NPR News: 04-11-2026 11AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – April 11, 2026, 11AM EDT

Host: Dan Ronan
Duration: 5 minutes
Main Theme: Rapid updates on key national and global events—including U.S.-Iran negotiations, domestic policy changes, economic trends, the Artemis 2 lunar mission, Coachella Festival highlights, and Masters golf tournament news.

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Major Updates and Key Discussion Points

1. Historic U.S.–Iran Negotiations in Islamabad

Timestamp: 00:00–01:01

• First direct engagement since 2015:
  The U.S. and Iranian delegations are meeting face-to-face, attempting to negotiate an end to the Middle East war—a significant diplomatic event since the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

• Delegation Details:

  • U.S. Delegation: Led by Vice President J.D. Vance.
  • Iranian Delegation: Led by Parliament Speaker Mohamed Bahr Alibaf.
    Both parties met separately with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

• Iranian 10-point plan:
  Central to talks; demands an end to attacks and sanctions.

• Primary U.S. Demand:
  President Trump told media:

  "That's 99% of it." — President Trump on 'no nuclear weapon' as the main goal (00:50–00:52)

• Analysis:
  Experts caution that substantial progress will require time; resolution from a single meeting is unlikely.

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2. U.S. Forest Service Restructuring Plan

Timestamp: 01:01, 01:54–02:38

• Major federal overhaul:
  The Trump administration is pushing to relocate the U.S. Forest Service HQ to Utah, proposing closures for 57 of 77 research labs across the country.
• Research impact:
  These labs conduct crucial studies on pollinators, wildfires, and more.
• Agency Statement:
  The Forest Service claims research will continue by moving teams elsewhere, not ending projects.
• Union Response:
  Carl Hoatman (National Federation of Federal Employees representative) voices concern:

  "When we ask them for details, they say, well, those are still being worked out." — Carl Hoatman (02:27–02:32)
  Potential harm to long-term research and lack of clarity over staff relocations.

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3. Economic Snapshot: Oil, Inflation, and Markets

Timestamp: 01:14–01:54

• Oil prices:
  Brief dip after President Trump paused threats against Iranian infrastructure; tanker traffic through Strait of Hormuz remains steady.
• Inflation:
  Gas price surge due to war pushed March consumer prices up 3.5% year-over-year—largest rise in nearly two years.
  • Core inflation at 2.6%: enough to keep the Federal Reserve cautious about interest rate cuts.
• Market performance:
  Despite inflation, markets rallied:
  • Dow up 3%
  • S&P 500 up 3.5%
  • Nasdaq up nearly 4.7%

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4. Artemis 2 Lunar Mission—Historic Return

Timestamp: 02:38–03:15

• Astronauts’ return:
  Artemis 2 crew safely back after 10-day mission orbiting the far side of the moon.
  Splashdown: Pacific Ocean, evening of April 10th, off San Diego, followed by crew medical checks.

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5. Coachella Music & Arts Festival 2026 Highlights

Timestamp: 03:15–04:04

• Festival details:
  Running over two weekends in Palm Springs, with more than 100 artists.
• Notable Performers:
  • Sabrina Carpenter
  • Justin Bieber (returning to major live performance after Justice tour cancellation in 2022)
  • Rock star Jack White (last-minute addition)
  • The XX (reuniting since 2018)
  • Carol G (making history as first Latina to headline Coachella)
• Fan moments:
  Justin Bieber’s first major concert in four years expected to draw a significant fanbase (Beliebers).

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6. Masters Golf Tournament—McIlroy’s Record Lead

Timestamp: 04:04–04:39

• Tournament update:
  Rory McIlroy leads Masters by six strokes after a record-breaking second round (65).
• Historic achievement:
  Largest halfway lead ever at the tournament; stands 12 under par.
• Next on course:
  McIlroy tees off at 2:50 PM ET in the final pairing.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• President Trump on Iran negotiations:

  "That's 99% of it." – On the 'no nuclear weapon' demand (00:50–00:52)

• Union concern on Forest Service lab closures:

  "When we ask them for details, they say, well, those are still being worked out." – Carl Hoatman (02:27–02:32)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• U.S.–Iran Negotiations: 00:00–01:01
• Economic Update: 01:14–01:54
• Forest Service Restructuring: 01:54–02:38
• Artemis 2 Return: 02:38–03:15
• Coachella 2026 Preview: 03:15–04:04
• Masters Golf Update: 04:04–04:39

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Tone: Concise, authoritative, informative—the hallmark of NPR news delivery.

