This NPR Up First news podcast covers three main stories: the European Union's planned increase in defense spending in response to perceived US unreliability regarding military aid to Ukraine; a temporary reprieve on US tariffs on cars from Canada and Mexico, highlighting lobbying efforts by US automakers; and the reinstatement of nearly 6,000 fired Department of Agriculture workers due to a federal board ruling their dismissals likely illegal. The podcast features interviews with experts and reporters providing on-the-ground perspectives and analysis of these events. For example, the discussion on the EU's defense spending plan includes concerns about the potential for increased debt and the need for public support.
