NPR News: 04-07-2025 6AM EDT

Summary

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

Host: Korva Coleman

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I. Global Market Turmoil Due to Tariffs

Korva Coleman opens the episode highlighting significant global stock market declines triggered by President Trump's implementation of new global tariffs. Korva states at [00:16] that "Hong Kong's Hang Seng index plunged more than 13%. European markets are slumping by about 5%." She notes that Wall Street remains closed, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

Maria Aspen, reporting at [00:36], provides detailed insights into the market reaction:

• Dow futures plummeted by approximately 1300 points, exceeding a 3% drop.
• Oil futures also saw a decline.
• Bitcoin fell below $77,000, a stark contrast to its recent peak of $100,000 just weeks after President Trump's election, during a period when the crypto industry had high hopes for a more favorable administration.

II. Corporate and International Reactions to Tariffs

Following the market downturn, Korva Coleman transitions to the administration's response. At [01:07], she quotes President Trump defending his tariffs:

"Sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something."

Amy Held further explores the global repercussions at [01:20], detailing how Trump's tariffs have led to widespread market declines, retaliatory measures from international leaders, and corporate adjustments:

• Jaguar and Land Rover, the British carmakers, have paused shipments to the U.S. to reassess their operations.
• Bryant Kagi Farms, based in Missouri and primarily exporting soybeans to China, expresses significant concern over the ongoing uncertainty. At [01:47], Bryant Kagi remarks:

  "I'm more worried about what it's going to do for some of the other stuff that we will purchase throughout the year, whether that's equipment, equipment parts, chemicals, in the future, fertilizer prices."

In response to the economic strain, Trump has taken to social media to galvanize public support. At [01:56], he urges Americans to "hang tough," proclaiming:

"This is an economic revolution and we will win."

III. Significant Weather Events: Flooding in Midwest and South

Shifting focus to natural disasters, Korva Coleman reports at [02:05] on severe flooding affecting much of the Midwest and South. The heavy storms and torrential rains have resulted in 18 fatalities, with flood warnings still in effect across a dozen states from Ohio to Texas.

Karen Zarr, reporting from Lexington for member station WUKY, provides a detailed account of the situation in Kentucky:

• Road closures abound due to flooding, with 250 barricades deployed from Chicago to manage traffic flow.
• Governor Andy Beshear addresses the ongoing crisis at [02:46]:

  "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 Zarr adds that swiftwater rescue teams are tirelessly working to manage the situation. The flooding has tragically claimed the lives of a nine-year-old boy swept away en route to a bus stop and a 74-year-old man found in a submerged vehicle.

IV. Immigration and Judicial Actions

Back in Washington, Korva Coleman discusses a significant legal development regarding immigration policy. At [03:12], she reports that a federal judge has mandated the Trump administration to repatriate a Maryland man deported to El Salvador. U.S. District Judge Paul Azinis criticizes the administration's actions, declaring them:

"Wholly lawless."

The context involves a prior order from a U.S. immigration judge that had prohibited the deportation, highlighting ongoing legal battles surrounding immigration enforcement.

V. American Reading Habits: Ipsos Poll Findings

Exploring cultural trends, Korva Coleman presents findings from a recent NPR Ipsos poll on American reading habits. Andrew Limbong reports that while reading remains a highly respected activity, it is less frequently practiced:

• 51% of respondents reported reading a book in the past month.
• In contrast, approximately 80% engage in streaming TV or using social media.

Mallory Newell, Vice President of Public Polling at Ipsos, explains at [03:42]:

"To be clear, respondents respect and even venerate reading. Respondents overwhelmingly think reading is relaxing and is a way to learn about the world."

She further elaborates that external factors beyond mere entertainment choices impede reading:

"What gets in the way of reading isn't just other entertainment, it's the rest of life."

Andrew Limbong adds at [04:14]:

"I think reading is up against the fact that we just don't have enough time in the day."

Despite these challenges, 63% of participants expressed a desire to improve their reading habits, indicating a strong aspiration toward enhancing literacy and engagement with literature.

