Loading summary
Commercial Announcer
This message comes from Capital One with the Venture X card. Earn unlimited double miles, a $300 annual capital one travel credit and access to airport lounges. Capital One what's in your wallet? Terms apply.
Ryland Barton
Details@Capital1.com live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump says a Supreme Court ruling against his tariff policies would be catastrophic and hurt his ability to defend the country.
Scott Horsley
I think it would be devastating for our country, but I also think that we'll have to develop a game two plan. We'll see what happens.
Ryland Barton
Trump's comments come after conservative justices seemed skeptical of his authority to unilaterally impose tariffs on nearly every country in the world. Challengers say Trump is illegally using an emergency power to claim nearly limitless tariff power. And American small businesses are paying the price. The administration argues tariffs are part of the president's power to regulate trade. The head of the US Postal Service says the federal Mail Agency has a new plan for cutting costs and boosting package deliveries in the coming year. As NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports, the plan comes after the new leader of USPS spoke out against privatizing the country's mail service.
David Steiner
The U.S. postal Service generally receives no tax dollars and relies instead on stamp and other service fees to keep running. And in a new video to postal workers, Postmaster General David Steiner says its financial situation is precisely precarious.
Ryland Barton
No organization, even the Postal Service, can lose billions every year without consequence over the coming 12 months. We're going to act with urgency to get on a financially sustainable path with.
David Steiner
Fewer people and businesses using first class mail. Steiner says he wants to expand the Postal Service's package delivery service. USPS is still carrying out a reorganization plan that began under its previous leader, Louis Dejoy. The plan has led to stamp price increases, plus fewer mail pickups in many rural communities and longer delivery times. Hansi Luang, NPR News.
Ryland Barton
The world's richest man, Elon Musk, is one step closer to becoming the world's first trillionaire. Tesla shareholders voted to give their CEO a pay package worth $1 trillion if he hits certain performance targets over the next decade. The vote followed weeks of debate over his management record and whether anyone deserved such an unprecedented windfall. Stocks fell sharply today on worries about the job market and possible over investment in tech companies. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrial tumbled nearly 400 points, or 8/10 of a percent.
Scott Horsley
All the major stock indexes fell during the day, with the S&P 500 sliding 1.1%. And the tech heavy NASDAQ dropping almost 2%. Investors are nervous that the run up in technology stocks fueled by the artificial intelligence boom could turn out to be overdone. Ordinarily, investors would have been looking for a report from the Labor Department this week on the job market, but that's been held up by the government shutdown. That's giving extra attention to other measures to the labor, including a report from outplacement firm Challenger Gray and Christmas, which showed it was the worst October for layoff notices in more than two decades. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
Ryland Barton
The National Retail Federation predicts shoppers will spend over $1 trillion during the holiday season for the first time. This is NPR News. The International Criminal Court has confirmed war crime charges against Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony. The charges include murder, sexual enslavement and rape. While he led the brutal Lord's Resistance Army, Kony was thrust into The Global Spotl 2012 When a video about his actions went viral. For the trial to proceed, the ICC would need to have Kony in custody. Brazil's Congress has approved a new bill to exempt tens of millions of poor and middle class workers from paying income tax while increasing taxes on the rich. The landmark tax reform was one of the leftist president's main campaign promises, as NPR's Carrie Kahn reports.
Carrie Kahn
The bill allows Brazilians an exemption from taxes, raising the limit the poor and middle class can make to the equivalent of about US$900. A previously, only those making less than about $500 a month were exempt. To make up the difference in lost income, the government will increase taxes on Brazil's top earners and their dividends. Supporters say it's common sense. Those who have less pay less. Those who have more pay more. President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva is set to sign the bill, handing him a major political victory as he plans to run for reelection next year. Congress is still also looking to tax new outlets, including fintech companies and betting operators. Carrie Khan, NPR News.
Ryland Barton
R. De Niro, a former Justice Department employee who threw a sandwich at a federal agent during President Trump's law enforcement surge in Washington, D.C. has been found not guilty of assault. A viral video made Sean Charles Dunn a symbol of resistance to Trump's deployment of federal agents. I'm Ryland Barton. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.
Commercial Announcer
This message comes from Mint mobile. Starting at $15 a month. Make the switch@mintmobile.com Switch $45 upfront payment for 3 months 5 gigabyte plan equivalent to $15 a month Taxes and fees Extra first 3 months Only see terms.
Host: Ryland Barton (NPR)
Runtime: 5 minutes
This fast-paced NPR News Now episode delivers essential updates on national and global events in just five minutes. Key news covered includes President Trump’s remarks on a Supreme Court tariff case, major changes at the U.S. Postal Service, Elon Musk’s staggering new Tesla pay package, stock market volatility, historic U.S. holiday retail predictions, Joseph Kony's ICC case, a sweeping Brazilian tax reform, and a viral D.C. court case.
[00:13] President Trump warns a Supreme Court decision against his tariff policies would "be catastrophic" and impair his ability to "defend the country."
[00:38] The Supreme Court’s conservative justices appeared skeptical of Trump’s claim of nearly limitless tariff power, which is being challenged as an abuse of emergency powers.
[00:38] Critics argue that small U.S. businesses are hurt by these tariffs, while the administration defends them as a presidential power over trade.
Notable Quote:
"I think it would be devastating for our country, but I also think that we'll have to develop a game two plan." – President Trump (voiced by Scott Horsley) [00:28]
[01:15] Postmaster General David Steiner announces an urgent plan to cut costs and increase package deliveries amid a "precisely precarious" financial situation.
[01:27] USPS receives little tax funding and is losing billions annually; new plans include expanding package services and further reorganization, including higher stamp prices, less rural pickup, and longer delivery times.
Notable Quote:
"No organization, even the Postal Service, can lose billions every year without consequence. Over the coming 12 months, we're going to act with urgency to get on a financially sustainable path." – David Steiner [01:27]
[01:57] Tesla shareholders approve a pay package potentially worth $1 trillion for CEO Elon Musk, contingent on achieving performance targets over a decade.
[01:57] The news follows heated debates about Musk’s management and executive compensation.
[01:57] The stock market reacts nervously to tech sector over-investment: Dow down nearly 400 points (0.8%), S&P 500 down 1.1%, NASDAQ off almost 2%.
Notable Quote:
"Investors are nervous that the run up in technology stocks fueled by the artificial intelligence boom could turn out to be overdone." – Scott Horsley [02:31]
[03:54] Brazil’s Congress passes a landmark bill exempting millions of poor and middle-class workers from income tax (increased exemption to $900/month), while raising taxes on the wealthy and their dividends.
[03:54] Supporters advocate a "those who have less pay less, those who have more pay more" principle.
[03:54] President Lula is expected to sign the bill—a major win as he eyes re-election. The reform could expand tax sources to new digital and betting sectors.
Notable Quote:
"Those who have less pay less. Those who have more pay more." – Brazilian bill supporters, summarized by Carrie Khan [03:54]
Donald Trump (via Scott Horsley):
"I think it would be devastating for our country, but... we'll have to develop a game two plan." [00:28]
Postmaster General David Steiner:
"No organization, even the Postal Service, can lose billions every year without consequence." [01:27]
Scott Horsley on Markets:
"Investors are nervous that the run up in technology stocks fueled by the artificial intelligence boom could turn out to be overdone." [02:31]
Carrie Khan on Brazilian Tax Reform:
"Those who have less pay less. Those who have more pay more." [03:54]
This five-minute news summary keeps listeners up to date on critical economic, political, and international developments, delivering concise reporting and notable soundbites from key figures and correspondents.