NPR News: 03-12-2025 12PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: March 12, 2025 – Comprehensive Summary

Release Date: March 12, 2025 | Host: NPR's Lakshmi Singh

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European Union Pushes Back Against U.S. Tariffs

At the outset of today’s episode, Lakshmi Singh reports on escalating tensions in global trade as the European Union (EU) counters President Donald Trump's newly implemented 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum. These tariffs, which took effect today, have intensified fears of a protracted trade war.

Key Points:

• EU's Countermeasures: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU will impose retaliatory tariffs targeting up to $28 billion worth of U.S. goods starting in April. This includes products such as bourbon, jeans, and Harley Davidson motorcycles.

• Statements from Ursula von der Leyen: “The EU regrets Trump's decision, calling the tariffs bad for business and even worse for consumers” (00:37). She emphasized that while the EU is acting to protect its interests, it remains open to further negotiations.

• U.S. Administration's Stance: The Trump administration defends the tariffs as a necessary measure to shield U.S. metal producers from what it describes as “surging exports from foreign competitors.”

• Economic Concerns: Economists and market analysts express worries that these retaliatory actions could deepen the trade war, potentially leading to a recession in the United States.

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U.S. Senate Faces Critical Decision on Government Funding

Transitioning to domestic issues, Lakshmi Singh highlights the looming decision the U.S. Senate must make regarding a stopgap measure to maintain government funding through September. Failure to act could trigger a partial government shutdown post-Friday.

Key Points:

• Senate Deliberations: Senate Democrats, including Senator Chris Coons of Delaware, are deliberating whether to support a continuing resolution—a measure they have previously opposed—or allow a shutdown to occur.

• Chris Coons' Statement: “[A] government shutdown is already underway and it's being done piecemeal, without planning, without any kindness or decency to folks who've served veterans and help keep our nation safe, help run our Social Security Agency” (01:42). Coons criticizes the administration's handling of the situation, arguing against granting President Trump and Elon Musk more authority to redirect funds and impact essential services.

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U.S. Inflation Rates Show Signs of Cooling

In an economic update, Lakshmi Singh reports alongside NPR’s Scott Horsley that U.S. consumer prices rose by 2.8% in February compared to the previous year, a figure lower than economists had anticipated.

Key Points:

• Monthly Inflation Data: Prices increased by just 0.2% from January to February, a reduction from the previous month's rise. This slowdown is attributed to declining gasoline prices and stable grocery costs.

• Notable Exceptions: Despite overall price stability, egg prices remain problematic, continuing to climb at a double-digit rate due to avian flu impacting poultry populations.

• Core Inflation: Excluding volatile food and energy sectors, core inflation stood at 3.1% over the past twelve months.

• Federal Reserve's Outlook: The easing inflation rate is likely to alleviate pressures on the Federal Reserve, which is expected to maintain current interest rates in the upcoming policy meeting.

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Collision in the North Sea: Russian Captain Arrested

A maritime incident has garnered international attention as Lakshmi Singh details the collision between the cargo ship Solang and a U.S. tanker carrying jet fuel for the military in the North Sea off eastern England.

Key Points:

• Incident Details: The collision resulted in fires on both vessels, with one sailor from the Solang presumed dead.

• Legal Actions: The captain of the Solang, a Russian national, was apprehended by British authorities on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence the day following the incident.

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NASA Astronauts Nearing Return Home from the ISS

In space news, Lakshmi Singh updates listeners on the ongoing situation with two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) longer than initially planned due to technical issues with their Boeing spacecraft.

Key Points:

• Extended Mission: The astronauts have been in space since June of the previous year. Recent complications with their spacecraft have delayed their return.

• Replacement Crew Launch: A new crew is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking a significant step toward the astronauts' return.

• Public Statements and Disputes:

  • President Trump and Elon Musk’s Claims: They have asserted that the astronauts were left stranded by the Biden administration.

  • NASA's Response: Former astronauts and NASA officials, including retired astronaut Scott Kelly, dispute these claims. Kelly stated, “They had a SpaceX Dragon there as an emergency lifeboat to bring them back at any time they need it” (04:27), highlighting ongoing support systems in place.

• Timeline for Return: The SpaceX Dragon capsule is expected to facilitate the astronauts' return as early as Sunday, contingent upon the successful launch of their replacement crew.

