NPR News: 04-11-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 11, 2025, 4PM EDT

NPR News Now delivers the latest updates in five minutes, offering a comprehensive overview of the day's most pressing issues. This summary encapsulates the key topics discussed in the April 11, 2025 episode, providing insights and notable quotes to inform listeners who missed the broadcast.

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U.S. Markets Surge Amid Economic Uncertainty

Lakshmi Singh opens the episode by highlighting a turbulent week on Wall Street that concluded on a high note. U.S. markets ended sharply higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average soaring over 600 points and major indices climbing between 1.5% to 2%[^00:24^]. Despite the positive closing, investor anxiety remains palpable due to ongoing tariff disputes and the escalating standoff between the United States and China.

Notable Quote:

"The phones are ringing off the hooks. They've made it very clear they need the United States of America, they need our markets, they need our consumer base."
— Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary [00:46]

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U.S.-China Trade Standoff Intensifies

Scott Horsley delves into the complexities of the U.S.-China trade tensions. The United States has imposed a 10% tariff on imports from most countries and a substantial 145% tariff specifically on goods from China[^00:56^]. Economists from the Yale Budget Lab caution that these tariffs are the highest the U.S. has implemented since the early 20th century. Even a significant reduction in Chinese imports due to the hefty taxes would maintain tariff levels not seen since the 1930s, a period marked by a global trade war that exacerbated the Great Depression.

Notable Insights:

• The tariffs could severely impact global trade dynamics.
• Historical comparisons highlight the potential long-term economic repercussions.

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Legal Battle Over Wrongful Deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia

Lakshmi Singh reports on the contentious legal proceedings involving Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, M.D., who was wrongfully deported to a prison in El Salvador[^01:22^]. Federal Judge Paula Zini has ordered the Justice Department to provide daily updates on efforts to secure Garcia's return to the United States. The hearing followed a Supreme Court decision that largely upheld Judge Zini's original order, asserting that the deportation was unlawful.

Notable Quote:

"The government was prohibited from sending Abrego Garcia to El Salvador in the first place."
— Judge Paula Zini [01:40]

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Deportation Policies Under Scrutiny: The Case of Mahmoud Khalil

A Louisiana judge has ruled that Mahmoud Khalil, a university student and activist arrested for protesting against the war in Gaza, can be deported[^02:25^]. This decision is part of a broader strategy by the Trump administration to pressure immigrants into self-deportation by canceling their Social Security numbers, thereby removing financial incentives for illegal immigrants to remain in the country.

Ashley Lopez explains that the Social Security Administration has flagged immigrants deemed ineligible for benefits by moving their Social Security numbers to a master file titled "Ineligible or Death." Liz Huston, White House spokesperson, stated:

Notable Quote:

"President Trump promised mass deportations and by removing the monetary incentive for illegal aliens to come and stay, we will encourage them to self-deport."
— Liz Huston, White House Spokesperson [02:44]

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President Trump's Annual Physical Exam

At age 78, President Donald Trump underwent his annual physical on April 11, 2025[^03:09^]. While it's customary for presidents to release selective medical information, the Trump administration has yet to provide detailed results. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt assured the public:

Notable Quote:

"It's a yearly physical that every president receives, and we will provide an update on that by the president's position as soon as we possibly can."
— Caroline Levitt, Press Secretary [03:42]

Details:

• The president's physician is Sean Barbabela, a Navy physician with service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Post-exam, President Trump plans to travel to his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida.

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Passing of Tracy Schwartz, Last of the New Lost City Ramblers

The episode concludes with the sad news of Tracy Schwartz, the last surviving member of the folk trio New Lost City Ramblers, passing away in Elkins, West Virginia, at the age of 86[^04:04^]. Elizabeth Blair offers a heartfelt remembrance:

Notable Insights:

• Tracy Schwartz was a versatile musician, proficient in fiddle, banjo, guitar, and accordion.
• Beyond performing, Schwartz was an educator who recorded fiddle instruction albums and contributed to numerous Smithsonian Folkways recordings.
• His dedication to music education left a lasting legacy, emphasizing inclusivity in learning musical instruments and singing.

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Closing Remarks

The episode wraps up with a brief mention of market performance, noting the Dow closing up 619 points, or roughly 1.5%[^03:09^].

