NPR News: 04-15-2025 12AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 15, 2025

Presented by NPR

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1. El Salvador's Stance on Deporting Maryland Citizen

Host: Shea Stevens
Timestamp: [00:19]

El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele has declared his intent not to return Kilmore Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador. During a recent visit to the White House, Bukele asserted, “The US has no say in the matter” (00:19). This statement comes despite a court order mandating the Trump administration to repatriate Garcia.

2. US vs. El Salvador on Deportation Legality

Reporter: Danielle Kurtzleben
Timestamp: [00:51]

The Trump administration maintains that Abrego Garcia's deportation was lawful, citing his alleged affiliation with the MS-13 gang—a group designated as a terrorist organization by the administration. However, in 2019, a judge found insufficient evidence to justify his deportation. The Supreme Court recently ruled that Garcia is entitled to due process, compelling the administration to facilitate his return to the United States (00:51). Despite this, Bukele has been cooperative with the US in housing deportees, even those not from El Salvador. Last month, over 200 individuals deemed dangerous gang members were deported under this collaboration.

3. Army Orders Removal of DEI and Critical Race Theory Books

Host: Shea Stevens
Reporter: Tom Bowman
Timestamp: [01:29]

The military's civilian leadership has directed army libraries, including West Point and the Army War College, to eliminate all books that advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), gender studies, and critical race theory. Acting Secretary of the Army Derek Anderson stated in a memo, “Books promoting diversity, gender and race subverts meritocracy and unity” (01:46). Libraries are required to submit a list of such books by April 16th. This directive follows the U.S. Naval Academy's removal of nearly 400 titles from Nimitz Library, including Maya Angelou's seminal work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

4. IRS Tax Deadline Pressures Amid Workforce Layoffs

Host: Shea Stevens
Reporter: Eva Pukach
Timestamp: [02:20]

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) anticipates that over 140 million Americans will file their taxes by the upcoming Tuesday. This surge in filings coincides with significant layoffs within the IRS workforce, raising concerns about processing delays (02:31). Taxpayers who cannot meet the April 15 deadline can purchase an extension, moving the federal deadline to October 15. Additionally, individuals in nine states impacted by Hurricane Helene, including Florida and North Carolina, have an extended deadline of May 1. Other regions, such as Los Angeles County and parts of Kentucky and West Virginia affected by wildfires and severe storms, also enjoy extended deadlines into the fall. Failing to file or request an extension may result in penalties of 5% of the owed amount per month, up to 25% total.

5. Attack on Pennsylvania Governor's Mansion

Host: Shea Stevens
Timestamp: [03:14]

In a shocking incident on Sunday, Cody Ballmer, a 38-year-old suspect, was apprehended without bail in connection with a burglary and arson attack on the Pennsylvania governor's mansion. Ballmer faces charges including attempted murder, terrorism, and aggravated arson. Authorities allege that his plan was to target Governor Josh Shapiro, who was present at the residence with family members during the break-in and ensuing fire.

6. Sudan Civil War: RSF Attacks Aid Camps

Host: Shea Stevens
Reporter: Emmanuel Akinwotu
Timestamp: [03:49]

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan have intensified their assault on aid organizations, resulting in the deaths of over 320 individuals across two aid camps since Thursday. These attacks have targeted the city of Al Fashir in Darfur, the last major city in the region not under RSF control. The city and its camps have been under bombardment for several months. Notably, nine medical staff from Relief International were killed by the RSF. Relief International manages the only remaining medical facility in Zamzam camp, which shelters over half a million refugees. Despite these attacks, the RSF has taken control of Zamzam camp and denies involvement in civilian casualties.

7. Blue Origin's All-Female Spaceflight

Host: Shea Stevens
Timestamp: [04:32]

In a groundbreaking achievement, Blue Origin launched an all-female crew into space on Monday. The mission included singer Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, and helicopter pilot Lawrence Sanchez, among six passengers, embarking on an 11-minute journey beyond Earth's atmosphere. Since its inception in 2021, Blue Origin's New Shepard launch vehicle has facilitated numerous private citizen spaceflights, marking significant progress in making space accessible to diverse groups.

