NPR Up First – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Who's Been Paying Tariffs, DHS Surveillance Tools, Israel Holds Florida Teen
Air Date: November 8, 2025
Hosts: Ayesha Rascoe, Scott Simon
Key Stories: President Trump’s tariffs and their impact, new DHS surveillance technologies, and a Florida teen facing 20 years in an Israeli prison.

Episode Overview

This episode of NPR's Up First delivers the top news stories to start your day, focusing on three major topics:

1. The impact and future of tariffs imposed under President Trump, especially on U.S. consumers.
2. The Department of Homeland Security's expansion of surveillance tools and technology.
3. The detention of a Palestinian-American teenager from Florida by Israeli authorities and his pending case.

1. The True Cost of Tariffs in the U.S.

Segment Begins: [01:56]

• Discussion Points:

  • President Trump’s tariffs are under scrutiny at the Supreme Court, with big questions about presidential authority and who bears the financial burden.
  • Prices for imported goods (coffee, clothing, furniture) have increased, but only about 20% of the tariff costs have thus far reached consumers.
  • Companies initially shielded consumers through stockpiled inventory and by delaying price hikes, but this is changing.
  • If tariffs remain through next year, average households could see an added yearly burden of $1,600 (Tax Foundation). The Penn Wharton Budget Model estimates an extra $500 for an average household spending $50,000/year.
  • Tariffs are not just driving up prices—companies may also slow hiring or reduce wages, affecting an already weak job market.

• Voter Sentiment and Quotes:

  • Juliana Kim, NPR Reporter:
    “Many Americans are struggling with inflation fatigue.” [04:04]
  • Michelle Florio, New Jersey paraprofessional:
    “I have been giving baked goods as gifts for 53 years, and now I don't know. I don't know. I don't know what I'm going to… I'll do some. I certainly won't do as much.” [04:25]
    • She cited cost of living as a reason for voting for a candidate she felt addressed those concerns.

• Tariff Revenue and Domestic Impact:

  • The U.S. Treasury is currently collecting four times as much tariff revenue as last year, amounting to tens of billions of dollars.
  • Increased demand for domestically produced goods is causing their prices to rise as well.
    • Erica York, Tax Foundation analyst:
      “When you demand more domestically produced goods, the prices of those goods rise.” [05:15]
  • The Supreme Court’s upcoming decision could dramatically reduce consumer burden if tariffs are ruled illegal, dropping the average annual household cost from $1,600 to $400.

• Notable Quote:

  • Juliana Kim:
    “Even if the SUPR court rules against the tariffs, York from the Tax foundation says Trump still has other ways to add more.” [05:40]

2. New DHS Surveillance Tools Raise Civil Liberties Concerns

Segment Begins: [06:14]

• Discussion Points:

  • DHS, responding to President Trump’s push for increased deportations, is expanding tech-fueled surveillance.
  • ICE is utilizing new contracts to monitor social media, track locations, and has renewed work with Paragon Solutions, known for spyware that can hack phones.
  • A notable new tool is an app used by ICE and Border Patrol agents to scan faces in the field, aiming to identify individuals and assess deportability.

• How the App Works:

  • Field reports and social media videos show agents using phone cameras to scan faces during street stops (noted outside Chicago).
  • ICE claims this is not new, saying law enforcement has long leveraged technology.

• Oversight and Privacy:

  • Democratic senators are pressing ICE for details and to halt usage, but have not received answers.
    • Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA):
      “This type of on demand surveillance is harrowing and it should put all of us on guard. It chills speech, it erodes privacy. It ultimately undermines our democracy.” [08:37]
  • Critics warn these tools lack adequate legal and regulatory controls for oversight and accountability.
    • Emily Tucker, Georgetown Law Center on Privacy and Technology:
      “Immigration powers are being used to justify mass surveillance of everybody… it’s a mistake to think this doesn’t affect every one of us.” [09:02]
  • Neither ICE nor DHS provided NPR with comments on safeguards.

3. Florida Teen Faces 20 Years in Israeli Prison

Segment Begins: [09:42]

• Background and Details:

  • Mohammed Ibrahim, a Palestinian-American from Florida, was arrested at 15 in the West Bank in February for allegedly throwing stones.
  • He has spent nine months in Israeli prison, barred from family visits or phone calls. US consular officials report deterioration in his health (scabies, significant weight loss).

• Charges and Legal Framework:

  • Ibrahim is charged with two counts of stone throwing—potentially a 20-year sentence for stones thrown at vehicles, per security laws in the West Bank.
  • These laws, invoked after October 7, 2023, are distinct from Israel’s civilian penal code and carry harsher sentences.

• Family and Legal Voices:

  • Muna Ibrahim (Mother):
    “May no mother go through what I went through. We expected like he'll come out within one week, you know, because he's a US Citizen… It's been nearly nine months in Israeli prison.” [10:49]
  • Leah Tsemel, Israeli lawyer (not representing Ibrahim):
    “Even a boy, even a younger boy than this one is considered a security prisoner and will be limited and denied of any right. Including food, real food, including family visits? Hardly. They can see a lawyer here and there.” [13:00]
  • The Israeli military states Ibrahim is afforded due process and a lawyer.

• Court Procedures:

  • Hearings have been described as “Kafkaesque,” with frequent delays and little transparency.
    • Zaher Ibrahim (Father):
      “You wait nine hours, eight hours, seven hours. There's no time. When his court starts and you walk in, they say next court delayed till next month. That's how it's been nine months almost now.” [13:42]
  • The family hopes for his release, possibly in a plea deal—outcomes could be a sentence, a conviction, or more delays.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Michelle Florio (on holiday plans):
  “I'll do some. I certainly won't do as much.” [04:35]
• Erica York (on effects of tariffs):
  “When you demand more domestically produced goods, the prices of those goods rise.” [05:15]
• Sen. Ed Markey (privacy concerns):
  “This type of on demand surveillance is harrowing…chills speech, erodes privacy…it ultimately undermines our democracy.” [08:37]
• Leah Tsemel (on security prisoners):
  “Even a boy, even a younger boy than this one is considered a security prisoner and will be limited and denied of any right.” [13:00]

Key Timestamps

• [01:56] – Tariffs and who pays
• [06:14] – DHS and ICE surveillance expansion
• [09:42] – Mohammed Ibrahim’s detention in Israel

Tone & Style

The episode maintains NPR's signature balanced, explanatory style, with clear concern for the human impact behind policy stories and an emphasis on multiple viewpoints. The tone remains empathetic—particularly in the family interviews—and careful to contextualize news developments within broader social and political debates.