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Chapter 1: What executive order did President Trump sign regarding copper tariffs?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Trump has signed an executive order today to launch a new probe that could lead to tariffs on copper. NPR's Asma Khalid reports.
Chapter 2: Why is the Trump administration investigating copper imports?
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.
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.
Chapter 3: How is the federal judge responding to Trump's funding freeze?
The federal judge is agreeing to continue blocking President Trump's administration from freezing grants and loans, potentially totaling trillions of dollars. U.S. District Judge Lauren Alley-Hawin today issuing a preliminary injunction requested by groups representing thousands of nonprofits and small businesses.
It's the first such order since the administration announced a sweeping pause on federal aid. The administration rescinded its planned funding freeze after the same judge temporarily blocked it earlier this month. Smoke from wildfires in Los Angeles in January was loaded with lead for several days. That's according to new data published in the Center for Disease Control's weekly update.
Chapter 4: What new data has been published about Los Angeles wildfires?
Here's Alejandro Burundo reports.
Chapter 5: How did wildfire smoke affect health in Los Angeles?
For about two and a half days at the beginning of the fires, the smoke blanketing Los Angeles was even more health damaging than normal wildfire smoke. because it contained much higher levels of lead than normal. So we're talking about an increase of about 110 times, and that is compared to just a few days before the fire. That's Harula Bailaka.
She's a researcher at Caltech and an author of the new analysis. She and colleagues were monitoring the smoke in real time from a sensor site about 14 miles from the Eden fire. She says the lead probably came from paint or pipes in older houses that burned. Long-term lead exposure is associated with health problems like brain and reproductive issues. The spike subsided after a few days.
Alejandra Bonunda, NPR News.
A drop in consumer confidence. Here's Scott Horsley.
A report from the conference board showed the sharpest one-month drop in confidence in three and a half years. The findings echo a similar report from the University of Michigan last week. Both surveys show Americans are concerned about inflation.
A conference board economist says that's partly driven by stubbornly high prices at the supermarket and by the prospect that President Trump's tariff policy could push the cost of living even higher. Trump has already imposed a 10% tax on imports from China, and he's threatening more tariffs on goods from other trading partners, including Mexico and Canada.
Consumers are also feeling more pessimistic about the job market.
This is NPR. The Vatican says Pope Francis remains in critical but stable condition today as he continues to battle double pneumonia. The 88-year-old pontiff was hospitalized last week in Rome where he's undergoing treatment. Vatican officials say the Pope underwent a follow-up CAT scan today but provided no details. Hospital officials say Francis' prognosis remains guarded.
In Los Angeles tonight, Luka Doncic of the L.A. Lakers is set to play against his former team, the Dallas Mavericks, for the first time since his shocking trade. Steve Futterman reports.
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