US Economic Outlook, Mexico Tariff Uncertainty, Gaza Hunger And Hostages

Up First from NPR

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🗓️ 4 August 2025

⏱️ 13 minutes

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Summary

New and higher import tariffs are set to take effect this week, but Mexico got a 90 day reprieve, causing uncertainty among companies who rely on cross-border business. Also, President Trump is working to reach a deal to bring Israeli hostages home, as international pressure grows to stop the starvation and bombardment in Gaza.

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Today's episode of Up First was edited by Rafael Nam, Russell Lewis, Hannah Bloch, Janaya Williams and Alice Woelfe. It was produced by Ziad Buchh, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacey Abbott. And our technical director is Carleigh Strange.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Okay, good morning.
0:01.3	I just realized we are both just back from vacation.
0:04.8	It will feel like a distant memory in two days.
0:07.3	How about now?
0:08.8	Right now.
0:10.0	And a couple hours.
0:10.7	Exactly.
0:13.6	A new round of import tariffs is set to take effect this week on goods from countries around the world.
0:19.0	President Trump insists they'll usher in an
0:21.4	economic boom for the U.S., but do the numbers back that up? I'm Michelle Martin. That's Leila Faddle,
0:26.9	and this is up first from NPR News. Mexico is getting a 90-day extension on those tariffs,
0:35.9	but that's not making business owners who rely on cross-border trade feel any better.
0:39.7	They say the uncertainty is paralyzing. How are businesses adapting?
0:43.3	And in Gaza, where images of a starving population under bombardment is increasing pressure for an end to the war,
0:51.0	a ceasefire deal to bring the remaining hostages held by Hamas home and stop the Israeli
0:56.0	offensive still seems far off. Stay with us. We'll give you the news you need to start your day.
1:07.6	It doesn't matter if you're a fan or not. We have to talk about season seven of Love Island USA.
1:14.2	It's a huge indication to me of this kind of generation of people who don't know how to be open and vulnerable.
1:22.3	I'm Brittany Luce, and on this episode of It's Been a Minute, I want to show you how reality TV is getting a little too real by revealing what it's really like to date today.
1:32.6	Listen to the It's Been a Minute podcast today.
1:36.4	A new round of higher tariffs is set to take effect this week.
1:40.6	The Trump administration says those import taxes along along with other policies, will help to
	...

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