NPR News Now: April 3, 2025, 7 PM EDT

Host: Jack Spear | April 3, 2025

Pentagon Launches Investigation into Defense Secretary's Messaging Practices

Timestamp: [00:19]

Live from Washington, NPR's Jack Spear reports that the Pentagon's acting inspector is initiating an investigation into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the encrypted messaging app Signal for discussing military operations. This scrutiny follows a revelation by The Atlantic last month, where it was disclosed that the publication's editor-in-chief was inadvertently added to a group chat. This chat included Hegseth and other high-ranking national security officials who shared details about a U.S. strike against Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Timestamp: [00:48]

Elena Moore elaborates on the situation, stating that the Pentagon's probe was prompted by a request from top senators across both Republican and Democratic parties on the Armed Services Committee. In their letter to the Inspector General (IG), Senators Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Jack Reed of Rhode Island expressed concerns regarding the use of unclassified networks for transmitting sensitive and potentially classified information. The Senate committee has announced plans to hold a hearing on this matter. Defense Secretary Hegseth has publicly denied that any classified war plans were discussed within the Signal chat.

Notable Quote:

"The incident raises questions about the use of unclassified networks to discuss sensitive and classified information."
— Senators Roger Wicker and Jack Reed
[00:48]

Canada Responds to U.S. Auto Tariffs with New Measures

Timestamp: [01:18]

In economic news, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announces that Canada will impose new tariffs on vehicles imported from the United States. This move is retaliatory, responding to President Trump's recent decision to impose a 25% tariff on all auto imports into the U.S. NPR's Jackie Northam reports on the implications of this trade tension.

Timestamp: [01:31]

Prime Minister Carney emphasizes that the tariffs are a response to what he terms "President Trump's unjustified and unwarranted tariffs." However, unlike President Trump, Carney assures that Canada will refrain from levying taxes on auto parts to avoid exacerbating hardships for Canadian auto workers. The auto industry, highly integrated across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, faces significant disruptions. Notably, U.S. automaker Stellantis has already initiated a temporary shutdown at its Windsor plant on the Canadian border, impacting over 3,000 workers. Given the intricate assembly processes, a single vehicle may cross the border up to eight times, highlighting the depth of interdependency within the North American auto sector.

Notable Quote:

"I won't put levies on auto parts. That would cause too much hardship for Canadian auto workers."
— Prime Minister Mark Carney
[01:31]

State of Emergency Declared in Tennessee After Deadly Tornadoes

Timestamp: [02:10]

President Trump has declared a state of emergency in Tennessee following a series of devastating tornadoes that struck the state last night, resulting in at least five fatalities. NPR's Marianna Bacallau provides an update on the situation.

Timestamp: [02:23]

Marianna Bacallau reports that states including Virginia, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas have pledged assistance to Tennessee in managing the storm's aftermath and preparing for potential flooding. At a storm shelter in West Tennessee, Governor Bill Lee described the damage as "devastating," with entire houses, apartments, and mobile homes destroyed.

Timestamp: [02:45]

Governor Bill Lee elaborated on the human impact, stating:

"What's most difficult about it is, you know that those are lives destroyed, in some cases true life lost, but in other cases just everything people owned up in trees."
[02:45]

Marianna Bacallau adds that the death toll may rise as FEMA assesses the full extent of the storm's impact, and ongoing severe flooding continues to pose significant risks to the region.

Trump Administration Eliminates Tariff Exemption for Small Chinese Packages

Timestamp: [03:10]

In international trade developments, the Trump administration has announced the removal of the tariff exemption for small packages originating from China, effective May 2. This policy change mandates importers to pay duties on these packages, a move reported by bureau's Emily Fang.

Timestamp: [03:33]

Emily Fang explains that President Trump aims to eliminate the "de minimis exemption" to address the alleged surge of fentanyl trafficking through these small packages. Previously, this exemption allowed Chinese e-commerce giants like Shein and Temu, as well as platforms such as Amazon and AliExpress, to sell low-cost goods in the U.S. without incurring import taxes, provided the packages were valued below $800. The rise of fast fashion has significantly increased the volume of these packages, skyrocketing from just over $5 billion worth of goods in 2018 to $66 billion in 2023.

Notable Quote:

"President Trump said he was stopping what is called the de minimis exemption to combat the alleged influx of fentanyl in these packages."
— Emily Fang
[03:33]

Rebirth of Pennsylvania’s Coal-Fired Electric Plant to Power Data Centers

Timestamp: [04:18]

In energy sector news, a coal-fired electric plant in Pennsylvania, previously shut down two years ago, is set to undergo a $10 billion transformation. This ambitious project aims to supply power to energy-intensive data centers. The former Home City Generating Station, located about an hour east of Pittsburgh, plans to integrate seven gas-fired turbines capable of producing up to 4.5 gigawatts of electricity. This output is sufficient to power approximately 3 million homes, positioning it as the nation's largest natural gas-fueled plant.

Notable Impact: The resurgence of this plant underscores the growing demand for reliable energy to support burgeoning data center operations, highlighting a shift towards natural gas as a more sustainable alternative to coal.

Oil Prices Plunge Amid Market Volatility

Timestamp: [04:59]

Global markets experienced significant turmoil today as oil prices plummeted by over 6%, with the barrel price dropping to $6.695. This sharp decline reflects the ongoing uncertainty and volatility within the oil sector, influenced by various geopolitical and economic factors.

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