NPR News Now: April 29, 2025, 10 AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Date Released: April 29, 2025

President Trump Marks 100 Days in Office

President Donald Trump celebrates his first 100 days in office with a rally scheduled outside Detroit tonight to highlight his achievements. In a recent interview, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant defended Trump's tariff policies, emphasizing their role in revitalizing American manufacturing.

Scott Besant [00:45]: "We are the deficit country. They sell almost five times more goods to us than we sell to them. So the onus will be on them to take off these tariffs. They're unsustainable for them."

Besant argues that the ongoing trade war with China is unfavorable for the latter, predicting significant job losses if tariffs persist.

Economic Indicators and Market Reactions

Stock Market Movement:
The Dow Jones Industrial Average has experienced a decline of over 7% since Inauguration Day, opening mixed this morning.

Trade Deficit Concerns:
NPR's Scott Horsley reports that the U.S. trade deficit widened in March, contrary to one of the Trump administration's goals of reducing it through tariffs. Both exports and imports increased, with imports rising more sharply.

Scott Horsley [01:00]: "One of the goals of President Trump's trade war is to close the nation's trade deficit. But new figures from the Commerce Department show the deficit widened in March as US Businesses and consumers raced to get ahead of the president's tariffs."

In response, the administration is easing some tariffs on imported auto parts. Major companies like General Motors and Coca-Cola are adjusting to these changes. Coca-Cola reported a 2% drop in sales for the recent quarter but maintained that profits remained up and that tariff impacts are manageable.

White House Criticizes Amazon’s Pricing Transparency

The White House has taken issue with Amazon’s initiative to display the additional costs tariffs impose on consumer purchases. A spokesperson labeled Amazon's move as a "hostile and political act."

Korva Coleman [01:50]: "The White House spokeswoman says President Trump has declared that this is a hostile and political act by Amazon."

This criticism comes despite Amazon being a financial supporter of NPR.

Trump Administration’s Targeting of Opponents

A new analysis by NPR reveals that President Trump has targeted over 100 individuals and organizations deemed opponents or enemies within his first 100 days. Targets include law firms, universities, media outlets, and student protesters. The administration has also initiated criminal investigations against former officials considered disloyal.

Sean Brennan [02:53]: "I was retaliated against for taking actions that were well within the law but that were politically unfavorable to the people in charge."

The White House counters these actions by asserting that Trump is combating the "weaponization of government" while promoting accountability.

Deadly Car Crash Near Springfield

A tragic incident occurred near Springfield, where a motorist drove into a building housing an after-school program, resulting in the deaths of three children and a young adult. Illinois State Police have yet to identify the driver, who was transported to a hospital for evaluation.

Erica Jo [03:36]: "There's a perfect entry hole and a perfect exit hole, almost like a bullet wound would be."

Authorities initially believe the crash was not intentional.

Navy Fighter Jet Lost at Sea

An F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet was lost when it slipped off the hangar deck of the USS Harry Truman in the Red Sea. The incident occurred during operations against Yemen's Houthi rebels. While the Houthi forces claimed responsibility, the Navy has indicated that evasive maneuvers may have played a role.

Giles Snyder [03:43]: "The Navy says sailors were towing an F A 18E Super Hornet into place when they lost control and the jet fell overboard along with a small towing tractor."

The Super Hornet, valued at over $60 million, resulted in minor injuries to sailors. The USS Harry Truman strike group remains operational.

Los Angeles City Workers Strike

Thousands of city workers in Los Angeles are currently on a two-day strike, demanding fair negotiations for their upcoming contracts. Progress in talks has been slow, prolonging the work stoppage.

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and updates from the April 29, 2025, episode of NPR News Now. For more detailed coverage, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full broadcast.