NPR News: 03-11-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – Detailed Summary

Episode: NPR News: 03-11-2025 4PM EDT
Release Date: March 11, 2025
Host: Lakshmi Singh
Source: NPR

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1. U.S.-Canada Trade Tensions Ease Over Steel and Aluminum Tariffs

[00:13] Lakshmi Singh introduced the episode by highlighting a significant development in U.S.-Canada trade relations. Ontario has withdrawn its 25% surcharge on electricity exports to Minnesota, Michigan, and New York. This reversal comes in response to President Donald Trump's threat to escalate U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%. The initial double levy was slated to take effect the following morning, coinciding with broader steel and aluminum tariffs, thereby creating turbulence in the U.S. market.

[00:43] Maria Aspen provided further analysis, noting that Trump, who has historically sought Wall Street's favor by touting stock market gains and promoting pro-business policies, is now seemingly prioritizing tariff leverage over economic stability. Aspen remarked, "Trump appears to be prioritizing the leverage power of tariffs above all else, including the stock market and the pain that a trade war would cause the US Economy" ([00:43]). Additionally, she mentioned Trump's recent comments that failed to rule out a recession, which unsettled investors. The White House, however, dismissed concerns, describing the current phase as a "period of economic transition."

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2. Progress Towards Peace in Ukraine with U.S. Involvement

[01:21] Lakshmi Singh updated listeners on diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring peace in Ukraine. Both U.S. and Ukrainian officials have reportedly made strides towards durable peace, with the U.S. announcing the resumption of intelligence sharing and security assistance.

[01:36] Michelle Kellerman detailed the progress made during talks in Saudi Arabia, which helped mend the previously strained relationship between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky expressed "strong gratitude" towards Trump for facilitating meaningful peace progress and indicated Ukraine's readiness for a 30-day ceasefire proposal. [02:00] Secretary of State Marco Rubio added, "And we hope that they'll say yes, that they'll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court" ([02:00]). Following these developments, the U.S. is lifting a pause on intelligence sharing with Ukraine, signaling renewed support.

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3. Safety Concerns at Reagan National Airport and Duterte’s Arrest

[02:11] Lakshmi Singh reported on the National Transportation Safety Board's (NTSB) concerns regarding flight patterns around Reagan National Airport. The NTSB chair has voiced that the current proximity of helicopter and commercial plane operations poses an "intolerable risk," especially after the tragic mid-air collision in January that resulted in 67 fatalities.

In international news, [02:44] Rodrigo Duterte, the former President of the Philippines, was arrested and transferred to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity. Duterte, aged 79, was detained upon his return from Hong Kong. [02:50] Duterte was quoted, "Apparently, I was brought here not of my own" ([02:44]). A video of his arrest was circulated online by his daughter, Veronica. The International Criminal Court had issued a warrant for Duterte in connection with alleged extrajudicial killings during his war on drugs that commenced in 2016.

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4. U.S. Department of Education Employees Directed to Work From Home

Late in the episode, [Lakshmi Singh] covered a concerning development within the U.S. Department of Education. Employees received an urgent email instructing them to vacate all department offices by 6 PM Eastern on the day of the broadcast and to work from home the following day, potentially returning on Thursday. The directive, issued by the department's Office of Finance and Operations, has left employees anxious about possible reprisals, leading some to share the email with NPR anonymously.

This move is part of a broader pattern of "sweeping cost-cutting measures" implemented by the administration across various federal agencies, including mass layoffs of federal workers. Neither the White House nor the Department of Education responded to NPR's inquiries for comments on this matter.

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5. Billy Joel Postpones Tour Due to Health Issues

[04:02] Elizabeth Blair reported that legendary musician Billy Joel has postponed his ongoing tour, citing an undisclosed medical condition. The postponement spans four months, necessitated by recent surgery and the need for physical therapy. Joel communicated his decision via an Instagram statement, expressing regret over the inconvenience: "While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first" ([04:02]).

