NPR News Now – April 12, 2025, 12 AM EDT

NPR's "News Now" delivers the latest headlines and in-depth reporting in a concise format. This episode covers significant national and international developments, including immigration rulings, federal budget considerations, economic sentiment, judicial actions, cultural losses, and immigration policy changes.

1. Deportation Ruling for Mahmoud Khalil

Host: Dale Willman
Timestamp: [00:17]

A federal judge in Louisiana ruled that Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student, can be deported. Khalil was arrested last month for participating in pro-Palestinian rallies. His legal team alleges that the Trump administration is targeting him to suppress his free speech rights.

Reporter: Adrian Florido
Timestamp: [00:39]

Khalil will not be deported immediately. The court granted his lawyers until April 23rd to apply for a stay of deportation if eligible. His attorneys plan to appeal the decision. Mark Vanderhoot, Khalil's lawyer, criticized the ruling as a "weaponization of immigration law to suppress dissent" and emphasized that the legal battle is far from over. Currently, Khalil remains detained in a remote Louisiana facility, where he has been held for a month.

2. Proposed Budget Cuts to NOAA

Host: Dale Willman
Timestamp: [01:03]

The Trump administration is contemplating substantial budget cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), particularly targeting the agency's climate and research divisions, as revealed in a draft document accessed by NPR.

Reporter: Alejandra Barunda
Timestamp: [01:21]

The proposed budget aligns with the Heritage Foundation's "The Conservative Project 20," which advocates for dismantling NOAA and reducing its climate initiatives. Specific measures include dismantling NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and eliminating all climate-focused research. Additionally, the budget seeks to decrease funding for the National Marine Fisheries Service by approximately 30%. Remaining employees would be tasked not only with managing fish populations but also with efforts to "unleash" American energy resources. Experts in energy and former NOAA leaders warn that these cuts would severely undermine the agency's capabilities and compromise public safety. NPR reached out to the Commerce Department for comment but has yet to receive a response.

3. Declining Consumer Sentiment Amid Trade Tensions

Host: Dale Willman
Timestamp: [02:05]

The ongoing trade war instigated by President Trump is adversely affecting consumer sentiment, as revealed by a recent University of Michigan survey.

Reporter: Scott Horsley
Timestamp: [02:16]

The survey indicates that consumer sentiment fell in April for the fourth consecutive month, marking a 30% decrease since the end of the previous year. Americans are increasingly pessimistic about business conditions, personal finances, and inflation. Concerns about the job market have more than doubled compared to November levels, reaching their highest since 2009—a year when the economy was losing hundreds of thousands of jobs monthly. The survey was conducted shortly after President Trump announced extensive tariffs on imports globally but does not reflect his partial policy reversal earlier in the week.

4. Execution by Firing Squad in South Carolina

Host: Dale Willman
Timestamp: [02:56]

In South Carolina, a man named Mikhail Madi was executed by a firing squad, marking the state's fifth execution in less than eight months. Madi, 42, had been convicted of killing an off-duty police officer decades ago. Notably, South Carolina had previously paused executions for 13 years. Madi opted for the firing squad instead of lethal injection or the electric chair.

5. Passing of Tracy Schwarz of The New Lost City Ramblers

Host: Dale Willman
Timestamp: [03:29]

Tracy Schwarz, the last surviving member of the folk trio The New Lost City Ramblers, passed away in Elkins, West Virginia, at the age of 86.

Appreciation by: Elizabeth Blair
Timestamp: [03:29 - 04:13]

Born in New York City, Schwarz embraced country music and rural life, joining The New Lost City Ramblers in 1962 alongside Mike Seeger and John Cohen. He was a versatile musician, proficient in fiddle, banjo, guitar, accordion, and more. Beyond performing, Schwarz was an educator who produced fiddle instruction albums and contributed to numerous Smithsonian Folkways recordings. The Smithsonian Folkways tribute highlighted his belief in accessible music education: "He fervently believed that anyone who was interested in learning how to play an instrument or sing could."

6. Termination of Temporary Protective Status for Afghan Refugees

Host: Dale Willman
Timestamp: [04:13]

The Trump administration announced plans to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for thousands of Afghan refugees residing in the United States. TPS is granted to individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict or other extraordinary conditions that hinder safe return. A Homeland Security official stated that Afghanistan no longer meets the necessary criteria for TPS, following the U.S. military withdrawal from the country in 2022.

7. Anti-U.S. and Anti-Israel Rally in Pakistan

Host: Dale Willman
Timestamp: [04:13]

Approximately 15,000 supporters of Pakistan's primary religious political party assembled in Lahore to protest against the United States and Israel regarding the ongoing war in Gaza. Pakistan maintains no official political ties with Israel, underscoring the significance of the rally in expressing regional dissent.

NPR News Now continues to provide timely and comprehensive coverage of the issues that matter most. For more updates, visit NPR.org.