Trump reaffirms support for tariffs despite stock market losses

Good morning, I'm Craig DeGrelli. It's Friday, April 4th, 2025, and these are your Unbiased

Updates. Tariff fallout. Stocks tumble after President Trump announces across the board

10 percent levies and reciprocal tariffs against more than 180 countries. What the president said

about the market going forward. And a judge now says he may hold the government in contempt of

court over deportation flights to El Salvador. His reason for the potential order and how the

Justice Department is responding. From the Straight Arrow News Studio, bringing the stories

that matter to you from across the United States and around the world. These are today's unbiased

updates. Aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to tariffs

imposed this week, comparing the U.S. economy to somebody who just had surgery, survived the

operation and is now recovering. The president showing optimism despite the Dow Jones industrial

average plunging more than 1,600 points yesterday as U.S. stocks were part of a global sell-off

after he announced reciprocal tariffs against more than 180 countries and territories

It's a sick patient. It went through an operation on Liberation Day. And it's going to be a booming

country, a very booming country. It's going to be amazing, actually. And we see it because we have

trillions of dollars committed to come in, trillions. On Wednesday, the president announced

a 10 percent across-the-board tariff on imports, with the tax rate even higher on products from

countries like China, Japan and Vietnam, as well as members of the European Union

This morning, stock futures are again lower, despite President Trump remarking late yesterday

that the markets are going to, quote, boom. Straight Arrow News business correspondent

Simone del Rosario breaks down the impact President Trump's Liberation Day is having on the markets

Go to san.com for more in-depth ysis. The Trump administration has fired

the head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, according to multiple sources

General Timothy Huff was dismissed while his deputy director Wendy Noble reassigned According to the Washington Post Noble will take a different position in the Pentagon It is not yet clear why Huff was fired but it comes amid a lot of change

in government structure so far in President Donald Trump's new term. U.S. Cyber Command Deputy

Lieutenant General William Hartman has reportedly been named acting NSA director, and Sheila Thomas

who was the executive director at the NSA, is now acting deputy. A federal judge Thursday

temporarily blocked the Trump administration's attempt to cut more than $11 billion in public

health funding to states, as nearly two dozen states and the District of Columbia sued in

order to keep the money flowing. The states are taking legal action against the Department of

Health and Human Services and Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., saying the money is needed for

urgent public health needs, including the monitoring of diseases, vaccines, as well as

mental health and addiction services. The Trump administration contends the end of the COVID-19

pandemic justifies cutting funding, which was first offered to state and local health departments

during the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus. Thursday's hearing was held in front

of Judge Mary McElroy, who was appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who represents one of the states in the lawsuit

wrote on X, she will continue to fight to ensure states can provide the medical services Americans

need. She and Donald Trump have sparred over various lawsuits in the last few years

A federal judge says there's a fair likelihood the Trump administration violated his order to

turn around a pair of planes carrying suspected Venezuelan gang members and says he may hold the

government in contempt of court over the matter. Judge James Boesberg, who blocked the administration's

deportation flights of apparent Trendy Aragua gang members last month, said Thursday the

administration possibly acted in bad faith by not returning the planes to the U.S. Instead

the flights proceeded to El Salvador, where more than 200 Venezuelan nationals are now in a maximum

security prison. Boesburg issued a temporary order halting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act

that the Trump administration was using to deport the suspected illegal immigrants At Thursday hearing the Department of Justice attorney argued the government complied with Bozberg order but did not know who instructed the planes to continue to El Salvador Across the world South Korea constitutional court

has officially ousted and battled President Yoon Suk-yol. The court's unanimous decision

on Friday marks Yoon's formal dismissal from the presidency after Parliament voted to impeach him

in December when he briefly declared martial law. His removal takes effect immediately

meaning he must now leave the presidential residence. There will also be an election

to replace him. Right now, South Korean Prime Minister Han Duke-soo is acting as president

In a separate criminal trial, police arrested Yoon in January on charges of leading an

insurrection. However, he was released in March after a court canceled his arrest warrant

though the charges were not dropped. Finally this morning, It's Final Four weekend in the NCAA basketball tournament

There are just four teams left in the running on both sides. Straight Arrow News sports reporter Chris Francis has a look at the power schools

looking to make history as the women's Final Four tips off tonight

Three number one seeds, including the defending national champions and a team that's won a record 11 national titles

That's the short rundown of the women's Final Four, which tips off Friday in Tampa, Florida

Here's a look at that women's Final Four bracket. The first matchup Friday features two number one seeds that have already met three times this season

SEC rivals Texas and South Carolina will get started at 4 p.m. Eastern Time

The Gamecocks are the defending national champs and have won two of the last three titles

They also beat Texas two out of three times this year, including by 19 points in the SEC championship game just three weeks ago

It was all about defense in that one as South Carolina held Texas to just 29% shooting and dominated the paint, outscoring the Longhorns 40-18 inside

They do a really good job of making you go a little bit deeper into your offense, so you got to make sure that you know what we're doing and it's not just happenstance or chaotic

So it more about that but we not gonna stray too far left or right from the things that we done that were positive that would help us

The nightcap Friday, tipping off about 30 minutes after the first game ends, features the number one overall seed UCLA against the two seed UConn

The Huskies are making a record 24th appearance in the Final Four

They will go as far as superstar Paige Beckers can take them

If she can duplicate her last three tournament games, scoring 31, 40, and 34 points, UConn will be tough to beat

But the Bruins have lost just twice all season, and even though they're making their first Final Four appearance

they are well-balanced with great options outside. They're going to lean, though, on Lauren Betts inside

who is not going to let the pressure get to her. You know, we kind of talked about it in film

Just Coach Shannon brought it up, just enjoying the moment. Obviously, we talked a lot about, you know, media and how there's going to be a lot of things going on

It'll be a little hectic, but like just acknowledging that like we're here at the Final Four and this is a huge deal

And it's a huge accomplishment for this program. And no one knows more about pressure than Beckers, who's been to the Final Four four times in her five-year career

but has yet to win a national title at a school that almost demands it

Once you walk inside the practice facility, you see all the history, all the names, all the banners

It's just motivation. And obviously there's expectations here. And anything less than a national championship is really a disappointment

And as players, that's what you play for and what you want to live up to

Will Beckers grab that elusive title? They are the betting favorites at most sportsbooks

Will South Carolina cement their dynasty with three titles in four years

Or will it be Texas or UCLA? Two wins, and they can cut down the nets

For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis. The men's Final Four is tomorrow, with four number one seeds going head-to-head

Florida takes on Auburn, while Houston faces Duke. Should be some great games this weekend, and I'll be in front of the TV for a lot of it

Those are your unbiased updates for this Friday. We'll see you back here next week. For all of us here at Straight Arrow News, I'm Craig DeGrelly

Have a great day