NPR News: 04-17-2025 7AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 17, 2025, 7 AM EDT Summary

By NPR

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Deportation Controversy: Senator Van Hollen and Kilmar Abrego Garcia

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland engaged in discussions with officials in El Salvador yesterday concerning immigration policies and migrant welfare. Despite his efforts, Van Hollen was unable to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a migrant recently deported by the Trump administration and currently imprisoned. The administration has acknowledged an error in Abrego Garcia's deportation, a move that has stirred significant concern among migrant communities.

Impact on Migrant Communities

Maryland State Delegate Ashanti Martinez highlighted the broader implications of Abrego Garcia's case:

“[00:37] When they look at a situation like Kilmar, they're very much impacted in saying, could this be me next? What is really happening right now? And you know, what is our government doing to protect us?”

Martinez emphasized the fear and uncertainty among migrants, questioning the government's role in safeguarding their futures.

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Supreme Court Orders and Legal Challenges

The U.S. Supreme Court has mandated that the administration facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States. However, Attorney General Pam Bondi has declared that Garcia will not be re-admitted, asserting that he is affiliated with a gang—a claim vehemently denied by Garcia's legal team.

Potential Criminal Contempt

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg has indicated that the Trump administration may be in criminal contempt due to its alleged deliberate disregard of the court's order to halt migrant deportations to El Salvador. Boasberg criticized the administration for "purposely ignoring" judicial directives, raising questions about the separation of powers and executive compliance with the judiciary.

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Diplomatic Efforts in Paris: Rubio Meets Macron

Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Paris, accompanied by President Trump's Russia-Ukraine envoy Steve Witkoff, to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and the French Foreign Minister. The primary agenda was to discuss strategies to end Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Diverging Strategies Between US and Europe

Eleanor Beardsley reports that while Macron is committed to ceasing Russian aggression, there exists a significant rift between the United States and European nations on the approach to resolving the conflict. The Trump administration's stance has been criticized for treating Russian President Vladimir Putin as an "honest broker," despite ongoing shelling and civilian casualties in Ukrainian cities.

President Macron asserted:

“[01:30] Europe can never let Russia win the war in Ukraine.”

Furthermore, both France and Britain have expressed readiness to spearhead a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine should a truce be reached. However, Russian President Putin has dismissed the notion of such a force, maintaining his position against international intervention.

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California Lawsuit Challenges Trump-Era Tariffs

California officials, led by Governor Gavin Newsom, have filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to overturn President Trump's tariffs. The lawsuit contends that the imposition of a 10% across-the-board tariff, along with higher rates targeting Mexico, Canada, and China, exceeds presidential authority and adversely affects both businesses and consumers.

Governor Newsom's Statement

Appearing at a family-owned almond farm in California's Central Valley, Governor Newsom stated:

“[02:40] 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.”

Newsom argued that the tariffs are not only illegal but also detrimental to California's economy, which relies heavily on international trade. In response, White House spokesperson Kush Desai criticized Newsom, suggesting that the governor should prioritize addressing California's internal challenges instead of contesting federal trade policies.

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Market and Legal Updates: Wall Street and New York Corrections

Stock Market Downturn

In premarket trading, Dow Futures plummeted by 500 points, reflecting investor anxiety over recent political and economic developments.

Legal Proceedings in New York

Two New York corrections officers have entered pleas of not guilty to murder charges related to the fatal beating of a prisoner last month. This incident occurred amidst an unapproved strike by some New York prison guards, leading to the arrest of ten individuals connected to the case. The situation underscores ongoing tensions within the state's correctional facilities and raises questions about labor actions and inmate safety.

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DoDEA Schools Face Backlash Over Curriculum Changes

Families with children in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools are initiating lawsuits against the administration for the removal of certain books and alterations to curricular content. These changes are purportedly in response to a presidential executive order aimed at eliminating content related to gender, ideology, and divisive concepts.

Parental Concerns

Jessica Henninger, a parent with children enrolled in a DoDEA school in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, expressed frustration over the educational modifications:

“[03:46] My husband fights for our constitutional rights and our freedoms in this country, and to see those rights being taken away from my children was just absolutely something that I could not abide.”

Henninger cited the removal of fourth-grade reading materials such as “A Nation of Immigrants” and the cancellation of a Black History Month project as examples of the administration's overreach. Additionally, nearly 400 books have been removed from the U.S. Naval Academy, further intensifying parental and community opposition.