The updated tour schedule anticipates resuming in Pittsburgh in July, with affected performances across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Ticket holders are assured that their purchases will be valid for the rescheduled dates. In a poignant moment, Joel sang, "Sing us a song. You're the piano man. Sing us a song" ([04:29]), underscoring his dedication to his craft and his fans. He concluded his statement by expressing eagerness to return to the stage, sharing the "joy of live music."

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6. U.S. Stock Market Declines Amid Economic Uncertainties

Concluding the episode, [Lakshmi Singh] reported a downturn in the U.S. stock market, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling by over 1%, equivalent to 478 points ([04:45]). This decline reflects ongoing investor anxieties amidst the administration's trade policies and broader economic transitions.

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This episode of NPR News Now encapsulates critical developments in international trade, diplomatic efforts in conflict zones, safety and accountability in aviation, internal government operations, cultural updates, and economic indicators, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the day's pivotal news.

Transcript

[Carvana]

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Ontario's now backing off a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to Minnesota, Michigan and New York after President Trump threatened to bump up the U.S. tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%. The double levy was due to begin in the morning when broader steel and aluminum tariffs were set to take effect. All of this roiling the U.S. market. As NPR's Maria Aspen reports, President Trump.

[Maria Aspen]

Has long courted Wall Street's approval. During his first term, he regularly boasted about the stock market's performance and he ran for the second presidency by promising investors many business friends policies. But now Trump appears to be prioritizing the leverage power of tariffs above all else, including the stock market and the pain that a trade war would cause the US Economy. He spooked investors over the weekend by declining to rule out a recession this year. The White House shrugged off the stock market's reaction, saying that the country is in, quote, a period of economic transition. Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Dow is down more than 1% or 478 points. U.S. and Ukrainian officials, officials say they have taken, quote, important steps toward restoring durable peace for Ukraine. And the U.S. says it will resume intelligence sharing and security assistance. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports.

[Michelle Kellerman]

The talks in Saudi Arabia seem to have gone a long way to overcome a public break between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainians are expressing, quote, strong gratitude to President Trump for making possible meaningful progress toward peace. They say they're ready for a 30 day ceasefire, a proposal the US will now bring to Russia, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

[Marco Rubio]

And we hope that they'll say yes, that they'll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court.

[Michelle Kellerman]

The US Is now lifting a pause on intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The chair of the National Transportation Safety Board investigating January's mid air collision between a regional jet and a military helicopter says the flight patterns around Reagan National Airport pose an intolerable risk as helicopters and commercial planes operate in close proximity in the busy airspace above the D.C. area. The January collision killed 67 people. Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has been arrested and flown to the Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity. The 79 year old was detained at a Manila airport today after returning from Hong Kong.

[Marco Rubio]

Apparently, I was brought here not of my own.

[Lakshmi Singh]

A video recording of Duterte was posted online by his daughter Veronica. The International Criminal Court issued a warrant in its investigation of thousands of extrajudicial killings during during that is Duterte's war on drugs after he became president in 2016. From Washington, this is NPR News. This afternoon, Employees of the U.S. department of Education received an email telling them to leave all department offices by 6pm Eastern tonight. Staff were instructed by the department's Office of Finance and Operations to work from home tomorrow. They were told that they could return on Thursday. Employees of the department share the email with npr. We are not naming them because the employees feared retribution. Neither the White House nor Department of Education have responded to NPR's request for comment, yet the administration has been implementing sweeping cost cutting measures across the federal government, including mass layoffs of federal government workers. Billy Joel is postponing his current tour. NPR's Elizabeth Blair reports. The singer will take four months off due to an undisclosed medical condition.

[Elizabeth Blair]

The statement on Billy Joel's Instagram says the singer will postpone his tour so he can recover from recent surgery and undergo physical therapy. The singer says, quote, while I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first. The statement says the tour will resume in Pittsburgh in July. Shows that will be rescheduled include dates in the U.S. canada and the U.K. the statement says purchase tickets will be valid for the rescheduled shows.

[Billy Joel]

Sing us a song. You're the piano man. Sing us a song.

[Elizabeth Blair]

Tonight, Joel writes he looks forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with his fans. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

U.S. stock market closed down today. The Dow is down 478 points. It's NPR News.

[Carvana]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now. [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.