NPR News Now: April 9, 2025, 2 PM EDT

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U.S. Stock Markets Surge on Tariff Announcements

Timestamp: 00:25 - 01:04

In a significant turn of events driving market optimism, U.S. stock markets experienced substantial gains following Treasury Secretary Scott Bessen's announcement regarding tariffs. Lakshmi Singh reported that the Dow Jones Industrial Average surged over 2,500 points (nearly 7%), the S&P 500 rose by 8%, and the Nasdaq increased by more than 10% within a short period.

Secretary Bessen revealed a strategic move to ease U.S. tariffs, stating, “We're going to go down to a 10% baseline tariff for them and China will be raised to 125 due to their insistence on escalation outside the White House” (00:48). This decision was partly in response to China’s retaliatory measures, as Bessen criticized China’s approach by saying, “What China is doing will affect their economy much more than it will ours because they have an export-driven flood the world with cheap export models” (01:04).

Global Retaliatory Tariffs and International Tensions

Timestamp: 01:04 - 02:35

The tariff tensions escalated as China announced an additional 50% retaliatory tariff on all U.S. goods, bringing their total tariff rate to 84%. Concurrently, the European Union responded by imposing tariffs on 22 billion euros worth of American products, including soybeans, motorcycles, and orange juice, as a countermeasure to U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs. These moves were in direct response to the latest round of tariffs implemented overnight under President Trump’s administration.

In domestic policy news, a new administration initiative aimed at curbing Social Security fraud has faced criticism from the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Ashley Lopez reported that the initiative requires individuals seeking retirement or survivor benefits to use online services or visit local Social Security offices. Kathleen Romig from the Center expressed concerns, highlighting that “about 6 million seniors live more than 45 minutes away from the closest office” (02:00), adding, “That's really burdensome for a lot of people. Not everyone drives, particularly seniors, people with disabilities” (02:21). The policy has been further criticized due to ongoing staff cuts at the Social Security Administration, likely increasing wait times for in-person services.

Tragedy Strikes in the Dominican Republic

Timestamp: 02:35 - 03:19

A tragic incident occurred in the Dominican Republic when the roof of a nightclub in Santo Domingo collapsed during a concert, resulting in the deaths of 113 individuals. Ada Peralta reported that the collapse happened in the early morning hours while The Merengue star, Ruby Perez, was performing. Social media videos showed concert-goers trapped under concrete slabs. Emergency services have transported over 150 people to nearby hospitals, with rescue operations still ongoing. Among the deceased were Perez and Octavio Tel, a former pitcher for the New York Mets and the Detroit Tigers.

Federal Employment and Health Program Cuts Under Scrutiny

Timestamp: 03:19 - 04:40

In a legal and administrative development, a Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals panel vacated a lower court ruling that had ordered 20 federal agencies to reinstate probationary employees they had previously fired. Lakshmi Singh reported that this decision is a win for President Trump, allowing the administration to proceed with refiring thousands of probationary employees. These employees, typically in their first or second year, had recently been promoted into new roles. The Coal Workers Health Surveillance Program, part of the federal health agencies, faced significant cuts last week, impacting efforts to monitor and reduce black lung disease among coal miners.

Kathleen Romig highlighted the importance of the program, noting that a 1969 law established it to provide free x-rays and lung health monitoring for all coal miners. Scott Laney, the epidemiologist leading the research, lamented, “It's going to be killing young men, and that story will go untold” (04:23), emphasizing the dire consequences of shutting down the program. With most of the unit's staff placed on administrative leave as of April 1, the program has been inactive, raising fears of a resurgence in black lung disease rates.

Market Recap

Timestamp: 04:40

To summarize the financial headlines, the Trump administration's decision to grant a 90-day reprieve on U.S. tariffs for most countries, except China, has positively impacted the stock markets. The Dow climbed more than 2,600 points (approximately 7%), the S&P 500 rose over 8%, and the Nasdaq surged by more than 10%.

Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now covered a range of critical topics, from significant movements in the U.S. stock markets influenced by international trade policies, to tragic events in the Dominican Republic, and contentious changes in federal employment and health programs. The discussions highlighted the intricate balance between economic strategies and their broader social impacts, underscoring the complexities of governance and international relations in the current landscape.

This summary is based on the NPR News Now podcast episode released on April 9, 2025. For more detailed information, listeners are encouraged to access the full episode through NPR’s platforms.