NPR News: 03-10-2025 5AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 10, 2025 - Comprehensive Episode Summary

Release Date: March 10, 2025
Host: Windsor Johnston
Podcast: NPR News Now
Duration: 5 minutes

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1. U.S. Tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China

Timestamp: [00:17]

In this episode, Windsor Johnston reports from Washington on President Donald Trump's recent economic policies, specifically his imposition of tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, President Trump defended the tariffs as a strategic move to bolster the U.S. economy.

President Trump stated at [00:35], "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. We have many companies, as you know, auto companies are opening up plants now. We've had four or five announced already, but many more are coming."

Initially, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada. However, within two days, many of these goods were exempted from the tariffs. Additionally, the administration doubled the existing blanket tariff on goods from China to 20%. This aggressive trade stance led to retaliation from Beijing, which imposed tariffs on certain U.S. agricultural products.

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2. France Funding Ukraine with Russian Assets

Timestamp: [00:51]

The summary also covers international developments involving France's support for Ukraine amidst ongoing conflicts. Eleanor Beardsley reports from Paris on how France plans to utilize interest earnings from frozen Russian assets to fund military aid for Ukraine.

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornou announced that France would provide "artillery shells and glide bombs for the French-made Mirage fighter jets it has already delivered." Le Cornu emphasized that Europe is stepping up to compensate for reductions in U.S. aid to Ukraine. Additionally, France intends to supply some of its older armored fighting vehicles to support Ukraine's defense efforts.

This strategic move by France follows Britain's recent financing of nearly $1 billion worth of military equipment for Ukraine using interest from frozen Russian assets. While the European confiscation of these assets remains a contentious issue, the generated interest income is being directed towards bolstering Ukraine's military capabilities.

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3. Changes to the U.S. Census Process

Timestamp: [02:03]

The Trump administration is proposing significant changes to the upcoming U.S. census process, raising concerns about the integrity and efficiency of the national headcount. NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports on the administration's consideration to replace traditional census workers with mail carriers and potentially integrate the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) into the Census Bureau's parent agency.

Commerce Secretary Howard Letnick explained to Fox News that the idea stems from a desire to "save money" by leveraging mail carriers for census duties. However, this proposal has faced criticism:

Phil Rubio, a former letter carrier and current professor at North Carolina A&T State University, expressed skepticism at [02:35]: "Can you imagine saying to your postman? Can you count the people in the House?"

The Government Accountability Office has highlighted that replacing census workers with higher-paid mail carriers is not cost-effective for the decennial census, which is crucial for redistributing local representation and federal funding. Legal experts caution that without Congressional approval, merging USPS with the Commerce Department would violate federal law, potentially disrupting mail deliveries and the accuracy of the census.

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4. Long Island Brush Fires and Emergency Response

Timestamp: [03:08]

Shifting to local news, NPR's Joe Hernandez reports on the ongoing efforts to contain a series of brush fires on Long Island that have burned over 400 acres and led to evacuations over the weekend. Despite progress made by firefighters, high winds continue to pose challenges in preventing the fires from spreading further.

Phil Rubio provided an update at [03:35]: "Suffolk County officials say there are no more visible flames, but that the fires are only partially contained," explaining that partial containment involves establishing a boundary around the fire's perimeter. The fires, ignited on Saturday due to downed trees and exacerbated by 35 mph winds, have involved over 90 fire departments and EMS agencies. Governor Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency in response.

Two firefighters sustained injuries but were later released. Investigators are currently determining the ignition sources to ascertain whether the fires were caused by natural factors or human activity.

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5. Removal of Black Lives Matter Street Mural in Washington, D.C.

Timestamp: [04:14]

In a significant cultural and political development, plans are set to begin the removal of the iconic Black Lives Matter (BLM) street mural in Washington, D.C. Windsor Johnston covers the story, noting that the decision follows pressure from Republican members of the House of Representatives.

