Asma Khalid
Appearances
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
Days before the 2024 election, speaking to an electrified crowd at Madison Square Garden, President Trump made a promise.
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
Meanwhile, agents were also targeting migrants the Trump administration alleged were gang members. One man from Maryland, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, was deported to a prison in El Salvador. Despite the fact that an immigration judge had already ruled he could not be deported to El Salvador because he might face torture in his home country.
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
During this campaign speech, Trump railed against immigrants who come to the United States illegally, whom he described as criminals and gang members.
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
Simon Sandoval-Moschenberg, a lawyer for Abrego Garcia, says that even though the administration admits deporting him to El Salvador was a mistake, they're not taking action to bring him back to the United States.
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
But now, in fact, a judge has ruled that the Trump administration must take immediate steps to return Abrego Garcia by Monday at 11.59 p.m. Deportation in the United States usually involves a long, complicated legal process. But as Trump makes good on his campaign promises, immigrant rights advocates are worried he's steamrolling due process and First Amendment rights. Consider this.
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
As the Trump administration expands the number and scope of deportations, what does that mean in practice? From NPR, I'm Asma Khalid.
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
It's Consider This from NPR. Deportation is a complicated process with lots of layers. We are going to try to unpack some of those layers and understand it a bit better with NPR's Ximena Bustillo. She covers immigration policy and she joins us now in the studio. Welcome to the show.
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
So you have been reporting on immigration for the last several months, and you've boiled down this deportation process into a number of different steps to help us understand how I would say a somewhat wonky process works. So what did you find?
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
And just hours after his inauguration, the president signed a flurry of sweeping executive orders declaring a national emergency at the southern border, suspending refugee resettlement, ending asylum programs, and expanding the pool of people who could be deported.
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
Got it. So let's start with the first step you just mentioned. What does it mean to be identified as deportable?
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
So, Ximena, once someone is identified, then how does the government find them?
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
OK, so Ximena, from there you enter into a court system. And I want you to help us understand how immigration courts differ than other courts in our American legal system.
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
I have a question here, though. I mean, it seems like this court process you are describing is not actually what we have seen unfold with some of the high profile cases that we've been hearing about since President Trump took office.
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
OK, so let's get back to the process that you were describing. And I want to ask you about the final two steps. Say you potentially get a final removal order and then you are removed. How does that actually happen? How does that work?
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
In March, federal immigration agents also began arresting people involved with pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses. One of them was Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student and green card holder. His wife, Noor Abdullah, filmed his arrest as agents who refused to give their names handcuffed him and put him in an unmarked car. Yeah, they just like handcuffed him and took him.
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
So, Jimena, what you have described seems like an incredibly lengthy process, perhaps a rather costly process as well. And yet it is something that President Trump campaigned on. He promised to bring about the largest deportation in American history. So how is what he promised during the campaign actually unfolding in these first few months?
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
All right. Well, thank you very much for your reporting. Thank you. That's NPR's Ximena Bustillo. This episode was produced by Avery Keatley, Ale Marquez-Honce, and Jeffrey Pierre. It was edited by Christopher Intagliata and Anna Yukonanov. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigan. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Asma Khalid.
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
I don't know what to do. Shh. Abdullah told NPR it took 38 hours for her to find out where her husband had been sent. I think that's probably the most terrifying thing that has ever happened to me. Within weeks, masked ICE agents arrested another graduate student.
Consider This from NPR
How Deportations Work
Rumeysa Ozturk was studying at Tufts University on a valid visa and had co-written an op-ed criticizing the university's response to the war in Gaza. In this video provided by freelance journalist Daniel Bogoslaw, you can hear a bystander questioning the agents.
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The video game industry at a crossroads
You're walking down a city street. You turn a corner and you're swarmed by zombies. You fight them off with a folding chair. Explosions rattle the street around you.
