NPR News: 03-10-2025 7PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 10, 2025, 7 PM EDT

Host: Jack Spear
Produced by: NPR
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

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I. Wall Street’s Worst Trading Day

Overview:
In today’s episode, Jack Spear reports on a significant downturn in the U.S. stock markets. Major indices—the Dow Jones, Nasdaq, and S&P 500—all plunged by 2% or more, marking the worst trading day of the year so far. Since reaching its peak last month, the S&P 500 alone has seen a staggering reduction of approximately $4 trillion in wealth.

Key Insights:

• Economic Analysis:
  Economist and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers attributes much of the market’s decline to the Trump administration’s trade policies. In an interview with CNN, Summers stated, “All of the ambiguity and uncertainty created about tariffs has ironically both chilled demand, made businesses not invest, made consumers think they should hold off before making big spending commitments” (00:18).

• Potential Recession:
  President Trump recently hinted at the possibility of the U.S. entering a recession, declining to rule it out over the weekend. Summers further commented that the market downturn could be a “self-inflicted wound” due to these policies (00:18).

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II. Supreme Court to Hear Colorado Conversion Therapy Case

Overview:
Hailey Mae reports on an upcoming Supreme Court case challenging Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ children. This case could have nationwide implications, as over 20 states currently prohibit the practice.

Key Perspectives:

• Legal Arguments:
  Attorney Jim Campbell argues that Colorado's minor conversion therapy law infringes upon the free speech rights of Christian counselors. He stated, “Colorado censors Kaylee from speaking words her clients want to hear because the government does not like the views she expresses” (01:39, 01:46).

• Support for the Ban:
  Democratic State Senator Daphne Michaelson Genay emphasizes the law’s protective intent, saying, “We know that children have died from this type of treatment, and we know that it is not in the best interest of the child” (01:55, 01:59).

• Professional Consensus:
  The American Psychological Association has condemned conversion therapy as “harmful pseudoscience,” aligning with the state's protective measures (02:08).

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III. Removal of D.C.’s Black Lives Matter Street Mural

Overview:
Sarah Y. Kim reports on the commencement of efforts to dismantle the Black Lives Matter (BLM) street mural in Washington, D.C., originally established in 2020 amid widespread protests following George Floyd’s murder.

Community Reactions:

• Public Sentiment:
  Karen George, a D.C. native, expressed her distress over the removal: “It's painful to see it go, but that it won't be forgotten” (02:34).

• Administrative Pressures:
  Mayor Muriel Bowser has ordered the mural’s removal to avoid jeopardizing federal funding. Sarah Y. Kim notes, “The city has to remove the mural or risk losing federal funds” (02:34).

• Timeline:
  The removal process is expected to take up to eight weeks, as mentioned by Kim (03:03).

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IV. U.S.-Canada Electricity Tariffs and Harriet Tubman on U.S. Currency

A. Electricity Tariffs Impacting U.S. Consumers

Overview:
Despite a brief reprieve from tariffs against Canada and Mexico, Ontario’s increased electricity charges are set to affect approximately 1.5 million Americans in Minnesota, New York, and Michigan.

Economic Implications:

• Consumer Costs:
  Ontario’s decision to enforce a 25% tariff translates to an estimated additional $69 per month on electricity bills for each affected American (03:15).

• Provincial Stance:
  Ontario maintains that the tariff will stay in effect despite the temporary pause, citing ongoing uncertainty (03:15).

B. Harriet Tubman’s Recognition on U.S. Currency

Overview:
Today marks Harriet Tubman Day, with New Hampshire lawmakers renewing efforts to place Tubman’s image on U.S. money—a movement spearheaded by Senator Jeanne Shaheen.

Advocacy Efforts:

• Legislative Push:
  Shondalyse Duster highlights that the “Harriet Tubman Tribute Act of 2025” seeks to feature Tubman on all $20 bills printed after December 31, 2030 (04:02).

• Personal Appeals:
  Ernestine Tina Martin, Tubman’s great-great-grandniece, urged Congress to act: “You don't have to like us. You don't have to not even want to support us or anything like that. But just do the right thing. Think about what God would want you to do” (04:02).

• Senatorial Commitment:
  Senator Shaheen affirmed her dedication to the cause, stating she will “pursue all avenues to ensure Tubman will be recognized on the currency” (04:02).

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V. Market Numbers Summary

Overview:
Concluding the episode, Jack Spear provides the latest figures on the day’s market performance.

Statistics:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average:
  Fell nearly 900 points, closing at 41,911 (04:46).

• Nasdaq Composite:
  Dropped by 727 points (04:46).

Conclusion:
These significant declines underscore the volatile economic climate influenced by recent trade policies and ongoing uncertainties in the market.

