NPR News Now: April 17, 2025, 9 AM EDT
NPR News Now delivers the latest headlines in five minutes, updated hourly. This summary captures the key stories discussed in the April 17, 2025, episode, providing insights and notable quotes to keep you informed.
1. U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen Advocates for Wrongfully Deported U.S. Citizen in El Salvador
Reporter: Korva Coleman
Timestamp: [00:16]
Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland is actively working to secure the release of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a U.S. citizen who was mistakenly deported to a Salvadoran prison. Despite his efforts, Salvadoran Vice President has denied his request to visit Garcia.
Notable Quotes:
- Chris Van Hollen: "I may be the first United States senator to visit El Salvador on this issue, but there will be more and there will be more members of Congress coming." (00:47)
Van Hollen challenges the current administration's stance, emphasizing that Garcia was granted protection from deportation by a judge in 2019. He asserts that the deportation was a mistake acknowledged in legal proceedings and calls for the facilitation of Garcia's return.
2. Whistleblower Raises Concerns Over DOGE's Activities at Federal Agency
Reporter: Jenna McLaughlin
Timestamp: [01:22]
A whistleblower from the IT department of a small independent federal agency has raised alarms about DOGE's (Department of Governmental Efficiency) activities. Anonymous sources revealed that DOGE requested high-level access rights before significant data removal from the system.
Notable Quotes:
- Jenna McLaughlin: "The NLRB told NPR that it never authorized access to the systems." (01:36)
Subsequently, DOGE representatives visited the agency's headquarters, and two DOGE officials began part-time work at the agency. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) plans to comply with DOGE's requests while ensuring the removal of personal data from records.
3. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell Addresses Impact of New Tariffs
Reporter: Korva Coleman
Timestamp: [02:20]
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell expressed the need for clearer understanding of the effects stemming from President Trump's new tariffs. Speaking in Chicago, Powell highlighted the potential for tariffs to cause a temporary rise in inflation, with possibilities of more persistent effects depending on various factors.
Notable Quotes:
- Jerome Powell: "Tariffs are highly likely to generate at least a temporary rise in inflation. The inflationary effects could also be more persistent." (02:33)
President Trump has criticized Powell's assessment, asserting that the U.S. is benefiting financially from the tariffs and dismissed Powell's insights as "too late and wrong." Trump further expressed frustration, stating, "The Fed chair's termination cannot come fast enough." (02:56)
4. Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies in Gaza Amid Blocked Relief Efforts
Reporter: Korva Coleman
Relief organizations are raising alarms over worsening conditions in Gaza, where Israel has blocked all relief supplies for six weeks. The United Nations reports a significant increase in acute malnutrition among Gaza's residents, with a troubling decline in the number of Palestinian children receiving therapeutic feeding.
5. Trump Administration Freezes Critical Funds for Native American Tribes
Reporter: Nate Perez
Timestamp: [03:50]
Despite over 20 tribes and nonprofits being awarded approximately $350 million to address essential infrastructure needs under the EPA's Community Change Grants, the Trump administration has frozen these funds. Originating from the Inflation Reduction Act, these grants were pivotal for projects like replacing contaminated homes in Alaska's Tionic native village.
Notable Quotes:
- Vaide Croto (Tabona Foundation): "Everything is in limbo and the bills still come in. The rent still comes in." (04:13)
The EPA is currently reviewing the Community Change grants to assess their alignment with the administration's priorities, leaving many tribes uncertain about their funding status.
6. Spotify Experiences Brief Service Outage Amidst User Complaints
Reporter: Korva Coleman
Timestamp: [04:38]
Spotify faced a temporary outage yesterday, disrupting access to music and podcasts for thousands of users. While the service has been restored, Spotify has not disclosed the cause of the disruption. The company has denied reports suggesting that the outage was due to a hacking incident.
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