A week prior to removal plans, House Republicans introduced legislation threatening to withhold federal funding from Washington, D.C., unless the mural was taken down. The mural, painted in 2020 on the street in front of the White House, stands as a tribute to peaceful protesters who were tear-gassed by police during the nationwide demonstrations following George Floyd's death.

The removal of the mural has sparked debates over free speech, public art, and the federal government's influence over local initiatives. As the city prepares to erase the mural, community and political leaders are weighing the implications of this action on the broader conversation surrounding racial justice and public memory.

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This episode of NPR News Now provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of significant national and international events, offering insights into economic policies, international aid strategies, governmental procedural changes, emergency response efforts, and socio-political developments. Through timely reporting and direct quotes from key figures, listeners gain a clear understanding of the complexities and ramifications of each topic covered.

Transcript

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[Windsor Johnston]

In Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump is defending his decision to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, the president said the taxes paid by U.S. firms that import goods will benefit the nation's economy.

[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. We have many companies, as you know, auto companies are opening up plants now. We've had four or five announced already, but many more are coming.

[Windsor Johnston]

Trump imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, but then exempted many of those goods just two days later. The president also doubled a blanket tariff on goods from China to 20%. In response, Beijing announced retaliatory tariffs on some imports of agricultural goods from the U.S. france says it will use interest from Russian assets to fund $200 million worth of weapons for Ukraine. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. The announcement comes after Britain financed nearly $1 billion worth of military equipment using interest from frozen Russian assets.

[Sebastien Lecornu]

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornou says France will provide artillery shells and glide bombs for the French made Mirage fighter jets it has already delivered. Europe is working to make up for US Cuts in aid to Ukraine. In a weekend interview with newspaper La Tribune, Le Cornu said France also plans to hand over some of its older armored fighting vehicles. While the European confiscation of frozen Russian assets is still controversial, the interest income they generate is being used. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Windsor Johnston]

The Trump administration's call for mail carriers to replace census workers is raising concerns about preparations for the next national headcount. NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports. Trump officials are also considering an attempt to fold the U.S. postal Service into the Census Bureau's parent agency.

[Howard Letnick]

Commerce Secretary Howard Letnick, who oversees the Census Bureau, recently told Fox News the concept of having his department take control of what Congress set up to be an independent postal service came out of an idea to save money.

[Phil Rubio]

Can you imagine saying to your postman.

[Windsor Johnston]

Can you count the people in the House?

[Howard Letnick]

But the Government Accountability Office has found it's not cost effective to replace census workers with higher paid mail carriers for the once a decade tally used to redistribute local representation and federal funding. Former letter carrier Phil Rubio, who's now a professor at North Carolina A and T State University, says it could also disrupt deliveries, actually stop and interview people. I don't know where they would get that kind of time. Legal experts say without the approval of Congress, any attempt to fold the USPS into the Commerce Department would violate federal law. Han Zi Lo Wang, NPR News, Washington.

[Windsor Johnston]

On Wall Street, Dow futures are trading lower at this hour. This is npr. Firefighters are making progress, battling a series of brush fires on Long island that burned over 400 acres of land and prompted evacuations this weekend. But as NPR's Joe Hernandez reports, New York officials say they're still working ensure the fire doesn't spread as high winds continue.

[Phil Rubio]

Suffolk county officials say there are no more visible flames, but that the fires are only partially contained, which occurs when a boundary is established around the perimeter of a fire to stop it from spreading. The blazes began on Saturday, fueled by downed trees and fanned by 35 mile per hour winds. More than 90 fire departments and EMS agencies responded, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency. Two firefighters were hospitalized with injuries and later released. Investigators say they're now looking into what sparked the fires and whether they were natural or caused by humans. Joe Hernandez, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Plans to remove the iconic Black Lives Matter street mural in Washington, D.C. will get underway today. The decision to erase it comes a week after Republicans in the House introduced legislation giving the city an ultimatum, remove it or risk losing federal funding. The mural was painted on the street in front of the White House in 2020 after peaceful protesters were tear gassed by police. The demonstrations were part of a nationwide outcry over the death of George Floyd, who was killed by police. In Minneapolis, I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.

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