NPR News: 09-28-2026 9AM EDT
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What new tariff reductions did the U.S. and China announce and how will they affect consumers?
Live from NPR News in Washington on Korva Coleman, China and the US have released a list of imports they will reduce tariffs on that are worth thirty billion dollars in each direction. And Pierre's Jennifer Pack reports from Beijing, this follows last week's US visit between President Trump and Chinese President Xi.
President Trump has been imposing rounds of tariffs on Chinese exports in his first and now second term. China retaliated in kind, often targeting Trump's voting base, American farmers. Now they get some reprieve. China's Commerce Ministry says it will lower tariffs on US agricultural products like beef, chicken, almonds, and also on American medical equipment and coal. In exchange, the White House says it will reduce tariffs on Chinese baby products, toys, and decorations, which, if implemented in time, American consumers could see some holiday savings. Jennifer Pack, NPR News, Beijing.
Why has Israel imposed a week‑long closure of West Bank checkpoints and what does it mean for Palestinians?
Israel has imposed a week long closure of its military checkpoints in the occupied West Bank. This further tightens restrictions on Palestinians. It comes as the Israeli military increased its presence in the territory ahead of national
elections next
month.
Month over the weekend, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he instructed the military to impose a quote general closure of the occupied West Bank for the duration of the Jewish holidays, quote. It's not unusual for Israel to impose further restrictions on Palestinians in the West Bank during Jewish holidays for what it says are security concerns. But this comes as Israel has already been significantly building its military presence in the territory. as the election draws closer, and after several recent Palestinian attacks on Israelis, including one that severely wounded the son of Israel's ambassador to the US. Such closures in the West Bank greatly limit the movement of Palestinians trying to go about daily life.
Cuts
to social safety net programs such as Medicaid are kicking in just as voters are grappling with higher prices.
How are recent Medicaid and other social‑safety‑net cuts impacting American voters facing higher prices?
NPR's Mara Lyason
reports. In addition to the social safety net cuts that were in the one big beautiful bill. The White House has told Congress that it plans to cancel an additional eight hundred and ten million dollars in healthcare and educational related programs. In a statement on X, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Republican Susan Collins of Maine, said the move known as a pocket rescission is unlawful. And that the rescind were intended to quote, undermine Congress's constitutional power of the purse. The cuts are hurting people who depend on Medicaid and food assistance. Another reason, along with higher prices at the pump, or seven percent mortgages, that voters say they feel angry and economically stressed.
Mara Lyason, NPR News.
What university AI courses are launching now and how are they addressing public anxiety about artificial intelligence?
Computer chipmaker NVIDIA says it's launched a software platform that could be used to stop AI agents from acting independently without humans' knowledge. You're listening to NPR news. The CEO of AI company Anthropic had dinner last night with President Trump at the White House. Trump had said earlier that he had personally invited Daria Amade to dine with him there. Amade recently wrote a long essay warning of the dangers of unregulated artificial intelligence. A growing number of universities are rolling out courses to help people cope with concerns about artificial intelligence and adapt to the technology. As NPR's Windsor Johnston reports, a new course on AI gets underway this week at Harvard University.
Some people are rushing to try every new AI tool. Others say they want nothing to do with it. Experts say both reactions can be driven by anxiety. Harvard Medical School psychologist Luana Marquez helped develop a new course to address those fears.
I think there's a level of fear of the unknown that makes sense, but we need to be able to train people to adjust. And so that is why we created the course because we have a pressure
cooker that's getting louder and louder. Ohio State is also adding AI skills across its undergraduate curriculum.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What new tariff reductions did the U.S. and China announce and how will they affect consumers?
0:00–0:53
2
Why has Israel imposed a week‑long closure of West Bank checkpoints and what does it mean for Palestinians?
0:53–2:00
3
How are recent Medicaid and other social‑safety‑net cuts impacting American voters facing higher prices?
2:00–2:44
4
What university AI courses are launching now and how are they addressing public anxiety about artificial intelligence?
2:44–4:12
5
When is SpaceX’s Starship expected to reach orbit for the first time and what does the launch signify?
4:12–4:53