NPR News: 04-07-2025 7AM EDT

Summary

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

In today’s episode of NPR News Now, a range of critical issues are covered, from global economic instability and controversial immigration decisions to public health crises, severe weather events, and significant sports achievements. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics discussed.

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Global Stock Markets Plummet Amid U.S. Tariff Fears

Korva Coleman opens the report highlighting the turbulence in global stock markets triggered by President Trump’s new tariffs. Investors worldwide are apprehensive about the broader economic repercussions of these tariffs. John Bruwich provides an in-depth analysis:

• Asian Markets: Experiencing a severe downturn, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dropping over 13%, marking its steepest single-day fall since 1997. Taiwan’s market also saw a historic decline of nearly 10%.

• European Markets: Similar patterns of decline are observed, with major indexes across Europe sliding.

• U.S. Markets: Dow futures are down by 730 points, nearly a 2% decrease, reflecting the heightened uncertainty impacting investor confidence.

“The economic uncertainty is slamming other markets,” Bruwich notes at 00:36.

Trump Administration Faces Deportation Controversy

The episode delves into the contentious deportation of Kilmaro Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man mistakenly sent to El Salvador. Luke Garrett reports on the unfolding legal battle:

• Judicial Order: A U.S. district judge has mandated the White House to repatriate Garcia by Monday night (originally by tonight at 01:24).

• Government Stance: Attorney General Pam Bondi defends the administration’s actions, asserting Garcia’s affiliation with the MS-13 gang despite lacking substantial evidence. Bondi stated on Fox News Sunday at 01:52:

  “We have to rely on what Homeland Security says. They’re our clients and I firmly believe in the work they are doing.”

• Legal Proceedings: The Justice Department is appealing the judge’s order, labeling the deportation as “wholly lawless”.

Measles Outbreak in Texas Claims Another Child's Life

Health crises take center stage as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services Secretary, visits West Texas to address a severe measles outbreak. David Martin Davies reports from Gaines County:

• Outbreak Details: Texas has reported nearly 500 cases, with the latest fatality being an unvaccinated school-aged child with no underlying conditions (02:23).

• Public Health Response: Kennedy emphasizes the importance of the MMR vaccine in preventing measles spread. Despite his reputation as a vaccine skeptic, he stated:

  “The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine.” (02:23)

Catastrophic Flooding Continues Across Central U.S.

Heavy storms have subsided, but the aftermath is devastating. Korva Coleman provides an update on the ongoing flooding:

• Geographical Impact: Approximately a dozen states from Ohio to Texas are under flood warnings, primarily for river flooding.
• Human Toll: At least 18 lives have been lost due to the recent storms affecting the Midwest and the South (03:11).
• Current Situation: Many residents remain displaced, seeking higher ground as recovery efforts continue.

University of Connecticut Wins 12th NCAA Women's Basketball Championship

In sports news, Steve Futterman brings uplifting news from the NCAA:

• Championship Victory: The University of Connecticut (UConn) women's basketball team clinched their 12th national title, defeating South Carolina by 23 points in Tampa (03:52).

• Historic Achievement: This marks the first time any college basketball program, men's or women's, has secured twelve championships.

• Star Player Highlight: Paige Beckers, UConn’s standout player, expressed her joy and emotional journey leading to the championship:

  “Emotions, the journey of the ups and downs, everything that it took to get to that point, and just overwhelming joy.” (04:16)

• Future Prospects: Beckers is anticipated to be the top pick in the upcoming WNBA draft (04:23).

Upcoming NCAA Men's Basketball Title Game

Looking ahead, Korva Coleman notes that the men's NCAA basketball championship game is scheduled for tonight in San Antonio, featuring a rematch between Florida and Houston (04:40).

Market Recap

The episode concludes with a brief update on the stock market, reiterating that the Dow is down by more than 2% amidst ongoing economic uncertainties (04:40).

