Trump ‘Not Joking’ About Third Term, and the Myanmar Earthquake Toll

Summary

Summary of "The Headlines" Podcast Episode: Trump ‘Not Joking’ About Third Term, and the Myanmar Earthquake Toll

Release Date: March 31, 2025
Host: Tracy Mumford
Publisher: The New York Times

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1. President Trump's Stance on Russia and Potential Third Term

In this episode, Tracy Mumford delves into President Donald Trump's recent statements and policy decisions, highlighted by his interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker.

• Frustration with Russia:
  President Trump expressed significant dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In his conversation with Kristen Welker, Trump conveyed impatience with the slow progress of ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine.

  "I’m considering tariffs to force Russia to make a deal," Trump stated (00:51).

• Imminent Tariffs on Russian Oil:
  Trump announced the potential imposition of 25% tariffs on Russian oil, emphasizing the urgency of his actions.

  "25% tariffs on Russian oil could happen any moment," he declared (01:15).
  He also mentioned plans to discuss these matters directly with Putin within the week.

• Tariffs on Foreign Automobiles:
  Addressing domestic economic policies, Trump defended his tariffs on foreign cars and parts despite market volatility.

  "I couldn't care less if they raise prices because people are going to start buying American made cars," he asserted (01:35).

• Third-Term Ambitions:
  In a controversial move, Trump suggested substantial public support for a third presidential term, challenging constitutional limitations.

  "I’m not joking. I’m not joking," he reiterated firmly (01:43).
  However, he also indicated a focus on his current term, creating a complex narrative about his political intentions.

2. U.S. Assertiveness in Greenland

The podcast covers the Trump administration's assertive stance on Greenland, highlighting Vice President J.D. Vance’s recent visit.

• Vance’s Diplomatic Mission:
  Vice President Vance made a brief three-hour visit to Greenland, shifting from an extensive cultural tour to focus solely on a U.S. military base due to anticipated local protests.

  "Our message to Denmark is very simple. You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland. That has to change," Vance stated (02:50).

• Greenland’s Response:
  The Prime Minister of Greenland firmly rejected U.S. claims of sovereignty over the territory.

  "The United States will not get it. We do not belong to anyone else. We decide our own future," he emphasized (03:01).

This exchange underscores heightened tensions and strategic maneuvering in the Arctic region, where U.S. interests clash with Danish oversight and Greenlandic sovereignty.

3. Devastating Earthquake in Myanmar

A powerful earthquake struck Myanmar on Friday, resulting in significant casualties and widespread destruction.

• Rescue Efforts:
  Rescue teams are arduously working to salvage survivors from collapsed buildings using sledgehammers and drills. The death toll has surpassed 1,700 and is expected to rise (03:01).

• Military Junta’s Rare Appeal for Aid:
  The Myanmar military junta, typically reluctant to seek outside assistance, made an unprecedented request for international help, prompting swift responses from Russia, China, and India.
  In contrast, the United States has been notably inactive in providing immediate aid.

• U.S. Aid Challenges:
  The U.S. embassy announced a plan to offer $2 million in assistance. However, internal disruptions within the Trump administration, including layoffs of USAID employees, have hampered effective distribution.
  A former USAID official warned that the lack of U.S. presence could damage America's relationships in the region:

  "If we don't show up and China shows up, that sends a pretty strong message," he noted (03:01).

This situation highlights the complexities and potential geopolitical repercussions of the U.S. response to humanitarian crises.

4. Escalating Gun Violence in Haiti

The episode sheds light on the severe gang violence plaguing Haiti, exacerbated by an influx of illegal firearms.

• Proliferation of Firearms:
  Haiti is overwhelmed by up to half a million illegal guns, primarily sourced from the United States. These weapons have empowered gangs to dominate neighborhoods and commit atrocities with impunity (05:07).

• Mechanism of Smuggling:
  Frances Robles explains the smuggling process:

  "Most common methods for smuggling guns is the use of straw buyers... They gather all the loot, and then they send them by freighter to Haiti," she detailed (05:37).
  The shipments, often disguised among legitimate goods on freighters departing South Florida, evade effective customs inspections, facilitating the unchecked flow of weapons.

