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Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all. On the web at theschmidt.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump has announced massive new tariffs on Chinese goods.
The new import taxes are in response to new restrictions China placed on rare earth materials this week. Trump made the announcement today on social media after markets closed. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more.
Trump wrote that new 100% tariffs will be imposed on Chinese goods starting on November 1st. That's in addition to the 30% tariffs Trump has already imposed on Chinese goods this year. The president had threatened the higher tariffs earlier in the day in another post railing against China's new export controls on rare earth minerals.
Those are used in many high-tech goods, including smartphones and defense systems. China processes the overwhelming majority of the world's rare earths. Trump had been set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to Asia later this month. However, Trump also wrote Friday that, quote, now there seems to be no reason to do so. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.
Stocks had been heading for a slight gain this morning until Trump took to social media and said he was considering the, quote, massive increase of tariffs on Chinese goods. By the end of the day, the S&P 500 sank 2.7 percent in its worst day since April, and the Nasdaq composite fell 3.6 percent. The Trump administration says that, quote, substantial layoffs to federal workers have begun.
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Chapter 2: What new tariffs did President Trump announce on Chinese goods?
It's not clear yet how many agencies are affected or how many employees are receiving these reduction in force or RIF notices. NPR's Stephen Fowler has more.
Some agencies are telling employees layoffs will come soon. Others, like the Department of Health and Human Services, have already notified affected staff. The Trump administration blames Democrats and the shutdown for ordering the reductions, but firing federal workers has been a priority of the president since he took office in January.
The layoffs come as some agencies, before the shutdown, were hiring back workers because they couldn't perform basic tasks or carry out Trump's agenda.
Stephen Fowler, NPR News. An explosion at a military munitions plant has officials in Tennessee searching for 19 missing people. They've confirmed multiple fatalities and are sifting through rubble at the facility owned by Accurate Energetic Systems. Tony Gonzalez of member station WPLN reports.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis choked up at a press conference, calling the wreckage the most devastation he's seen in his 30-year career. He says that understanding what caused the blast will take time.
Do I see a short-term explanation? No. Do I see us being here for many days? Yes, I do see that.
The powerful explosion at the plant southwest of Nashville obliterated one building and could be felt as far as 40 miles away. Neighbors say they have grown accustomed to smaller test blasts, but knew immediately that this explosion was something different. The company, AES, handles explosive products for the military, demolition firms, and the aerospace industry.
For NPR News, I'm Tony Gonzalez in Nashville.
This is NPR. First Lady Melania Trump says eight children displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war have been reunited with their families. She says she had her husband hand deliver a letter to Russian President Putin, who, when the two leaders met in Alaska, Putin's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in Russia taking Ukrainian children out of their country so they can be raised as Russian.
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