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This message comes from Carvana Finance. And buy your next vehicle with Carvana. Shop a huge selection, customize terms to fit your budget, and buy completely online. No hassle, no pressure. Get the car you love, the easy way with Carvana. Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump's land basing today's Supreme Court decision to strike down his global tariffs policy under an emergency economic powers law. He says he's disappointed, but no matter. There are other ways to impose the levies. And he says he won't have to go to Congress as the court's majority suggests under its current ruling, at least not at first. NPR Sam Greenglass says congressional Republicans are divided.
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Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio calls the decision outrageous, writing that the court, quote, handcuffs our fight against unfair trade that has devastated American workers. He's calling on Congress to codify the tariffs using a maneuver that requires only a simple majority in the Senate. But even that may be challenging. Republican Senator John Curtis of Utah says the ruling affirms that the Founders system of checks and balances remains strong. Former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wrote that Congress's role in trade policy is not an inconvenience to avoid. Sam Gringlass, NPR News, Washington.
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British police are expected to continue searching the former Prince Andrew's previous home, Royal Lodge. And the BBC reports they're asking his protection officers what they saw or heard as his security detail. Andrew Mountb Patton Windsor is under investigation for allegedly sharing sensitive government information with his friend, the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He was the first senior member of the royal family in centuries to be arrested. He was released yesterday. NPR spoke with London journalist Bidisha Mamata about the fallout. He has been trouble for many decades, in part because of his own obfuscations, his lies, his fudges, his dodges. He's come across extremely badly in very high profile BBC interviews, and there's a real hunger for a sense of closing the story and having some kind of natural justice happen. The former prince was accused of having sex with an underage girl. He denies any wrongdoing. The Environmental Protection Agency is loosening rules, protecting the US Public from mercury and other toxic pollutants produced largely by coal burning power plants. NPR's Alejandra Barunda explains the potential health impacts of that decision.
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Mercury is a heavy metal that is often found naturally in coal. When coal is burned, that mercury is released into the atmosphere and eventually it can find its way into the human body, where it causes neurological problems and other health issues. It's particularly dangerous for infants to limit some of that risk. In the 2010s, the EPA designed the mercury and air toxic standards. The rule was intended to limit the amount of particularly dangerous pollutants, like mercury, that came from power plants. The Biden administration EPA tightened the rule in 2024, but now the Trump administration's EPA is rolling back the standard to its previous levels. The agency says it's part of the administration's efforts to support the coal industry. Alejandra Barunda, NPR News.
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This is npr. More people in the United States say they were affected by severe cold weather this winter compared to last year. NPR's Jeff Brady reports. This winter storms brought freezing temperatures to the east coast and west, widespread power outages in the South.
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The Associated Press poll found that about 60% of Americans said they were affected by severe cold weather or winter storms in the past five years. That's a slight increase from when the same question was asked last year. Part of that response is people's perceptions. As the climate heats up and winters generally are warmer, extremely cold winters happen less frequently. This perception issue affects younger people even more because they may not have experienced extreme cold in the past. The poll found that about 70% of Americans said their electricity or gas bills were higher than usual this winter, 40% had work or school canceled, and 30% delayed or canceled travel. Jeff Brady, NPR News.
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The U.S. economy grew at an annual rate of 1.4% in the final three months of last year, slowing down more than expected and slowing significantly from the 4.4% growth in the third quarter. The government shutdown contributed to slower growth in October, November and December by slowing government spending. Consumer spending by wealthier Americans has been a driver for the economy, as have investments in AI. Though the labor market remains a concern. US Stocks are trading higher this hour, with the Dow up 162 points. The Nasdaq's climbed 173s, and P is up 40 points. It's NPR News.
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