NPR News: 03-04-2025 12PM EST

Summary

NPR News Now: March 4, 2025, 12 PM EST

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Reporter: Danielle Kurtzleben, Nina Totenberg, Rob Stein

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1. President Trump to Address Congress

[00:13] Jeanine Herbst:
President Trump is set to address a joint session of Congress today. While the address resembles a State of the Union, it is technically not one, marking the first speech of his new term.

[00:34] Danielle Kurtzleben:
Trump's upcoming speech coincides with the implementation of new tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico. These tariffs, which are taxes on imported goods, are intended to protect U.S. businesses but may lead to higher consumer prices. Additionally, the U.S. has suspended military aid to Ukraine following a contentious Oval Office meeting between Vice President Pence and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During his speech, Trump is expected to request Congress to approve funding for border security and possibly extend existing tax cuts.

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2. Trade Tensions with Canada, China, and Mexico

[01:09] Jeanine Herbst:
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has responded to President Trump's tariffs, declaring a trade war and announcing retaliatory measures against U.S. goods.

[01:19] Justin Trudeau:
"Canada will be implementing 25% tariffs against $155 billion worth of American goods, starting with tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods immediately and tariffs on the remaining $125 billion of American products in 21 days time."

[01:40] Jeanine Herbst:
In addition to Canada, China has imposed tariffs on U.S. farm products and is expanding restrictions on business dealings with key American companies. Mexico has also announced plans to introduce retaliatory tariffs, set to be revealed on Sunday.

[01:50] Jeanine Herbst:
On the international front, Ukraine's President Zelensky expressed readiness to finalize a minerals deal with the U.S. He also noted frustrations following his recent meeting with President Trump: "No one wants an endless war, and my meeting with Trump at the White House Friday didn't go the way it was supposed to and that was regrettable."

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3. Supreme Court Case: Mexico vs. American Gun Manufacturers

[02:15] Nina Totenberg:
The Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments in a significant case where Mexico is suing Smith & Wesson and other U.S. gun manufacturers for $10 billion in damages. Mexico alleges that these manufacturers are complicit in the illegal trafficking of high-powered weapons into Mexico for use by cartels.

[02:27] Jonathan Lowey (Co-Counsel for Mexico):
"90% of gun dealers act legally, but the rest do not."

[02:38] Danielle Kurtzleben:
Lowey emphasized that the illicit dealers are directly supplying weapons to cartel traffickers through bulk sales.

[02:45] Lawrence Keene (Firearms Industry Trade Association Counsel):
"The manufacturers can't be held accountable for the actions of dealers."

[03:00] Nina Totenberg:
A decision on this landmark case is anticipated by the summer.

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4. California Governor's Executive Order on Office Attendance

[03:06] Jeanine Herbst:
Dow Jones Industrial Average declined by 663 points at the time of reporting. In state news, California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order requiring state employees to return to the office. Starting July 1st, employees must work at least four days a week in person, a shift from the remote work policies adopted during the pandemic. Governor Newsom stated, "This will help with communication and collaboration and allow better services for Californians."

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5. Scientific Advances: Resurrection of the Woolly Mammoth

[03:40] Rob Stein:
At Colossal Biosciences in Dallas, scientists have developed "woolly mice"—genetically engineered mice exhibiting traits akin to woolly mammoths, such as long, shaggy coats. The team aims to apply this technology to Asian elephants, the mammoth's closest living relatives, with the ultimate goal of releasing herds of mammoth-like elephants into the Arctic. However, this initiative faces criticism over potential unintended ecological consequences.

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6. Pope Francis' Health Update

[04:27] Jeanine Herbst:
The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis has stabilized sufficiently to reduce his reliance on a ventilation mask, transitioning to a nasal tube for oxygen support. The 88-year-old pontiff has been battling double pneumonia and has been hospitalized for nearly three weeks.

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7. Stock Market Overview

[03:06] Jeanine Herbst:
The stock market showed a downturn with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down by 1.5%, the Nasdaq decreased approximately 0.9%, and the S&P 500 fell by 1.3%.

