NPR News: 04-09-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 10, 2025, 11 PM EDT

The latest news in five minutes, updated hourly by NPR.

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1. President Trump Pauses Tariff Plan Amid Market Turmoil

[00:02 - 01:05]

NPR’s Franco Ordonez reports that President Donald Trump has temporarily halted his expansive tariff strategy due to ongoing market instability. Initially advocating for a measured approach to the escalating trade war, Trump reversed his stance by announcing a 90-day suspension on most new tariffs. Ordonez explains, “Just hours after he urged Americans to be cool about an escalating trade war, Trump reversed course and issued a 90 day pause on a majority of terrorists” (00:15).

Despite this pause, Trump remains steadfast against China, increasing tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%, labeling it as “punishment” in response to China’s retaliatory measures. The administration maintains a baseline tariff of 10% on imports, significantly lower than the previously threatened rates for numerous countries.

2. Impact on Small U.S. Businesses

[01:05 - 01:53]

Following the tariff pause, many small American business owners are experiencing mixed emotions. While the temporary halt provides some relief, companies dependent on Chinese manufacturing are facing potential financial setbacks. Windsor Johnston interviews Casey Ames, owner of Harcla, an Idaho-based company specializing in developmental and sensory products for children with special needs. Ames states, “We've tried to look to manufacture in the US before, and it's just end product ends up being not working for our customers” (01:37).

Ames highlights the challenges of shifting production domestically, noting that higher costs in the U.S. make it unfeasible for small businesses. Johnston adds, “Domestic production costs far exceed those in countries like China, leaving many small business owners in the US squeezed between soaring tariffs and unsustainable overhead” (01:53). This scenario presents a strict dilemma for small businesses aiming to maintain competitive pricing while ensuring product quality.

3. Billionaire Astronaut Jared Isaacman Faces Confirmation for NASA Administrator

[02:06 - 02:57]

The U.S. Senate is on the verge of confirming billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman as NASA’s next administrator. NPR’s Jeff Brumfield reports that Isaacman has connections with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, having flown to space twice with the company and having his payments firm, Shift4, conduct business with SpaceX. During his confirmation hearing, Isaacman asserted that Musk would not influence his role, stating, “I was again, my meeting was with the president of the United States” (02:18) when questioned by Democratic Senator Edward Markey about Musk’s presence during the job offer.

Brumfield interprets Isaacman’s reluctance to acknowledge Musk’s involvement, suggesting potential underlying influences: “I'm assuming that you don't want to answer the question directly because Elon Musk” (02:43). Despite these concerns, Isaacman remains focused on his vision for NASA, emphasizing goals to return astronauts to the moon and pursue human missions to Mars.

4. Federal Appeals Court Blocks Reinstatement of Dismissed Probationary Workers

[02:57 - 03:43]

In a significant legal development, a federal appeals court has overturned a lower court’s decision to reinstate tens of thousands of probationary workers dismissed from 20 federal agencies. Shea Stevens explains that the appeals court, ruling 2-1, determined that the lower court lacked jurisdiction, thereby allowing the Trump administration to maintain the dismissal of these employees off payroll. A final decision on the case’s merits, initiated by 19 states and the District of Columbia, is anticipated in the coming weeks.

5. British Royal Couple's Private Audience with Pope Francis Postponed and Rescheduled

[03:43 - 04:26]

The British royal couple’s four-day state visit to Italy included a planned private meeting with Pope Francis, which initially faced setbacks. NPR’s Ruth Sherlock reports that King Charles, also the head of the Church of England, and Queen Camilla were scheduled to meet the pope, but the encounter was postponed due to Pope Francis’ health struggles with double pneumonia. Eventually, the pope invited the royals for a private audience in Vatican City. The meeting lasted approximately 20 minutes and involved an exchange of gifts. The Vatican issued a statement conveying the pope’s best wishes to the royal couple on their 20th wedding anniversary and expressed hopes for King Charles’ recovery from cancer.

6. Market Updates: U.S. and Asia Pacific Futures Rise

[04:26]

In financial news, U.S. futures are showing gains in after-hours trading on Wall Street. Asian markets are also experiencing positive trends, with Tokyo’s shares increasing by over 8%, indicating a broadly optimistic trading sentiment globally.

