NPR News: 04-29-2025 12PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 29, 2025, 12 PM EDT

NPR News Now delivers a comprehensive overview of today's most pressing issues, ranging from U.S. politics and international affairs to health and economic updates. This summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode released on April 29, 2025.

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1. President Trump's 100th Day and Approval Ratings Slide

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Reporters: Lakshmi Singh, Danielle Kurtzleben

President Donald Trump marks his 100th day in office with his first rally at Macomb Community College near Detroit. Traditionally, Trump uses such events to showcase policy achievements. However, current sentiments indicate growing skepticism among Americans.

• Approval Ratings: A new poll from NPR/PBS News Marist places Trump's approval at 42%, showing a steady decline since he assumed office. This decline occurs despite Trump securing victories in Michigan and other battleground states.

• Economic Policies: Trump aims to bolster American manufacturers, particularly Detroit's auto industry, through tariffs. Notably, a 145% tariff on Chinese goods has unsettled global markets and intensified recession fears.

Danielle Kurtzleben highlights, “While Trump tends to use these speeches to claim policy victories, this one comes as Americans are increasingly doubting him” [00:45].

2. Amazon Responds to Tariff Price Display Reports

Host: Lakshmi Singh

In response to a White House protest over media reports, Amazon clarifies that it has no plans to display import charges on select products. Tim Doy, Amazon spokesman, stated:

“A team that runs the Amazon hall store considered the idea of listing the import charges on some products, but that was never approved” [01:25].

This clarification comes amidst scrutiny of Amazon's pricing strategies under tariffs. Additionally, it's noted that Jeff Bezos supported Trump's inauguration, reflecting the intertwined relationships between major corporations and the administration.

3. Canadian Political Landscape Shifts

Reporters: Katie Toth, Pierre Poliev

The Canadian political arena experienced significant developments as voters chose to retain Liberal Party leader Mark Carney. Carney and his party have committed to opposing President Trump’s policies.

• Carney's Statement: “As prime minister, Carney thanked voters, he warned them to prepare for the worst” [02:11].

• Conservative Gains: Under Pierre Poliev, the Conservatives made substantial strides but fell short of governing majority: “While we will do our constitutional duty of holding government to account and proposing better alternatives, we will always put Canada first” [02:33].

• New Democrats' Decline: The New Democrats faced major losses, leading leader Jagmeet Singh to resign, visibly emotional during his farewell: “...causing leader Jagmeet Singh to push back tears as he resigned” [02:42].

4. Vatican Conclave Preparations Amid Leadership Transition

Host: Lakshmi Singh

Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday at age 88, the Vatican is set to convene a conclave starting May 7th to elect his successor. Two of the 135 cardinal electors have withdrawn due to health issues, reducing the number to 133 [02:54].

This conclave is pivotal for the Catholic Church as it navigates the transition and the future direction under new leadership.

5. Trump Administration's Deportation of Pro-Palestinian Students

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Reporter: Leila Fadel
Interviewee: Mohsen Maudawi

In the context of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the Trump administration has intensified efforts to deport students advocating for Palestinian rights. One notable case is Mohsen Maudawi, a Columbia University student.

• Maudawi's Statement: “I am centered. Internally, I am at peace. While I still more deeply that this is a level of injustice that I am facing. I have faith. I have faith that justice will prevail” [03:39].

Leila Fadel reports from Vermont on these detentions, highlighting Maudawi's current confinement at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans.

6. High Demand for Early Alzheimer's Detection Among Older Americans

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Reporter: John Hamilton, Danielle Kurtzleben

A recent National Survey conducted by the Alzheimer's Association, involving 1,700 Americans aged 45 and older, reveals a strong desire for early detection of Alzheimer's disease.

• Survey Findings:
  • 79% wish to know their Alzheimer's status before symptoms emerge or affect daily life.
  • Over 90% are willing to undergo a blood test for amyloid plaques, a hallmark of the disease.
  • A majority would take medications to slow Alzheimer's progression despite potential side effects.

Elizabeth Edgerly, a clinical psychologist with the Alzheimer's Association, emphasized, “The results were unequivocal” [04:25]. Notably, since 2023, the FDA has approved two drugs targeting Alzheimer's, aligning with public willingness to engage in preventative measures [04:34].

