NPR News: 04-14-2026 6AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: April 14, 2026, 6AM EDT – Episode Summary

Overview

This five-minute NPR News Now episode presents a rapid update on significant global and national headlines. The main focuses include ongoing US-Iran talks amid tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, rare diplomatic talks between Lebanon and Israel, high-profile Congressional resignations, labor news from Los Angeles schools, an attack targeting OpenAI’s CEO, and severe weather reports.

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Key Topics and Insights

1. US-Iran Tensions and Strait of Hormuz Blockade

• Pakistan has offered to host a second round of negotiations between the US and Iran before the current ceasefire ends, following fruitless talks last weekend.
• Both countries maintain a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s crude oil and much of its natural gas are shipped.
  • Quote (Greg Myre, 00:34):

    "The US, which gets a minimal amount of oil from the Gulf, still faces much higher gas prices, as do other countries, because oil prices have surged globally, right around $100 a barrel."

2. Lebanon-Israel Direct Talks

• First direct diplomatic talks in over 30 years are being held in Washington, aiming to manage the conflict involving Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group.
  • Quote (Daniel Estrin, 01:09):

    "Lebanon and Israel have never had formal relations, making today's talks rare. They come after more than a month of fighting between the Iranian backed Hezbollah and Israel."

• Highlights from Daniel Estrin’s report:
  • Hezbollah rocket attacks have killed Israeli soldiers and civilians.
  • Israeli operations in southern Lebanon have led to thousands of destroyed homes and civilian casualties.
  • Israel insists Lebanon must move to disarm Hezbollah before agreeing to a ceasefire and is preparing for a long-term presence in southern Lebanon.

3. Congressional Resignations – Eric Swalwell & Tony Gonzalez

• Eric Swalwell (California, Democrat) announced his resignation following sexual misconduct allegations, though he denies the charges.
  • He has also suspended his gubernatorial campaign.
• Tony Gonzalez (Texas, Republican) is expected to resign after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a subordinate who died by suicide.
  • David Martin Davies provides Texas context (02:24):

    "Gonzalez had already dropped his bid for reelection after being forced into a primary runoff and the launch of a congressional ethics investigation into his behavior."

  • Texas Governor Greg Abbott will call a special election to fill the seat.

4. Los Angeles Schools – Labor Dispute Resolved

• LA’s school district reached a tentative agreement with the last of its major unions, averting a strike that could have disrupted the nation’s second-largest school system.
  • The union represents tens of thousands of support staff: bus drivers, custodians, and cafeteria workers.
  • (02:58) Brief but major news for education in Los Angeles.

5. Attempted Attack on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman

• A suspect accused of attempted murder after attacking Sam Altman’s San Francisco home with an improvised explosive.
  • The suspect reportedly traveled across state lines and had previously published online criticisms of artificial intelligence, calling Altman a "pathological liar."
  • (Sarah Hosseini, 03:36):

    "Months prior to the attack, a Substack writer with the suspect’s name published a series of posts about the danger of artificial intelligence, calling it an existential threat and Altman a pathological liar."

  • (District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, 04:08):

    "In no way should we be at the point where a man could have lost his life over differences of opinion."

  • District Attorney Jenkins called for reflection on “incendiary rhetoric.”

6. Severe Weather Across the Midwest

• Tornadoes reported in several states, with nearly 85,000 people without power in Wisconsin. (04:25)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On oil prices and US vulnerability (Greg Myre, 00:34):

  "Because oil prices have surged globally, it’s right around $100 a barrel. The US faces much higher gas prices, as do other countries."

• On the state of Lebanon-Israel relations (Daniel Estrin, 01:09):

  "Lebanon and Israel have never had formal relations, making today's talks rare."

• On the OpenAI attack and AI rhetoric (Brooke Jenkins, 04:08):

  "In no way should we be at the point where a man could have lost his life over differences of opinion."