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Notable Quotes:

• Larry Summers:
  “All of the ambiguity and uncertainty created about tariffs has ironically both chilled demand, made businesses not invest, made consumers think they should hold off before making big spending commitments” (00:18).

• Jim Campbell:
  “Colorado censors Kaylee from speaking words her clients want to hear because the government does not like the views she expresses” (01:46).

• Senator Jeanne Shaheen:
  “I will pursue all avenues to ensure Tubman will be recognized on the currency” (04:02).

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the March 10, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the day’s most impactful news stories.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor]

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[Jack Spear]

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The worst trading day of the year so far on Wall street today, all the major US Stock market IND sharply lower, with the Dow, the Nasdaq and the Standard and Poor's 500 falling 2% or more. Since its peak last month, roughly $4 trillion in wealth has been erased from the S and P alone. In an interview today with cnn, economist and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers says much of the blame goes to a barrage of Trump administration trade policies that are worrying businesses and investors. All of the ambiguity and uncertainty created about tariffs has, ironically, both chilled demand, made businesses not invest, made consumers think they should hold off before making big spending commitments. Summers called the market downturn, at least in part, a self inflicted wound. President Trump over the weekend declined to rule out the possibility the U.S. could be headed for recession. The U.S. supreme Court will take up a case this fall that challenges the ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ children in Colorado. More than 20 states prohibit the practice. The Colorado case involves a Christian therapist and as Colorado Public Radio's Haley Mae reports, how the court rules could impact bans on conversion therapy nationwide.

[Hailey Mae]

Attorney Jim Campbell says Colorado's minor conversion therapy law violates the free speech rights of Christian counselor Kaylee Chiles.

[NPR Sponsor]

Colorado censors Kaylee from speaking words her clients want to hear because the government does not like the views she expresses.

[Hailey Mae]

Democratic State Senator Daphne Michaelson Genay says the law protects children.

[NPR Sponsor]

We know that that children have died from this type of treatment, and we know that it is not in the best interest of the child.

[Hailey Mae]

The American Psychological association has denounced conversion therapy as harmful pseudoscience. For NPR News, I'm Hailey May in Denver.

[Jack Spear]

Work has begun on removing Washington, D.C. 's iconic Black Lives Matter street mural. The city created the mural in 2020amid a nationwide wave of protests over police murdered George Floyd in Minneapolis. Sarah Waikimbo, member station WAMU this was.

[Sarah Y. Kim]

A noise as construction workers began to demolish Black Lives Matter Plaza. D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser commissioned the mural. At the time, it was seen as an act of defiance against President Donald Trump. But now the mayor has called for its destruction. D.C. native Karen George says she's upset, but there isn't much Bowser can do. The city has to remove the mural or risk losing federal funds.

[NPR Sponsor]

It's a rock and a hard place for her. We're not a state, we're a district.

[Sarah Y. Kim]

Her sister, Adrianne Lind, says it's painful to see it go, but that it won't be forgotten. The removal process could take up to eight weeks. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Y. Kim in Washington.

[Jack Spear]

This is npr. In spite of a non month or one month reprieve, no tariffs against Canada and Mexico. Canada's most populous province says it is already going ahead and charging 25% more for electricity sent to one and a half million Americans. Ontario currently provides electricity to Minnesota, New York and Michigan and says its tariff will remain in place despite the one month reprieve, noting the pause is just more uncertainty. It's estimated the tariff will add about $69 a month to the bills of each American who's affected. Today is Harriet Tubman Day, and a New Hampshire lawmaker is renewing her effort to have Tubman honored on US Money. It's the latest in years of attempts to place President Andrew Jackson with Tubman on the bill. And NPR Shondalyse Duster has more.

[NPR Sponsor]

The Harriet Tubman Tribute act of 2025 calls for the treasury secretary to include Tubman's face on all $20 bills printed after December 31, 2030. A previous version of the measure stalled in Congress. Ernestine Tina Martin, Wyatt, Tubman's three times great grandniece, says she doesn't want Congress or the White House to delay the initiative any longer. You don't have to like us. You don't have to not even want to support us or anything like that. But just do the right thing. Think about what God would want you to do. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat who created the bill, says she will pursue all avenues to ensure Tubman will be recognized on the currency. Chandelyse. Duster, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

Looking at the numbers on Wall street today, the dow fell nearly 900 points to 41,911. The NASDAQ dropped 727 points. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

[Hailey Mae]

This message comes from Warby Parker. What makes a great pair of glasses at Warby Parker? It's all the invisible extras without the extra cost, like free adjustments for life. Find your [e-mail] or visit one of their hundreds of stores around the country.