7. Stock Market Update

Host: Lakshmi Singh

The Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a significant uptick, rising 250 points (over half a percent), reflecting positive investor sentiment [04:56].

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This episode of NPR News Now provides listeners with a thorough analysis of current events, offering valuable insights and diverse perspectives to understand the complexities of today's world.

Transcript

[NPR Host]

These days there is a lot of news. It can be hard to keep up with what it means for you, your family and your community. Consider this from NPR is a podcast that helps you make sense of the news. Six days a week. We bring you a deep dive on a story and provide the context, backstory and analysis you need to understand our rapidly changing world. Listen to the Consider this podcast from.

[Lakshmi Singh]

NPR Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Lakshmi Singh. President Trump is marking his 100th day day in office. He will hold the first rally of his term tonight. Trump's expected to highlight his record when he rallies with supporters in war in Michigan, but NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports Trump's approval rating is sliding.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

The president will speak at Macomb Community College just north of Detroit. While Trump tends to use these speeches to claim policy victories, this one comes as Americans are increasingly doubting him. A new poll from NPR PBS News Marist finds Trump's approval rating at 42%. Polls have shown his approval steadily slipping since he took office. Trump won Michigan along with every other battleground state and is attempting to boost manufacturers like Detroit's auto companies with tariffs. However, Trump's tariffs on goods from the world over, including a 145% tariff on Chinese goods, have rattled markets and raised recession fears. Danielle Kurtzlehman, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Amazon says it has no plans to display import charges on certain products. Company spokesman Tim Doy issued a statement after the White House protested over a media report that Jeff Bezos company had been planning to list how tariffs hike prices on the E Retail site. Joel says a team that runs the Amazon hall store considered the idea of listing the import charges on some products, but that was never approved. Bezos was among the tech moguls who donated to President Trump's inauguration fund and attended the swearing in. Amazon is a financial supporter of npr. Canadian voters have decided that Liberal Party leader Mark Carney should stay on the job. Katie Toth reports. Carney and his party have vowed to oppose President Trump.

[Katie Toth]

As prime minister, Carney thanked voters, he warned them to prepare for the worst.

[Pierre Poliev]

America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country. Never.

[Katie Toth]

This past December, the Liberal Party was imploring. Under Pierre Poliev, Conservatives made huge gains, but not enough to run the government.

[Pierre Poliev]

While we will do our constitutional duty of holding government to account and proposing better alternatives, we will always put Canada first.

[Katie Toth]

The New Democrats, a Social Democrat party, suffered major losses, causing leader Jagmeet Singh to push back tears as he resigned. For NPR News, I'm Katie Tothe The.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Vatican confirmed today that two of the 135 cardinal electors eligible to participate in a conclave to select a successor to the late Pope Francis will not participate because of health reasons. Now this brings a number of cardinal electors down to 133. The Vatican is preparing to hold the conclave beginning May 7th. Pope Francis died Easter Monday at the age of 88. From Washington, this is NPR News. In recent months, the Trump administration has locked up and tried to deport multiple students who advocated on behalf of Palestinian rights in the midst of the Israel Hamas war. One of them is Columbia University student Mohsen Maudawi.

[Mohsen Maudawi]

I am centered. Internally, I am at peace. While I still more deeply that this is a level of injustice that I am facing. I have faith. I have faith that justice will prevail.

[Lakshmi Singh]

This brought by NPR's Leila Fadel in Vermont, where she became the first journalist to meet with any of the students in the facilities where they're held. Dowi is being held in the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans. A new survey shows that older Americans want to know if they are in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. More from NPR's John Hamilton.

[John Hamilton]

The National Survey of 1700Americans 45 and older was released by the Alzheimer's Association. Elizabeth Edgerly, a clinical psychologist with the group, says the results were unequivocal.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

79% said that they would like to know before the symptoms appear, or at least before the symptoms affect their daily activities.

[John Hamilton]

More than 90% of respondents said they would take a blood test to detect the sticky amyloid plaques in the brain that are a hallmark of Alzheimer's. And a majority said they would take a drug to slow down the disease, even if it meant accepting a moderate to high risk of side effects. Since 2023, the Food and Drug Administration has approved two drugs that meet that description. John Hamilton, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The Dow Jones industrial Average is up 250 points, or more than half a percent. It's NPR.

[Pierre Poliev]

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.