NPR News Now: 04-13-2026 10PM EDT – Episode Summary

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This episode of NPR News Now delivers a concise roundup of key national and international news stories from politics to culture, highlighting resignations in Congress amid scandal, developments in Middle Eastern conflicts, shifts in the US housing market, updates on policy reversals regarding LGBTQ+ rights, the latest Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, and changes in Major League Baseball.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Congressional Resignations Amid Scandal ([00:18]–[01:11])

• Texas Republican Tony Gonzalez announced his resignation following allegations of a sexual relationship with a staff member who later died by suicide.
• California Democrat Eric Swalwell also announced plans to resign, facing multiple accusations of sexual assault and misconduct.
  • Both were among four House members—two from each party—facing possible expulsion over alleged misconduct.
  • The resignation comes at a time when both had been under significant public and political scrutiny, with ongoing ethics investigations.

Notable Quotes

• “Gonzalez's resignation announcement came hours after California Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell also announced his own plan to resign. Swalwell is facing allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from at least four women.”
  — David Martin Davies ([00:33])

• “It's up to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, to call a special election to fill Gonzalez’s seat.”
  — David Martin Davies ([00:57])

2. Escalation in Southern Lebanon & Israel-Lebanon Diplomacy ([01:11]–[02:24])

• The Israeli military claims to have surrounded the Lebanese town of Benjamil, occupied by Hezbollah, aiming to establish a buffer zone.
• Historic diplomatic developments: Israeli and Lebanese officials are set to meet directly for the first time in decades the following day.
• Israeli military operations in Lebanon have led to significant destruction; Lebanese sources claim around 40,000 homes have been heavily damaged or destroyed in the south over the past five weeks.

Notable Quotes

• “The town has become the center of intense fighting. It’s part of land that Israel says it's seizing from Lebanon to create what it calls a buffer zone so Hezbollah can't fire rockets into Israel.”
  — Kat Lahnstorff ([01:45])

• “Lebanon says nearly 40,000 houses have been destroyed or heavily damaged, mainly in the south, in the past five weeks.”
  — Kat Lahnstorff ([02:12])

3. US Housing Market Slump ([02:24]–[03:00])

• Sales of previously owned homes fell by 3.6% in March, marking the slowest sales pace in nine months—despite lower mortgage rates and increased inventory.
• Average sale price in March: just under $409,000; current average mortgage rate is 6.37%.

Notable Quotes

• “The US housing market remains in a slump, according to the National Association of Realtors. Sales of existing homes fell 3.6% last month.”
  — Scott Horsley ([02:40])

4. President Trump: Controversial Social Media & Pride Flag Policy ([03:00]–[03:38])

• Former President Trump explained away a now-deleted social media post (depicting himself as the Pope) by claiming he thought it showed him as a doctor.
• Trump refuses to apologize to Pope Leo after criticizing the Pope’s stance against the war.
• The administration agrees to resume flying the Rainbow Pride flag at Stonewall National Monument after reversing a previous decision and in response to an ongoing lawsuit.

5. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2026 Inductees ([03:53]–[04:32])

• Inductees: Luther Vandross, Phil Collins, Sade, Joy Division/New Order, Iron Maiden, Billy Idol, Oasis (amid reunion), Wu Tang Clan
• The ceremony will be held November 14th in Los Angeles.

Notable Quotes

• “Luther Vandross and Phil Collins have been eligible for the rock hall for 20 years, and Sade for almost as long. They’re all in the class of 2026, along with British post punk legends Joy Division and their spin-off group New Order.”
  — Kabir Bhatia ([03:53])

• “Wu Tang Clan, the hip hop collective that’s been the subject of numerous documentaries in the past decade.”
  — Kabir Bhatia ([04:17])

6. Major League Baseball Game Lengths ([04:32]–[04:56])

• New automatic ball-strike technology appears to be making MLB games a bit longer—average game time up to 2:42 (four minutes longer than last season).
• This increase follows successful efforts in 2023 to shorten games with pitch timers and other rule changes.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Congressional Resignations: [00:18]–[01:11]
• Israel-Lebanon Conflict & Diplomacy: [01:11]–[02:24]
• US Housing Market: [02:24]–[03:00]
• Trump Social Media & Stonewall Pride Flag: [03:00]–[03:38]
• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: [03:53]–[04:32]
• MLB Game Length: [04:32]–[04:56]

Memorable Moments

• The rare occurrence of two high-profile Congressional resignations in a single day, spotlighting #MeToo era accountability in politics ([00:18]–[01:11]).
• Israel and Lebanon preparing for first direct peace talks in decades amid ongoing conflict ([01:11]–[02:24]).
• The shifting cultural landscape marked by Oasis’s anticipated reunion and induction into the Rock Hall ([03:53]–[04:32]).
• The subtle irony as rule changes to make baseball games shorter inadvertently lead to slightly longer games ([04:32]–[04:56]).

Overall, this episode captures a day of significant political, international, and cultural shifts, blending rapid news delivery with measured reporting on ongoing controversies and milestones.