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The video game industry at a crossroads
It's Consider This from NPR. Every year, tens of thousands of video game insiders gather in San Francisco for the Game Developers Conference. New games are demoed, programmers hold tutorials, awards are given, and the big existential questions about the industry are debated. In other words, paradise for a video game journalist like Vincent Accovino, who recently covered the conference for NPR.
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The video game industry at a crossroads
That's Vincent Accovino, All Things Considered producer who covers video games for the show. This game is called Beatdown City Survivors and it'll be released later this year.
Consider This from NPR
The video game industry at a crossroads
He sat down with All Things Considered co-host Scott Detrow to unpack some of those big existential questions, starting with the tension between the huge game developers and the small independent studios like the one that made Beatdown City Survivors.
Consider This from NPR
The video game industry at a crossroads
The game might look retro, but it says a lot about this current moment in video game development. The video game industry is massive, probably way bigger than most people think. It brought in around $187 billion in revenue last year, which is more than the film and music industries combined. Much of that money was made by big developers creating big games.
Consider This from NPR
The video game industry at a crossroads
But more and more small independent studios are disrupting the space. Studios like New Challenger, which is making Beatdown City Survivors.
Consider This from NPR
The video game industry at a crossroads
That was NPR's Vincent Accovino chatting with All Things Considered co-host Scott Detrow. This episode was produced by Noah Caldwell and edited by Adam Rainey and Courtney Dorning. Our executive producer is Sammy Yannickin. It's Consider This from NPR. I'm Asma Khalid.
Consider This from NPR
The video game industry at a crossroads
Consider this. The video game industry is facing a host of issues. Massive layoffs, the advent of AI, games that take years to be released, and that schism between big and small developers. Today, for our Weekly Reporter's Notebook series, Vincent Accovino takes us inside this evolving world. From NPR, I'm Asma Khalid.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-25-2025 8PM EST
The president intends to roll out a new immigration program in about two weeks. He calls it a gold card that is akin to a green card for people with a lot of money.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-25-2025 8PM EST
The president said he could envision selling a million or more of these cards to raise revenue. This new measure would effectively replace the EB-5 immigrant investor visa, which allows foreigners to gain residency in the United States if they create American jobs and businesses. Asma Khalid, NPR News, the White House.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-19-2025 2PM EDT
After Trump spoke with Russia's Vladimir Putin, Moscow agreed to stop strikes on energy infrastructure. But Zelensky says that even after that agreement, Russian drones hit energy targets and two hospitals. Asma Khalid, NPR News.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-19-2025 2PM EDT
This all comes as Trump tries to broker a truce. He wants to end this now three-year war. The president posted on social media that he had a, quote, very good telephone call with Zelensky and said much of their discussion was based on the conversation he had Tuesday with Russia's leader. Trump says he's trying to align Ukraine and Russia's requests and needs.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-25-2025 6PM EST
The Trump administration is launching an investigation into whether imports of copper pose a risk to American national security. It's using the same legal justification it's used for steel and aluminum tariffs. The White House did not specify how quickly the investigation would happen or what the potential tariff rate might be. Copper is key for emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-25-2025 6PM EST
A White House official speaking on the condition of anonymity ahead of the announcement told reporters that China has been flooding world markets with subsidized copper, but the top copper producers in the world are actually Chile and Peru. Asma Khalid, NPR News, the White House.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-18-2025 3PM EDT
This news follows a highly anticipated phone call between Trump and his Russian counterpart as the American president tries to broker a truce. This is the first conversation Trump has had with Putin since Ukraine agreed last week to a month-long ceasefire. Trump would like Russia to agree to that pause as well, with the goal ultimately to reach an end to the war in Ukraine.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-18-2025 3PM EDT
According to the White House, Trump and Putin agreed any move toward peace will begin with a, quote, energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as negotiations on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea. And talks to do this will begin in the Middle East. Asma Khalid, NPR News, the White House.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 01-15-2025 7PM EST
Biden says this was one of the toughest negotiations he's ever experienced. The deal largely holds to the framework, he says, that he outlined back in May, but it was reached in Biden's final days in office. The White House says it worked closely with the incoming administration, specifically Donald Trump's Middle East envoy.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 01-15-2025 7PM EST