Transcript

[A]

Live from NPR News in Washington. I'm Dan Ronan. Iranian and American delegations are meeting in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, trying to negotiate an end to the Middle east war. It would be the first face to face engagement between Iran and the United States since 2015, when the Obama administration negotiated a nuclear deal with Iran that the Trump administration ended. NPR's Diahan Hadid reports.

[B]

Both delegations met individually with the Pakistani prime minister, Shahbaz Sharif. The Americans are led by Vice President J.D. vance and the Iranians by the parliament speaker, Mohamed Bahr Alibaf. The negotiations are based on a 10 point Iranian plan that includes an end to attacks and sanctions on the country. President Trump told media on Friday that his main demand was no nuclear weapon.

[C]

That's 99% of it.

[B]

Analysts warn negotiations will take time and it's unlikely one meeting will resolve this conflict. Dr. Y.A. hadid, NPR News, Mumbai.

[A]

The Trump administration is defending a plan to restructure the U.S. forest Service and send its headquarters to Utah. Rachel Cohen of Mountain West News Bureau reports it would close dozens of research labs.

[D]

Oil prices dipped after President Trump paused his threat to attack bridges and power plants in Iran, but tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has barely budged. A sharp spike in gasoline prices during the war triggered a surge of inflation last month. Consumer prices in March were up 3.5% from a year ago. That's the biggest annual increase in 22 months, stripping out volatile energy and food prices. Core inflation was 2.6%, high enough to make the Federal Reserve cautious about additional cuts to interest rates. Nevertheless, stocks rallied for the week. The Dow rose 3%, the S&P 500 index climbed 3.5%, and the Nasdaq jumped nearly 4.7%. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[A]

The Trump administration, as we said, defending a plan to restructure the U.S. forest Service. Let's go back to that report From Rachel Cohen.

[E]

57 of 77 Forest Service labs nationwide are on a list to shutter. Scientists at these labs study everything from pollinators to wildfires. The agency said this week the closures don't mean an end to research. It's just relocating small teams to other spaces. But Carl Hoatman, a union representative with the National Federation of Federal Employees, says those workers haven't been told where their jobs could be moved.

[F]

When we ask them for details, they say, well, those are still being worked out.

[E]

He says the changes could harm long term projects. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Cohen.

[A]

The four Artemis 2 astronauts are now heading in get two medical evaluations this after a 10 day journey to the far side of the moon, the spacecraft had a near perfect return to Earth Friday evening, landing in the Pacific Ocean just off the coast of San Diego. And then the astronauts were emboarded into a ship. You're listening to NPR News. The Coachella Music and Arts Festival is underway near Palm Springs, California. NPR's Isabella Gomez Sartiaro reports. The musicians headlining the museum festival this year include Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and

[G]

Carol g. More than 100 artists will perform at Coachella this weekend and next. The Southern California Music Festival, which has been running for more than 25 years, is one of the hottest tickets of the festival season. This year. Many beliebers fans of the pop star Justin Bieber are sure to tune in. Saturday night will mark his first major concert since the cancellation of his justice tour in 2022. There are other big names in store, too. Rock star Jack White was a last minute addition to the lineup. The English indie band the XX is reuniting this year for the first time since 2018. And the Colombian star Carol G will make history on Sunday night as the first Latina to ever headline the festival. Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR News.

[A]

Defending masters champion Rory McIlroy begins today's third round of the Masters golf tournament with a commanding six stroke lead over the field. McElroy Friday blistered the back nine of Augusta national, shooting six birdies on the final seven holes to score a 65 that sets a Masters record for the largest lead at the halfway point of golf's first Masters tournament of the year. He is 12 under for the tournament. McElroy will tee off this afternoon at 2:50 Eastern Time in the coveted final pairing of the day. This is NPR News from Washington.

[H]

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