Takeaways from the week — and how they've affected President Trump's polling numbers

This week, President Trump seemed to take a softer tone when asked about the trade war with China. Here are four takeaways from week 14 in our continued look at Trump's first 100 days in office.

Meet the man Trump trusts for some of his toughest international talks

President Trump is looking to Steve Witkoff, a old friend, for help negotiating the thorniest foreign policy issues in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran.

NATO Secretary General speaks with NPR ahead of U.S. meetings

NPR's Michel Martin speaks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte about U.S. involvement in major international conflicts under the Trump administration.

Federal agencies are reeling from Trump administration cuts to government

Whether a "chainsaw," per Elon Musk, or "scalpel," as President Trump has said — the Trump administration is making deep cuts to the federal government within its first 100 days.

And Trump has appointed personal allies with little experience in government to key cabinet positions.

For the civil servants working to enact the missions of these government agencies, that's often meant another word: "chaos."

NPR correspondents Tom Bowman, Michele Kelemen and Selena Simmons-Duffin recap what they are hearing from federal workers at the Departments of Defense, State, and Health and Human Services.

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New senior staff announced as White House looks to 'right the ship' at the Pentagon

The defense department has announced new senior level positions after recent firings and resignations. But with Pentagon head Pete Hegseth under fire for missteps, the way ahead is still unclear.

Luigi Mangione's case marks a shift in politics of the death penalty in the U.S.

Over the last half-century, the political leanings of the Supreme Court, Congress, and the presidency contributed to dramatically different approaches to the federal death penalty.

Fired, rehired, and fired again: Some federal workers find they're suddenly uninsured

Commerce Department employees caught up in a legal battle over their mass firings are now learning that their health care coverage was cut off weeks ago, even though they were paying their premiums.

The U.S. takes a step toward allowing mining on the ocean floor, a fragile ecosystem

President Trump signed an order Thursday aimed at making it easier for companies to mine the ocean floor. Scientists and environmental groups say it could harm a fragile ecosystem.

4 takeaways from the week — from a softer approach on trade to Hegseth in hot water

After much volatility because of Trump's trade war, the stock markets responded positively to a softened tone toward both China and the Fed chair. This, plus four more takeaways from this week.

They say they want Americans to have more babies. What's beneath the surface?

Pronatalists believe that modern culture has failed to adequately prioritize the value of nuclear families and making lots of babies. They see powerful potential allies in Elon Musk and JD Vance.