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Key Timestamps

• 00:00 – US-Iran talks and Strait of Hormuz oil shipping crisis
• 01:09 – Lebanon-Israel direct talks
• 01:51 – Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzalez Congressional resignations
• 02:58 – LA schools avert major strike
• 03:36 – Attempted attack on OpenAI CEO and the dangers of online rhetoric
• 04:25 – Severe weather and tornadoes across the Midwest

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This concise episode captures high-stakes international diplomacy, ongoing domestic political scandals, the resolution of a looming school strike, tech-world security concerns, and breaking US weather alerts—all in under five minutes, with the steady, factual reporting typical of NPR News.

Transcript

[A]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. Pakistan is proposing hosting a second round of talks between the US And Iran in coming days. According to the Associated Press, the talks would be held in Pakistan before the end of the current ceasefire. Last weekend's talks ended with no agreement, although Vice President Vance did say there was some progress. The US And Iran both continue to blockade the Strait of Hormuz. About 20% of the world's crude oil and much of its liquefied natural gas is shipped through the very Narrow Waterway. And NPR's Greg Myre says all countries are taking an economic hit that includes

[B]

the US which gets a minimal amount of oil from the Gulf. But because oil prices have surged globally, it's right around $100 a barrel.

[C]

Now.

[B]

The U.S. faces much higher gas prices, as do other countries.

[A]

NPR's Greg Myre reporting. Lebanon and Israel are holding their first direct diplomatic talks today in more than 30 years. The talks will be held in Washington. They're intended to prepare negotiations aimed at resolving Israel's conflict with Iranian proxy militants, Hezbollah, who are based in Lebanon. NPR's Daniel Estrin has more from Tel Aviv.

[C]

Lebanon and Israel have never had formal relations, making today's talks rare. They come after more than a month of fighting between the Iranian backed Hezbollah and Israel. Hezbollah has fired at Israel, killing soldiers and civilians. Israel invaded southern Lebanon, destroying tens of thousands of homes, according to Lebane, and carrying out strikes, killing Hezbollah operatives and civilians. Today's talks at the US State Department are between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors. Lebanon wants to negotiate a ceasefire. Israel wants Lebanon to take steps to disarm Hezbollah first. Israel is preparing for a long term occupation of southern Lebanon to keep Hezbollah away from Israel's border. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[A]

California Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell says he will resign from congressman. He has been accused of sexual misconduct against several women. Swalwell denies the allegations, but he has already suspended his campaign for California governor. Meanwhile, Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzalez is expected to resign his House seat today. He was accused of having a sexual relationship with a subordinate who later died by suicide. From Texas Public Radio, David Martin Davies has more.

[D]

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. Gonzalez had already dropped his bid for reelection after being forced into a primary runoff and the launch of a congressional ethics investigation into his behavior. It's up to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, to who call a special election to fill Gonzalez's seat. For NPR News, I'm David Martin Davies in San Antonio.

[A]

This is npr. The Los Angeles school system says it has reached a tentative agreement with the last of three major unions. The tentative deal averts a strike that could have started today against the nation's second largest school system. The union represents tens of thousands of support staff for LA schools, including bus drivers, custodians and cafeteria workers. A man accused of attempted murder will appear in a California state court later today. From member station kqed, Sarah Hosseni reports. He's accused of attacking the San Francisco home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

[E]

Yesterday, local and federal law enforcement described how they believe the suspect traveled across state lines to throw an improvised explosive at Altman's home days before he was arrested shortly afterward outside OpenAI's headquarters after allegedly trying to break down the glass doors and threatening to kill anyone inside. Months prior to the attack, a Substack writer with the suspect's name published a series of posts about the danger of artificial intelligence, calling it an existential threat and Altman a pathological liar.

[F]

In no way should we be at the point where a man could have lost his life over differences of opinion.

[E]

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins called for reflection on such, quote, incendiary rhetoric. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Hosseini in San Francisco.

[A]

The National Weather Service says tornadoes were reported in several states yesterday, from Wisconsin to Kansas. Nearly 85,000 people are without power in Wisconsin. This is NPR.

[G]

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