Trump is taking credit for the deal, posting on social media that it only happened as a result of his, quote, historic victory in November.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-06-2025 2PM EST
The president spoke about the need to bring religion back, and he specifically talked about plans for a task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-06-2025 2PM EST
Trump said the aim is to stop anti-Christian discrimination within the federal government.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 02-06-2025 2PM EST
Trump also announced plans for a new presidential commission on religious liberty, but did not specify how that would protect religious minorities. Asma Khalid, NPR News.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 10-27-2024 5PM EDT
This is the central part of Harris' closing argument. She's trying to create a clear contrast with Trump, and she'll try to make that case today as she campaigns in Black and Latino neighborhoods across Philly. Asma Khalid, NPR News, Philadelphia.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 01-25-2025 8PM EST
Trump first floated the idea of no taxes on tips in this same city last June during a campaign rally. And he credits it with helping him win the key state of Nevada in the presidential election. The president said that in the coming weeks, he'll be working with Congress to get a bill to change the tax policies. Your tips will be 100% yours.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 01-25-2025 8PM EST
A president cannot unilaterally change the tax code, but large portions of this sweeping 2017 tax law are set to expire at the end of 2025. And the president said tax cuts are at the top of his legislative agenda.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-01-2025 3AM EST
Trump accused Ukraine's president of being disrespectful and unthankful for American support. The meeting became so heated that Zelensky left the White House earlier than expected. Zelensky was in town to finalize a deal that would give the U.S. access to Ukrainian minerals. But that deal was not signed. And Trump later told reporters that Zelensky does not want to make peace.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-01-2025 3AM EST
But after Zelensky left the White House, he did an interview with Fox News' Brett Baier and insisted he does.
NPR News Now
NPR News: 03-01-2025 3AM EST
But he also repeatedly made it clear he wants security guarantees from the U.S. so that Russia will not re-invade Ukraine. Asma Khalid, NPR News, the White House.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
But she also acknowledged that there are reasons why people are supporting Trump. And she said at one point that she recognizes that Americans want change and there's a responsible way to do that and there's a reckless way to do that. Right.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
And so I think that multiple times you heard her acknowledge this underlying desire for change, but point out that the way Trump is going about doing this is just not responsible. And you also heard her single out Elon Musk. And I believe she called his gang of 20 year olds who are going through the system to trim, you know, and slash the federal government.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
And she also talked about her own personal background of somebody who had worked under both the Bush administration and the Obama administration. And I think to me that was an appeal to reach out to folks who may feel somewhat politically homeless in this moment.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
It also struck me that Democrats are really struggling in this moment with just how to articulate a response to President Trump. After he was escorted out of the chamber, he made a stop at the White House traveling press hold. And we got a pool note saying that he was explicitly yelling no mandate because he was referring to the no mandates to cut Medicaid.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
And he said it's worth letting people know that there were some folks willing to stand up for that issue. Again, it's pointing to the fact that, you know, Democrats in the chamber, outside the We're all trying to figure out the best way to show opposition in this moment. I don't think they've come to any agreement on how to do that.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
I think what stood out to me was that oftentimes this first joint address to Congress for a new president is about laying out an agenda. Now keep in mind Donald Trump is not entirely a new president but he's done a lot in the six weeks he's been in office and he went through all of that. He's frozen foreign aid. He's withdrawn from the World Health Organization.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
He's made English an official language. But my point in laying all this out is that he's done a lot. And so a lot of this speech was actually articulating some of the things he's done. And he leaned heavily into the culture war issues. You saw this with his focus on trans issues, his focus on immigration and the border. These are places he feels really comfortable.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
But what we did not hear much of in this speech, and it sort of surprised me, was his plan to tackle inflation and high prices. Trump has said that he won this election because of two main issues, the border and high grocery prices. He talked a lot about the border. We did not hear a whole lot about his plan to deal with grocery prices.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
