NPR News: 04-13-2026 7PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: 04-13-2026 7PM EDT — Episode Summary

Overview:
This episode of NPR News Now offers a concise but comprehensive update on major political, international, and local developments for April 13, 2026. The news highlights significant political shakeups in Congress, a tense U.S.-Iran standoff and its global ripples, interfaith backlash after a sparring between President Trump and Pope Leo, domestic protests influenced by international conflict, turmoil in management of San Francisco's Presidio, and an update on baseball's technological tweaks. Each story is anchored by clear reporting, direct quotes, and critical context.

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Congressional Upheaval: Scandals and Resignations

• Tony Gonzalez (Texas Republican) to retire:

  • Facing bipartisan calls for expulsion after admitting to an affair with a former staffer who died by suicide.
  • Quote (Gonzalez): “There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all.” [00:30]

• Eric Swalwell (California Democrat) resigns:

  • Under pressure from sexual assault and misconduct allegations from at least four women.
  • Resigned from Congress and dropped out of the California governor’s race in the face of a possible expulsion vote.
  • Quote (Swalwell): “It’s wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties.” [01:13]
  • NPR underscores that allegations have not been independently verified; Swalwell denies them.

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U.S.-Iran Crisis: Blockade and Economic Backlash

• U.S. Military Action:
  • The U.S. begins a blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz after failed ceasefire talks.
  • President Trump claims rapid control is imminent:
    • Quote (Trump, via Greg Myri): “…it won’t take long for the U.S. to, quote, clean out the strait.” [01:52]
  • Iran's response: mines in the strait; warning of retaliation if their ports are attacked, threatening Arab Gulf ports.
  • Brent crude oil hovers around $100 per barrel, reflecting global market anxiety.
  • Iran restricts passage to friendly or neutral ships.

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Faith & Politics: Trump vs Pope Leo

• Tensions Escalate Between President Trump and Pope Leo:
  • Trump calls Pope Leo “weak” for criticizing the Iran war.
  • Pope Leo stands firm, emphasizing his religious role rather than political:
    • Quote (Pope Leo): “I’m not afraid of the president… I’m not a political figure, but rather a religious leader concerned with the gospel.” [02:45]
  • Cardinal Joseph Toobin (Newark) pledges continued resistance to war and advocacy for human dignity.
  • Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) voices solidarity with the Catholic community:
    • Quote (CAIR statement): “The president’s mockery of religion is both deranged and insulting.” [03:03]

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Global Impact: Haiti’s Economic Pain

• Haitian Worker Protest Amidst Global Oil Crisis:
  • Over 1,000 demonstrate in the capital for a higher minimum wage.
  • Protests fueled by surging oil prices linked to the U.S.-Iran conflict; government hiked diesel by 37% and gasoline by 29%.
  • Protesters chant: “When we are hungry, we don’t mess around.” [03:28]

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Local Governance: San Francisco’s Presidio Without a Board

• Presidio Trust Board Dismissal:
  • All six Biden appointees fired by President Trump, citing an executive order previously not enforced.
  • Trust had argued it could not carry out budget cuts and had continued operating.
  • Quote (San Francisco Supervisor Stephen Sherrill):
    • “We want to see people who love the Presidio, who believe in conservation, who have strong fiscal management and who really love San Francisco and understand the importance of the Presidio to not only San Franciscans, but to the 7 million visitors nationwide who come through the gates.” [04:11]
  • No replacements named yet.

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Sports Update: Baseball’s Robo-Umpires Stretch Game Time

• Automatic Ball Strike System:
  • New technology has increased the average length of nine-inning games to 2 hours 42 minutes (up four minutes from last year).
  • Contrasts with 2023's successful pitch timer initiative that shortened games.

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Memorable Quotes and Moments

• “There is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all.” — Tony Gonzalez [00:30]
• “It’s wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties.” — Eric Swalwell [01:13]
• “It won’t take long for the U.S. to, quote, clean out the strait.” — Pres. Trump (via Greg Myri) [01:52]
• “I’m not afraid of the president… I’m not a political figure, but rather a religious leader concerned with the gospel.” — Pope Leo [02:45]
• “The president’s mockery of religion is both deranged and insulting.” — CAIR statement [03:03]
• “When we are hungry, we don’t mess around.” — Haitian protesters [03:28]
• “We want to see people who love the Presidio, who believe in conservation, who have strong fiscal management and who really love San Francisco…” — Stephen Sherrill [04:11]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:18] Congressional resignations (Gonzalez / Swalwell)
• [01:31] U.S. blockade of Iranian ports
• [02:25] Trump-Pope Leo dispute; interfaith reactions
• [03:12] Haiti's protests amid oil price hikes
• [03:47] Presidio Trust board removal (San Francisco)
• [04:33] Baseball’s automatic ball-strike system lengthens games