A DoDEA spokesperson declined to comment on the ongoing litigation but affirmed the organization's commitment to providing an excellent educational experience despite the changes.

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Wildlife Trafficking: Belgian Teens Charged in Kenya

In Kenya, authorities have charged two teenage nationals from Belgium with smuggling ants, alleging that the teens transported thousands of ants in test tubes across international borders. Kenyan officials classify this act as illegal wildlife trafficking, a serious offense under both Kenyan and international law. The teenagers, however, maintain that their actions were driven by personal interest and curiosity, claiming they were collecting ants for recreational purposes rather than for profit or trade.

This case highlights the broader challenges of enforcing wildlife protection laws and the complexities involved in distinguishing between innocent scientific curiosity and unlawful trafficking activities.

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For more updates, visit NPR.org.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. U.S. senator Chris Van Hollen met with officials in El Salvador yesterday, but the Maryland Democrat was not able to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He's been imprisoned. The Trump administration says it made a mistake in deporting Abrego Garcia last month. From Maryland, state delegate Ashanti Martinez says migrants in his community are watching this case closely.

[Ashanti Martinez]

When they look at a situation like Kilmar, they're very much impacted in saying, could this be me next? What is really happening right now? And you know, what is our government doing to protect us?

[Korva Coleman]

The US Supreme Court has instructed the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return. But U.S. attorney General Pam Bondi says he won't be coming back to the US Claiming he is a gang member. His lawyers deny that charge. In a related matter, U.S. district Judge James Boasberg says the Trump administration is likely in criminal contempt. He says the administration purposely ignored his order to turn around planes deporting migrants to El Salvador. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in Paris today. He'll meet with President Emmanuel Macron and the French foreign minister. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. Rubio is accompanied by President Trump's Russia Ukraine envoy Steve Witkoff.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

In a statement, the French presidency said Macron will meet with the American delegation to discuss, quote, putting an end to the Russian aggression in Ukraine. But the US And Europe are farther apart than ever on how to end the war. Europeans are stunned as the Trump administration continues to treat Russian President Vladimir Putin as an honest broker, even as the Kremlin continues to shell Ukrainian cities, killing scores of people. President Macron has said Europe can never let Russia win the war in Ukraine. France and Britain say they are ready to lead a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine in the event of a truce. Putin has already rejected any such force. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Korva Coleman]

Leaders in California are asking a federal court to halt President Trump's tariffs. They argue in a lawsuit that Trump exceeded his authority in imposing them. From member station KQED in San Francisco, Marisa lagas has more.

[Marisa Lagos]

Governor Gavin Newsom says 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. He appeared at a family owned almond farm in California's Central Valley Wednesday morning.

[Gavin Newsom]

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.

[Marisa Lagos]

The suit argues Trump needs congressional authorization for actions with such broad economic consequences. White House spokesman Kush Desai responded in a statement saying Newsom should be focusing on California's problems. For NPR News, I'm Marisa Lagos in San Francisco.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, in premarket trading, Dow Futures are down 500 points. This is NPR. Two New York corrections officers have pleaded not guilty to murder charges. It's in connection with the beating death of a prisoner last month. This happened while some New York prison guards were staging an unapproved strike. Ten people in all have been arrested in the prisoner's kill. Students in schools run by the Defense Department are suing the administration for calling for the removal of books and changing curricula. Kentucky Public Radio's Sylvia Goodman reports the changes are based on the president's executive order to remove gender, ideology and divisive concepts.

[Jessica Henninger]

Jessica Henninger has three children in a school run by the Department of Defense Education Activity in Fort Campbell, Kentucky. She says books and curriculum have been removed and a project celebrating Black History Month canceled.

[Unnamed Parent]

My husband fights for our constitutional rights and our freedoms in this country, and to see those rights being taken away from my children was just absolutely something that I could not abide.

[Jessica Henninger]

The curriculum list marked do not use includes a fourth grade reading called A Nation of Immigrants. Other DoD led academies have also cut books, including nearly 400 from the U.S. naval Academy. A spokesperson for Dodea told NPR he cannot comment on active litigation, but the military schools are committed to providing an excellent educational experience. For NPR News, I'm Sylvia Goodman in Louisville, Kentucky.

[Korva Coleman]

Officials in Kenya have charged two teenagers from Belgium with smuggling ants. The teens allegedly packed test tubes with thousands of ants. Kenyan officials say this is illegal wildlife trafficking. The teenagers say they were collecting the ants for fun. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News in Washington.

[Nature Conservancy]

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