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Chapter 1: Who are the hosts of Political Breakdown?
Hey, I'm Scott Schaefer.
And I'm Marisa Lagos.
We host Political Breakdown. With the 2024 election over and President Trump in the White House, there's going to be a lot to keep up with this year.
Political Breakdown has got you covered. We'll bring smart analysis, a wide range of voices, and even some laughs.
Join us for Political Breakdown every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from KQED, part of the NPR Network.
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Chapter 2: What changes are happening in federal agencies?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman. Today's a big deadline for federal agencies. They're supposed to turn over their plans for the mass firings of their workforces. NPR's Stephen Fowler reports officials are also expected to say how they'll cut government functions that are considered not required by law.
Phase one of the agency RIF and reorganization plan asks agencies to list jobs and obligations that are essential and encourages them to cut just about everything else. Some, like the Department of Education, have already announced their intention to fire large numbers of employees. through reductions in force that will take effect in a few months.
Phase 2 plans due mid-April asks agencies to ID more ways to cut costs, like moving offices out of Washington, D.C., and axing regulations. Stephen Fowler, NPR News, Atlanta.
Chapter 3: How will the Agriculture Department's budget cuts affect communities?
The Agriculture Department is cutting about $1 billion worth of funding to schools and food banks. The programs let them buy food directly from local farmers and others. This will hit school children's meals as well as people who depend on food banks. Farmers and ranchers who relied on the funding could also be hurt.
The Agriculture Department says the programs don't, quote, effectuate the goals of the agency. The premier of the Canadian province, Ontario, arrives in Washington today. Doug Ford will meet Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. This comes after Ford agreed this week to pause extra fees on the electricity Ontario sells to three U.S. states. Dan Karpenchuk reports.
Chapter 4: What is Ontario's response to U.S. trade tensions?
Ford says he paused the surcharge to let cooler heads prevail. It came after President Trump threatened to bump the 25% on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50%. Ford, along with Canada's finance minister, will meet with Lutnick. He says their message is, quote, let's stop this, it's hurting both economies, and let's move forward on what's needed to negotiate the USMCA.
The USMCA is sometimes called the new NAFTA. It is a North American free trade agreement among the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Iranian leaders have declined to hold new negotiations with the United States over a nuclear deal. NPR's Jackie Northam reports this came after President Trump sent Iranian leaders a letter.
The letter written by President Trump last week was delivered by a diplomat from the United Arab Emirates. Trump said he warned there are two ways to handle Iran, by military force or making a deal. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the offer for talks was a lie and that they know the U.S. wouldn't honor any deal they make, so what's the point of negotiating?
In 2018, Trump pulled out of an earlier nuclear deal that had been hammered out by world powers and then imposed stiff sanctions on the country. Since retaking office, Trump has reinstated the so-called maximum pressure campaign aimed at driving down Iran's oil exports and crippling its economy. Jackie Northam, NPR News.
On Wall Street, Dow futures are flat at this hour. This is NPR. Senate Democratic leaders say they aren't going to support a Republican drafted government spending bill. This boosts the chances of a partial federal government shutdown late tomorrow night. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer wants to push off that deadline for a month. for bipartisan talks on spending.
Today is the fifth anniversary of the police killing of Breonna Taylor in her home in Louisville, Kentucky. Her slaying, along with the murders of other Black Americans, such as George Floyd, sparked protests in 2020. From Louisville Public Media, Roberto Roldan reports, promised reforms in the Louisville Police Department are incomplete.
Louisville Congressman Morgan McGarvey marked the anniversary of Breonna Taylor's killing on the House floor earlier this week.
While we will never forget how Breonna Taylor died, we get to choose to remember how she lived. Breonna was a sister, a daughter, a girlfriend. Breonna was a caregiver working at UofL's emergency room to save lives.
Taylor's death led to calls to ban no-knock warrants. Local officials did just that in 2020, but the Kentucky legislature stopped short of an outright ban. Activists in Louisville are still waiting on comprehensive policing reform. For NPR News, I'm Roberto Roldan in Louisville.
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