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This summary provides an overview of the key news stories covered in NPR News Now's episode released on April 15, 2025.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele says he has no intention of sending a mistakenly deported Maryland man back to the US During a White House visit Monday. Bukele also said the US has no say in the matter, although a court has ordered the Trump administration to bring Kilmore Abrego Garcia home. As NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports, the administration insists Abrego Garcia's deportation was legal because it says he's allegedly linked to a terror group.

[Danielle Kurtzleben]

Now, on that terrorist point, the Trump administration says that Abrego Garcia is a member of MS.13. That's a gang the administration has declared a terrorist organization. But back in 2019, a judge ruled that there was insufficient evidence to deport him. But again, the Supreme Court has ruled days ago that Abrego Garcia is owed due process and that the administration has to facilitate his return to the U.S. but Bukele has cooperated very willingly with Trump in housing deportees, even ones that are not from El Salvador. Last month, the administration deported more than 200 people whom they claimed were dangerous gang members.

[Shea Stevens]

Danielle Kurtzleben reporting. The military civilian leadership has ordered army libraries, including West Point, to remove all books that promote diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as gender and critical race theory. NPR's Tom Bowman has more on a memo sent to a top army official.

[Tom Bowman]

The memo, obtained by NPR and written by acting Secretary of the Army Derek Anderson, says books promoting diversity, gender and race quote, subverts meritocracy and unity. It says a list of books should be provided to the Army's Chief Librarian by April 16th. Besides West Point, the memo was also sent to the Army War College. The move comes after the U.S. naval Academy removed nearly 400 books from Nimitz Library that had similar topics. Those books included Maya Angelou's I Know why the Caged Bird Sings. Tom Bowman, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

The IRS expects more than 140 million people to file their taxes by Tuesday. As NPR's Eva Pukach reports, the deadline comes amid the layoffs of thousands of IRS workers.

[Eva Pukach]

If you can't make the April 15 deadline, you can buy a tax extension to push the federal deadline to October 15th. But taxpayers in nine states recovering from damage from Hurricane Helene, including Florida and North Carolina, have an extended tax deadline of May 1. Other deadline extensions into the fall include people in Los Angeles county affected by wildfires and residents in all of Kentucky and portions of West Virginia due to severe storms earlier this year. Failure to file or request an extension will result in a penalty of 5% of what you owe for each month you fail to file and pay up to 25%. Eva Pukach, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

This is NPR. The suspect in Sunday's burglary and arson attack on the Pennsylvania governor's mansion is being held without bail. 38 year old Cody Ballmer is charged with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and other offenses. Authorities allege that Ballmer planned to attack Governor Josh Shapiro, who was at the residence along with family members when the break in and fire occurred. A paramilitary group in Sudan has attacked aid groups, killing hundreds of civilians who were forced to flee. NPR's Emmanuel Akinwotu has more on Sudan's civil war.

[Emmanuel Akinwotu]

More than 320 people in two aid camps have been killed by the RSF since Thursday, according to Local Emergency Response Rooms, a network of activists supporting local communities. The camps are in the city of Al Fashir, the last major city in Darfur that the RSF do not control. The city and its camps have been bombarded by the RSF for several months. The casualties include nine medical staff from the aid group Relief International who were killed by the rsf. The aid group says Relief International run the only remaining medical facility in Zamzam camp, which hosts more than half a million refugees. The RSF said it has taken over Zamzam camp and has denied killing civilians. Emmanuel Akimotu, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

An all female crew took a brief trip into space Monday aboard a Blue Origin rocket. Singer Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King, helicopter pilot Lawrence Sanchez were among six people on the nearly 11 minute excursion. Blue Origin's New Shepard launch vehicle has ferried dozens of private citizens into space since 2021. This is NPR News.

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