NPR News Now: April 17, 2025, 11 PM EDT
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U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen Visits Salvadoran Prison Amid Deportation Controversy
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland made a significant visit to a Salvadoran prison where a Maryland man, Abrego Garcia, remains detained following a wrongful deportation. Despite the visit, Van Hollen was denied access to Garcia, highlighting ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Salvadoran authorities.
During the visit, Senator Van Hollen stated, "[...] the Trump administration is in violation of the Supreme Court, which ordered the White House to facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia" (00:34). However, Luke Garrett reports from El Salvador that the U.S. Embassy has received no directives from the Trump administration to aid Garcia's release (00:45).
Further complicating matters, Van Hollen met with Salvadoran Vice President Felix Ulloa, who refused both in-person and phone access to Garcia (00:54). In response to Van Hollen's trip, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt criticized his actions, labeling Garcia as a "terrorist" and asserting, "he will never live in the United States again" (00:54).
California Leaders Challenge President Trump's Tariffs in Federal Court
San Francisco, CA – California Governor Gavin Newsom and other state leaders have filed a lawsuit against President Trump's administration, seeking to halt the implementation of new tariffs. The lawsuit contends that the President exceeded his authority by imposing these tariffs, which are adversely affecting both businesses and consumers across the state.
Governor Newsom, addressing the issue at a family-owned almond farm in California's Central Valley, remarked, "The 10% across the board tariffs, as well as higher tariffs levied against Mexico, Canada, and China are not legal and are hurting both businesses and consumers" (01:26). He emphasized the stakes involved, stating, "No state is poised to lose more than the state of California. So that's our state of mind. That's why we're asserting ourselves on behalf of 40 million Americans" (01:42).
The lawsuit argues that President Trump requires congressional authorization to enact tariffs with such extensive economic implications. In response, White House spokesman Kush Desai criticized Governor Newsom, advising, "Newsom should be focusing on California's problems" (01:54).
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Autism Research & Fed Chairman Jerome Powell on Economic Outlook
National Overview – Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced a commitment to researching the causes of autism, describing it as a "preventable disease." This stance has sparked discussions in the scientific community, where researchers maintain that autism is a complex neurological disorder with no single cause, though genetic factors are acknowledged.
In economic news, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell addressed concerns regarding new tariffs, stating they are "likely to cause a temporary rise in inflation, which remains above the central bank's 2% target" (02:09). Powell highlighted the robust state of the economy and low unemployment rates but noted that policymakers are postponing interest rate decisions pending further economic clarity.
Powell elaborated, "We'll get the initial reading on first quarter GDP in a couple of weeks. The data we have so far suggests that growth has slowed in the first quarter of this year from last year's solid pace. Despite strong motor vehicle sales, overall consumer spending appears to have grown modestly" (02:49). Additionally, he reported, "Prices rose at an annual rate of 2.3% during March" (03:07).
Massive Power Outage Disrupts Puerto Rico Amid Easter Celebrations
Puerto Rico – A widespread power outage has plunged the island's 1.4 million residents into darkness, severely impacting preparations for the Easter holiday. Hotels are operating near capacity using generators, and hundreds of thousands of residents are experiencing water shortages. The exact cause of the outage remains unclear, though Puerto Rico continues to grapple with recurring power issues stemming from the 2017 hurricane that damaged its aging power grid.
Potential Signs of Life Detected on Distant Exoplanet
Space Exploration Update – Scientists have identified chemical signatures in the atmosphere of an exoplanet orbiting a star approximately 124 light-years away, which may indicate the presence of life. Utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers analyzed starlight filtered through the planet's atmosphere and detected an abundance of sulfur-based gases. On Earth, such gases are produced solely by biological activity, like marine microbes.
Astronomer Niku Madhusadan from the University of Cambridge expressed his astonishment, saying, "To be very frank, it was astounding. I had never imagined that this is what we would see" (04:21). While some scientists are excited about the possibility of an "ocean world teeming with alien life," others urge caution, noting that the gas detections require further confirmation and that there might be non-biological explanations for their presence (04:27).
Market Update: U.S. Futures Rise in After-Hours Trading
Financial Markets – U.S. futures are trending higher in after-hours trading, influenced by positive movements in Asia Pacific markets. Shares across various sectors are experiencing gains as investors respond to recent economic data and corporate earnings reports (04:43).
This summary is based on the NPR News Now episode released on April 17, 2025.
Timestamps:
- 00:18 – Introduction by Shea Stevens
- 00:34 – Chris Van Hollen's statement on Supreme Court order
- 00:45 – Luke Garrett on U.S. Embassy status
- 00:54 – Van Hollen's meeting with Felix Ulloa and Levitt's criticism
- 01:12 – Introduction to California tariff lawsuit
- 01:26 – Gavin Newsom's remarks at almond farm
- 01:42 – Luke Garrett on state's position
- 01:54 – White House's response to Newsom
- 02:09 – Kennedy on autism and Powell on tariffs
- 02:49 – Powell on Q1 GDP and economic growth
- 03:07 – Powell on inflation rates
- 03:55 – Puerto Rico outage and exoplanet discovery
- 04:21 – Madhusadan's reaction
- 04:27 – Nell Greenfield Boyce on exoplanet findings
- 04:43 – Market update by Shea Stevens