He sees tariffs as a sort of revenue cure-all, right? He sees it as the possible solution for so many things. And one of the things that I was struck by is his recollection of how tariffs worked the first time around, right? I mean, he put in place massive tariffs on over $300 billion worth of goods coming in from China.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
Most economists will say that didn't really lead to any net positive gains for the U.S. economy. In fact, it actually hurt many consumers who ended up eating up those tariffs, right? And economists will say it's often like a tax on American consumers.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
Yeah. And I do think, you know, to me, that is a recognition also that there are certainly some folks, even within his own Republican Party, who have hesitation about the efficacy of tariffs. But, you know, again, I would say that like this is a broad strategy, not just he's talking about tariffs on China. He's put in place tariffs on Canada and Mexico.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
These are amongst the United States largest trading partners. He's talked about tariffs on all steel and aluminum. Another batch of tariffs coming in April where he says these are reciprocal tariffs. Meaning if a country tariffs the U.S. at a certain rate, he intends to tariff them back at a certain rate. This is a huge sort of multipurpose tool that he feels can be used for so many things.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
And the question I've had is like how much of this is really about an economic revenue adjuster or is this really just a political negotiation tactic?
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
Look, immigration has long been, I would argue, Donald Trump's favorite political issue. It is a place he feels very comfortable speaking of. And he talks about the fact that he won in part, major part, because of the border. And it is true that encounters at the border have decreased rather substantially, I believe, over the last month. So this is a place where he can point to a political win.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
Thank you very much. And, you know, part of when you look at who's the guest that a president often invites, it's about humanizing and giving a human face to a president's top priorities. And this is a place which he feels very comfortable on. It is a place in which he believes he can point to actual like data wins and showing that there have been drops and encounters at the border.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
I mean, what struck me about the comments was just how little new there was to say about Ukraine. You know, I was at the White House on Friday. President Trump, this Trump administration wanted to sign a mineral deal with Ukraine. They see that as part of a broader plan to end the war with Russia.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump Defends Agenda In Combative Address
He was not here delivering sort of a grand vision of peace when it comes to Ukraine and Russia, because that's not what he has on his hands. I mean, he he said that Zelensky seems open to some sorts of negotiation and referenced a letter that he has received from from Ukraine's president. But really substantively, there wasn't a whole lot new about Ukraine.
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
Yeah. Jackie, I want to ask you about that, because there was a lot of back and forth a couple of weeks ago where Trump threatened, you know, widespread tariffs on Canadian goods that would come into the United States. And I recall Justin Trudeau said, well, then Canada will retaliate.
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
Eastern Time on Tuesday, February 11th of 2025.
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
So these broad tariffs that Jackie was describing, as she mentioned, they are suspended for now. They could come back. Right. We don't really know what's going to happen on those across the board tariffs. But to me, this is interesting because Canada is a longtime ally of the United States. I mean, the countries share the largest undefended border in the world.
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
And so by acting this way toward a major ally, it seems like President Trump is signaling that foreign policy is just a far more transactional process for him than it has been in previous administrations.
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
I'm cold just listening to that. Hey there, it's the NPR Politics Podcast. I'm Asma Khalid. I cover the White House. And I'm Susan Davis. I cover politics. And today on the show, Trump tariffs are back.
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
Jackie, there's one thing, though, that Sue just said I want to ask you about, and that is the idea that the initial overture from Trump around broad-based sweeping tariffs, that it worked in eliciting some sort of response from Canada. From your vantage point, from your conversations with the people and politicians in Canada, did it work?
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
Sue, given that ill will that Jackie has described, what is the off-ramp here? I mean, these two countries, Canada and the United States, have economies that are deeply intertwined. Is there an off-ramp here?
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
Well, Jackie Northam, thank you so much for bringing your reporting to us.
