NPR News Now: April 17, 2025, 6 PM EDT – Comprehensive Summary

NPR News Now, hosted by NPR, delivers the latest news updates every five minutes. In the April 17, 2025, 6 PM EDT episode, a variety of significant national and international issues were discussed, ranging from tragic events on university campuses to high-stakes political and economic developments. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics, insights, and conclusions covered in this episode.

1. Tragic Shooting at Florida State University

Timestamp: 00:26 - 01:22

The episode opens with a heartbreaking report from Washington on a mass shooting incident at Florida State University (FSU).

• Reporter Greg Allen details that 20-year-old Phoenix Eichner, the son of longtime sheriff's deputy Walter McNeil, is in custody after the attack. The shooting resulted in two fatalities and six injuries, with one individual in critical condition.

  "Police identified 20-year old Phoenix Eichner as the person responsible for the shootings, which left two dead and six people injured, one critically." — Greg Allen [00:42]

• Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil revealed that Eichner had access to his mother's firearm, which was used in the tragic event.

  "Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene." — Walter McNeil [00:56]

• Despite attempts to confront Eichner, he did not surrender peacefully and was subsequently shot and wounded by the police. FSU's president expressed the community's sorrow and commitment to mutual support in the aftermath.

  "The community is heartbroken at the violence, but would support each other and get through it together." — Greg Allen [01:06]

This incident underscores the ongoing concerns regarding gun access and campus safety in the United States.

2. Supreme Court to Hear Birthright Citizenship Case

Timestamp: 01:22 - 02:42

In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear oral arguments concerning the Trump administration's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and foreign residents.

• Jack Spear reports that the Court has scheduled arguments for May 15 and has maintained the lower court’s injunction that blocks the executive order from taking effect.

  "The Supreme Court says it will hear oral arguments on May 15." — Jack Spear [01:22]

• The debate centers around the 14th Amendment, which traditionally guarantees birthright citizenship. The Trump administration's move has sparked intense legal and political debates about immigration and constitutional rights.

3. President Trump Pressures Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell

Timestamp: 02:01 - 02:42

Amid economic turbulence, President Trump has intensified his pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, demanding lower interest rates and hinting at a possible replacement.

• Danielle Kurtzleben explains that Trump criticized Powell via social media for not reducing interest rates, a tool used to stimulate economic growth.

  "Powell's termination cannot come fast enough." — Danielle Kurtzleben [02:01]

• Powell, in a recent speech, acknowledged the challenging economic landscape shaped by Trump's tariffs, highlighting the conflict between managing inflation and economic growth.

  "There might be both higher inflation and slower growth... it's unclear which the Fed would focus on." — Powell [02:01]

• Despite these pressures, Powell's role remains officially independent, with his term extending until May 2026. However, Trump's repeated criticisms indicate significant tension between the administration and the Federal Reserve.

4. Trump Administration Targets Harvard University

Timestamp: 02:42 - 03:40

Continuing its assertive stance on higher education, the Trump administration has initiated actions against Harvard University, the nation’s oldest and wealthiest institution.

• Jack Spear reports that the administration has frozen over $2 billion in grants to Harvard and is seeking to revoke its ability to host international students, who constitute approximately 27% of the campus population.

• Additionally, the administration plans to withdraw Harvard's tax-exempt status, citing the university's definition of administrative demands aimed at curbing activism, which the administration alleges is tied to antisemitism.

  "Harvard... openly define administration demand aimed at cracking down on activism." — Jack Spear [02:42]

This aggressive approach marks a significant escalation in the administration's efforts to regulate higher education institutions.

5. Ukraine-US Mineral Deal Negotiations Progress

Timestamp: 03:40 - 04:24

On the international front, Ukraine has announced progress in negotiations with the United States regarding a future minerals deal, a crucial component for Ukraine's economic stability.

• Joanna Kakissis reports that Deputy Prime Minister Yuliya Svitadenko stated on Facebook that talks are advancing positively, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressing optimism.

  "If everything moves quickly and constructively, the deal will produce economic results for both Ukraine and America." — Zelensky [03:40]

• The negotiations aim to restructure Ukraine's debt related to previous US military aid, which the Trump administration initially insisted should be repaid using mineral revenues.

• Bloomberg News highlights that newer drafts of the agreement no longer recognize past US military aid as a debt, indicating a potential resolution that could benefit both nations economically.

This development is critical for Ukraine's ongoing recovery and its relationship with the United States.

6. Technology Platform Outages and Market Movements

Timestamp: 04:24 - 05:04

The episode also covers recent disruptions in major technology platforms and their broader economic implications.

• Jack Spear notes widespread outages reported by Zoom and Spotify, affecting tens of thousands of users. Although services were restored within hours, users experienced difficulties accessing apps and customer support.

• In financial markets, the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted by 527 points, influenced by uncertainties surrounding a potential US-European Union trade deal.

  "Oil was up $2.21 a barrel to $64.68 a barrel." — Jack Spear [04:24]

These technical issues and market fluctuations reflect the volatile interplay between technology infrastructure and global economic dynamics.

Conclusion

The April 17 episode of NPR News Now provided a multifaceted overview of pressing issues spanning public safety, legal battles over immigration, economic policies, higher education conflicts, international negotiations, and market volatility. Notable moments include the tragic FSU shooting, the Supreme Court's pending decision on birthright citizenship, President Trump's confrontations with the Federal Reserve and Harvard University, Ukraine's strides toward an economic agreement with the US, and significant movements in the technology and financial sectors. This comprehensive coverage ensures that listeners are well-informed about the complex and interconnected events shaping the current landscape.

This summary captures the essential discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on April 17, 2025. For the complete audio experience, listeners are encouraged to tune into NPR's broadcast.