NPR News: 03-10-2025 9AM EDT

Summary

NPR News: March 10, 2025 – Detailed Summary

President Trump Discusses Tariffs and Economic Outlook

In the latest episode of NPR News Now, host Korva Coleman opens with significant developments from Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump addressed the nation’s economic future, focusing on his administration's tariff policies. Speaking during an interview on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Trump addressed concerns about a potential recession:

[00:40] President Trump: "I hate to predict things like that. There is a period of transition because what we're doing is very big. We're bringing wealth back to America. That's a big thing. And there are always periods of it takes a little time."

Trump indicated that the reciprocal tariffs planned for the upcoming month could signal just the beginning of broader economic measures. He downplayed worries from business leaders about the tariffs creating uncertainty, labeling such concerns as “just a talking point” (00:56).

Massive Cuts to USAID and Federal Infrastructure

Secretary of State Marco Rubio made headlines with his announcement of substantial budget cuts at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Following a six-week review, Rubio declared that 83% of USAID programs would be canceled, citing that these initiatives squandered "tens of billions of dollars” without serving or even harming the United States' core national interests (01:07).

However, the Trump administration faces a legal hurdle, as a federal judge has mandated the payment of specific foreign aid bills by 6 PM Eastern Time, potentially complicating the administration's austerity measures.

Expanding on the administration’s cost-cutting plans, NPR’s Stephen Fowler reported:

“Almost all of these buildings are actually outside of D.C. and a lot of them provide public services. I mean, think about how many people need to interact with the IRS and Social Security. There are more than 100 buildings on this list from those two agencies. There's also disparate impact on rural areas like the Farm Service Agency and Forest Service within the Agriculture Department and Interior Department bureaus like the National Parks and the Fish and Wildlife Service.” (01:53)

Fowler highlighted that the proposed reduction of federal buildings would affect a wide range of public services, impacting both urban centers and rural communities across various departments.

Leadership Overhaul at ICE and Enhanced Security Measures

In a significant shift within Homeland Security, Secretary Kristi Noem announced new leadership for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). NPR's Juliana Kim detailed the appointments:

"In a statement, Noem said she's appointing Todd Lyons as the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a key role in President Trump's plans to aggressively crack down on immigration. Lyons had previously served as the assistant director of field Operation in ICE's enforcement and removal Operations, the branch responsible for identifying, arresting, detaining immigrants without legal status. Noem also said she's appointing her former aide Madison Sheehan as ICE's next deputy director." (02:30)

Additionally, Noem announced a ramp-up of polygraph tests for ICE employees, a response to recent leaks concerning departmental operations. This move aims to strengthen internal security and ensure the integrity of ICE operations.

International Incidents and Innovations in Virtual Reality

The episode also covered urgent international news and technological advancements. Korva Coleman reported that the British Coast Guard is actively responding to a major collision and subsequent fire between a cargo ship and an oil tanker off England’s east coast. Emergency responders have deployed lifeboats, rescue helicopters, and fire-fighting vessels to manage the crisis (03:12).

In religious news, Coleman mentioned that Pope Francis remains hospitalized in a Rome hospital due to pneumonia. Officials have confirmed that while the Pope is stable, his condition remains guarded (03:12).

Shifting to technological innovation, Emily Kwong explored the emerging field of virtual reality (VR) integrated with taste experiences. She discussed a novel technology known as Re etaste, which allows users to "taste" synthetic replicas of foods like cake through a combination of edible chemicals delivered to the tongue. Kwong explained:

“[04:01] Re etaste doesn't exactly feed you cake. Instead, the new tech allows you to taste a synthetic replica of cake using a cocktail of edible chemicals that are pumped across the user's tongue. Researchers have also experienced with sending taste data across distance. So data from lemonade in California was sent hundreds of miles to a lab at the Ohio State University where it was tested by materials scientist and lead author Jinghua Lee.”

Dr. Jinghua Lee, leading the research, emphasized the potential of this technology:

“[04:25] The long term goal here is for us to establish like the new way for people to interact with each other.”

Kwong noted that while flavor complexity surpasses mere taste, advancements in this technology could pave the way for virtual dining experiences and aid in diagnosing taste disorders (04:33).