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
Yesterday, the president announced 25 percent tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports. Every country, no exceptions, no exclusions, even for our neighbors, Canada and Mexico. And this all comes after Trump had threatened and then pulled back from sweeping tariffs on Canada and Mexico. So today on the show, we want to hear how our neighbors are reacting.
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
And we're going to take a quick break. And when we get back, we'll have more on the reaction from our neighbor to the south, Mexico. And we're back. And we're joined now by our colleague, Eder Peralta, who covers Mexico for NPR. Hey there, Eder.
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
So, Eder, I also want to get the response that you are hearing from Mexico to this latest move from the Trump administration, the 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum.
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
Is that the strategy as well then that Mexico took when President Trump announced the broad sweeping tariffs that were going to go in place on Mexican goods on February 1st? Remember, that was similar to what happened in Canada. He announced these big tariffs. There were some talks and then he pulled back. But was Mexico's reaction similar at that time?
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
And lucky for us, we have got a stellar group of international correspondents that we can call up. And we're going to start up north with NPR correspondent Jackie Northam, who was just in Canada's capital, Ottawa. Hey there, Jackie. Thanks for joining us. Hey, thank you very much for having me. Jackie, how is Canada responding to this latest news from President Trump?
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
Ader, the way that these negotiations were presented to us, those of us who cover the White House, is that President Trump wanted changes from Mexico on immigration and that he got changes on immigration. Did he from Mexico?
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
Sue, do you see these threatened tariffs as a negotiation tactic from the Trump administration?
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
So then, Sue, just like I asked you about the dynamic with Canada, how does this end with Mexico? Is there an off-ramp?
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
All right. Well, we will be keeping an ear out on what develops on the tariff front. But Ader, thank you so much for joining us.
The NPR Politics Podcast
How Canada & Mexico Respond To Trump's Tariffs
And that is a wrap from us today. I'm Asma Khalid. I cover the White House. And I'm Susan Davis. I cover politics. And thank you all, as always, for listening to the NPR Politics Podcast.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
So to me, these tariffs feel a lot more widespread and expansive now. than the tariffs in Trump term one, when you're talking about 25% tariffs across the board on Canada, which at this moment in time as of taping are still in place. There were also 10% tariffs, additional 10% tariffs on China that the Trump administration announced last month.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
Then just this week, they increased that to an additional 10% tariff. So, you know, I've spoken to some manufacturers who say that they are now looking at about a 45% cumulative tariff. imports coming in from China, because I don't know if folks remember, but there were actually tariffs put in place on China during Trump's first term. The Biden administration kept those in place.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
So those are still there. Those are still there. And they're tacking more on. Right. And then on top of that, they have announced plans for across the board, 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports coming into the United States from any country. And then the big headline is on April 2nd. Trump is calling for something called reciprocal tariffs.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
And his basic philosophy here is that this is about fairness. He says that other countries put high tariffs on the United States. And so we as a country ought to tariff those countries back at an equal rate.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
I don't think that the deluge of tariffs should be a particular surprise to a lot of folks because Trump campaigned on tariffs. He famously said that this was the most beautiful word in the dictionary. I think we anticipated this. They have come, though, I will say, with such a degree of speed. I mean, we didn't even mention this, but there's also investigations to possibly add tariffs to tariffs.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
Other specific things like lumber and copper. He's also floated the idea of putting tariffs on semiconductors. So this is an across the board tool. And as Scott was saying, it feels like the White House thinks that this is like a multipurpose Swiss Army knife, right? Like you can pull it out for all sorts of things. And at some point you wonder, well, what is this?