• Regional Impact:
  The issue extends beyond Haiti, affecting various Latin American countries, including Mexico, where a significant proportion of recovered firearms are traced back to the United States (06:33).

This segment underscores the urgent need for robust international measures to curb the illegal arms trade and its devastating impact on global security.

5. The Future of Vert Skateboarding in the Olympics

Transitioning to a lighter topic, the podcast explores the status of vert skateboarding in the upcoming Olympics, reflecting on its evolution since Tony Hawk's iconic 900 trick.

• Tony Hawk’s Pioneering Feat:
  In 1999, Tony Hawk achieved what seemed impossible by completing the 900, a complex skateboarding trick involving two and a half spins in mid-air.

• Current Trends and Youth Involvement:
  Nearly 30 years later, vert skateboarding faces the possibility of being excluded from the Olympics in favor of more accessible park and street styles. However, a new generation of skaters is pushing the boundaries, with some landing the 900 as young as 12 years old (05:18).
  Tony Hawk commented on the advancements:

  "Some of that's because skaters are now starting younger than ever," he mentioned (07:02).

• Olympic Decision Pending:
  With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics approaching, officials are set to decide whether to include vert skateboarding events. Tony Hawk has even offered to supply the necessary ramps, advocating for the inclusion of more extreme, high-flying disciplines (07:04).

This discussion highlights the dynamic nature of skateboarding as a sport and the ongoing debate about its representation in global athletic competitions.

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Conclusion

Tracy Mumford’s episode of "The Headlines" provides a thorough examination of significant global and national issues, from President Trump's contentious policies and international maneuvers to humanitarian crises and cultural debates in sports. Featuring insightful reporting and direct quotes from key figures, the episode offers listeners a comprehensive understanding of the current events shaping our world.

Transcript

[Jonathan Swan]

Jonathan I'm Jonathan Swan. I'm a White House reporter for the New York Times. Our job as reporters is to dig out information that powerful people don't want published to take you into rooms that you would not otherwise have access to. There's no robot that can go and talk to someone who is in THE Situation Room and find out what was really said. In order to get original information that's not public, we actually need journalists to do that. I'm asking you to consider subscribing to the New York Times. Independent journalism is important and without you, we simply can't do it.

[Tracy Mumford]

From the New York Times, it's the headlines. I'm Tracy Mumford. Today's Monday, March 31st. Here's what we're covering.

[Kristen Welker]

Just hours ago, President Trump called me to tell me he is, quote, pissed off with Russia's President Putin.

[Tracy Mumford]

President Trump gave a sprawling interview this weekend to NBC's Kristen Welker. Welker described their conversations, which happened over two phone calls that weren't recorded on Meet the Press. She said a key topic was Russia. Trump is growing impatient with how slowly ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine have been moving and said he's considering tariffs to force Russia to make a deal.

[Kristen Welker]

Mr. Trump said 25% tariffs on Russian oil could happen any moment and told me he plans to speak with President Putin this week.

[Tracy Mumford]

The president also talked about the tariffs he's putting in place on foreign cars and car parts. Trump said he's not backing down from the plan even as the stock market has plunged in response and on fears.

[Kristen Welker]

Of foreign automakers raising prices. Quote, I couldn't care less if they raise prices because people are going to start buying American made cars.

[Tracy Mumford]

In the interview, the president also claimed that a lot of people want him to serve a third term even though the Constitution says he can't. When Walker said that was something she heard him joke about a lot, the president said, quote, no, no, I'm not joking. I'm not joking. Though he also said he was focused on his current term at the moment. Over the weekend, the Trump administration also doubled down on its insistence that the U.S. will take control of Greenland. Vice President J.D. vance made a three hour long visit to the island. A U.S. delegation was originally supposed to take a much longer trip. That would have included stops at cultural sites and a dog sled race, but that was scrapped after local residents said they planned to protest. Instead, Vance only visited a US Military base there. In a speech, he framed the region as critical for US national security.

[Kristen Welker]

We know that Russia and China and other nations are taking an extraordinary interest in Arctic passageways and Arctic naval routes.

[Tracy Mumford]

Vance also took aim at Denmark, which largely oversees Greenland.

