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Today is Tuesday, March 4th. We're talking about President Trump pulling the plug on military aid for Ukraine and adding new tariffs against America's largest trading partners. How Americans are expected to be impacted. Also, a major storm system could bring severe weather to the south as partiers celebrate Mardi Gras today. Plus RFK Jr. S response to a growing measles outbreak, the newest Cabinet member with an unusual job ahead of her. And what's next for Serena Williams in the world of women's sports? Those stories and even more news coming up. Welcome. Welcome to the Newsworthy. All the day's news in around 10 minutes. Fast, fair, fun and on the go. I'm Erica Mandy, thanks so much for being here. You ready? Let's do this. It seems last week's tense White House meeting was just the start of President Trump upending America's stance toward Ukraine. The US Is now pausing all military aid to the war torn country. For now, the White House says it's just on hold while the US Reviews America's support, though some news outlets cite official sources who went into more detail saying Trump will need to believe Ukrainian President Zelensky is making a good effort toward peace negotiations with Russia before aid is restored. Remember, President Trump and Vice President J.D. vance criticized Zelenskyy, saying he hasn't been grateful enough for America's help and should be more open to a diplomatic compromise with Russia. But Zelensky says Russia has proven it cannot be trusted, so he's pushed for security guarantees. As of early this morning, no comment from the Ukrainian government about this pause in aid from the US but it's a huge shift that could make a big difference in Ukraine's defenses, considering the US has been the country's biggest source of military aid since Russia invaded three years ago. To be clear, President Trump has not authorized any new assistance for Ukraine since taking office. President Biden was the one who committed billions of dollars worth of equipment when he was still in office with lawmaker support from both sides of the aisle. The thing is, a lot of it has not been delivered yet, and Trump's decision means any of it that's not already in Ukraine is now on hold. Ukraine also relies on the US for intelligence, humanitarian aid, and more. So it's not clear what's to come of any of it. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is starting to ease up on the Russian government. For example, reports say the U.S. defense Department stopped offensive cyber operations against Russia. Other reports say the White House is also drawing up a plan to give Russia sanctions relief. Critics see these as dangerous concessions that give Russia a free pass to take advantage of the US and the rest of the Western world. But President Trump supporters say these moves are just part of a diplomatic strategy to get Russia to the negotiating table with Ukraine. So stay tuned. President Trump has officially ended decades of free trade between the US and its neighbors. New tariffs on Mexico and Canada took effect last night, and that means all imports from both countries are to be taxed at 25%. The only exception is Canadian energy products getting taxed at 10%. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his country will respond with tariffs on more than $100 billion in American goods. So far, no response from Mexico, but it is also expected to retaliate. The Trump administration added another 10% tariff to Chinese goods, too, and in return, China quickly added extra tariffs of up to 15% on certain American products. President Trump says all three countries have not done enough to keep drugs and migrants from coming into the US Illegally. And recent talks haven't made as much progress as Trump said he was hoping for. So now he says tariffs are the necessary next step. The president says his tariffs have already encouraged more American manufacturing, since companies like Apple, Honda, and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company have announced new investments here in the US in recent weeks. But some economists still worry about a trade war, higher inflation and and supply chain issues because of these tariffs. In fact, some carmakers have already said they're going to have to pass extra costs on to customers. Other products that are expected to get more expensive include Mexican tequila, beer and avocados, along with Canadian crude oil and lumber. But Trump is not done threatening tariffs. He's now setting his sights on the European Union in an effort to tackle what he considers an unfair trade relationship. To be continued, President Trump is getting ready to address a joint session of Congress tonight. It's basically like a State of the Union address. It's just not called that because Trump was just sworn into office six weeks ago. Of course, Trump has a lot to talk about just from the past six weeks. There's the federal government overhaul as well as America's changing position on the world stage, not to mention more than 70 executive orders addressing everything from immigration to trade to health care. The theme of this big speech is the renewal of the American dream. And on Truth Social yesterday, Trump said, quote, tomorrow night will be big. I will tell it like it is. You can watch the address on any major television network or online starting at 9pm Eastern. After Trump's speech, the official Democratic response will come from Senator Elisa Slotkin. But even before Trump starts speaking, Democratic lawmakers plan to send a message. Party leaders have told members to bring guests who have been negatively impacted by the Trump administration, so many of them invited people who lost their jobs in mass firings. Republican lawmakers also have guest lists, but their seem to show support for the Trump administration's agenda. For example, one congresswoman is bringing former college swimmer Riley Gaines, who has advocated for keeping transgender athletes out of women's sports. Other Republicans have invited conservative media figures and key border officials. Millions of Americans are now in the path of a storm that's unusually powerful, even for March. As of this morning, it spans most of the middle of the country. In the south, the risk is thunderstorms that could bring powerful winds, hail and tornadoes. In the north, it could set off blizzard conditions. One of the biggest concerns is for people celebrating Mardi Gras, since the storms are expected to hit the Gulf coast this afternoon, right where the biggest parties are. So a lot of events were canceled. But in New Orleans, the show will go on probably. The city moved two of its most popular parades to earlier in the day and shortened their routes, hoping to avoid the worst of the severe weather. Then tomorrow, this storm system is set to reach the East Coast. So stay tuned. We have more news for you still ahead. But first, I want to take a moment to talk about today's sponsor. I am over the days of buying something super cheap to wear just once or twice and then it either falls apart or it's just not trendy anymore. Now I prefer quality, even a little luxury, though I still need it to be affordable. And that's where Quint's comes in. Quint's offers a range of high quality items at prices within reach, like 100% Mongolian cashmere sweaters from just $50, washable silk tops and dresses, organic cotton sweaters and 14 karat gold jewelry. The best part, all quince