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Tone:
Urgent, precise, and factual, staying true to NPR’s clear and measured delivery, with careful distinction between reported fact and unverified allegations. This summary brings listeners up to speed on a fast-moving and fraught news day.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. Republican Congressman Tony Gonzalez of Texas says he will retire from Congress as he faces bipartisan calls to expel him. Gonzalez admitted to an affair with a former staff member who later died suicide. In a statement, he says, quote, there is a season for everything and God has a plan for us all. And California Democrat Eric Swalwell is resigning from his seat in Congress as he faces growing backlash to allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. As NPR's Elena Moore reports, his decision comes just one day after he suspended his campaign for California governor and in the face of a potential vote to expel him from the House over the allegations.

[Elena Moore]

Swalwell has been at the center of controversy since last Friday after at least four women spoke with the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN about experiences ranging from unwanted sexual advances by Swalwell to allegations of rape. NPR has not independently verified the allegations and Swalwell has forcefully denied them. He repeats that in his latest statement, but goes on to say it's quote, wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Just one week ago, the seven term Democrat was seen as a front runner in the California governor's race. Elena Moore, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

The U.S. military is imposing a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. A day after ceasefire talks between Washington and Tehran failed to produce a breakthrough. The price of Brent crude is again hovering around $100 a barrel. NPR's Greg Myri has the latest.

[Greg Myri]

The U.S. navy has a substantial presence in the region, and President Trump says it won't take long for the U.S. to, quote, clean out the strait. Still, the blockade comes with risks and Iran is believed to have placed mines in the waterway. Also, Iran says that if any of its ports are attacked, it will respond by attacking ports belonging to Arab Gulf countries. Iran has effectively closed the waterway for the past several weeks. Aside from a small number of friendly or neutral commercial ships it allows through, it's not clear if any of those ships will attempt to challenge the U.S. blockade. Greg Myhrey, NPR News, Washington.

[NPR News Anchor]

A number of religious leaders are expressing concern about the dispute playing out between President Trump and Pope Leo. NPR's Jason DeRose reports. The response comes after Trump called the pope weak for criticizing the Iran war.

[Jason DeRose]

Pope Leo says he's not afraid of the president and notes that he's not a political figure, but rather a religious leader concerned with the gospel. Cardinal Joseph Toobin, the archbishop of Newark, has issued a statement saying Pope Leo will continue to speak clearly against the war and other offenses against human dignity and to call for dialogue. The Council on American Islamic Relations also put out a statement saying it stands in solidarity with the Catholic community. It goes on to say, quote, the president's mockery of religion is both deranged and insulting. Jason DeRose, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. More than 1,000 workers have organized a protest in Haiti's capital to demand a higher minimum wage as the conflict in Iran deepens and drives up oil prices. Workers shouted, when we are hungry, we don't mess around. Round. Haiti's government increased diesel prices by 37% and gasoline prices by 29% earlier this month. San Francisco's Presidio, a 1500 acre national park at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, is without a governing board. KQED's Aya Ali Ahmad reports.

[Aya Ali Ahmad]

Trump fired all six Biden appointed Presidio Trust board members last Wednesday, acting on a year old executive order targeting the agency. But that order never took effect. The trust argued it had no federal budget to cut and kept operating. San Francisco Supervisor Stephen Sherrill, whose district includes the Presidio, says he's watching closely for who comes next.

[Stephen Sherrill]

We want to see people who love the Presidio, who believe in conservation, who have strong fiscal management and who really love San Francisco and understand the importance of the Presidio to not only San Franciscans, but to the 7 million visitors nationwide who come through the gates.

[Aya Ali Ahmad]

No replacements have been named yet. For NPR News, I'm Aya Aliamod in San Francisco.

[NPR News Anchor]

Baseball's new automatic ball strike system could be making games a little longer so far this season, with the time of a nine inning game creeping to towards two hours and 42 minutes through this weekend. That's up four minutes from last season. And that's all after the league successfully brought down the length of Games in 2023 by introducing a pitch timer and other rules. This is npr.

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