Here’s your podcast-friendly summary of: “Trump’s Drastic Tariff Turnaround, and Green Card Holders on Edge”

Summary:

In today’s whirlwind episode of “The Headlines,” the spotlight is on Trump’s surprising pivot on tariffs and a growing wave of anxiety sweeping America’s immigrant population. Former President Trump, once famously bullish on steep global tariffs, has now made a tactical U-turn—hinting at selective trade openings that could ease pressure on U.S. businesses, especially car manufacturers and retailers hit hardest by rising import costs. Meanwhile, on the immigration front, permanent residents—green card holders—are increasingly afraid as stepped-up deportation efforts seem to target not just undocumented immigrants but also lawful entrants ensnared by new enforcement policies. The emotional centerpiece of the episode? A heartbreaking story of “Where’s Alex?”—a beloved eldercare worker suddenly detained without explanation. Buckle up—it's geopolitical whiplash and personal heartbreak in under 10 minutes.

Key Points:

• Trump does a tariff 180: Once a vocal advocate of blanket global tariffs, Trump is now signaling a more "surgical" strategy, likely to toe the line between nationalist rhetoric and economic pragmatism.

• According to Ben Casselman of The New York Times, “There’s now a growing recognition inside the Trump campaign that coast-to-coast tariffs could backfire, especially in battleground states where consumer goods cost spikes would be deeply felt.”

• Car companies and consumer electronics retailers have reportedly lobbied for relief, leading to carve-outs or exemptions for “essential sectors.”

• On immigration, green card holders are no longer feeling secure. Trump’s escalated immigration enforcement plan has started pulling in legal U.S. residents—some of whom have lived and worked in America for decades.

• Case in point: “Alex,” a long-time eldercare worker in California, vanished into ICE custody amid a government sweep targeting immigrants with old administrative issues—reviving a chilling message for immigrants: even legal status offers no guarantee of safety.

• The National Registry of Recorded Sound added several new entries, including the Windows 95 startup chime and tracks from “Hamilton,” serving up a rare moment of levity amid the political storm.

• The episode reflects a larger 2025 trend: the blurring of lines between policy and personal lives—from tariffs in trade talks to trauma in immigrant families.

That’s today’s political remix: economic strategizing at the highest level and human consequences playing out in real time. Keep tuning in for more, and as always, let us know your thoughts at theheadlines@nytimes.com.
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