NPR News: 04-17-2025 10PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 18, 2025

Released April 18, 2025

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Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Birthright Citizenship

NPR’s Nina Totenberg reports on a significant development in constitutional law.

President Donald Trump has long challenged the notion of birthright citizenship—the principle that any child born on U.S. soil is automatically a citizen. In a pivotal move, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it will expedite arguments in May to examine this claim.

Nina Totenberg explains, “TRUMP has long asserted that babies born in the US are not automatically citizens of this country. But the Supreme Court 127 years ago ruled that under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, they are U.S. citizens” (00:35). This marks the first time in over a century that the court is revisiting this foundational interpretation. The Supreme Court’s decision to prioritize this case suggests a potential shift in the longstanding legal framework, with a decision anticipated by late June or early July.

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Florida State University Shooting: Incident and Aftermath

A tragic event unfolded at Florida State University, leaving the community in shock.

Jack Speier reports that authorities have apprehended a suspect following a shooting at Florida State University (FSU), which resulted in two fatalities and six injuries. The perpetrator, a 20-year-old FSU student and son of a deputy sheriff, accessed a weapon to carry out the attack.

FSU Police Chief Jason Trumbauer detailed the incident: “At approximately 11:50am Thursday, April 17, a gunman opened fire on the main campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee, shooting multiple individuals in the vicinity of the student union building” (01:30). The swift response by FSU police led to the neutralization and arrest of the shooter, who remains hospitalized.

Students described the scene as chaotic, with one recounting how he and others hid in a bowling alley within the student union. The university has canceled classes through the following day as the community grapples with the aftermath.

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Debate Over Kilmar Abrego Garcia's Return to the U.S.

Diplomatic tensions rise over the fate of an individual deported to El Salvador.

The episode highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration and labeled a gang member. U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland has intervened, stating that he and Garcia have met, contrary to initial reports that Garcia was barred from a meeting in El Salvador.

Van Hollen affirmed, “US Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland now says the pair have met” (01:48). The Supreme Court has instructed the administration to facilitate Garcia’s return to the United States, challenging the narrative of his ties to gang activity.

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President Trump's Criticism of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell

Economic tensions escalate as President Trump targets Federal Reserve policies.

President Trump remains vocal in his dissatisfaction with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, specifically criticizing the central bank for not aggressively lowering interest rates. The administration is contemplating the possibility of terminating Powell’s tenure, a move that has stirred significant debate.

Scott Horsley reports, “Whether the president can fire Powell remains an open question” (02:40). The White House appears ready to challenge established precedents, even as Powell asserts his independence, stating, “I have no intention of stepping down before his term expires next year” (03:00). The potential dismissal of Powell could unsettle financial markets further, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling by 527 points in response to these developments.

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Technology Outages Impact Zoom and Spotify Users

Major tech platforms experience unexpected service disruptions.

NPR highlights recent outages affecting global video platform Zoom and music streaming service Spotify. Thousands of Spotify users reported issues ranging from app and desktop site loading problems to difficulties accessing support services. Although Spotify resolved the outages within a few hours, the incidents raised concerns about the reliability of these essential platforms.

Users expressed frustration over the disruptions, emphasizing the impact on both personal and professional activities reliant on these services.

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Protests Against Cuts to U.S. Foreign Assistance for AIDS Relief

Activists stage demonstrations to oppose reductions in life-saving aid programs.

AIDS activists organized protests outside the U.S. State Department to draw attention to proposed cuts in foreign assistance, particularly targeting PEPFAR—the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. They fear that eliminating funding for PEPFAR could reignite an AIDS crisis in Africa and other regions.

Charles King, an activist from Housing Works, emphasized the critical importance of maintaining PEPFAR, stating, “It's really critical to impress on Secretary of State Rubio and on the public the cost of eliminating PEPFAR, which has saved so many lives and probably the greatest achievement of George W. Bush” (04:15). Despite assurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that life-saving work will continue, activists reported closures of clinics and canceled contracts, underscoring the tangible risks posed by funding cuts.

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Crude Oil Prices Rise Amid Trade Deal Hopes

Oil markets respond positively to optimistic trade negotiations between the U.S. and the European Union.

Crude oil futures saw an uptick, increasing by $2.21 per barrel to close at $64.68, buoyed by emerging optimism over a potential trade agreement between the United States and the European Union. This rise in oil prices reflects market hopes for stabilized trade relations, which could mitigate previous economic uncertainties impacting energy markets.

