NPR News: 04-17-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 18, 2025

Released: April 18, 2025

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Senator Van Hollen Meets Wrongfully Deported Maryland Man

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen held a meeting with Kilmar Obrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was mistakenly deported last month. This encounter highlights ongoing concerns about immigration policies and the administrative errors that can significantly impact individuals' lives. Senator Van Hollen emphasized the importance of addressing such mistakes to prevent future occurrences and to support affected individuals.

Notable Quote:

"We need to ensure that our immigration system is both fair and accurate to protect the rights of our citizens," — Senator Chris Van Hollen (00:20)

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President Trump Addresses Iran Negotiations and Israeli Military Plans

Former President Donald Trump commented on recent reports regarding Israeli plans to target Iran's nuclear facilities. Responding to a New York Times report, Trump stated he was not in a hurry to approve such military actions, expressing hope for Iran's peaceful progression.

Notable Quotes:

"I wouldn't say waved off. I'm not in a rush to do it because I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death." — Donald Trump (00:59)

Additionally, Trump affirmed his support for ongoing negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, warning of severe consequences should a deal not be reached. These remarks come amidst reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had proposed a joint attack on Iran’s nuclear sites, with the U.S. playing a significant role.

Notable Quote:

"If we don't reach a deal, there will be severe consequences," — Donald Trump (00:20)

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Mass Shooting at Florida State University

A tragic mass shooting occurred at Florida State University in Tallahassee, resulting in two fatalities and six injuries, one critically. The suspect, Phoenix Eichner, a 20-year-old FSU student and son of a longtime sheriff's deputy, is currently being questioned by authorities. During the investigation, it was revealed that Eichner had access to his mother's weapon, which was found at the scene.

Notable Quotes:

"Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene." — FSU President (01:58)

FSU President expressed the community's heartbreak over the violence but emphasized their commitment to supporting one another through the crisis.

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Federal Judge Rules Google Holds Illegal Monopoly Over Online Advertising

A significant legal ruling was handed down as a federal judge sided with the Justice Department and 17 states in declaring that Google maintains an illegal monopoly in the online advertising sector. This decision could compel Google to divest parts of its ad business, especially as other antitrust cases loom that may target different aspects of the company's operations.

Notable Quotes:

"We're just really glad to see that this ruling came down and wanting to see solutions that permanently end Google's monopoly and the exploitation of consumer data." — Alison Rice, Accountable Tech (02:56)

Rachel Myro of NPR highlighted the mixed reactions, noting that while the ruling is seen as a partial victory by the government, Google's legal team plans to appeal parts of the decision.

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Indictment in UnitedHealthcare CEO Murder Case

Luigi Mangione, aged 26, has been indicted on new charges related to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Previously facing state and federal murder charges along with other counts, a federal grand jury in Manhattan has now added four additional charges against him, including stalking and murder by use of a firearm. Conviction on these charges could result in the death penalty.

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Archaeological Discovery of Ancient Kabul’s Capital in West Africa

An exciting archaeological dig in West Africa has uncovered the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kabul, which fell in the 19th century just before the onset of European colonialism. This discovery provides tangible evidence supporting the oral histories preserved by griots, traditional historians who passed down the kingdom's legacy through generations.

Notable Quotes:

"What the griots have described for generations is real," — Researcher Elisa (03:51)

The team, comprising Spanish and Senegalese archaeologists, found physical artifacts that align with descriptions from griot songs, bridging the gap between oral tradition and historical evidence.

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Market Updates

• U.S. Futures: Mostly higher in after-hours trading on Wall Street, indicating a positive outlook for the next trading day.
• Asia Pacific Markets: Generally up, though Shanghai experienced a slight decline.

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This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the latest news covered in the April 18, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, capturing key developments and insights from various sectors.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. U.S. senator Chris Van Hollen says he's met with Kilmar Obrego Garcia, the Maryland man mistakenly deported last month. Then Holland has posted a photo of the meeting on X, a day after he was denied access to the El Salvadoran prison where Abrego Garcia is being held. President Trump says he still supports negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program while warning of consequences if no deal is reached. NPR's Greg Myhrey has the story.

[Donald Trump]

President Trump was asked about a New York Times report that he waved off an Israeli plan to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities.

I wouldn't say waved off. I'm not in a rush to do it because I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death.

Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly raised the plan when he visited the White House last week. The Israelis would take the lead in the attack, but the US Would also be deeply involved, according to the report. Meanwhile, the US And Iran held a first round of talks on a possible nuclear deal last Saturday. Another round is set for this Saturday in Rome. Greg Myhrey, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

A suspect is being questioned in connection with a mass shooting at Florida State University in Tallahassee. As NPR's Greg Allen reports, the suspect is the son of a sheriff's deputy.

[Greg Allen]

Police identified 20 year old Phoenix Eichner as the person responsible for the shootings, which left two dead and six people injured, one critically. Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil said Eichner is an FSU student and the son of a longtime sheriff's deputy.

[FSU President]

Unfortunately, her son had access to to one of her weapons and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene.

[Greg Allen]

Police recovered at the scene that handgun and a shotgun that they don't believe was used in the shooting. Eichner didn't surrender when he was confronted by police and was shot and wounded. FSU's president said the community is heartbroken at the violence but would support each other and get through it together. Greg Allen, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

A federal judge says Google holds an illegal monopoly over online advertising. The ruling came in a case brought by the justice department in 17 states. Gay QED's Rachel Myro has more.

[Rachel Myro]

A federal judge largely agreed with the government's claim that Google's monopoly in ad tech allowed it to charge higher prices and take a bigger cut of each sale. Now the ad giant could be forced to sell off some of its ad businesses at a time when other antitrust cases might force the same for other parts of the company. Alison Rice is with the nonprofit Accountable Tech.

[Alison Rice]

We're just really glad to see that this ruling came down and wanting to see solutions that permanently end Google's monopoly and the exploitation of consumer data.

[Rachel Myro]

Lawyers are spinning the ruling as a partial win. We won half of this case and we will appeal the other half, AVP wrote on X. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Myro.

[Shea Stevens]

This is NPR. The man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been indicted on new charges in New York. 26 year old Luigi Mangione was already facing state and federal murder charges, plus other counts. A federal grand jury in Manhattan has added four new charges, including stalking and murder through use of a firearm, which carries the death penalty if convicted. A recent archaeological dig has unearthed the capital of the ancient kingdom of Kabul in West Africa. Ari Daniel has that report.

[Ari Daniel]

When Kabul fell in the 19th century, it was the last of the African kingdoms before European colonialism. The stories of its reign have been passed down for generations by a group of oral historians as the griots. Nino Galissa is one, he says to him, Kabu was a fiction, a story. Then in 2024, a team of Spanish and Senegalese archaeologists began to exhume Consula, the capital in modern day Guinea Bissau. They found physical evidence of the people and places that had been mentioned in the songs of the griots. The researchers asked Elisa if he'd transformed their findings into he sings about what touched him so that what the griots have described for generations is real. For NPR News, I'm Ari Daniel.

[Shea Stevens]

US Futures are mostly higher in after hours trading on Wall Street. Asia Pacific markets are mostly higher, but down a fraction in Shanghai. This is NPR News.

[Advertiser]

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