[Kristen Welker]

Our message to Denmark is very simple. You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland. That has to change.

[Tracy Mumford]

In response to the Trump administration's repeated assertions that the US Will get Greenland, the territory's prime minister said yesterday, quote, let me be clear. The United States will not get it. We do not belong to anyone else. We decide our own future. In Myanmar, rescue teams have been using sledgehammers and drills to dig through collapsed buildings and look for survivors after a powerful earthquake shook the country on Friday. More than 1700 people have been killed, according to officials there, and the death toll is expected to rise significantly. In the aftermath of the quake, the country's military junta, which has previously avoided asking for outside assistance, made a rare appeal for help. Russia, China, and India quickly sent in rescue teams. But for the moment, the U.S. which used to be a leader in foreign aid, appears to have sent nothing. The U.S. embassy in Myanmar said the U.S. has plans to provide $2 million in assistance, but many of the systems that would have helped distribute that funding on the ground have been disrupted by the Trump administration. And a handful of USAID employees who were trying to coordinate a response to the quake on Friday got emails in the middle of their work telling them that they were laid off. A former top USAID official told the Times that the lack of aid could undermine America's relationships in the region. Since sending humanitarian aid has been a crucial part of building political goodwill, he said, quote, if we don't show up and China shows up, that sends a pretty strong message. In Haiti, for over a year now, gangs have been terrorizing the country's capital city. They've taken over whole neighborhoods, murdered hundreds of people with impunity, and Haiti's police force has been overwhelmed in part because they're essentially outgunned.

[Frances Robles]

Experts say that there are up to half a million illegal firearms in the streets in Haiti, and the big question is, how do they get there?

[Tracy Mumford]

Frances Robles, along with her colleague David Adams, are part of the team covering Haiti for the Times. They've been reporting on how the country has been flooded with weapons, despite the fact that it's illegal to ship any there. Frances says that experts they talk to say that most of the weapons are coming from the U.S. one of the.

[Frances Robles]

Most common methods for smuggling guns is the use of straw buyers, and that's where a person in The United States goes to a gun store or a gun website and just buys them. And so a person who's illegally shipping guns to Haiti will get various straw buyers to make these purchases for them. They gather all the loot, and then they send them by freighter to Haiti. And it's important to note that the shipments are really hard to track because they usually go out on these freighters that leave South Florida, and they're packed with stuff. I mean, they're packed with used clothes and bicycles and, you know, all kinds of things. And in most countries, customs inspect the packages and shipments coming in. They don't really inspect very much of the ones going out. So very, very few of these shipments get caught.

[Tracy Mumford]

Francis says Haiti is not alone in being overrun by American weapons. Many countries across Latin America are dealing with the same issue. In Mexico, for example, most of the guns recovered from crime scenes come from the United States. And finally, in 1999, Tony Hawk did what seemed impossible.

[Frances Robles]

Are you kidding me?

[Tracy Mumford]

The skateboarder launched himself up, up off the halfpipe and completed a 900, a trick named for the number of degrees. He spun around in the air. He turned his body a full two and a half times while off the ground and then landed on his board smoothly. Now, almost 30 years later, officials are set to decide whether people can try a trick like that in the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, despite all the excitement back when Hawk pulled off the trick. The 900 belongs to vert skateboarding, a niche form of the sport which has fallen out of the spotlight as park and street style skateboarding has become more popular. They're easier to learn. No giant ramps necessary. So while skateboarding's been featured in the last two Olympic Games, vert skateboarding, with its big air moves, has not been. But a younger crop of skaters wants to change that. They've been tackling the tricks faster than even Haack can comprehend. The 900 was a lifelong goal for him, and there are now skaters who've landed the trick at age 12. Haack told the Times that some of that's because skaters are now starting younger than ever. Where kids used to be told skateboarding was a bad influence, now they're encouraged. There's whole dedicated training facilities. Olympic officials will make their decision next week about whether there will be a vert event at the Summer Games. Haack has even offered to supply the ramp. Those are the headlines today on the Daily how the Trump administration is targeting students on college campuses for deportation. That's next in the New York Times audio app where you can listen wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Tracy Mumford. We'll be back tomorrow.