NPR News: 04-18-2025 4PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 18, 2025, 4PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Release Date: April 18, 2025

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International Relations: U.S. Stance on Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal

President Donald Trump has signaled a potential withdrawal of the United States from negotiating a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, aligning with Secretary of State Mar Rubio's recent comments. This move raises questions about the U.S.'s role in mediating the ongoing conflict.

• President Trump’s Position:

  • “If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say you're foolish, you're fools, you're horrible people, and we're going to just take a pass. But hopefully we won't have to do that.” [00:51]

• Analysis by Deepa Shivaram:

  • Trump expressed hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not impede a peace agreement, emphasizing his desire to see a resolution. However, the administration remains open to the possibility of the U.S. stepping back from its diplomatic efforts. [00:39]
  • “If the US Isn't involved in negotiating an end to the war, it's unclear if any other nation would be able to step in.” [01:05]

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State Politics: Wisconsin Supreme Court Upholds Education Funding Veto

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has upheld Governor Tony Evers' use of his veto power to secure a significant increase in school funding, ensuring a $325 per student rise for Wisconsin Public Schools over two decades.

• Court Decision:

  • In a 4-3 ruling along party lines, the court affirmed that the governor's modification of the funding language was constitutional, allowing the extension of the annual increase for 400 years. [01:28]

• Details from Maria Peralta Arellano:

  • Governor Evers strategically removed the hyphen in the funding timeline, effectively locking in the increase until the year 2425. [01:28]
  • “The modification is attention grabbing. But the state constitution does not limit the governor's partial veto power.” [01:28]

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Economic Update: Stock Market Declines Amid Holiday Week

The stock market remains closed today for Good Friday, but recent trading has shown a downturn.

• Market Performance:

  • Major indices like the Dow and Nasdaq each fell approximately 2%, while the S&P 500 dropped by 1.5% over the past four days. [02:19]

• Global Market Insights:

  • Asian stock markets experienced gains overnight. The arrival of the new U.S. ambassador to Japan brings optimism for a potential trade agreement, aiming to reduce the current 10% import tax imposed on Japanese goods. [02:19]

• Gasoline Prices:

  • Average gas prices in the U.S. have slightly decreased to around $3.16 per gallon, down by five cents from the previous week but still eight cents higher than earlier this year. [02:19]

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Public Health: Measles Outbreak Expands to Eight States

The United States is currently managing a measles outbreak affecting eight states, with the majority of cases concentrated in Texas.

• Current Situation:
  • Michigan reported a new case near Grand Rapids, and Montana identified five cases in Gallatin County. Pennsylvania has declared an outbreak in Erie County. [03:01]

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Local News: Florida State University Shooting and Community Response

A tragic mass shooting occurred at the Student Union building of Florida State University, resulting in two fatalities and six injuries. A vigil is scheduled for 5 PM Eastern at the university to honor the victims.

• Incident Details:

  • The 20-year-old gunman, whose mother is a local deputy sheriff, was apprehended and wounded by police. Authorities have yet to determine a motive. [03:57]

• Hospital Update:

  • Brett Howard, a trauma surgeon at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, reported that all six injured individuals are in stable condition, with one in fair condition. He remains optimistic about their full recoveries.
    • “All six of them today are in stable condition, one which is in fair condition. Given a serious injury, we do feel that all will make a full recovery.” [03:45]

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International Trade: U.S.-China Relations Strain Supply Chains

Trade tensions between the United States and China continue to disrupt the flow of Chinese goods into the U.S., as exporters at China’s Canton Fair express concerns over halted shipments due to high tariffs imposed by the U.S.

• Trade Fair Insights:

  • Monica Liang, a sales manager at a Chinese company producing juicers and blenders, highlighted the significant reduction in U.S. orders, causing inventory buildups. [04:22]
    • “Customers from the US have halted orders, and products are piling up in warehouses.” [04:22]

• Industry Reaction:

  • While some hope for a resolution to the trade impasse, many businesses are seeking alternative markets to mitigate the impact of ongoing tariffs. [04:22]

• John Ruich’s Reporting:

  • The uncertainty at the Canton Fair underscores the broader challenges in U.S.-China trade relations, with potential long-term effects on global supply chains. [04:22]

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Conclusion:

