. India meanwhile is now responding to threats from President Trump over India's use of Russian oil. Trump this week said he'll place a 25 percent tariff on goods from India along with an additional

import tax because India purchases oil from Moscow. India's foreign ministry says its relationship with Russia is steady and time-tested. India buys millions of barrels of oil each year from Russia. The US special envoy to the Middle East met Saturday with some families of hostages still being held in Gaza. Ruby Chen is the father of US Israeli hostage Itte Chen. He says Steve Witkoff told the families that the US wants two two things to end the war and get all the remaining hostages out. We feel that Mr. Witkoff is very much with the families. He feels us, he understands us, and he said that he's going back to Washington, where

he will share these stories with the president himself. After the meeting, Witkoff told the families the U.S. is very close to ending the war. As Republicans in the Texas legislature continue their efforts to change political districts in the state, their current proposed redistricting map would force a number of Democratic members of Congress out of their home districts. As Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies reports, Congressman Joaquin Castro says his home district in San Antonio is one that's being deliberately torn up. Texas is undergoing a rare mid-decade redistricting after President Donald Trump called for five additional Republican seats to help retain GOP control of Congress after the midterm election.

Castro said he and Representative Jasmine Crockett and other Democrats saw their district redrawn with their homes outside of the districts that they represent. My office got a call from the Texas Legislative Council shortly before we saw those first maps, and they asked me to verify my home address. And then when I saw the map, my home was about a half mile outside of the boundary for the 20th Congressional District that I now represent. Texas currently has 38 seats in Congress, 25 are held by Republicans. I'm David Martin Davies in San Antonio. Smoke from wildfires burning in Canada is causing problems for several Midwestern states this weekend

with air quality alerts across the region. You're listening to NPR News. Gaza health workers say Israeli forces opened fire near two aid distribution sites on Saturday. Witnesses say at least 10 people were killed in this latest incident. The shooting took place near two aid distribution sites that are run by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, as crowds of hungry Palestinians looked for food and other aid. The shooting took place just one day after U.S. officials visited a similar site. A coalition of 15 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit

Friday against the Trump administration's actions related to gender-affirming care for transgender youth. As MPR's Selena Simmons Duffin reports, the complaint argues the White House has mounted an unconstitutional pressure campaign against doctors and hospitals. There is no federal statute that prohibits providing puberty blockers, hormones, or in rare cases, surgery to transgender youth. These attorneys general say the Trump administration is trying to create a national ban through a campaign of intimidation. The complaint says the Trump administration has targeted doctors and hospitals providing this care by issuing subpoenas, threatening criminal prosecution,

launching investigations, and demanding patient data. It was filed in federal court in Massachusetts. The plaintiff states are places where this care is illegal, including New York, Connecticut, California, and Wisconsin. In a statement, they say they're asking the court to halt this unconstitutional pressure campaign and ensure transgender youth can continue to access legally protected health care without fear. Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR News. And I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.