VI. Sports Highlights

Closing the episode on a lighter note, Korva Coleman shares significant sports achievements:

• Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals has broken the all-time NHL scoring record, amassing 895 goals over his 20-season career, surpassing hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.
• University of Connecticut (UConn) has secured the women's NCAA basketball championship, defeating the previous year's champion, South Carolina.
• Anticipation builds for the men's NCAA basketball championship game scheduled for later tonight, featuring a matchup between Florida and Houston.

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This summary aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the key topics discussed in the April 7, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, ensuring clarity and engagement for those who have not listened to the full broadcast.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Stock markets are tanking around the world this morning in response to President Trump's new global tariffs. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index plunged more than 13%. European markets are slumping by about 5%. Wall street isn't open. NPR's Maria Aspen says last week was terrible, but this week could be worse.

[Maria Aspen]

When the futures markets opened last night, meaning that traders could start putting in their orders to buy and sell, prices immediately turned red. By early this morning, Dow futures were down around 1300 points, or more than 3%. And it's not just stocks. Oil futures are down and Bitcoin, which trades around the clock, is down below $77,000. Remember, it hit $100,000 not that long ago, weeks after President Trump was elected. On the industry's hopes for a more crypto friendly president.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Maria Aspen reporting. President Trump defended his tariffs yesterday to reporters. He said, quote, sometimes you have to take medicine to fix something. NPR's Amy Held reports on further world reaction.

[Amy Held]

Trump's tariffs have sent the world's markets plummeting, leaders moving to retaliate and companies scrambling to adapt. The British carmaker of Jaguars and Land Rovers announced it's pausing shipments to the US to figure out how to operate. Now in Missouri, Bryant Kagi Farms soybeans mostly sold to China, which has imposed its own retaliatory tariffs. But he says his bigger concern is the uncertainty ahead.

[Bryant Kagi]

I'm more worried about what it's going to do for some of the other stuff that we will purchase throughout the year, whether that's equipment, equipment parts, chemicals, in the future, fertilizer prices.

[Amy Held]

In social media posts, Trump told Americans to hang tough. He wrote, this is an economic revolution and we will win. Amy Held, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Much of the Midwest and the south are waterlogged after days of heavy storms and torrential rain that have killed at least 18 people. Parts of a dozen states remain under some kind of flood warning. From Ohio to Texas, many areas are trying to fend off rising river levels that have surged into homes and businesses. From member station wuky, Karen Zarr reports. Kentucky's governor has asked people in many communities to flee to higher ground.

[Karen Zarr]

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 Zarr]

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.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to bring back a Maryland man deported to El Salvador. U.S. district Judge Paul Azinis explains the U.S. s actions are wholly lawless. A U.S. immigration judge had previously forbade the U.S. from deporting him. A new NPR Ipsos poll looks at the current reading habits of Americans. As NPR's Andrew Limbong reports, reading is more of an aspiration than reality for most people.

[Mallory Newell]

To be clear, respondents respect and even venerate reading. Respondents overwhelmingly think reading is relaxing and is a way to learn about the world. 98% of respondents with kids say they want their children to develop a love of reading. And yet 51% of respondents say they read a book in the last month, compared to the about 80% who say they've watched streaming TV or used social media. Mallory Newell, vice president of public polling at Ipsos, says what gets in the way of reading isn't just other entertainment, it's the rest of life.

[Andrew Limbong]

I think reading is up against the fact that we just don't have enough time in the day.

[Mallory Newell]

That said, 63% of people said they want to become a better reader. Andrew Limbong, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

In pro hockey, Washington Capital star Alex Ovechkin broke the all time NHL record yesterday. He scored 895 times in his 20 seasons. Ovechkin surpassed the scoring record set by hockey icon Wayne Gretzky. The University of Connecticut has won the women's NCAA basketball championship. UConn defeated last year's champion, South Carolina, yesterday. The men's championship game is tonight between Florida and Houston. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News, in Washington.

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