NPR News Now: April 11, 2025, 12 PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Release Date: April 11, 2025

1. Escalation in the U.S.-China Trade War

Timestamp: [00:25]

NPR News Today highlights a significant intensification in the trade tensions between the United States and China. Beijing has imposed a 125% tariff on American goods in retaliation after Washington increased its tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%. This tit-for-tat escalation marks a three-digit standoff, deepening the economic rift between the two superpowers.

Senator Todd Young, one of seven Republicans endorsing a bill to restore Congress's authority over tariffs, emphasized the broader implications of the trade dispute on national security. He stated:

“They are able to threaten to withhold these inputs into our manufacturing economy. That undermines our health security and it could conceivably undermine our national security if we were in a time of conflict.”
— Senator Todd Young [01:00]

Young further explained that President Trump aims to reorder trade relations with China to enhance U.S. resilience against such vulnerabilities in the future.

2. Tesla Faces Setbacks in China

Timestamp: [01:25]

Tesla is encountering challenges in the Chinese market as it has suspended ordering systems for two of its U.S.-made models, the Model S and Model X. NPR's Emily Feng reports that Tesla has not provided specific reasons for this suspension. These models, being Tesla's least popular, are manufactured in the U.S. and imported to China, where the company has heavily invested in Shanghai-based factories to produce electric vehicles and batteries.

Despite CEO Elon Musk's strong ties with President Trump, the ongoing trade war has strained Tesla's operations in China. The situation is further complicated by Musk's recent public criticism of Trump's trade advisor, Peter Navarro, whom he called a "moron and dumber than a sack of bricks" on social media.

3. Removal of Democratic Members from Independent Agencies

Timestamp: [02:23]

In a significant move, Democratic members of two key independent agencies have been ousted, as reported by NPR's Andrea Hsu. The affected individuals are Gwen Wilcox of the National Labor Relations Board and Kathy Harris of the Merit Systems Protection Board. Both were appointed by President Trump and subsequently removed without cause, leading to legal battles based on federal law and Supreme Court precedents that protect such appointees from arbitrary dismissal.

Chief Justice John Roberts has now temporarily halted court orders that had previously reinstated these members, pending the Supreme Court's review of the Trump administration's formal request. The absence of Wilcox and Harris means that both boards currently lack a quorum, impeding their ability to perform essential functions related to workers' rights and merit-based employment protections.

4. Tragic Events and Medical Setbacks

• Roof Collapse at Jet Set Nightclub, Dominican Republic
  Timestamp: [03:20]
  A devastating roof collapse at the iconic Jet Set nightclub has resulted in over 200 fatalities. The tragedy has deeply affected the Major League Baseball (MLB) community, claiming the lives of former players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, as well as the sister of seven-time MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz. Efforts continue to recover missing individuals, with families awaiting the remains of their loved ones.

• Plane Crash in Boca Raton, Florida
  Timestamp: [03:20]
  Early morning reports indicate a small plane crash in Boca Raton, Florida. Authorities have shut down roads near a major interstate as they investigate the incident. Details regarding the cause of the crash and the identities of those on board remain undisclosed at this time.

• Failure of the World's Longest-Lasting Pig Kidney Transplant
  Timestamp: [04:14]
  In medical news, Rob Stein reports that doctors in New York have removed a genetically modified pig kidney from Tawana Looney, an Alabama grandmother. The transplant, which had been operational for over four months, failed because Looney's body rejected the organ after she reduced her anti-rejection medications due to an infection. She has since returned to dialysis. Despite this setback, medical professionals remain hopeful that genetically modified pig organs could address the long-standing shortage of human organs available for transplant.

5. Stock Market Update

Timestamp: [04:52]

Today's financial markets saw a positive trend with significant gains across major indices:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up 115 points to 39,709
• S&P 500: Increased by 22 points
• Nasdaq Composite: Rose 102 points

6. Additional Information

Timestamp: [05:04]

For those interested in accessing NPR News Now without sponsorship interruptions, Senator Todd Young reminds listeners to subscribe via Amazon Music with a Prime membership or through any podcast app at NPR news now@plus.NPR.org.

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and developments presented in the April 11, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, providing listeners with a clear and detailed overview of the day's major news stories.