NPR News: 03-10-2025 11AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 10, 2025, 11 AM EDT

Financial Markets Tumble Amid Trade Tensions

Korva Coleman reported significant declines in Wall Street markets, continuing a downward trend from the previous week. The downturn is primarily attributed to investors' reactions to recent statements by President Donald Trump and ongoing tariff disputes.

President Trump expressed unwavering support for his tariff policies, stating at [00:38] “Oh, I think the tariffs are going to be the greatest thing we've ever done as a country. It's going to make our country rich again.” These tariffs have unsettled international markets and contributed to investor uncertainty.

Commerce Secretary Howard Ludnick announced that U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum will take effect on Wednesday, with Trump pledging the resumption of additional tariffs by April 2. This move has escalated tensions with other nations, leading to retaliatory measures.

John Ruich detailed China’s response, highlighting the imposition of 10% to 15% tariffs on major U.S. farm exports, including chicken, wheat, corn, soybeans, and pork ([01:16]). These tariffs are a direct retaliation against the Trump administration's recent 10% tariff on Chinese imports, adding to the existing February tariffs. The White House defends these measures as necessary to curb the flow of lethal synthetic opioids like fentanyl into the United States, which China disputes, claiming the tariffs violate World Trade Organization rules.

USAID Faces Massive Cutbacks

In a significant development, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced substantial cutbacks at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) at [01:58]. After a comprehensive six-week review, Rubio revealed that 83% of USAID programs will be canceled. This drastic reduction aims to streamline operations but has raised concerns about the future of international development efforts.

Immigration Crackdown: Arrest of Former Graduate Student

Korva Coleman covered the enforcement of President Trump’s executive order targeting individuals supporting designated terrorist groups. Ximena Bustillo reported at [02:36] on the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student. Khalil was detained in his university apartment and transferred to a Louisiana detention center.

Khalil, a Green Card holder, was implicated for his prominent role in protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict, which the administration has classified as support for the terrorist group Hamas. His lawyers are expected to challenge the revocation of his permanent residency status in immigration court, arguing against the administration's interpretation of his activities.

Wall Street Continues Downward Trend

At [03:05], Korva Coleman provided an update on Wall Street, noting that the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 325 points, while the NASDAQ experienced a sharper decline of 650 points. These drops reflect ongoing investor nervousness amid economic uncertainties and trade disputes.

International Incident: Major Ship Collision Off England

The podcast reported a maritime disaster off the east coast of England. Korva Coleman relayed that the British Coast Guard is responding to a collision between a cargo ship and an oil tanker, both of which are currently ablaze. Emergency services have brought at least 32 individuals ashore, though their conditions remain unclear. The Coast Guard has dispatched fire-fighting vessels to manage the fires, emphasizing the severity of the incident.

Unseasonal Warmth Sweeps Across the US

Amy Held delivered a weather update at [03:53], highlighting an unusual warming trend across the United States. Despite traditional March weather volatility, much of the country is experiencing mild temperatures. Most states can expect daytime highs of at least 70 degrees, with regions like the Dakotas and Minnesota receiving temperatures up to 30 degrees above normal due to low-pressure systems moving eastward from Canada.

This warmth contrasts sharply with earlier forecasts from the National Weather Service, which had predicted one of the coldest winters in a decade due to persistent Arctic air blasts. Additionally, January set records as the hottest month on Earth, reinforcing concerns about ongoing climate change driven by fossil fuel consumption and leading to continuous breaking of heat records.

Nature Highlight: California Bald Eagles Hatch Third Eaglet

Concluding the episode, Korva Coleman shared a heartwarming story about a pair of nesting bald eagles in California successfully hatching their third eaglet. This event is being closely followed through a live Eagle cam installed by the nonprofit group Friends of Big Bear Valley, showcasing the resilience and continuity of these majestic birds in the wild.

