Loading summary
Transcript17 lines
- [00:00]
A
This message comes from NPR's sponsor, Shopify. No idea where to sell? Shopify puts you in control of every sales channel. It is the commerce platform revolutionizing millions of businesses worldwide. Whether you're a garage entrepreneur or IPO ready, Shopify is the only tool you need to start, run and grow your business without the struggle. Once you've reached your audience, Shopify has the Internet's best converting checkout to help you turn them from browsers to buyers. Go to Shopify.com NPR to take your business to the next level today.
- [00:31]
B
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Libby Casey. A two week truce between the US And Iran is set to expire soon. Vice President Vance is expected to travel to Pakistan to lead a U.S. delegation for a second round of peace talks, but the next steps are unclear. President Trump told CNBC this morning the Iranians have no choice but to negotiate.
- [00:52]
C
I expect to be bombing because I think that's a better attitude to go in with, but we're ready to go. I mean, the military is raring to go.
- [01:01]
B
Also on cnbc, President Trump voiced support for his pick to lead the Federal Reserve. Kevin Warsh is before the Senate Banking Committee right now for his confirmation hearing. Voters in Virginia are going to the polls today deciding whether to redraw the state's congressional districts in a way that could net Democrats four more seats in Congress. President Trump wrote online this morning urging Virginia voters to reject the measure. But last year he urged Republican led states to redraw their districts to send more GOP candidates to Congress. From member station vpm, jag, Khalil reports on the Virginia effort.
- [01:37]
D
Democrats started the push to get this on the ballot in October, and it's been a bitterly contested and expensive election. The campaigns for and against redistricting. Virginia have received tens of millions of dollars from opaque political nonprofits and have employed campaign tactics that have confused voters. Early voter turnout is higher than many observers expected for an April election, but there's no clear outcome. The only polling out there is very close, and Virginia is relatively purple. Virginia could be one of the last states to take a side in the national redistricting contest before the midterms. Florida lawmakers are scheduled to take up redistricting in a special session next week. For NPR News, I'm Jad Khalil in Richmond.
- [02:17]
B
Virginia businesses are officially able to request refunds for tariffs they've paid, but don't expect consumers to get their tariff dollars back. NPR's Stephen Bassaha reports. The refunds are only for importers.
- [02:32]
C
Companies can try to pass refunds along
- [02:34]
D
to consumers, but it's nearly impossible to determine how much individual consumers paid.
- [02:41]
C
Terrence Lau is the dean at Syracuse University's College of Law. He says companies raised prices because of tariffs, but often did not pass on the full cost.
- [02:50]
D
So how much of that price increase do you attribute to tariffs? Companies can't even answer that question.
- [02:56]
C
That leaves some consumers, like Edwin Martinez, feeling ambivalent and annoyed.
- [03:01]
D
Like, I paid this extra tax man.
- [03:02]
C
Can I just have my money back? FedEx says it will give refunds. Costco says it will try using them to lower prices. Both are facing class action lawsuits over refunds. Stephen Bassaha, NPR News.
- [03:15]
B
The Defense Department says U.S. forces have boarded an oil tanker previously sanctioned for smuggling Iranian crude oil in Asia. The Pentagon said yesterday on social media that US Foreign forces boarded the tanker, quote, without incident. This is npr. Schools and other public institutions had until this week to meet new guidelines to make their websites fully accessible to people with disabilities. Now, as NPR's Janaki Mehta reports, the federal government has delayed that deadline by at least a year.
- [03:45]
E
The Americans with Disabilities act has always required the Web to be accessible. It just never had specific standards explaining what that had to look or sound like. Then, in 2024, under the Biden administration, the Justice Department announced specific guidelines. Colleges, schools, cities and other public entities had until this week to get up to snuff. That included all Web and mobile learning materials for students. But at the last minute, the DOJ has postponed the deadline. Now larger institutions have until April of next year and smaller ones until 2028. This has left disability rights organizations frustrated, while some school administrators are relieved they have extra time to be compliant. Janaki Mehta, NPR News.
- [04:27]
B
A judge is expected to sentence OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to forfeit $225 million to the US government. Today's criminal sentence would mark a major step toward the company finalizing a settlement of thousands of lawsuits it faces over the toll of opioids. The sentence is part of a 2020 deal to resolve federal criminal and civil probes. The broader settlement could become effective as soon as May 1, with initial payments rolling out to state, local, American tribal governments and to some individual victims. This is NPR News Live in Washington.
- [05:08]
D
Support Want to hear this podcast without sponsor breaks? Amazon prime members can listen to NPR News now Sponsor free through Amazon Music. Or you can also support NPR's vital journalism and get NPR plus@plus.NPR.org that's plus.NPR.org.