NPR News: 04-06-2025 7PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 6, 2025, 7 PM EDT

The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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1. President Trump's Tariffs Remain Unwavering Amid Unpopularity

Reporter: Mara Liasson
Hosts: Jeanine Herbst

President Donald Trump's implementation of tariffs continues to face significant disapproval from the American public. Despite voter sentiment and market reactions, the administration shows no signs of reversing these policies.

• Public and Market Response:

  • A majority of Americans express disapproval of Trump's tariffs.
  • The S&P 500 has declined by 15% since Trump's inauguration.

• Trump’s Stance:

  • Quote: “My policies will never change.”
    Timestamp: [00:28]
  • Contrary to previous administrations where negative feedback from markets or voters led to policy reversals, Trump's advisors confirm a steadfast commitment to the current tariff strategy.

• Rationale Behind Tariffs:

  • The White House has presented mixed justifications for the tariffs:
    • Economic Revival: Aimed at bringing manufacturing back to the U.S.
    • Fiscal Goals: Intended to generate hundreds of billions of dollars to fund tax cuts and balance the budget.
    • Negotiation Tactic: At times suggested as a leverage tool in international trade negotiations.

Economic Indicators:

• U.S. crude oil futures have also fallen by 3.6%, reflecting broader economic uncertainties tied to the administration's policies.

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2. Federal Pressure Mounts on Universities Over Compliance Issues

Reporter: Alyssa Nadworny
Host: Jeanine Herbst

Academic institutions are under intense scrutiny as federal authorities investigate dozens of colleges and universities for alleged discrimination against Jewish students and non-compliance with President Trump’s interpretation of civil rights laws.

• Investigations and Probes:

  • Institutions like Harvard University and Columbia University are being reviewed for billions in funding compliance.

• University Leaders' Response:

  • Mary Dana Hinton, President of Holland University:
    Quote: “It feels like you have to be the calm in the center of a storm.”
    Timestamp: [01:55]
  • Leaders are proactively engaging with Washington officials to advocate the essential role of universities in the national economy and societal development.

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3. Severe Flooding Claims Lives and Displaces Residents in Kentucky

Reporter: Karen Zahr
Host: Jeanine Herbst

Four days of relentless rain have led to catastrophic flooding across multiple states, resulting in at least 18 fatalities. Kentucky has been particularly hard-hit, with Governor Andy Beshear urging residents to seek higher ground.

• Flood Impact:

  • Numerous roads remain closed due to rising water levels.
  • Approximately 250 barricades have been deployed to manage and divert traffic safely.

• Governor's Statement:

  • Andy Beshear:
    Quote: “The rivers haven't crested in many areas of the state. And so there are a day, if not several days left on this event.”
    Timestamp: [02:43]

• Rescue Efforts:

  • Swiftwater rescue teams are operating around the clock.
  • Tragic incidents include the deaths of a nine-year-old boy swept away near a bus stop and a 74-year-old individual found in a submerged vehicle.

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4. UConn Women's Basketball Secures Historic Championship Victory

Reporter: Steve Futterman
Host: Jeanine Herbst

The University of Connecticut (UConn) triumphs in the women's college basketball championship, marking a significant milestone in the program's illustrious history.

• Game Highlights:

  • Final Score: UConn defeated South Carolina 82-59.
  • The Huskies established a comfortable lead, maintaining and expanding a 10-point advantage by halftime.

• Key Players:

  • Az Fudd and Sarah Strong: Each contributed 24 points.
  • Paige Beckers: Scored 17 points in her final college game, securing the elusive national championship.

• Historic Achievement:

  • This victory marks UConn's 12th national title in women's basketball.
  • UConn becomes the first basketball program, both men’s and women’s, to achieve a dozen championships.

Significance:

• The win not only enhances UConn's legacy but also highlights the enduring strength and dominance of their women's basketball program.

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5. Blockbuster Weekend at the Box Office with "Minecraft" Leading the Charge

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst

The weekend box office saw a record-breaking debut for the "Minecraft" movie, surpassing previous video game adaptations in popularity and revenue.

• Top Grossing Films:

  1. "Minecraft" Movie:

     • Estimated Sales: $157 million
     • Remark: Biggest release of the year, breaking the previous video game adaptation record held by the "Super Mario Brothers" movie.