This episode of NPR News Now covered a wide array of topics, from international diplomacy and state politics to economic trends, public health crises, local tragedies, and international trade tensions. Key insights include President Trump's conditional support for peace negotiations in Ukraine, significant educational funding decisions in Wisconsin, a declining stock market amidst holiday trading, expanding measles outbreaks, a tragic shooting at Florida State University, and persistent U.S.-China trade disputes affecting global supply chains.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• “If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say you're foolish, you're fools, you're horrible people, and we're going to just take a pass. But hopefully we won't have to do that.” — President Donald Trump [00:51]

• “The modification is attention grabbing. But the state constitution does not limit the governor's partial veto power.” — Maria Peralta Arellano [01:28]

• “All six of them today are in stable condition, one which is in fair condition. Given a serious injury, we do feel that all will make a full recovery.” — Brett Howard [03:45]

• “Customers from the US have halted orders, and products are piling up in warehouses.” — Monica Liang [04:22]

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For more detailed updates, you can visit NPR News Now.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump is backing up Secretary of State Mar Rubio's comments on the US Pulling away from negotiating a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. NPR's Deepa Shivaram has more.

[Deepa Shivaram]

President Trump says he hopes Russian leader Vladimir Putin isn't stalling on a deal and reiterated that he wants to see a deal get done. But he left the door open on the US Pulling out of helping secure a peace deal.

[Donald Trump]

If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say you're foolish, you're fools, you're horrible people, and we're going to just take a pass. But hopefully we won't have to do that.

[Deepa Shivaram]

If the US Isn't involved in negotiating an end to the war, it's unclear if any other nation would be able to step in. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled today that the state's Democratic governor can use his broad veto powers to lock in a 400 year school funding increase. Maria Peralto Arellano of member station WUWM has more.

[Maria Peralta Arellano]

Wisconsin governors can partially veto spending bills by striking numbers, words and punctuation. At issue here was Democratic Governor Tony Evers veto of language that originally related to a $325 per student increase for Wisconsin Public Schools for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. Evers vetoed the 20 and the hyphen to make the funding's end date 2425, locking in the annual school funding increase for 400 years. In a 4, 3 decision along party lines, Wisconsin's liberal controlled state Supreme Court found that the modification is attention grabbing. But the state constitution does not limit the governor's partial veto power. For NPR News, I'm Maria Peralta Arellano in Milwaukee.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The stock market is closed today in observance of Good Friday. NPR Scott Horsley reports. Stocks have lost ground during the holiday shortened trading week.

[Scott Horsley]

All the major stock indexes are in the red for the week. Over the last four days, both the Dow and the Nasdaq fell about 2. The S&P 500 index lost 1.5%. Asian stocks were mostly higher overnight. The new U.S. ambassador to Japan arrived in Tokyo and said he's optimistic that a trade deal between the two countries can be reached. For now, imports from Japan, like those from most other countries, face a 10% tax. In the U.S. gasoline prices continue to fall heading into the Easter weekend. AAA says the average price of regular gas is about $3.16 a gallon. That's about a nickel less than a week ago, but $0.08 higher than this time. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

There are now eight states in the U.S. dealing with a measles outbreak. This after Michigan confirmed a new case near Grand Rapids. And Montana public health officials identified five cases in Gallatin County. Earlier this week, Pennsylvania declared an outbreak in Erie County. The majority of the cases, though, are in Texas, where the outbreak started. You're listening to NPR News. A vigil is planned for 5pm Eastern at Florida State University today for the victims of the mass shooting at the Student Union building on the campus yesterday. Two people are dead, six injured. Tallahassee Memorial Hospital says the injured are improving. Brett Howard is a trauma surgeon at the hospital. He says three were operated on.

[Brett Howard]

All six of them today are in stable condition, one which is in fair condition. Given a serious injury, we do feel that all will make a full recovery.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The 20 year old gunman, whose mother is a local deputy sheriff, was shot and wounded by police. There's still no word on a motive. Chinese goods may soon become harder to find in the United States. NPR's John Ruich reports. Exporters at a massive trade fair in China say shipments to the US Are grinding to a halt in response to President Trump's sky high tariffs at the.

[John Ruich]

Canton fair in southern China. Tens of thousands of Chinese companies display products and customers from around the world come to wheel and deal. But if you ask about trade with the US it's grim. Monica Liang is a sales manager at a company that makes juicers and blenders. Customers from the US have halted orders, she says, and products are piling up in warehouses. Some here expressed optimism that China and the US Would strike a deal and avert disaster. But until then, few seemed to be selling goods across the Pacific, and many say they're looking for new markets altogether. John Ruich, NPR News, Guangzhou, China.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

[NPR Announcer]

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