NPR News Now Summary: March 6, 2025, 5PM EST

Hosted by Jeanine Herbst

1. President Trump Pauses Tariffs on Canada and Mexico

At 00:12, Jeanine Herbst reports that President Donald Trump has temporarily halted the imposition of 25% tariffs on certain goods imported from Canada and Mexico for a period of four weeks. This decision was formalized through executive orders signed at the White House.

Trump clarified that this tariff pause is not a response to recent market downturns, attributing the economic challenges to "globalist companies." At 00:43, Trump asserted, “I'm not even looking at the market because long term the United States will be very strong with what's happening here.” He further criticized foreign entities, stating, “These are countries and companies, foreign companies that have been ripping us off and no president did anything about it until I came along.”

The administration indicated that both Canada and Mexico could avoid the 25% tariffs beyond April 2 if they demonstrate increased efforts to reduce fentanyl trafficking. This marks the second one-month postponement of the tariffs since their initial announcement last month.

2. Whistleblower Office Leader Ends Legal Battle Amid Trump Administration

At 00:58, NPR’s Kerry Johnson reports that Hampton Dellinger, the head of a federal office dedicated to protecting whistleblowers, has decided to end his legal fight to retain his position. This decision follows a ruling by a federal appeals court that sided with the Trump administration in removing him.

Dellinger expressed his disagreement with the decision at 01:28, saying, “I strongly disagree with a decision that allows Trump to sideline me while the dispute moves through the court system.” Nonetheless, he stated he would comply, adding, “I will accept and abide by it because that's what Americans do.” Dellinger highlighted concerns that the Office of Special Counsel would be managed by someone loyal to President Trump, potentially undermining its role in safeguarding whistleblower claims and protecting against retaliation.

Throughout the year, Dellinger has overseen investigations into the dismissal of federal employees on probationary status, emphasizing the office’s critical function in maintaining government accountability.

3. Washington, D.C. Mayor to Remove Black Lives Matter Mural Under Pressure

Jeanine Herbst highlights at 02:05 that Muriel Bowser, the Mayor of Washington, D.C., plans to dismantle the Black Lives Matter mural situated near the White House. This decision comes amid increasing pressure from the Trump administration and congressional Republicans.

The mural, painted in 2020 during widespread protests against police brutality following the murder of George Floyd, has been a prominent symbol of resistance. Bowser explained at 02:23, “We have bigger fish to fry than fights over what has been very important to us. But now our focus is on making sure our residents and our economy survives.” This move is in response to threats from President Trump and a bill introduced by a Republican House member that threatens to withhold federal transportation funds from D.C. unless the city renames the plaza where the mural is located.

4. Wall Street Closes Lower Amid Political and Judicial News

At 03:04, Jeanine Herbst reports a significant downturn in the stock market, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling by 427 points and the Nasdaq dropping by 483 points by market close. This decline reflects investor uncertainty in light of recent political and judicial developments.

5. Federal Judge Orders Reinstatement of NLRB Member Removed by Trump

Continuing at 03:04, Herbst shares a pivotal judicial decision where U.S. District Judge Beryl How Powell ruled that President Trump did not possess the authority to dismiss Gwen Wilcox, a member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The judge determined that the President's power to remove labor board members is limited to cases involving neglect of duty or malfeasance. Consequently, Judge Powell has mandated Wilcox's reinstatement to complete her term, which concludes in 2028.

This reinstatement restores the NLRB's quorum, enabling the board to continue its essential functions of adjudicating labor disputes and issuing decisions affecting both workers and employers.

6. Astrophysicists Discover Evidence of Hidden Black Hole in Neighboring Galaxy

At 03:04, NPR’s Nell Greenfield Boyce reports on a groundbreaking astronomical study revealing that some fast-moving stars may have been accelerated by an unseen supermassive black hole in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighboring galaxy.

Boyce explains at 04:03, “If two stars are orbiting each other and the pair ventures too close to a supermassive black hole, one star can get hurled away at ridiculously fast speeds, millions of miles per hour.” The research team examined 21 high-velocity stars, finding that while some were propelled by the Milky Way’s central black hole, others originated from the Large Magellanic Cloud. Published in the Astrophysical Journal, the findings pave the way for astronomers to utilize X-ray and radio telescopes to identify signs of the elusive black hole. The scientific community is now actively searching for this cosmic giant, which has remained undetected until now.

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now covered a range of significant topics, from international trade policies and labor board decisions to local governance challenges in Washington, D.C., stock market fluctuations, and exciting developments in astrophysics. Each segment provided insightful updates and direct quotes from key figures, ensuring listeners are well-informed on the latest national and scientific news.

This summary was prepared using the transcript provided for the NPR News Now episode released on March 6, 2025. For full details and updates, please listen to the original podcast.