NPR News: 04-29-2025 9AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – April 29, 2025

Host: Korva Coleman | Released: April 29, 2025

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1. President Trump's 100th Day in Office

Korva Coleman opens the episode by highlighting President Donald Trump's upcoming milestone—the 100th day in office. Scheduled for tonight, Trump's first rally of his term will take place at Macomb Community College near Detroit. While Trump traditionally uses such events to showcase his administration's achievements, current polling reveals a decline in his approval ratings.

Danielle Kurtzleben reports that an NPR/PBS NewsMarist poll indicates Trump's approval rating has slid to 42% (00:33). Despite winning Michigan and other battleground states, Trump's popularity is waning as his aggressive tariff policies, including a 145% tariff on Chinese goods, have unsettled markets and heightened recession fears. Kurtzleben notes, “Trump tends to use these speeches to claim policy victories, this one comes as Americans are increasingly doubting him” (00:33).

2. Controversial Deportation Policies

President Trump continues to enforce stringent immigration policies, focusing not only on illegal migrants but also on individuals with legal status. A notable case involves Mohsen Madawi, a Columbia University student arrested while attempting to finalize his U.S. citizenship process. Madawi had advocated for ending the war in Gaza, leading the Trump administration to allege that his actions negatively impact U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East peace process.

From his detention center in Vermont, Madawi shared his perspective: “I am centered internally. I am at peace. While I still know deeply that this is a level of injustice that I am facing, I have faith. I have faith that justice will prevail” (01:52). His lawyers deny the administration's claims, asserting there is no evidence to support the deportation based on his advocacy.

3. Stalemate in Gaza Ceasefire Talks

Efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas have stalled. Daniel Estrin provides updates from Tel Aviv, detailing recent discussions mediated by Egyptian officials in Cairo. Despite Hamas proposing a five-year truce, Israeli officials have dismissed the offer.

A recently freed American-Israeli hostage, Keith Siegel, urged President Trump to intensify efforts to free remaining hostages: “I urge the president to continue his commitment, apply pressure, restart negotiations immediately and secure a deal” (02:53). However, no significant breakthroughs have been achieved, leaving the conflict unresolved.

4. Economic Indicators and Market Movements

In economic news, Korva Coleman reports that Dow futures are up by approximately 140 points in pre-market trading (03:07). This positive movement comes amid ongoing concerns about international trade policies and their impact on the global economy.

5. Historic Memphis Church Damaged by Fire

A historic black church in Memphis, the Claiborne Temple, has suffered significant damage due to a fire (03:07). This church holds profound historical importance as the site where striking sanitation workers met with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to advocate for better working conditions and wages. Tragically, King was assassinated during one such visit in Memphis. The fire is currently under investigation, raising concerns over the preservation of this landmark.

6. Potential Border Closure Over Cattle Parasite

The Trump administration is threatening to reinstate border closures to cattle crossings from Mexico, a measure previously implemented last year in response to the detection of the New World Screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite, in a cow in southern Mexico. Nina Kravinski reports on the administration's latest moves:

Former Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, has urged Mexico to lift restrictions on USDA-contracted aircraft equipped to combat the parasite. She stated, “If they don’t comply, her department will close the border again” (03:51). Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum dismissed the move as politically motivated, asserting, “They can’t use Mexico as a pinata” (03:51). This tension underscores the fragile nature of U.S.-Mexico relations concerning agricultural imports and biosecurity.

7. China Faces Increased Tariff Pressures

Korva Coleman concludes with insights from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant, who addressed China's role in U.S. trade dynamics. Bessant emphasized the imbalance in trade flows, noting, “China sends far more to the US Than the other way around” (04:32). While Bessant confirmed that China is under financial pressure to reduce its tariffs on American goods, he declined to elaborate on ongoing negotiations between the U.S. administration and Beijing regarding tariff adjustments.

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This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of significant national and international developments, from President Trump's political maneuvers and controversial policies to critical economic indicators and ongoing international conflicts. With detailed reporting and firsthand accounts, listeners are kept informed on the pressing issues shaping the current landscape.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump is marking his 100th day in office this week. He'll hold the first rally of his term. Tonight. Trump is expected to highlight his record when he rallies with supporters in war in Michigan. But NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports Trump's approval ratings are 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 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.

[Korva Coleman]

President Trump has continued to tout his efforts to deport migrants illegally in the US but his administration is also trying to deport people who have legal status. That includes Columbia University student Mohsen Madawi. He had arrived to meet with authorities to take the last step in his process to become an American citizen. Instead, he was arrested. Madawi has advocated for an end to the war in Gaza. The Trump administration alleges this has adverse consequences for US Foreign policy, in this case undermining the Mideast peace process. No evidence has been furnished. His lawyers deny this. Madawi spoke with NPR from his detention center in Vermont.

[Mohsen Madawi]

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

[Korva Coleman]

He spoke to NPR's Morning Edition. Israeli and Hamas officials have held talks with Egyptian officials about reaching a ceasefire in Gaza, but neither side has indicated a breakthrough. NPR's Daniel Estrin has more from Tel Aviv.

[Daniel Estrin]

Hamas says it met over the weekend with Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss a ceasefire, a hostage prisoner exchange and urgently needed aid to Gaza. Israeli media report a senior Israeli delegation met Egyptian officials in Cairo Monday. An Israeli official not authorized to speak publicly tells NPR Israel has rejected Hamas's offer for a five year truce. In a press conference, recently freed American Israeli hostage Keith Siegel called on President Trump to help free Hamas remaining hostages.

[Keith Siegel]

I urge the president to continue his commitment, apply pressure, restart negotiations immediately and secure a deal.

[Daniel Estrin]

Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street and pre market trading, Dow futures are up by about 140 points. This is NPR. A historic black church in Memphis has been damaged by fire. The Claiborne Temple is where striking sanitation workers met with Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. To advocate for better working conditions and wages. King was assassinated during that visit to Memphis. The fire in the church is being investigated. The Trump administration is threatening to again close the border to cattle crossing from Mexico. This happened for months last year. That was after authorities detected a flesh eating parasite called the New World Screwworm in a cow in southern Mexico. From member station kjzz, Nita Kravinski has more.

[Nina Kravinski]

Last November, Mexican and US Officials worked together to put in place new protocols for cattle imports into the United States, leading to a lengthy border closure for the livestock. Now, President Trump's agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, has sent a letter urging Mexico to lift restrictions on USDA contracted aircraft that she says are equipped to fight the parasite or her department will close the border again. Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum implied that this latest measure was politically motivated. What we're saying is that they can't use Mexico as a pinata, shanebaum says. For NPR News, I'm Nina Kravinsky in Hermosillo, Mexico.

[Korva Coleman]

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant tells reporters at the White House this morning that China is under financial pressure to reduce its tariffs on the United States. He says China sends far more to the US Than the other way around. Besant has declined to comment on whether the administration is talking to Beijing about tariffs. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

[NPR]

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