MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
In this hour, we will be remembering the life of Dick Cheney. The former vice president was politically prominent from the 1970s until his death. We're also following elections on this Tuesday, on this last day of voting across the country today, from New Jersey and Virginia to California. It's just one of several tests President Trump is facing this week. NPR's senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith is with us now to walk us through it. Good morning, Tam.
TAMARA KEITH, BYLINE: Good morning.
MARTIN: So let's start with the gubernatorial elections. How much can be read into the results?
KEITH: Well, New Jersey and Virginia aren't exactly presidential swing states, but these races for governor are a first chance to see how voters are feeling almost a year into the Trump presidency. And President Trump put out several social media posts overnight last night, urging people to vote Republican and bashing the Democratic candidates, Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey. He has endorsed the Republican candidate in New Jersey, Jack Ciattarelli, but Trump hasn't endorsed the Republican candidate in Virginia, Winsome Earle-Sears, which led to some verbal gymnastics during a tele-rally that the president called into last night.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Vote Republican. You know, just - if I just cover one subject - your energy prices will go way down as opposed to your energy prices going through the roof. Just that one subject alone is so big. But every Virginia patriot should get out and vote and all Republican up and down the line. It's so important.
KEITH: The race in New Jersey appears to be closer than the one in Virginia, which may explain why Trump is expending more political capital there.
MARTIN: Talk briefly about California. What does Trump have on the line in that election?
KEITH: Yeah. So California voters are considering a ballot measure to temporarily redraw the state's congressional district lines to give Democrats a bigger advantage. This was a response to the new maps in Texas that came at President Trump's request and gave Republicans more safe seats there. If the California measure passes - and it has overwhelming support in recent polls - it would at least partially offset Trump's effort to give Republicans a better chance in next year's midterm elections, which Trump says is key to keeping his agenda on track.
MARTIN: There's another possible barrier to Trump's agenda this week. The Supreme Court hears arguments tomorrow about Trump's tariff policy.
KEITH: Yeah. And we don't know how they will rule, but - right? - President Trump seems pretty concerned about this tool of raising taxes on imports, to extract concessions from other countries being taken away from him. He has said that it could lead to the ruination of our nation. And here's what he said on "60 Minutes" over the weekend.
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TRUMP: I think our country will be immeasurably hurt. I think our economy will go to hell. Look, because of tariffs, we have the highest stock market we've ever had. Because of tariffs, 401(k) is at the highest level that - and this is millions and millions of people - that we've ever had - 401(k)s. I think it's the most important subject discussed by the Supreme Court in a hundred years.
KEITH: Of course, mainstream economists and many business leaders say the tariffs are driving up prices and creating uncertainty. So it's not clear that the president's dire predictions will come to fruition.
MARTIN: What else are you watching?
KEITH: Well, last night, President Trump turned to Truth Social to criticize the media for saying his poll numbers are low. He claimed falsely that he has the best numbers he has ever had. There's also some political risk for the president, as the government shutdown is about to break a record as the longest one in U.S. history. Polls indicate that, despite the president's best efforts, Democrats are not getting all the blame. Trump so far has refused to negotiate, though there is some movement on the Hill suggesting that the ice might be thawing.
MARTIN: That's NPR's Tamara Keith. Tam, thank you.
KEITH: You're welcome. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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