Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump has announced a 25% tariff on imports from India starting on Friday. NPR's Tamri-Keeh reports it's the latest in the series of trade measures set to take effect ahead of the administration's August 1st tariff deadline. For weeks,

administration officials have been hinting a trade deal with India was just around the corner.

And Trump starts off his post describing India as a friend. But he goes on to complain that in

addition to having high tariffs, India has, quote, the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary

trade barriers of any country. Another grievance, Trump says India buys the majority of its military

equipment and large quantities of oil from Russia. Trump said there would be penalties for that

in addition to the 25% tariff he's imposing. The rate is barely changed from the one

Trump first said in April on what he called Liberation Day. Tamara Keith, NPR News. Democrats in the

Senate are demanding the release of government records related to the investigation of convicted

sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

NPR's Claudia Gorsales reports it's the latest move ramping up the pressure on Republicans

over the Justice Department's handling of the case.

The effort by Senate Democrats comes the day after President Trump said Epstein, quote,

stole young women who worked at his Mar-a-Lago spa.

When I heard about it, I told them, I said, listen, we don't want you taking our people.

Now, Senate Homeland Security Committee Democrats are invoking the so-called five-member letter law

to force the Justice Department to turn over the Epstein records. The rarely used legal provision allows minority parties to gain access to records, but can

face legal challenges by the majority.

House Republicans are now working to force Epsine's convicted associate, Yelan Maxwell, to testify

under a subpoena.

Claude Rizales and Bairn News.

Fed Chair, Jerome Powell, says the central bank will hold interest rates steady for now.

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