  2. "A Working Man":

     • Starring: Jason Statham
     • Genre: Action
     • Sales: $7.3 million in its second weekend.

  3. "The Last Supper – Second Installment":

     • Sales: $7 million
     • Note: The third and final batch of episodes is scheduled to arrive in theaters the following weekend.

Industry Impact:

• The success of "Minecraft" underscores the lucrative potential of adapting popular video games into mainstream films, setting a new benchmark for future projects in the genre.

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For more updates, stay tuned to NPR News Now.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump's tariffs are unpopular with voters, but as NPR's Mara Liaison reports, he doesn't appear to be backing off.

[Mara Liasson]

In the past, President Trump has reversed course when the markets or voters reacted negatively to his policies. But this time, White House advisors say he is staying the course. And Trump himself posted last week, quote, my policies will never change. A majority of Americans tell pollsters they disapprove of Trump's tariffs. And The S&P 500 is down by 15% since Inauguration Day. It's also unclear which of Trump's stated reasons for the tariffs will win out. The White House sometimes says that meant to be permanent in order to bring manufacturing back to the US and bring in enough money, hundreds of billions of dollars, to pay for tax cuts and balance the budget. Other times, Trump has suggested the tariffs are just a negotiating tactic. Mara Liasson, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And U.S. futures contracts are sharply lower at this hour. Dow futures down 4%. Nasdaq futures are down about 4.5%. College and university leaders are under pressure to comply with federal executive orders and policy changes or risk losing federal fund. NPR's Alyssa Nadworning has more.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

Dozens of institutions are under federal investigation for allegedly failing to protect Jewish students from discrimination on their campuses, dozens more for not complying with President Trump's interpretation of civil rights laws. A federal task force is reviewing billions of dollars in Harvard University's funding. A similar probe is underway at Columbia. Mary Dana Hinton is the president at Holland University in Virginia.

[Mary Dana Hinton]

It feels like you have to be the calm in the center of a storm.

[Alyssa Nadworny]

For many of the university leaders I talked to, that's meant heading to Washington, trying to strengthen their relationship with people in power and to communicate that universities are essential for the economy and the nation. Alyssa Nadworny, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Four days of continuous rain brought deadly flooding to several states, with at least 18 deaths blamed on the storms. In Kentucky, the governor is asking people in several communities to move to higher ground. Karen Zahar with member station WUKY has more.

[Karen Zahr]

So many roads are closed in Kentucky because of flooding. 250 barricades have been delivered from Chicago to divert traffic. Governor Andy Beshear says the water in several communities is still rising.

[Governor Andy Beshear]

The rivers haven't crested in many areas of the state. And so there are a day, if not several days left on this event.

[Karen Zahr]

Swiftwater rescue teams have been working around the clock. Flooding is being blamed for the deaths of a nine year old boy who was swept away while walking to the bus stop and a 74 year old found in a submerged vehicle. For NPR News, I'm Karen zarr in Lexington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

U.S. crude oil futures are also lower, down 3.6%. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. The University of Connecticut has won the women's college basketball championship with a one sided victory over South Carolina. And as Steve Futterman reports, it was a historic win.

[Steve Futterman]

After nearly a decade, UConn is back on top. The Huskies dominated the championship game, easily beating defending champion South Carolina 82 to 59. Connecticut led by 10 at halftime and the lead just kept growing. UConn was led by Az Fudd and Sarah Strong. They each had 24 points. The great Paige Beckers in her final college game had 17 points. And Beckers, after coming so close, finally gets the one thing she was missing, a national championship. This is the 12th title for the UConn women's program. It becomes the first basketball program, men or women, to win a dozen championships. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Tampa.

[Jeanine Herbst]

At the weekend box office, a Minecraft movie debuted in the top spot with an estimated $157 million in ticket sales. It's the biggest of the year so far and broke a record for a video game adaptation that was previously held by the Super Mario Brothers movie. In second place, Jason Statham's action pick, a working man with $7.3 million in its second weekend. In third place, the second installment of the episodic the Last supper series with $7 million. The third and final batch of episodes arrives in theaters next weekend. I'm Jeanine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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