NPR News Now: April 17, 2025 – 1PM EDT Summary

On April 17, 2025, NPR News Now delivered a concise yet comprehensive update on the latest developments shaping the world. Hosted by Jeanine Herbst, the episode covered a range of topics from public safety incidents and international diplomacy to judicial rulings, energy crises, market movements, sports governance, and antitrust actions against tech giants. Below is a detailed summary of the key segments discussed.

1. Active Shooter Incident at Florida State University

Timestamp: [00:26]

Jeanine Herbst opened the news segment with a breaking story from Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State University is currently advising students and staff to shelter in place following reports of an active shooter at the student union building.

• Impact: Tallahassee Memorial Hospital has confirmed receiving multiple patients from the incident, indicating the severity of the situation.

• Response: Local police have been actively responding to the incident, working to ensure the safety of everyone on campus.

This development underscores the ongoing challenges educational institutions face in maintaining campus safety.

2. Diplomatic Engagement: Italy and the United States

Timestamp: [00:51] - [01:30]

The episode delved into international relations, highlighting a significant meeting between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

• Trump’s Remarks: President Trump emphasized the strength of U.S.-Italy relations, stating, “We have a very good relationship together, and as countries, we have a very good relationship” (00:51).

• Trade Prospects: Trump expressed optimism about Italy negotiating a favorable trade deal with the United States.

NPR's Deepa Shivaram provided context, noting that Meloni, leader of the right-wing Brothers of Italy party, attended Trump's inauguration—a gesture that has solidified their bilateral ties. Despite previous tensions arising from Trump’s imposition of 20% tariffs on European imports, which were later reduced to 10%, this meeting signals a potential thaw in negotiations. Future diplomatic engagements include Meloni hosting Vice President J.D. Vance in Italy.

3. Judicial Intervention in Environmental Funding

Timestamp: [01:30] - [02:17]

Switching to domestic policy, Jeanine Herbst reported on judicial actions blocking the Trump administration’s attempts to withhold funds for climate and environmental initiatives.

• Court Rulings: Two federal judges have temporarily halted the administration’s strategy to cut off billions in grant funding approved by Congress during the Biden era.

  • Rhode Island Case: A judge in Rhode Island deemed the funding freeze unlawful, ordering the resumption of payments to nonprofits amidst ongoing litigation.

  • District of Columbia Case: Similarly, a judge blocked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from unlawfully suspending or terminating grant funding, citing insufficient evidence of wrongdoing by recipients.

Michael Copley from NPR elaborated that these rulings reflect the judiciary’s stance against executive overreach, ensuring that previously allocated funds are utilized as intended by Congress. The EPA has stated it is reviewing the decisions, while other involved agencies have remained silent or declined to comment.

4. Energy Crisis: Widespread Blackout in Puerto Rico

Timestamp: [02:17] - [03:11]

Jeanine Herbst shed light on a critical energy crisis in Puerto Rico, where a massive blackout has left the island largely without power.

• Current Status: The blackout, beginning at noon on Wednesday, has affected approximately 1.4 million residents. Over half of the utility customers have had their power restored, but significant portions remain in darkness.

• Public Response: Sergio Martinez Beltran from NPR reported chaotic conditions on the ground, with congested roads and long lines at gas stations as residents seek fuel for generators. There is growing public outcry for the government to cancel contracts with the companies responsible for power generation and distribution.

• Recovery Efforts: Officials anticipate restoring power to 90% of the island by Friday or Saturday, though the exact cause of the blackout remains unidentified. This marks the second total blackout in Puerto Rico within four months, highlighting ongoing vulnerabilities in the island’s energy infrastructure.

5. Financial Markets: Mixed Trading on Wall Street

Timestamp: [03:11]

Jeanine Herbst provided a snapshot of the current state of the financial markets:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Down by 248 points.

• NASDAQ: Up by 41 points.

• S&P 500: Up by 38 points.

The mixed performance indicates a volatile trading environment, reflecting investors' cautious stance amidst global uncertainties and domestic challenges.

6. International Cricket Council Supports Exiled Afghan Women’s Team

Timestamp: [03:37] - [04:22]

Transitioning to sports and international affairs, NPR’s Dia Hadid reported on the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) commitment to supporting the exiled Afghan women’s cricket team.

• ICC’s Initiative: The governing body announced the creation of a fund dedicated to assisting Afghan women cricketers who have fled the Taliban regime, which prohibits women from participating in sports.

• Background: Since the Taliban takeover three years ago, most female Afghan athletes, including cricketers, have sought asylum abroad, primarily relocating to Australia after advocacy from prominent sportswomen.

• Criticism and Response: The ICC has faced longstanding criticism for admitting Afghanistan as a member member while failing to enforce the condition that women must be allowed to play. The newly established fund aims to address these concerns, although specifics regarding the fund’s amount, duration, and implementation timeline have yet to be disclosed.

7. Antitrust Case Against Google

Timestamp: [04:22] - [05:04]

Concluding the episode, Jeanine Herbst reported on a landmark antitrust ruling against Google.

• Judge’s Ruling: U.S. District Judge Leonie Brink Emma found that Google unlawfully monopolized two key markets within the online advertising sector: publishers’ ad services and ad exchanges.

• Potential Consequences: This ruling opens the door for prosecutors to pursue a breakup of Google’s advertising products to restore competitive balance.

• Upcoming Legal Challenges: Google is set to face another court challenge next week regarding the Justice Department’s request to divest its Chrome browser and implement other measures to mitigate its dominance in online search.

This case underscores the increasing scrutiny faced by major tech companies concerning antitrust laws and market competition.

Closing Remarks

The episode wrapped up with a brief promotion encouraging listeners to access NPR News Now without sponsorship interruptions via Amazon Music with a Prime membership or other podcast platforms.

Listen Sponsor-Free: Subscribe to NPR News Now on plus.npr.org or your preferred podcast app to enjoy uninterrupted news coverage.

This detailed summary encapsulates the critical news items discussed in the April 17, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, providing a clear and comprehensive overview for those who did not have the opportunity to listen.