The Trump administration lacks a clear explanation of its tariffs strategy as global markets show signs of worry. The director of the National Security Agency and his deputy are fired. And scientists believe the key to understanding the evolution of human language can be found in one type of great ape.
Here’s what to know today.
Mixed messages and confusion follow Trump’s tariff rollout
President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs have been met with confusion, uncertainty and fear since his big announcement Wednesday afternoon. The 10% baseline tariff on virtually every country — and higher numbers on countries with which the U.S. has larger trade deficits — now leaves his Republican supporters trying to thread the political needle of not criticizing him while also understanding the economic peril the tariff plan may cause.
So far, Trump’s team has not had a clear message to either explain the strategy behind the tariffs or his thought process behind the decision to go much further than his supporters expected.
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Some elements of the measures raised questions about the process behind their development, including the decision to levy tariffs on uninhabited lands, such as Heard Island and McDonald Islands, which has no human residents.
The White House has said the tariffs were not a negotiating tool, but that notion has been contradicted by Trump’s economic advisers and even Trump himself.
The uncertainty has left global markets in turmoil. Wall Street on Thursday saw its worst day since the depths of the pandemic, with nearly $2 trillion wiped out from the S&P 500. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and tech-heavy Nasdaq didn’t fare well, either. The rout could be read as a harsh early verdict on Trump’s tariff plan. Analysts are increasingly raising alarms about the potential for recession.
But Trump’s most staunch congressional allies are still expressing their support, albeit with caveats. “If they make things better, they should want more,” Sen. John Kennedy said. “If it makes things worse, they should want to recalibrate. If the tariffs end up hurting America, I think you’ll see President Trump recalibrate.”
More tariffs coverage:
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release its latest monthly jobs report today, with forecasts showing 140,000 new jobs in March and the unemployment rate at 4.1%. But the data may take a backseat amid fears over the effects of tariffs.
- The ripple effects of tariffs will be felt the most by lower-income Americans. Here’s why.
- A growing number of Republicans are joining Democrats as they consider ways to rescind existing tariffs while limiting Trump’s ability to impose new ones.
- Stellantis is pausing production at two assembly plants in Canada and Mexico as the company reviews its options after Trump’s 25% tariffs took effect.
Two top NSA officials are fired
The director and the No. 2 official at the National Security Agency were ousted from their positions this week, according to a defense official and three sources with knowledge of the matter, but it wasn’t immediately clear why they were dismissed. Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh was both the director of the NSA and the head of the U.S. Cyber Command. Deputy NSA Director Wendy Noble was the agency’s senior civilian leader. Both are career officials.
Last month, Elon Musk visited the NSA’s headquarters and met with Haugh after Musk had remarked on X that “the NSA needs an overhaul.”
Congressional Democrats criticized the Trump administration over the firings. Rep. Jim Hines, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said the firings “makes us all of us less safe.” Sen. Mark Warner, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Community, called Haugh’s removal “astonishing.” Read the full story here.
More politics coverage:
- Trump fired at least three National Security Council officials this week after far-right activist Laura Loomer expressed dissatisfaction with some people on Trump’s national security team.
- The top internal investigative office at the Pentagon said it would investigate allegations that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used the Signal app to discuss classified information about a U.S. military strike in Yemen.
- An exodus of vaccine regulators at the FDA after last week’s resignation of Dr. Peter Marks, the agency’s top vaccine official, could hobble the FDA’s ability to approve new vaccines and other drugs.
- Trump backed an effort to allow remote voting by House lawmakers who are new parents, directly inserting himself into a matter that Speaker Mike Johnson strongly opposed.
- Funding cuts under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s watch as Health and Human Services secretary are weakening the U.S.’s childhood vaccine system.
- The Trump administration is threatening to pull federal funding from school districts or states if they fail to submit a form asserting they do not have unlawful DEI practices.
Storylines to watch in the women’s Final Four
The women's Final Four is kicking off today in Tampa, Florida. Top-seeded South Carolina will face fellow top seed Texas, and top overall seed UCLA will battle No. 2 Connecticut, which is eyeing its first title since 2016. The winners will face off in the championship game on Sunday. Sports reporters Rohan Nadkarni and Andrew Greif share which players they’re watching closely and title predictions:
🤩 Which star are you most excited to watch?
Nadkarni: Connecticut’s Paige Bueckers. She’s had a roller-coaster collegiate career, essentially having two seasons, one partly and one entirely, ruined by injury. In her senior go-around with the Huskies, she has remained a talented and efficient scorer while also being the playmaker her team desperately needs.
Greif: UCLA’s Lauren Betts. The 6-foot-7 center is the national defensive player of the year because she is able to not only guard post players but also stifle wings. Oh, and she’s putting up 23 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game in the tournament.
🏆 Final Four and title prediction
Nadkarni: Connecticut defeats UCLA 75-70 and South Carolina defeats Texas 60-58 in the Final Four, and Connecticut wins the national championship 71-67 versus South Carolina.
Greif: South Carolina defeats Texas 71-56 and Connecticut defeats UCLA 75-70 in the Final Four, and Connecticut wins the national championship 67-60.
Read the full women’s Final Four and title preview.
Read All About It
- A South Korean court upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, officially throwing him out of office over his botched imposition of martial law and setting the stage for a new presidential election within 60 days.
- Scientists are discovering just how easily microplastics are leaching into food and drinks, with even the brief use of cutting boards, takeout containers and other common items.
- The 14-year-old son of former New York Yankees player Brett Gardner died of carbon monoxide poisoning on vacation in Costa Rica, investigators said.
- Some good news: A 322-pound loggerhead turtle named Lenny is back in the ocean after a photographer and rescue group stepped up to help treat his an injury.
Staff Pick: These animals show signs of complex communication
Bonobos — the closest living genetic relative to humans — make all kinds of interesting noises like hoots, peeps and grunts. In new research, scientists say they’ve discovered that bonobos can combine different vocalizations together in ways that alter each sounds’ individual meanings, allowing the great apes to form more complex phrases in ways that mirror elements of human language. The research challenges the prevailing thought that humans are the only species with this ability, and researchers think further study of bonobos could unlock keys to understanding the mystery of how humans evolved language. — Evan Bush, science reporter
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
The Nintendo Switch 2 was unveiled this week, and it looks to be bigger and faster than its predecessor. NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz dishes on the launch date and new games to expect. Plus, the Select team gets the scoop on mushroom coffee, a low-caffeine alternative to standard coffee and a growing wellness trend.
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