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Financial Markets Update

Concluding the episode, Lakshmi Singh provides a brief overview of the stock market’s performance:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Decreased by 135 points.
• NASDAQ Composite: Increased by 187 points.

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Notable Quotes:

• Ursula von der Leyen on EU Tariffs: “The EU regrets Trump's decision, calling the tariffs bad for business and even worse for consumers.” (00:37)

• Chris Coons on Government Shutdown: “A government shutdown is already underway and it's being done piecemeal, without planning, without any kindness or decency to folks who've served veterans and help keep our nation safe…” (01:42)

• Scott Kelly on ISS Lifeboat: “They had a SpaceX Dragon there as an emergency lifeboat to bring them back at any time they need it.” (04:27)

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the March 12, 2025 episode of NPR News Now, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the day’s most pressing issues.

Transcript

[Carvana Representative]

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. The European Union is pushing back against President Trump's 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum that took effect today, escalating tensions about a global trade war. Rebecca Rossman reports. The EU has announced countermeasures measures targeting up to $28 billion worth of U.S. goods to start at the beginning of April.

[Rebecca Rossman]

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU regrets Trump's decision, calling the tariffs bad for business and even worse for consumers. As part of its response, Brussels is placing 25% tariffs of its own on U.S. exports, including bourbon jeans and Harley Davidson motorcycles. Von der Leyen states the EU is acting to protect itself, but remains open to negotiations. The Trump administration argues the tariffs are necessary to protect US Metal producers from what it calls surging exports from foreign competitors. But with global markets already on edge, concerns about a deepening trade war and possible recession in the United States are growing. Rebecca Rossman, NPR News, Paris.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Well, it's now up to the US Senate to decide where it stands on a stopgap measure that would keep government funding through the end of September. Failure to do so means a partial government shutdown after Friday night. Senate Democrats such as Chris Coons of Delaware are weighing the options to back a continuing resolution they've opposed or let a shutdown happen or as he believes, continue.

[Chris Coons]

A government shutdown is already underway and it's being done piecemeal, without planning, without any kindness or decency to folks who've served veterans and help keep our nation safe, help run our Social Security Agency. So first, the argument for not giving President Trump and Elon Musk more power to do more bad, to move money around at will, to shut down more organizations and to give it our vote. Our support, I think, is clear.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Coons, speaking with NPR's Morning Edition, consumer prices in the US were up 2.8% in February compared to the same month a year earlier. NPR's Scott Horsley says that's less than what economists were expecting.

[Scott Horsley]

Prices rose just 2/10 of a percent between January and February, a smaller increase than the month before and less than forecasters had expected. Falling gasoline prices last month helped keep the overall inflation rate in check. Grocery prices were also flat, although egg prices continue to climb at a double digit pace. Egg prices have been soaring as avian flu weighs on the nation's flock of egg laying hens, stripping out volatile food and energy prices. So called core inflation over the last 12 months was 3.1%. The cooling inflation rate should come as a relief to watchdogs at the federal nevertheless, the central bank is expected to hold interest rates steady when policymakers meet next week. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

From Washington, this is NPR News. The owner of a cargo ship that collided with a US Tanker says the vessel's captain is a Russian citizen. The ship Solang, collided Monday with a tanker that was carrying jet fuel for the US Military in the North Sea off eastern England. The incident caused fires to break out on both vessels. One sailor from the Solong presumably died in the incident. The captain of the cargo ship was arrested by British authorities yesterday on suspicion of manslaughter by gross negligence. Two NASA astronauts who've spent months longer than originally planned aboard the International Space Station are expected to move a step closer to coming home today. NPR's Jeff Brumfiel says their replacement crew is scheduled to launch this evening from the Kennedy Space center in Florida.

[Jeff Brumfiel]

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been aboard the station since last June after their experimental Boeing spacecraft experienced technical problems in recent weeks. President Trump and Elon Musk have said they were left stranded at the station by the Biden administration. Former astronauts and NASA officials dispute that claim. One of them is retired astronaut Scott Kelly. He points out that a SpaceX Dragon capsule arrived last September.

[Scott Kelly]

They had a SpaceX Dragon there as an emergency lifeboat to bring them back at any time they need it.

[Jeff Brumfiel]

That same capsule will carry them back as soon as Sunday. But first, their replacement crew must get to space. Jeff Brumfiel, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The dow is down 135 points. The NASDAQ is up 187. It's NPR News.

[Carvana Representative]

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