Items are priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands. By partnering directly with top factories, Quince cuts out the cost of the middleman and passes the savings onto us. And Quince only works with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible manufacturing practices and premium fabrics and finishes. So I love that my most recent get was a wool quarter zip pullover. I adore how soft and warm this sweater is and I so appreciate that I can throw it on for a quick casual look or dress it up to be a bit more sophisticated. Give yourself the luxury you deserve with quince. Go to quince.comnewsworthy for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.comnewsworthy to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.comnewsworthy now back to the news. Rain or shine, there are plenty of people still planning to let the good times roll this Mardi Gras, AKA Fat Tuesday. In New Orleans, that usually means parades, balls, music, food and lots of parties. But cities all over the world do take part, and many come with their own traditions. Plenty of other people celebrate at home since the holiday is really just about indulging and sharing before cutting back Tomorrow, it's Ash Wednesday. In the Christian church, the holy day marks the beginning of the 40 day fasting period known as Lent. Pope Francis is back on a ventilator as he battles what's become the worst health crisis of his tenure. The pope's health has been up and down since he was hospitalized with double pneumonia on Valentine's Day. In the most recent update, the Vatican said Francis had two episodes of respiratory failure yesterday. That was considered a setback, and the Vatican says the 88 year old pontiff's prognosis is now, quote, guarded. Still, he's apparently alert and cooperative. The Pope will miss this week's Ash Wednesday procession and Mass, but Catholics will be encouraged to pray for Francis all around the world. The controversial new Health and Human Services secretary has suggestions for American parents in the face of a growing measles outbreak. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Wrote an opinion piece on Fox News website where he called the outbreak a call to action. Kennedy has long been skeptical of vaccines, but in this message, the as head of the HHS department, he said clearly the measles shot protects people. And while he still called the decision on whether to get the vaccine personal, saying parents should talk with healthcare providers about their options, he pointed out that the impact is more widespread since vaccines not only protect individual kids, but also people who cannot get the shot for medical reasons, including young babies. Kennedy also said he directed the CDC and another federal health agency to offer support in Texas, where the number of confirmed cases has now reached at least 146. In the past, Kennedy has linked the measles, mumps and rubella shots to autism and questioned their safety. But research has found the MMR vaccine is safe and 97% effective against an otherwise incredibly contagious and sometimes deadly disease. The CDC has continued to recommend the vaccine. The co founder of the WWE is now leading the Department of Education. The Senate confirmed Linda McMahon in a party line vote, and with that, 20 of President Trump's 22 cabinet picks have gotten final approval. McMahon is in an interesting position, though, since the president said last month he wants her to put herself out of a job. Specifically, he wants to dismantle the department, giving states more power over education. Already, the department has offered most of its employees a buyout, and the cost cutters at Doge say they've gotten rid of $881 million in education contracts. But actually getting rid of the Education Department for good would take an act of Congress. So for now, McMahon has plenty of work to do. Among the priorities she spoke about during her confirmation hearing getting rid of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, cracking down on anti Semitism on college campuses and keeping transgender athletes from competing on women's sports teams. Serena Williams may have already changed women's tennis forever, but now she has her sights set on basketball. Williams decided to become a part owner of the newest WNBA team. It's actually the first Canadian WNBA team too. The Toronto Tempo and Williams influence will go beyond money. The team says she'll help design jerseys and find collaborators for team Merch. Plus she wants to prop up the Tempo players. Williams put out a statement saying, quote, this moment is not just about basketball, it's about showcasing the true value and potential of female athletes. The Tempo will play its first season starting next year. That's it for the main news today. So now it's time for Trivia Tuesday when we ask a different trivia question every week. But first thanks to our sponsor Wild Grain. Wild Grain is the first bake from frozen subscription box for artisanal breads, pastries and pastas. Wildgreen's boxes are fully customizable to your taste and dietary restrictions, so they even have a gluten free box and a plant based box. But best of all, they take the hassle out of baking since all the items bake from frozen in just 25 minutes or less with no mess or cleanup. For example, I threw a loaf of sourdough bread from Wild Grain in the oven the other night while I made some broccoli cheddar soup. And the bread was ready so quickly and so easily and it made the meal 10 times better. It was high quality, fresh, delicious bread and it was absolute hit with my family. So are you ready to bring all your favorite carbs right to your doorstep? Be sure to check out Wild Grain so you can begin building your own box of artisanal breads, pastas and pastries. And for a limited time, Wildgreen is offering our listeners $30 off the first box plus free croissants in every box. I love these croissants. When you go to wildgrain.com newsworthy to start your subscription, you heard me. Free croissants in every box and $30 off your first box when you go to wildgrain.comnewsworthy, that's wildgrain.comnewsworthy. or you can use the promo code Newsworthy at checkout. Okay, now back to Trivia Tuesday and today's trivia question is what was the most expensive movie to make? As for last week's trivia question, which president's dog had a seat at Cabinet meetings? The answer is Warren G. Harding's dog, Lottie Boy. Lottie was actually a fixture in the Harding White House. The terrier also greeted official delegations, appeared at charity events with the first lady, and hosted the 1923 White House Easter Egg Roll when the Hardings were away. In fact, newspapers seem to run stories about Laddie almost every day. But he's not the only famous dog to have lived in the White House. Almost every American president has kept pets while in office, and many of the animals got fans of their own through public events, children's books, and official portraits and cards. Only three presidents have not had James K. Polk, Andrew Johnson, and Donald Trump. Thank you so much for joining us and getting caught up on the news today. You can further support our work here and get access to ad free episodes by becoming a newsworthy insider. You can even start your free tr@thenewsworthy.com Insider and Wondery plus subscribers can listen to episodes of the newsworthy ad free in the Wondery app. We'll be back tomorrow with the latest news to know. Until then, have a great day.