NPR News: 04-11-2025 12PM EDT

Summary

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

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Release Date: April 11, 2025

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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 [e-mail].

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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.

Transcript

[NPR Announcer]

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[Lakshmi Singh]

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. It is now a three digit standoff in the U. S. China trade war, Beijing slapping a 125% tariff on American goods after Washington pushed up its levies on Chinese imports to 145. Senator Todd Young is among seven Republicans in the chamber who endorsed a bill to reclaim Congress's authority over tariffs as President Trump's policies fueled dramatic highs and lows in global markets. On npr, he specifically addressed US Drug companies that dep on China for many of the active ingredients in their medications.

[Senator Todd Young]

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. So I know that's why President Trump is determined to reorder our trade relations with China so that we can become more resilient and avoid these things in the future.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Now the ordering systems for two US Made models of Tesla cars have been suspended in China. More on this from NPR's Emily Feng.

[Emily Feng]

Tesla did not say why orders for its Model S and Model X cars were suspended on its website in China. The two models are Tesla's least popular and are made in the US and imported to China, where Tesla has invested billions of dollars into two large factories near Shanghai to build electric vehicles and batteries. The cars Tesla makes in China make up a majority of its sales, but Tesla CEO Elon Musk is a close ally of President Trump. But despite Musk's big bet on China, Trump has targeted China in an escalating trade war and China responded by putting a blanket 125% levy on American goods. Musk lashed out at Trump's trade advisor, Peter Navarro this week, calling him a quote, moron and dumber than a sack of bricks on social media. Emily Fang, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Democratic members of two independent agencies protecting workers rights have once again been removed from their seats. This time it's due to an order from Chief Justice John Roberts. Here's NPR's Andrea Shue.

[Andrea Hsu]

The two members are Gwen Wilcox of the National Labor Relations Board and Kathy Harris of the Merit Systems Protection Board. President Trump fired both in the first few weeks of his administration. Wilcox and Harris sued, citing federal law and Supreme Court precedent that hold that they can only be fired for cause. Ever since, it's been a yo yo of a legal battle. Twice already, judges have ordered them return to their seats. But now Chief Justice Roberts has temporarily halted those orders while the Supreme Court considers the Trump administration's formal request for a review of the lower court decisions. Without the two members, both boards lack a quorum hampering some of their core functions. Andrea Hsu, NPR News, from Washington.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This is NPR News. As the search continues for people still missing. The death toll has surpassed 200 from this week's roof collapse at the iconic jet set nightclub in the Dominican Republic. Some families are still waiting to receive the remains of loved ones for burial. Some of the victims were members of the Major League Baseball family, including ex players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco. The sister of seven time MLB All Star Nelson Cruz also died. We are still following reports of a crash involving a small plane in Boca Raton, Florida this morning, police saying on X that there was a plane crash and they were shutting down roads near a major interstate. No word yet on the cause or details of who was on board. The world's longest lasting pig kidney transplant has failed. NPR's Rob Stein has details on the setback.

[Rob Stein]

Doctors in New York say they had to remove the pig kidney from Tawana Looney last week because the Alabama grandmother's body rejected the genetically modified organ. The doctors say the kidney was working well, but was rejected after Looney had to cut back her anti rejection medication due to an infection. Looney is now back on dialysis. Looney received the pig kidney more than four months ago in a landmark operation. Doctors say they still hope that genetically modified pig organs could eventually help solve the long standing organ shortage. Rob Stein, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This hour, the dow is up 115 points at 39,709. The S&P has climbed 22 points. The Nasdaq is up 102. This is NPR News.

[Senator Todd Young]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR news [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.