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Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. President Trump says he asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reduce his country's attacks on Lebanon. Trump said in an interview with NBC News that he made the request in a call yesterday. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more.
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President Trump told NBC that, quote, I spoke with Bibi and he's going to low key it. I just think we have to be sort of a little more low key. After a ceasefire was announced on Tuesday between the US And Iran, Israel continued attacking Lebanon, where the Iran backed group Hezbollah is based. There has been disagreement among the countries involved in the ceasefire as to whether attacks on Lebanon are a part of that agreement. Trump posted on social media late Wednesday night that U.S. military personnel will remain in and around Iran until there's a, quote, real agreement. Vice President J.D. vance will lead a delegation to Pakistan for Saturday peace talks. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.
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The White House energy traffic in the Middle east remains snarled despite a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. NPR's Scott Horsley has more on the ripple effects here at home.
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Crude oil prices rose as a fragile ceasefire between the US And Iran failed to provide much relief for bottleneck tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. AAA says retail gasoline prices showed little change overnight, hovering around $4.16 a gallon. Diesel prices rose about 2 cents a gallon. High gasoline prices are expected to push the government's cost of living measure up when March inflation numbers are released tomorrow. Even before the war, prices were climbing faster than the Federal Reserve would like. The Commerce department says the US economy grew more slowly in the final months of 2025 than earlier reports had indicated. A final tally says GDP grew at an annual rate of just half a percent in October, November and December. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.
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The number of babies born in the US Dropped again last year, according to preliminary data from the CDC. And as NPR's Brian man reports, immigration into the US is also plunging.
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This latest drop means roughly 710,000 fewer babies were born in the US in 2025, compared with the peak in 2007. Lead CDC researcher Brady Hamilton says the steady drop in US fertility is sizable and has persisted for almost 20 years.
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Since 2007, there's been a decline in the General fertility rate of 23%.
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That's partly driven by a big decline in teen pregnancies. At the same time, immigration into the US has plunged under the Trump admin. A report earlier this year by the Congressional Budget Office found that these combined demographic trends mean the US Population will age faster and grow much more slowly than once predicted. Brian Mann, NPR News.
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First lady Melania Trump says she did not know Jeffrey Epstein. In a rare public statement, she addressed an email she sent to his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and specifically denied that Epstein introduced her to Trump. She called it casual correspondence. The first lady also called on Congress to act and hold public hearings, allowing Epstein victims to testify. This is NPR News from Washington. Russia's President Vladimir Putin has declared a ceasefire in Ukraine over Orthodox Easter this weekend. It comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a pause in attacks on energy infrastructure over the holiday. Putin unilaterally declared a ceasefire last Easter, but each side accused the other of breaking it. US Led peace talks have stalled as President Trump is focused on the Middle East. There will be a new host for the Tony Awards, Broadway's Highest honors on June June 7, Grammy Award winning singer songwriter Pink Jeff London has more.
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Every year, the Tonys select hosts with Broadway Hugh Jackman, Neil Patrick Harris, Cynthia Erivo. But while Pink has never performed on Broadway, a couple of her songs are currently being sung in and Juliet and the Tony Award winning musical Moulin Rouge. The recording artist who's had 15 top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, is known for her theatrical concerts and videos, as well as her love for Broadway producers. Hope she'll bring new viewers to the Tony telecast, which will be broadcast live from Radio City Music hall on CBS and Paramount plus. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.
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A minor league baseball team in New Hampshire scored eight runs in the second inning before getting its first hit of the game. The Fisher Cats benefited from eight walks, five, four wild pitches, two hit batters and a sacrifice fly before finally getting a base hit. Their opponent was the Portland Sea Dogs. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Want to hear this podcast without sponsor breaks? Amazon prime members can listen to NPR News now sponsor free through Amazon Music or you can also support NPR's vital journalism and get NPR plus@plus.NPR.org that's plus.NPR.org.
This five-minute NPR News Now update, hosted by Ryland Barton, covers major national and international stories dominating the news cycle as of April 9, 2026. Key topics include President Trump’s intervention in Israeli-Lebanese tensions, ripple effects on global oil and the US economy, new demographic data revealing a continued decline in US births and immigration, statements from First Lady Melania Trump regarding Jeffrey Epstein, a ceasefire announcement in Ukraine, and pop icon Pink’s upcoming hosting of the Tony Awards. The episode also closes with a quirky minor league baseball feat.
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For listeners seeking a concise, fact-driven digest of the day’s headlines with international reach and cultural notes, this episode captures a dynamic moment in US and world affairs.