Up First from NPR American Voices on Trump
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Sep 28, 2025 Debbie Elliott, an NPR reporter focused on Southern communities, and Kirk Sigler, who covers the West and rural resource issues, dive into the real impacts of Trump's policy changes. They explore how tariffs affect Tupelo manufacturers and create uncertainty for New Mexico's oilfields. Wheat farmers in Washington voice their frustrations over volatile trade, while concerns rise over DEI rollbacks in Alabama. Kirk highlights morale struggles among Forest Service workers due to cuts, revealing a nuanced portrait of everyday Americans navigating political shifts.
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Manufacturing Confidence In Tupelo
- At Hawkeye Industries CEO Brian Hawkins showed off a million-dollar laser cutter and said business was as busy as ever while hiring staff.
- Hawkins expects to pass a roughly 5% tariff-driven cost increase to customers and believes the pain will be short-lived.
Patience With Policy Changes
- Local leaders in Tupelo say people will tolerate short-term uncertainty expecting manufacturing to return.
- They view tariffs and disruption as temporary steps toward reshoring and better long-term business climate.
Tariff Pain In Oil Fields
- In New Mexico oilfields, Sean Dugan described rising pipe costs from $80k to $120k because many pipes come from Korea.
- He said tariff uncertainty forces him to 'check the tariff rate' daily and disrupts planning.