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
Isn't this a negotiation tactic? Is it a political tool? Is it an economic tool? Is it about raising revenue? Is it about immigration? I don't know that we have a clear vision of that. Trump officials have been asked multiple times on different television interviews what this is about.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
And I don't think that they have delivered a clear, concise answer about what these tariffs are actually meant to achieve.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
I mean, as Scott said, he certainly takes a lot of cues from the stock market. But I will say it's sort of broader in terms of their vision on tariffs. I don't see President Trump completely dialing down tariffs entirely. And I would say that for two reasons. One is because, as I mentioned, he campaigned heavily on them and he did keep in place some tariffs.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
I mean, I know there was a lot of trade war tit for tat during his first term, but he did keep in place some tariffs on China. And the second reason I will say is... I think there are like multiple reasons why he is doing this. And one reason you'll hear from the administration is that this is about bringing more jobs back to the United States.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
And I know, Scott, you were talking about that just a minute ago. But, you know, they'll say that this is across the board. You know, President Trump was joined earlier this week at the White House with the CEO of the largest semiconductor chip maker in the world. This is a Taiwanese company, TSMC. And together they announced this $100 billion investment in U.S. factories down in Arizona.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
And, you know, the Trump administration's argument is, hey, look, we were able to achieve this through a threat of tariffs on semiconductors. We didn't use subsidies like that chipsack that former President Biden was touting. They see opportunities for economic investment to occur on the soil of the United States through tariffs.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
And, you know, there are individual companies that they can point to. There certainly are. And Scott, I'm sure you've talked to them, too, that that will say we have benefited from the implementation of these tariffs. I mean, there's a wire company not far from here in Maryland who is really optimistic about these tariffs. They make their products in the United States.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
They rely on American made steel tariffs. And yes, there are individual companies that perhaps have benefited from these tariffs. But I think on the totality, when you look at what happened from 2018, 2019, if we're going to look to the past, most economists would say the tariffs were not a net positive for the United States economy.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
ally and others. I mean, we've seen the political and economic reaction in Canada where we've seen them impose reciprocal tariffs of their own in response to what the Trump administration has put forth. You're also just seeing, I would say, the political culture sort of shift in real time where the United States and Canada have long been close allies and friends.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
And, you know, to the degree that other countries retaliate once these April 2nd big tariffs are announced, we'll have to see. I mean, the Trump administration's argument, and this is true, is that certain countries do have much higher tariff rates on U.S. exports than the other way around. And so that is their argument. They want to level the playing field.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
I do think it's worth pointing out, though, that a batch of tariffs from the Trump administration, the ones that were put on China, were kept in place during the Biden years. Because I think if people just hear this at the outset, I think there's an assumption that tariffs are inherently good or bad.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
And one of the questions I've had is, well, then why did a Republican administration put them in place on China and a Democratic one kept them in place? And I think that this is partly about, like, what is your end goal with the tariffs? And that's what I keep coming back to with the Trump administration. I don't have clarity over what is the end goal.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
You know, if the end goal is to diversify your supply chains away from China, then fine. You've actually achieved that, I would say, to some degree. You have more things maybe being produced in a place like Vietnam.
The NPR Politics Podcast
Trump's Tariff Tumult
But I think the challenge right now is when you have such sweeping tariffs on a whole bunch of countries, including your neighbors who you had a trade deal with, it's really not clear what the end goal is for putting all those tariffs in place.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
The administration says it's giving employees the option to resign, be put on leave, and continue to be paid through September. It's a big move with the goal to shrink the government. The union that represents many federal workers described this effort as a purge of dedicated civil servants, and it does not consider the move voluntary.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
Under this new Trump administration, people in the federal workforce feel like they are being seen as the enemy in a way that they have never been viewed by prior administrations, either Republican or Democrat. And Steve, you know, being a government worker was once seen as a steady, secure job. But right now, federal workers feel like their jobs are very precarious.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
And that is indeed the intention. Trump wants government workers in line with his vision. He campaigned on remaking federal government. He campaigned on reshaping government as a whole. He telegraphed a lot of his decisions, and now he is following through just perhaps more swiftly than expected.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
It was a memo, Steve, that sparked utter chaos and confusion when it was issued by the Office of Management and Budget. It called for a temporary freeze in federal funds, grants, loans, other forms of assistance. It was a sweeping directive with little clarity. And Trump's press secretary, Caroline Leavitt, spent a bulk of the White House press briefing yesterday defending the freeze.
