NPR News Now: April 9, 2025, 8AM EDT

International Trade and Tariffs

In recent developments, President Donald Trump has escalated his administration's trade policies by implementing new tariffs affecting dozens of countries. These tariffs took effect overnight, adding to the existing 10% tariffs imposed on nearly all nations the previous weekend. Notably, Trump's tariffs on China have surged to over 100%, prompting a robust response from Beijing. China has retaliated by increasing its own tariffs on the United States from approximately 34% to 84% (Korva Coleman, 00:16).

NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben provides insight into the administration's conflicting messages regarding these tariffs. She explains, “There were several days there where you'd have one administration official saying these tariffs are non-negotiable, that they're going to stick around a while, and then you'd have another official saying Trump was open to negotiation” (Danielle Kurtzleben, 00:47). This mixed messaging has led to uncertainty among international partners. However, the White House appears to have shifted its stance, indicating a willingness to negotiate as approximately 70 countries have expressed interest in initiating talks (Danielle Kurtzleben, 01:06).

Adding to the global trade tensions, the European Union is set to vote on imposing its own tariffs against the United States. Should these tariffs pass, the first tranche could take effect as early as next week, contributing to market instability. Reflecting this uncertainty, Dow futures have plummeted nearly 700 points in pre-market trading (Korva Coleman, 01:06).

Revitalizing the U.S. Coal Industry

In an effort to bolster the struggling coal industry, President Trump has signed executive orders aimed at revitalizing U.S. coal production. Speaking before a group of coal miners, Trump announced the removal of regulations for new coal mines and the expedited leasing process for coal mining on federal lands. He asserted that these measures would “crush Biden era environmental restrictions” (Mara Liasson, 01:30).

However, Linda McMahon, the Education Secretary, criticized the previous administration's approach, stating, “For four long years, Joe Biden and congressional Democrats tried to abolish the American coal industry. They did everything in their power” (Linda McMahon, 01:46). This highlights the ongoing political battle over energy policies and environmental regulations.

Despite these initiatives, coal mining has been in decline since the 1980s, further exacerbated by the rise of low-cost fracking technologies and stringent environmental regulations. Trump downplayed coal’s environmental impact, humorously suggesting that, “sea level rise would create, quote, a little bit more waterfront property” (Mara Liasson, 01:53).

Education Department's DEI Program Changes

Education Secretary Linda McMahon made a rare appearance at a conference in San Diego to address significant changes within the Department of Education. One of the major directives includes instructing school leaders to eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs or risk losing funding allocated for low-income students (Korva Coleman, 02:11).

When questioned about the specifics, Secretary McMahon clarified, “We need to continue to focus on where these funds need to be spent, but making sure that we are treating everyone equally. We're not taking away the rights of anyone to serve the rights of another” (Linda McMahon, 02:36). This statement underscores the administration’s intent to refocus educational funding priorities.

The directive has sparked confusion and resistance among state and local education authorities. States like New York and Minnesota have already responded by affirming their commitment to DEI programs, asserting that they align with existing civil rights laws. The Department of Education has yet to provide detailed guidelines on enforcing the ban on DEI initiatives, leaving many educational leaders uncertain about compliance (Janaki Mehta, 02:49).

Tragedy Strikes the Dominican Republic

Rescue teams in the Dominican Republic are continuing their efforts to sift through the wreckage of a collapsed nightclub, where at least 113 people lost their lives on Monday night. Among the victims were popular merengue singer Ruby Perez, a local Dominican governor, and two former Major League Baseball players (Korva Coleman, 03:12).

The tragedy has prompted extensive rescue operations as officials work tirelessly to recover bodies and aid survivors amid challenging conditions.

Texas Politics: Ken Paxton’s Senate Bid

In Texas political news, Attorney General Ken Paxton has officially announced his challenge to U.S. Senator John Cornyn in the 2026 Republican primary. Paxton had been hinting at his candidacy for months before making the announcement (Korva Coleman, 03:12).

Andrew Schneider of Houston Public Media reports that Mark Jones from Rice University's Baker Institute views Paxton as a formidable competitor among Republican primary voters. Jones notes, “Paxton is taking a calculated risk, though, with November voters, we need to keep in mind that Ken Paxton has never faced a credible Democratic challenger in his three statewide attorney general bids” (Mark Jones, 03:57).

Despite his ambitious run, Paxton's political history is marked by controversy. In 2023, he was impeached by Texas lawmakers on corruption charges but was later acquitted by the Texas State Senate. Jones suggests that Paxton’s Senate challenge could ignite a fiercely competitive primary race for the attorney general's nomination without necessitating Paxton’s resignation from his current role (Andrew Schneider, 04:07).

Severe Weather and Flood Warnings

Severe weather continues to impact nearly a dozen states, from Ohio to Texas, with flood warnings in place. Powerful storms that swept across the central, midwestern, and southern United States last week have resulted in at least 23 fatalities due to flash flooding. The National Weather Service reports that nearly 30 rivers have reached major flood stages, with mounting concerns about further flooding in Kentucky (Korva Coleman, 04:19).

Authorities are urging residents in affected areas to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to mitigate the impact of ongoing and potential future flooding.

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