For those interested in more detailed coverage, NPR encourages listeners to subscribe to NPR News Now via Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app.

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Transcript

[NPR Announcer]

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[Lakshmi Singh]

I'm Lakshmi Singh. U.S. markets end this Friday sharply higher, capping a wild week on Wall Street. The dow sur than 600 points, major indices climbing 1.5 to 2%. However, investor anxiety persists. Over on again, off again tariffs and a standoff between the two biggest economies on the planet. White House press Secretary Caroline Levitt says other countries are responding.

[Caroline Levitt]

The phones are ringing off of the hooks. They've made it very clear they need the United States of America, they need our markets, they need our consumer base.

[Lakshmi Singh]

NPR's Scott Horsley takes a closer look at the U.S. china standoff.

[Scott Horsley]

The tariffs that are still in place include a 10% tax on imports from most countries around the world and a whopping 1 45% tax on goods from China. Economists at the Yale Budget Lab say these are the highest tariffs the US has had since early in the last century. Even if imports from China dropped sharply because of that triple digit tax, the tariffs would still be the highest since the 1930s, when a worldwide trade war deepened the Great Depression.

[Lakshmi Singh]

NPR's Scott Horsley reporting. Lawyers for the Justice Department have been ordered to provide daily updates to a federal judge as to how they intend to secure the return of Kilmar armando Abrego Garcia, M.D. man who last month was wrongfully deported to a prison in El Salvador. NPR's Jasmine Garz with more.

[Jasmine Garsd]

The mood was tense on Friday as federal Judge Paula Zini's chastised Justice Department lawyers. The hearing comes following Thursday's Supreme Court decision, which largely upheld Zini's original order to bring Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. the Trump administration has asked for more time, arguing that the government needs, quote, a meaningful opportunity to review the Supreme Court's decision. In this latest hearing, Judge Zinis reminded lawyers for the Justice Department that the government was prohibited from sending Abrego Garcia to El Salvador in the first place and demanding that they give her daily updates on efforts to secure his return. Jasmine Garsd, NPR News, New York.

[Lakshmi Singh]

We've just learned a Louisiana judge rule Mahmoud Khalil, university student and activist arrested over protests against war in Gaza, can be deported. The White House confirms the administration has been canceling the Social Security numbers of immigrants turning up the pressure on them to self deport. More from NPR's Ashley Lopez.

[Ashley Lopez]

The White House says the Social Security Administration has identified immigrants who it says are ineligible for benefits. So the agency has moved their Social Security numbers into a master file titled Ineligible or Death. White House spokesperson Liz Huston told NPR in a statement that, quote, President Trump promised mass deportations and by removing the monetary incentive for illegal aliens to come and stay, we will encourage them to self deport, end quote.

[Lakshmi Singh]

That's NPR's Ashley Lopez reporting. U.S. stocks end the day higher with the dow closing up 619 points, or roughly 1.5%. From Washington, this is NPR News. At 78, President Trump got an annual physical today. Here's NPR's Danielle.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Presidents have a history of selectively releasing medical information. Last year, for example, Joe Biden's physicians did not give him a cognitive exam despite his being the oldest president ever. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said Trump's results are coming soon.

[Caroline Levitt]

It's a yearly physical that every president receives, and we will provide an update on that by the president's position as soon as we possibly can.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

The president's current physician is Sean Barbabela, a Navy physician who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. After his physical, the president is scheduled to leave for his Mar a Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News, the White House.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The last surviving member of the folk trio the New Lost City Ramblers has died. Tracy Schwartz passed away in Elkins, West Virginia, at the age of 86. NPR's Elizabeth Blair has this remembrance.

[NPR Announcer]

Tracey Schwarz was born in New York City, but he once said country music and country living are in my blood. In 1962, he joined Mike Seeger, Pete Seeger's younger half brother, and John Cohen's New Lost City Ramblers. Now the poor older farmer, he lost all his gold. Schwarz sang, played fiddle, banjo, guitar, accord, accordion and more. Tracy Schwarz was also an educator who recorded fiddle instruction albums. He appears on a number of Smithsonian Folkways recordings in a tribute the label writes he fervently believed that anyone who was interested in learning how to play an instrument or sing could. Elizabeth Blair, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

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[NPR Announcer]

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[Lakshmi Singh]

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