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This comprehensive summary captures the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on March 10, 2025. From economic downturns and international trade tensions to significant policy changes and heartening nature stories, the episode provides a broad overview of current events shaping the world.

Transcript

[Carvana]

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Wall street markets are tumbling again today, as they did last week. Investors are apparently reacting to weekend comments from President Trump. He did not explicitly rule out the chance of a recession, but warned there might might be a period of transition. Markets are also reacting to the on again, off again tariffs Trump has slapped on other nations. Trump remains very enthusiastic about them.

[Donald Trump]

Oh, I think the tariffs are going to be the greatest thing we've ever done as a country. It's going to make our country rich again.

[Korva Coleman]

And Commerce Secretary Howard Ludnick says U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum will take effect on Wednesday. Trump vows other tariffs will resume on April 2. The tariffs are infuriating other nations. Mark Carney, the new leader of Canada's Liberal Party, will be sworn in soon as the next Canadian prime minister. He has vowed to fight the tariffs. Meanwhile, retaliatory Chinese tariffs on U.S. farm products go into effect today. NPR's John Ruich reports these will escalate a simmering trade war.

[John Ruich]

China is imposing tariffs of 10 to 15% on products including US chicken, wheat, corn, soybeans and pork. These are some of the biggest US Farm exports to China. The tariffs were announced in retaliation for the Trump administration's decision to impose a fresh 10% tariff on Chinese imports to the United States last week. That came atop a 10% tariff on Chinese goods in early February. The White House says the tariffs are designed to help stop the flow of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl into the United States. China is a major source of the precursor chemicals to make the drug. Beijing says the US Tariffs violate World Trade Organization rules and it's vowed to firmly counter further U.S. pressure. John Ruich, NPR News, Beijing.

[Korva Coleman]

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is announcing huge cutbacks at the U.S. agency for International Development. Writing online, he says that after a six week review, 83% of the programs at USAID will be canceled. Federal immigration officers arrested a former Columbia University graduate student over the weekend. His detention is expected to be among the first to fulfill an executive order from President Trump. NPR's Jimenez Bustillo reports that the order seeks to punish people deemed to be supporting groups that the US has designated as terrorists.

[Ximena Bustillo]

Mahmoud Khalil was arrested in his university owned apartment over the weekend and transferred to a detention center in Louisiana. The administration has argued Khalil, who played a prominent role in protests against the Israel Hamas war, forfeited his right to remain in the country by supporting the terrorist group Hamas. Khalil is a green card holder, which offers him permanent residency in the US as long as he abides by US Laws. His lawyers are likely to fight the move to revoke his green card in immigration court. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, New York.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall Street's dow is down 325 points. The NASDAQ is down 650 points. It's NPR. The British coast Guard says it's responding to a major ship collision and fire off the east coast of England. A cargo ship and an oil tanker have hit each other and both are burning. Officials at a British port said say that at least 32 people have been brought ashore, but their conditions are not immediately clear. British Coast Guard officials say they have dispatched ships with the ability to fight fires to the scene. In the US March is known for wild swings in weather. However, it hasn't yet reached the middle of the month, and the weather forecast is unusually mild for many parts of the country. NPR's Amy Held reports on an upcoming widespread warming trend.

[Amy Held]

Most states can expect to experience at least 70 degrees this week, as waves of low pressure from Canada are expected to push temperatures up to 30 degrees above normal in the Dakotas and Minnesota, then move eastward. Warmth that could be sustained above normal temperatures also forecast in much of the eastern US Next week, in sharp contrast to what the National Weather Service says was likely the coldest winter the US has seen in at least a decade, thanks to unusual Arctic air blasts that made the US an outlier globally. January went down as the hottest the Earth has ever seen. Heat records keep breaking as humans keep burning fossil fuels, the primary cause of climate change. Amy Held, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

A pair of nesting bald eagles in California has hatched a third Eaglet followers are tracking the live Eagle cam installed by the nonprofit group Friends of Big Bear Valley. This is npr.

[Carvana]

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