Jack Spear

Stocks gained ground on Wall Street today after President Trump pulled back slightly on some of the administration's tariffs. The Dow was up 485 points. This is NPR. Amid recent reports showing some cooling in terms of consumer sentiment, major retailers are taking a more cautious approach.

Stocks gained ground on Wall Street today after President Trump pulled back slightly on some of the administration's tariffs. The Dow was up 485 points. This is NPR. Amid recent reports showing some cooling in terms of consumer sentiment, major retailers are taking a more cautious approach.

Among those firms ramping down their growth predictions for this year, Abercrombie & Fitch, which is forecasting 3-5% sales growth in 2025 instead of the 16% it saw last year. Some analysts also cite more challenging marketing conditions in general, though. A rising pop star has the new number one album in the U.S. on this week's Billboard charts.

Among those firms ramping down their growth predictions for this year, Abercrombie & Fitch, which is forecasting 3-5% sales growth in 2025 instead of the 16% it saw last year. Some analysts also cite more challenging marketing conditions in general, though. A rising pop star has the new number one album in the U.S. on this week's Billboard charts.

As NPR's Stephen Thompson reports, she knocked out a couple of famously competing megastars.

As NPR's Stephen Thompson reports, she knocked out a couple of famously competing megastars.

New private sector job numbers out today are showing some worrying signs. ADP says private sector employment was up by just 77,000 jobs last month. weaker than expected. Some of the biggest losses were in the trade, transportation, and utility sectors. Jobs rose in the Northeast and Midwest but fell in the South and West. Broader base government employment numbers are due out on Friday.

New private sector job numbers out today are showing some worrying signs. ADP says private sector employment was up by just 77,000 jobs last month. weaker than expected. Some of the biggest losses were in the trade, transportation, and utility sectors. Jobs rose in the Northeast and Midwest but fell in the South and West. Broader base government employment numbers are due out on Friday.

I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.

I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. In a major policy shift, a Hamas official tells NPR the U.S. has held direct talks with the Palestinian militant group in recent months. The White House has confirmed the talks, saying they are ongoing. NPR's Kat Lonsdorff reports it is the first known time the U.S. has engaged directly with a group since designated as a terrorist organization.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. In a major policy shift, a Hamas official tells NPR the U.S. has held direct talks with the Palestinian militant group in recent months. The White House has confirmed the talks, saying they are ongoing. NPR's Kat Lonsdorff reports it is the first known time the U.S. has engaged directly with a group since designated as a terrorist organization.

For laid-off federal workers facing uncertainty, volunteers in Philadelphia put together a job hunting workshop. Andrew Staltzer has more.

For laid-off federal workers facing uncertainty, volunteers in Philadelphia put together a job hunting workshop. Andrew Staltzer has more.

The blockbuster obesity drug Wagovi will now be available to customers online for $499 a month, but to get the discount, patients can't use their health insurance. Here's NPR's Sidney Lupkin.

The blockbuster obesity drug Wagovi will now be available to customers online for $499 a month, but to get the discount, patients can't use their health insurance. Here's NPR's Sidney Lupkin.

You're listening to NPR. Mayors from four major U.S. cities were on Capitol Hill today appearing before members of Congress. The mayors, all Democrats, saying the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers are exaggerating the rates of crime committed by immigrants and attacking so-called sanctuary cities. simply to score political points.

You're listening to NPR. Mayors from four major U.S. cities were on Capitol Hill today appearing before members of Congress. The mayors, all Democrats, saying the Trump administration and Republican lawmakers are exaggerating the rates of crime committed by immigrants and attacking so-called sanctuary cities. simply to score political points.

Mayors Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnston of Chicago, Mike Johnston of Denver, and Eric Adams of New York appeared today before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Butterflies are declining rapidly across the U.S. That's according to research published today in the Journal of Science. It finds butterfly abundance fell by 22 percent between 2000 and 2020.

Mayors Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnston of Chicago, Mike Johnston of Denver, and Eric Adams of New York appeared today before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Butterflies are declining rapidly across the U.S. That's according to research published today in the Journal of Science. It finds butterfly abundance fell by 22 percent between 2000 and 2020.