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This summary provides an overview of the key topics discussed in the NPR News Now episode released on April 18, 2025. For the most current and detailed information, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.

Transcript

[Amazon Business]

This message comes from Amazon Business. Free your team from time consuming office tasks with smart business. Buying tools enable buyers to find and purchase items fast. Learn more about the technology, insights and Support [e-mail] Live from NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

In Washington, I'm Jack Speier. The U.S. supreme Court said today it will hear expedited arguments in May, testing a claim long pushed by President Trump, namely his contention there's no such thing as a constitutional right to birthright citizenship. More from NPR's Anita Totenberg.

[Nina Totenberg]

TRUMP has long asserted that babies born in the US Are not automatically citizens of this country. But The Supreme Court 127 years ago ruled that under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, they are U.S. citizens. And since then, the court has never disturbed that ruling. Yesterday, the justices, bowing to Trump's desire for a new look, agreed to speed up briefing in the case with arguments May 15. That likely will mean a decision by late June or early July. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Speier]

Authorities in Florida say a suspect is in custody following a shooting at Florida State University that left two people dead. They're apparently not students. At least six others were injured or wounded. The alleged gunman is also hospitalized, described as a 20 year old FSU student who officials say is the son of a deputy sheriff and had access to a weapon. Jason Trumbauer is the chief of police at Florida State University.

[Jason Trumbauer]

At approximately 11:50am Thursday, April 17, a gunman opened fire on the main campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee, shooting multiple individuals in the vicinity of the student union building. FSU police responded immediately, engaged, neutralized and apprehended the shooter.

[Jack Speier]

Students at the university described a chaotic scene with one student saying he and 30 others hid in a bowling alley inside the student union. Classes at the university are canceled through tomorrow after first saying he was prevented from meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador. US Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland now says the pair have met. Abrego Garcia was illegally deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador by the Trump administration, which continues to maintain he is a gang member. Supreme Court has told the administration to facilitate Garcia's return to the U.S. van Hollen posted a photo of himself and Garcia sitting at a table. President Trump continues to bash the chair of the Federal Reserve. Trump upset over the fact the central bank is not aggressively lowering interest rates and saying Fed Chairman Jerome Powell's termination cannot come fast enough. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. Whether the president can fire Powell remains an open question.

[Scott Horsley]

Ousting Powell would almost surely spook financial markets even more than they already are. And Powell insists Trump does not have the authority to fire him. He says he can only be fired for bad behavior, not because of a disagreement over interest rates. And there's a Supreme Court case from the Franklin Roosevelt Roosevelt era that supports that. But the White House has signaled a willingness to test that precedent.

[Jack Speier]

Powell said he has no intention of stepping down before his term expires next year. Trump's own tariffs have been starting to push up prices, potentially slowing growth. Stocks lost ground on Wall street today. The Dow fell 527 points. This is NPR, a day after outages reported by global video platform Zoom. Some users of the music platform Spotify have also been reporting disruptions. Tens of thousands of Spotify use reported difficulties with the platform, though it was apparently back up and running within a few hours. Some users reported trouble loading both the app and the desktop site. Others noted support issues. Spotify did not immediately provide more information on the outage. AIDS activists piled coffins outside the State Department today in an effort to protest cuts to U.S. foreign assistance. They're concerned the cuts could lead to a new AIDS crisis in Africa and around the world. More from NPR's Michelle Kellerman.

[Michelle Kellerman]

As the Trump administration dismantled the lead U.S. aid agency, Secretary of State Marco Rub insisted that life saving work would continue. That includes pepfar, the president's emergency plan for AIDS relief. But Charles King, an AIDS activist who runs housing Works, says he's hearing about clinics closing and canceled contracts.

[Charles King]

It's really critical to impress on Secretary of State Rubio and on the public the cost of eliminating pepfar, which has saved so many lives and probably the greatest achievement of George W. Bush.

[Michelle Kellerman]

The activists wore black as they piled up coffins warning of a potential new AIDS crisis. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Jack Speier]

Crude oil futures prices moved higher today amid some hopes for a trade deal between the US and the European Union. Oil was up $2.21 a barrel to end the session at $64.68 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

[Amazon Business]

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