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Conclusion:
Today's NPR News Now episode covered significant political developments, including President Trump's impending Congress address amidst escalating trade tensions with Canada, China, and Mexico. The judiciary is addressing critical issues in the case against U.S. gun manufacturers, while California enforces new workplace mandates. In scientific news, advancements toward resurrecting the woolly mammoth raise ecological concerns, and international attention remains focused on Pope Francis' health. The economic backdrop is marked by a notable decline in major U.S. stock indices.

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For those who haven't tuned into the podcast, this summary provides a comprehensive overview of the key topics discussed, enriched with direct quotes and timestamps for reference.

Transcript

[Sponsor Voice]

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump will address a joint session of Congress today, a speech that looks like a State of the Union, but technically it's not, as it's the first of his new term. As NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports, there are few details on what he'll say, but he has plenty of recent controversies to talk about.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Trump's speech comes as new tariffs he's imposed have gone into effect on China and allies Canada and Mexico. Tariffs are taxes paid to import goods from abroad. That means US Businesses pay US Tariffs. Those tariffs can cause higher prices for consumers. The speech also comes as the US has suspended military aid to Ukraine days after an Oval Office argument between Trump Vice President Vance and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. During his speech, Trump is expected to ask Congress to pass new funding for border security and possibly also an extension of tax cuts. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says President Trump launched a trade war against Canada and he says he's levying retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods.

[Justin Trudeau]

Canada will be implementing 25% tariffs against $155 billion worth of American goods, starting with tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods immediately and tariffs on the remaining $125 billion of American products in 21 days time.

[Jeanine Herbst]

China, meanwhile, says it's imposing tariffs on U.S. farm products and expanding controls on doing business with key U.S. companies. Mexico says it will announce retaliatory tariffs on Sunday. Ukraine's President Zelensky says on social media he's ready to sign a minerals deal with the US And President Trump. He says no one wants an endless war and that his meeting with Trump at the White House Friday didn't go the way it was supposed to and that that was regrettable. The Supreme Court hears arguments today involving Mexico and American gun manufacturers. NPR's Nina Totenberg has more.

[Nina Totenberg]

Mexico is suing Smith and Wesson and other gun makers for $10 billion in damages, claiming that they're turning a blind eye to hundreds of thousands of high powered weapons made in the US and trafficked illegally into the hands of Mexican car. Jonathan Lowey, co counsel from Mexico, maintains that 90% of gun dealers act legally, but the rest do not.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Those bad actors sell to obvious cartel traffickers in bulk sales.

[Nina Totenberg]

But Lawrence Keene, counsel for the Firearms industry trade association counters that manufacturers can't be held accountable for the actions of dealers.

[Sponsor Voice]

If that was all that was required, Budweiser would be responsible for drunk driving accidents.

[Nina Totenberg]

A decision in the case is expected by summer. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The dow is down 663 points. You're listening to NPR News. California's Governor Gavin Newsom issued a return to office order for state employees. He did it by executive order yesterday, mandating state employees work at least four days a week in person by July 1st. That's a change from the post pandemic model that allowed employees to work remotely for most of the week. He says it will help with communication and collaboration and allow better services for Californians. Scientists at a Texas biotech company say they've taken another important step in their quest to bring the woolly mammoth back from extinction. NPR's Rob Stein has more.

[Rob Stein]

Scientists at Colossal Biosciences in Dallas say they've created what they call woolly mice. These are mice that have been genetically engineered to have traits that made woolly mammoths distinctive, like their long, shaggy coat. The scientists say they plan to do the same thing with the mammoth's closest living relatives, Asian elephants, and hopefully someday release herds of these mammoth like elephants into the Arctic. Critics worry about unintended consequences of releasing mammoth like elephants into the Arctic. Rob Stein, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The Vatican says Pope Francis slept through the night and has stabilized enough to resume using just a nasal tube for oxygen rather than a ventilation mask. The 88 year old has double pneumonia and has been hospitalized for nearly three weeks. On Wall street, the Dow is down 1.5%. The Nasdaq is down about 0.9%. The S&P 500 down 1.3%. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[Sponsor Voice]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app, by subscribing to NPR News Now. [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.