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This comprehensive overview of today’s NPR News Now episode encapsulates the critical developments across economic, political, health, environmental, and sports arenas, providing listeners with a thorough understanding of the current events shaping our world.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Stock markets around the world are slumping. Investors are frightened of the effects of President Trump's new tariffs that are ricocheting around the world. On Wall street and pre market trading, Dow futures are down 730 points, or nearly 2%. NPR's John Brew which says elsewhere the economic uncertainty is slamming other markets.

[John Bruwich]

In Asia, it was a bloodbath with equity markets from Australia to Vietnam plunging some clocked record drops. Hong Kong's benchmark Hang Seng index fell more than 13%, its biggest one day drop since 1997, the year Britain handed the territory back to China. And Taiwan's market ended down nearly 10%, its biggest single day fall on record. In Europe, it was a similar story with major market indexes down across the board.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's John Bruwich reporting. President Trump is defending his actions. The 10% tariffs took effect on Saturday. Further tariffs from President Trump are supposed to take effect on Wednesday. The Trump administration is defending its deportation of a Maryland man who was sent to El Salvador by mistake. NPR's Luke Garrett reports. A U.S. district judge is ordering the White House to bring the man back by tonight.

[Luke Garrett]

In 2019, an immigration judge barred Kilmaro Abrego Garcia from being sent back to El Salvador because he was being targeted with threats and violence. The Trump administration deported him there anyway and admitted it was a administrative error. On Sunday, a judge called the deportation wholly lawless, end quote. But Attorney General Pam Bondi said Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS.13 gang and deserved to be deported. When asked for evidence on Fox News Sunday, Bondi responded, so we have to.

[Pam Bondi]

Rely on what I says. We have to rely on what Homeland Security says. They're our clients and I firmly believe in the work they are doing.

[Luke Garrett]

A court order says Abrego Garcia must be returned by Monday night, but the Justice Department says it can't. They are appealing the judge's order. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Traveled to West Texas yesterday. Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies reports. A second child has died there from complications from measles.

[David Martin Davies]

Kennedy posted on social media that he went to Gaines county in West Texas to comfort the families who had lost two young children due to measles Gaines county is the center of the spreading outbreak with nearly 500 cases in Texas alone, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The latest Texas measles death was a school aged child who was hospitalized, was not vaccinated and had no reported underlying conditions. This is the third measles related death in this outbreak. The first was another Texas child. The other was a New Mexico adult. Neither were vaccinated. In his post, Kennedy A Vaccine Skeptic wrote, the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine. I'm David Martin Davies in San Antonio.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Many of the historic storms that plowed through the central U.S. the Midwest and the south over the past few days have eased, but not the colossal flooding. Some kind of flood warning is posted in about a dozen states this morning from Ohio to Texas. Several of these are cautions about river flooding. Some people are still fleeing to higher ground. The recent storms across the Central and Eastern US have killed at least 18 people. The university of Connecticut has won the NCAA women's college basketball championship. Steve Futterman reports from Tampa. They dominated South Carolina in yesterday's title game.

[Steve Futterman]

Connecticut led from start to finish, eventually beating South Carolina by 23 points. The UConn women capturing a record 12th title. No college basketball program, men or women, has ever won that many. Connecticut star player Paige Beckers in her final college game captured the one honor that's eluded her, a national championship. For her, a moving moment, so many.

[Paige Beckers]

Emotions, the journey of the ups and downs, everything that it took to get to that point, and just overwhelming Joy.

[Steve Futterman]

It's the UConn women's first championship since 2016. South Carolina was trying to win for a second straight year. Beckers is now expected to be the number one pick when the WNBA draft takes place next week. For NPR News, I'm Steve Futterman in Tampa.

[Korva Coleman]

Meanwhile, the men's NCAA basketball title game will be played tonight in San Antonio. Florida will meet Houston again on Wall Street. The Dow is now down more than 2%. This is NPR.

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