NPR News: 04-13-2025 1PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now - Episode Summary

Date: April 13, 2025
Host: NPR
Duration: 5 minutes

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1. Deportation Error Involving El Salvador

Key Points:

• Scheduled Meeting: President Trump is set to meet with Salvadoran President Nayibu Kailu at the White House.
• Deportation Mistake: The Trump administration mistakenly deported at least one migrant, Kilmore Abrego Garcia, to a supermax prison in El Salvador.
• Legal Ruling: A federal judge ordered Garcia's return, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court.
• Administration's Stance: Despite the clear legal directive, the Department of Justice is resisting compliance.

Notable Quotes:

• Mara Liasson [00:42]: "The judge ruled that Abrego Garcia was wrongly deported, and the administration has admitted he was deported because of a, quote, administrative error."
• Mara Liasson [00:42]: "The judge says the government has to get him back or, quote, facilitate his return."
• President Trump [01:14]: "If the Supreme Court says bring somebody back, I would do that."

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2. US-China Trade Relations: Tariffs on Electronics

Key Points:

• US Tariff Changes: The United States has decided to eliminate import taxes on a range of electronic goods, including smartphones and laptops.
• China's Reaction: China views this move as a minor correction against its stance of imposing 145% tariffs on Chinese goods.
• Call for Comprehensive Trade Dialogues: The Chinese Commerce Ministry urged the US to engage in broader discussions, implicitly referring to the reciprocal tariffs on US imports.

Notable Quotes:

• China's Commerce Ministry [01:27]: "...a small step in correcting what it described as a wrong practice of placing 145% tariffs on Chinese goods."

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3. Justice Department Cuts Funding for Vera Institute of Justice

Key Points:

• Grant Reductions: The Department of Justice is reducing millions in federal grants to the Vera Institute of Justice, a longstanding criminal justice reform nonprofit.
• Impact of Cuts: Funding previously supported initiatives like training prison guards, developing alternatives for mental health crises, and enhancing police communication with deaf individuals.
• DOJ's Justification: The department claims these programs no longer align with its priorities.
• Response from Vera Institute: Amy Fettig emphasized that such cuts should raise alarms for all recipients of federal funding.

Notable Quotes:

• Amy Fettig [02:25]: "These initiatives no longer effectuate its priorities."
• Amy Fettig [02:55]: "...if you don't agree with us, we are going to come after you."

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4. President Trump's Health Report Released

Key Points:

• Health Status: The White House released President Trump's physical exam results, indicating excellent cognitive and physical health.
• Fitness to Serve: The report confirms he is fully fit to continue his roles as commander in chief and head of state.
• Personal Metrics: The president's height is listed at 75 inches and weight at 224 pounds.

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5. Blue Origin's Historic All-Female Space Flight

Key Points:

• Mission Details: Blue Origin is launching its first all-female flight crew, marking the first such mission since 1963.
• Crew Composition: The six-person team includes journalist Gayle King and pop star Katy Perry.
• Flight Specifications: The spacecraft will undertake an approximately 11-minute flight from West Texas.
• Significance for Space Travel: Katy Perry highlighted the mission as a pivotal moment for the future of commercial space travel, noting the underrepresentation of women in space.

Notable Quotes:

• Katy Perry [03:51]: "It's an important moment for the future of commercial space travel."

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6. Expo 2025 Opens in Osaka, Japan

Key Points:

• Event Overview: Expo 2025 has commenced in Osaka, expecting to attract 28 million visitors by its closing in October.
• Global Participation: Approximately 80 pavilions from over 160 countries are on display.
• US Pavilion Highlights: Focuses on space travel and includes the lunar stone from the Apollo 12 mission, a popular exhibit from the 1970 Expo.
• Cultural Significance: The expo serves as a hub for international collaboration and showcases advancements in various fields.

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This episode of NPR News Now provided a concise yet comprehensive overview of significant global and national events, ranging from immigration and international trade to advancements in space travel and major international exhibitions. The inclusion of direct quotes and attributions enhances the credibility and depth of the reported news, making it accessible and informative for listeners and readers alike.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor]

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[NPR News Anchor]

In Washington, I'm Trump is scheduled to meet tomorrow at the White House with Salvadoran President Nayibu Kailu. The Trump administration has sent deported migrants to a supermax prison in El Salvador, including at least one man. By mistake. A federal judge has ordered that Kilmore Abrego Garcia be returned, but so far that hasn't happened. NPR's Mara Liasson has more.

[Mara Liasson]

The judge ruled that Abrego Garcia was wrongly deported, and the administration has admitted he was deported because of a, quote, administrative error. The judge says the government has to get him back or, quote, facilitate his return. And the Supreme Court has backed up the judge. So now it would seem to be a pretty simple matter of President Trump asking to bring this man back to the United States. But the Department of Justice has been resisting the judge's order, even though President Trump said on Friday, quote, if the Supreme Court says bring somebody back, I would do that.

[NPR News Anchor]

NPR's Mara Liasson. China is welcoming a U.S. move to eliminate import taxes on some electronics, but officials want the lifting of all tariffs on Chinese goods. The BBC Celia Hatton reports.

[Celia Hatton]

A statement from China's Commerce Ministry was brief and to the point. It said a U.S. decision to lift global tariffs on a range of tech items, from smartphones to laptops, was a small step in correcting what it described as a wrong practice of placing 145% tariffs on Chinese goods. The withdrawal of some import taxes offers relief to American tech companies and also to overseas manufacturers, many of which are located in southern China. The Chinese Commerce Ministry also called on the US to return to dialogue, though it made no mention of the reciprocal taxes it's placed on US Imports.

[NPR News Anchor]

The BBC Celia Hatton reporting. The Justice Department is cutting millions of dollars in federal grants for the Vera Institute of Justice. It's one of the nation's oldest criminal justice reform nonprofits. NPR's Meg Anderson reports.

[Meg Anderson]

The grants helped train prison guards, bolstered police alternatives for mental health crises, and trained police to communicate with deaf people. The Justice Department told the institute those initiatives, quote, no longer effectuate its priorities. Amy Fettig, who leads fair and just prosecution, said the cuts should raise alarms for anyone getting federal money.

[Celia Hatton]

The federal government and this administration are.

[NPR News Anchor]

Signaling that if you don't agree with us, we are going to come after you.

[Meg Anderson]

Last week, the DOJ cut federal grants for the main Department of Corrections. Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox and friends it was because the state holds a transgender woman woman in its women's prison. Meg Anderson, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

You're listening to NPR News in Washington. The White House released today what it says are the results of President Trump's physical exam last week. His doctor says he exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health and is fully fit to serve as commander in chief and head of state. The report listed the president's height as 75 inches and his weight at 224 pounds. Blue Origin, the private space company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is preparing to launch an all female flight crew tomorrow. NPR's Eva Pukac reports. It's the first all female flight since 1963.

[Eva Pukac]

The six person crew includes journalist Gayle King and pop star Katy Perry. They'll take a roughly 11 minute space flight lifting off from West Texas. In an interview with the Associated Press, Perry said it's an important moment for the future of commercial space travel. Less than a quarter of people who have gone to space have been women. This marks the 11th human space flight from Blue Origin since it began space tourism flights in 2021.

[NPR News Anchor]

Eva Pukech and Piarnis Expo 2025 opened in Osaka, Japan, today. Organizers expect 28 million visitors until it closes in October. They'll be able to tour about 80 pavilions made by participants from more than 160 countries. The US pavilion focuses on space travel. It includes the lunar stone from the Apollo 12 mission, which had been a popular exhibit at the 1970 Expo. This is NPR News.

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