Up First from NPR
Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
What she's referring to there are programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as climate and just general overspending. But the memo was so broad that it was not clear what programs would be affected.
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Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
The White House clarified that direct services like Medicaid, Social Security and food stamps would not be impacted, but also did not articulate if financial assistance that comes through nonprofits, you know, think, for example, of food banks, whether those might be affected.
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Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
Well, Democrats raised alarm bells and accused Trump of violating the Constitution. Nonprofits expressed concern about cuts to services they provide. Diane Yentl is the CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, which represents a network of some 33,000 nonprofits. She says this freeze could lead to catastrophic consequences.
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Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
And so she was amongst a group that filed a legal challenge over Trump's move. And just as this directive was about to go into effect at 5 p.m. yesterday, a federal judge intervened.
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Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
You know, it just allows sort of a bit of breathing room, at least until Monday. That is when a follow-up hearing is planned with more fulsome arguments on the merits of the case. Steve, I will say the courts seem to be really the arena where the fights around Trump's changes will play out.
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Trump Remaking Government, RFK Jr. Confirmation Hearings, US Education Report Card
You know, for example, you're also seeing legal challenges to the birthright citizenship executive order as well.
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Migration and Trade with India, Trump and Putin Chat, Future of Education Department
And so as you notice there, despite the accusations he's making about India on trade, you know, Trump has a really fond relationship with India's leader. He had a very warm personal relationship with him. And Modi quite literally and famously gave Trump a bear hug when they two first met at the White House. And, you know, they're known to have similar populist styles.
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Migration and Trade with India, Trump and Putin Chat, Future of Education Department
They went on to host these joint mega rallies together, first in Texas and then later in India with tenors. tens of thousands of supporters.
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Migration and Trade with India, Trump and Putin Chat, Future of Education Department
Well, trade is certainly the number one priority for the Trump administration in this relationship. The U.S. is in a trade deficit with India. Ahead of this visit, India announced that it was lowering tariffs on motorbikes. And that opens the door for more exports of Harley-Davidson's, which is something that has been important to President Trump.
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Migration and Trade with India, Trump and Putin Chat, Future of Education Department
Lisa Curtis was in Trump's National Security Council during his first term. She told me that Prime Minister Modi understands Trump and he's also offering to increase imports of American oil and gas to avoid a broader fight over trade issues. But she also knows from experience that India is a tough negotiator.
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Migration and Trade with India, Trump and Putin Chat, Future of Education Department
Certainly immigration. Illegal immigration is a big priority for Trump. And according to estimates from the Pew Research Center, the third largest group of people in the United States without legal status are actually Indians. Earlier this month, the Trump administration flew a group of Indians back to India on a military plane, and it caused some domestic political backlash for Modi.
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Migration and Trade with India, Trump and Putin Chat, Future of Education Department
But I would say it's not just illegal immigration. I especially work visas. So I do expect immigration and trade, of course, to be major issues because these are major fixations for President Trump. But other issues, I would say, Michelle, that are likely to come up are technology and defense cooperation.
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Migration and Trade with India, Trump and Putin Chat, Future of Education Department
India has had a very strong bipartisan relationship and bipartisan support over the last several administrations, Republican or Democrat. And we've seen that especially as the United States has worked to counter China's influence in the region. That is NPR's Asma Khalid. Asma, thank you. Nice to speak with you.
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Migration and Trade with India, Trump and Putin Chat, Future of Education Department
Well, the president has been talking a lot about reciprocal tariffs. And, Michel, that's the idea that if a foreign country charges, say, a 20 percent tariff on U.S. imports, then the U.S. ought to slap a 20 percent tariff back on them. Trump was actually talking about this idea even months ago during his campaign last fall. He accused India of being a, quote, big abuser of tariffs. Take a listen.