The “Up First” newsletter provided readers with a roundup of significant news on Friday. It was reported that the Trump administration announced a major exemption for mobile phones, computers, and other electronics from extensive global tariffs. These updated guidelines were announced for President Trump’s tariffs, impacting multiple countries, including China, where tariffs are currently at 145%.
A photo by Ng Han Guan/AP depicted a man using his phone at a Huawei booth during the China International Semiconductor Expo in Beijing in November 2024. According to NPR’s John Ruwitch, electronics make up about 25% of China’s exports to the United States. China’s commerce ministry expressed that lifting tariffs on these products marked a preliminary step towards rectifying the mistake of reciprocal tariffs. However, President Trump intends to group electronics with semiconductors in a separate tariff, expected to be announced soon, in an effort to bring supply chains back to the U.S. John Ruwitch highlighted that President Trump anticipates a call from Chinese leader Xi Jinping, although such an approach is not typical of China’s operations.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele was scheduled to meet with President Trump at the White House. Bukele, who refers to himself as the “world’s coolest dictator,” faced criticism from human rights organizations for incarcerating thousands of individuals without due process. The Trump administration had provided $6 million to El Salvador to detain hundreds labeled as gang members who were deported from the United States, with these deportations currently under legal scrutiny. Freelance reporter Manuel Rueda suggested that the meeting might explore further partnership expansions, including potentially housing some U.S. prisoners in El Salvador. Bukele’s state of emergency declaration in 2022, allowing police to detain alleged gang members without due process, remains active, raising concerns for deportees facing similar treatment as local prisoners.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) began its antitrust trial against Meta. This case marks Meta’s most prominent legal challenge, scrutinizing whether the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp in 2012 and 2014 breached competition laws. The FTC aims to dismantle Instagram and WhatsApp, promoting competition among smaller social media platforms. Meta argued that the acquisitions were previously approved by regulators and contested the notion of reversing those transactions now.
Under the “Living Better” section, NPR emphasized strategies to avoid dependency on phones for short-term stress relief. Alternatives included pausing before indulging in social media, incorporating physical activities, appreciating the joys of movement, and diversifying daily routines.
In the “Picture Show” segment, the U.S. Naval Academy’s croquet team triumphed over St. John’s College in the annual Annapolis Cup. Thousands attended the event, which has been a tradition since the 1980s.
Lastly, three notable events included Rory McIlroy’s victory at the 2025 Masters, making him the sixth golfer to achieve a career Grand Slam; an Australian art installation utilizing biological matter to recreate music by late composer Alvin Lucier; and the passing of Nobel Prize laureate Mario Vargas Llosa at 89.
The newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