Closing Remarks

As the episode concluded, Korva Coleman reiterated her role in delivering these critical updates from Washington, ensuring listeners are well-informed on the latest national and international developments.

---

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode aired on March 10, 2025. From economic policies and government restructuring to international incidents and cutting-edge technological innovations, the episode provided listeners with a broad spectrum of timely news topics, enriched with direct quotes and attributed statements for clarity and depth.

Transcript

[NPR Announcer]

This message comes from Pemco Mutual Insurance Company. Their mission is to help customers worry less and live more. So they're sharing prevention tips that empower you to prevent some of life's pitfalls before they happen. Visit pemco.com prevention live from NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump says the reciprocal tariffs he plans to impose next month might just Be the beginning. NPR's Chandra Keith reports. The president says there could be some pain ahead for the US Economy.

[Chandra Keith]

Trump made the comments in a sit down interview on the Fox News program Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo.

[President Trump]

Are you expecting a recession this year?

I hate to predict things like that. There is a period of transition because what we're doing is very big. We're bringing wealth back to America. That's a big thing. And there are always periods of it takes a little time.

[Chandra Keith]

He dismissed concerns raised by business leaders that the on again, off again tariffs in recent weeks have created uncertainty, saying that's just a talking point. Tamara Keith, NPR News.

[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 cancelled. He claims these programs spent tens of billions of dollars that did not serve or even harmed the core national interests of the United States. However, the Trump administration has been ordered by a federal judge to pay certain foreign aid bills. That deadline is 6pm Eastern time. The Trump administration's cost cutting effort is looking at shedding hundreds of federal government buildings. That could include selling them or canceling leases. NPR Stephen Fowler says this will affect taxpayers.

[Stephen Fowler]

Almost all of these buildings are actually outside of D.C. and a lot of them provide public services. I mean, think about how many people need to interact with the IRS and Social Security. There are more than 100 buildings on this list from those two agencies. There's also disparate impact on rural areas like the Farm Service Agency and Forest Service within the Agriculture Department and Interior Department bureaus like the National Parks and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Stephen Fowler reporting. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced new leadership for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, also known as ICE. NPR's Juliana Kim reports.

[Kristi Noem]

In a statement, Noem said she's appointing Todd Lyons as the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a key role in President Trump's plans to aggressively crack down on immigration. Lyons had previously served as the assistant director of field Operation in ICE's enforcement and removal Operations, the branch responsible for identifying, arresting, detaining immigrants without legal status. Noem also said she's appointing her former aide Madison Sheehan as ICE's next deputy director. On Sunday, Noem also told CBS's Face the Nation that she's ramping up polygraph tests for her department's employees, days after she said two workers leaked information about her department's operations.

[Korva Coleman]

This is npr. The British Coast Guard says it is 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. The oil tanker is on fire. British Coast Guard officials say they've dispatched lifeboats and a rescue helicopter to the scene. Other ships with the ability to fight fires are going, too. The Vatican says Pope Francis continues to rest in a Rome hospital and is receiving treatment for pneumonia. Officials say he's stable and in guarded condition. Virtual reality is a super immersive gaming experience where you can see and hear another world. But what if gaming included an aspect of taste? NPR's Emily Kwong reports on a novel form of tech that allows you to sort of eat cake in virtual reality.

[Emily Kwong]

Re etaste doesn't exactly feed you cake. Instead, the new tech allows you to taste a synthetic replica of cake using a cocktail of edible chemicals that are pumped across the user's tongue. Researchers have also experience with sending taste data across distance. So data from lemonade in California was sent hundreds of miles to a lab at the Ohio State University where it was tested by materials scientist and lead author Jinghua Lee.

[Jinghua Lee]

The long term goal here is for us to establish like the new way for people to interact with each other.

[Emily Kwong]

Li's paper acknowledges that flavor is far more complex than taste. But still, with improved tech comes perhaps a better way to diagnose loss of taste or bring us one step closer to virtual dining. For NPR News, I'm Emily Kwong.

[Korva Coleman]

And I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.

[NPR Announcer]

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.