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This summary is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the April 10, 2025, episode of NPR News Now. For detailed reports and further information, please refer to the full podcast episode.

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Timestamps:

• 00:15
• 00:25
• 00:28
• 00:37
• 00:15
• 01:37
• 01:53
• 02:18
• 02:43
• 02:57
• 03:43
• 04:26

Transcript

[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump has paused his big tariff plan amid market turmoil, but NPR's Franco Ordonez reports that Trump is also doubling down on China.

[Franco Ordonez]

Just hours after he urged Americans to be cool about an escalating trade war, Trump reversed course and issued a 90 day pause on a majority of terrorists.

[Shea Stevens]

I thought that people were jumping a.

[Franco Ordonez]

Little bit out of line. They were getting yippee, you know, they were getting a little bit yippy, a little bit afraid. He later downplayed those concerns, claiming this was their strategy all along. The administration is keeping a baseline 10% tariff on imports, but that's much less than tariffs he was threatening on dozens of countries. Yet while he paused most of those increased tariffs, he doubled down on Beijing, raising China's tariff to 125%. He said it was punishment when China announced their own retaliatory tariffs. Franco Ordonez, NPR News, the White House.

[Shea Stevens]

Many small US Business owners are breathing a sigh of relief after President Trump ordered a 90 day pause on most new tariffs. But companies that rely on factories in China are bracing for a massive financial hit. More from NPR's Windsor Johnston.

[Windsor Johnston]

Casey Ames is the owner of Harcla, an Idaho based company that specializes in developmental and sensory products for kids with special needs. He says the majority of his goods are manufactured in China and shifting to domestic production is not an option.

[Casey Ames]

We've tried to look to manufacture in the US before, and it's just end product ends up being not working for our customers. Hopefully we can try and bring back to America or keep this going, but there's a lot of us small businesses that are just going to get decimated by this new policy.

[Windsor Johnston]

Domestic production costs far exceed those in countries like China, leaving many small business owners in the US Squeezed between soaring tariffs and unsustainable overhead. Windsor Johnston, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

The U.S. senate appears poised to confirm a billionaire astronaut as the next administrator of NASA. As NPR's Jeff Brumfield reports, the nominee had faced questions over his ties to Elon Musk.

[Jared Isaacman]

Billionaire Jared Isaacman has flown to space twice with Musk's company SpaceX, and Isaacman's payments company Shift4 does business with the spaceflight firm. During his confirmation hearing, Isaacman said Musk would not influence him. But when asked repeatedly by Democratic Senator Edward Markey whether Musk was in the room when Trump offered him the job NASA administrator, he refused to answer directly. Senator, I was again, my meeting was with the president of the United States.

[Jeff Brumfield]

I'm assuming that you don't want to answer the question directly because Elon Musk.

[Jared Isaacman]

Was in the room during the hearing. Isaacman said he wants to return astronauts to land on the moon while simultaneously pursuing a human mission to Mars.

[Shea Stevens]

Jeff Brumfield reporting. This is npr. A federal appeals court has vacated a lower court ruling to reinstate tens of thousands of probationary workers fired from 20 federal agencies. The appeals court ruled 2 to 1 that the administration would likely succeed in showing that the lower court did not have jurisdiction in the case. The ruling clears the way for the Trump administration to keep dismissed employees off the pay and roll. A decision on the merits of the case, which was brought by 19 states and the District of Columbia, is expected in the coming weeks. The British royal couple's four day visit to Italy has included a private session with Pope Francis. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reports as King Charles.

[Jeff Brumfield]

Is also the head of the Church of England. He and Queen Camilla were scheduled to meet Pope Francis during their state visit to Italy, but this meeting was postponed because the 88 year old Pope is convalescing after battling double pneumonia. But then in the end, the pope invited the royal couple for a private audience in Vatican City. The encounter reportedly lasted about 20 minutes and included a private exchange of gifts. A statement from the Vatican says the pope expressed his best wishes to the royal couple on this, their 20th wedding anniversary. And the pope reciprocated His Majesty's wishes for a speedy recovery. King Charles is undergoing treatment for cancer. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Rome.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are higher in after hours trading on Wall Street. On Asia Pacific markets, shares are mostly higher, up over 8% in Tokyo. This is NPR News.