NPR News: 04-18-2025 1AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 18, 2025

Hosted by Shea Stevens

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1. Federal Appeals Panel Upholds Court Order on Mistaken Deportation

[00:18] Shea Stevens: A significant development unfolded as a federal appeals panel declined to block a court order mandating sworn testimony regarding the Trump administration's efforts to repatriate Kilmore Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident mistakenly deported to El Salvador last month.

[00:41] Jimena Bustillo: Judge Paula Zinis had previously instructed the government to accelerate Abrego Garcia's release, a directive upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. The judge criticized the Justice Department for providing insufficient information about the efforts to bring him back, leading to an ordered expedited discovery process. Despite the administration's appeal, the appellate judges emphasized the government's implicit acknowledgment of the deportation error, stating, "if the government has conceded that Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported, why then should it not make what was wrong a right?" They noted the possibility of a Supreme Court appeal.

[01:20] Shea Stevens: In a show of support, Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen visited Abrego Garcia in prison and shared a joint photograph online, though he did not disclose the inmate's status.

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2. President Trump Criticizes Federal Reserve Amid Trade War Pressures

[01:44] Scott Horsley: President Trump has openly criticized Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell for not reducing interest rates, even as the European Central Bank lowers borrowing costs. The administration faces pressure from Trump's ongoing trade war, which is exacerbating inflationary pressures.

[02:00] Leon Kearney: Sheriff Walter McNeil commented on the situation, stating, "I would say the Fed really owes it to the American people to get interest rates down. That's the only thing he's good for."

[02:06] Scott Horsley: In response, Powell addressed the Economic Club of Chicago, explaining that Trump's tariffs are likely to cause higher inflation, at least temporarily—a key factor in the Fed's cautious approach to cutting rates.

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3. Tragic Shooting at Florida State University

[02:19] Shea Stevens: A tragic incident occurred at Florida State University (FSU) as a gunman opened fire, resulting in two fatalities and five injuries. The suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Eichner, was apprehended after being injured by police.

[02:38] Leon Kearney: Sheriff Walter McNeil revealed that Eichner is the son of a county law enforcement official, stating, "Our deputy, Deputy Eichner has been with the Leon County Sheriff's office for over 18 years. She has a tremendous job that she's done. Her service to this community has been exceptional. Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene."

[03:03] Shea Stevens: In response to the shooting, FSU has canceled all events on campus through Sunday to address the incident and ensure community safety.

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4. Supreme Court Delays Ruling on Birthright Citizenship

[03:03] Shea Stevens: The U.S. Supreme Court has postponed its decision on President Trump's assertion that the Constitution does not automatically grant citizenship to everyone born in the United States. This delay affects Trump's executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship for individuals with parents in the U.S. illegally. Lower courts had previously blocked the order, and the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on May 15.

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5. Diplomatic Efforts to End Russia's War in Ukraine

[03:03] Shea Stevens: In international diplomacy, Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged with European officials in Paris to discuss strategies for ending Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Rubio also held a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

[03:53] Tammy Bruce: According to the State Department, Rubio conveyed to Lavrov the consistent message he has been sharing with the Ukrainian delegation: President Trump desires an end to the war.

[04:08] Scott Horsley: The global community is now observing whether Russia is earnest in its commitment to peace efforts.

[04:13] Tammy Bruce: Rubio's visit to Paris included meetings with Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, who had met with Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly before a deadly Russian missile strike on Ukraine during Palm Sunday. This incident has intensified the urgency of the Trump administration's peace initiatives.

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6. Attempted Plane Hijacking in Belize Ends in Fatality

[04:32] Shea Stevens: In Belize, authorities reported the death of a U.S. citizen who attempted to hijack a small plane carrying 16 passengers. The suspect allegedly used a knife to stab three individuals before being fatally shot by a passenger. Details regarding the suspect's hometown in the U.S. and the motive behind the attack remain undisclosed.

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Note: This summary captures the critical news segments from the NPR News Now episode released on April 18, 2025. For more detailed information, listeners are encouraged to access the full podcast episode.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. A federal appeals panel is refusing to block a court order for sworn testimony on the Trump administration's effort to facilitate the return of a mistakenly deported Maryland resident. Kilmore Abrego Garcia was flown to El Salvador, where he's been imprisoned since last month. NPR's Jimena Bustillo has more.

[Jimena Bustillo]

Judge Paula Zinis ordered the government to facilitate Abrego Garcia's release and return an order the US Supreme Court upheld. The judge earlier this week said Justice Department lawyers have provided little information of value about what they're doing to bring Abrego Garcia back. She ordered the parties to undergo expedited discovery to understand what, if anything, had been done. The administration the administration appealed that order, but a panel of appellate judges denied it. They said if the government has conceded that Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported, why then should it not make what was wrong a right? The administration could appeal to the Supreme Court. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

Meantime, Maryland U.S. senator Chris Van Hollen has visited Abrego Garcia at the prison where he's being held. Van Hollen posted a joint picture online but gave no indication of the man's status. President Trump is criticizing the chairman of the Federal Reserve for not lowering interest rates. As NPR Scott Horsley reports, Trump's own trade war is making that more difficult by putting pressure on prices.

[Scott Horsley]

Trump accused the Federal Reserve of dragging its feet on interest rates even as the European Central bank lowers borrowing costs there. The president says Fed Chairman Jerome Powell will face mounting political pressure for a rate cut without noting most of that pressure is coming from Trump himself.

[Leon Kearney]

I would say the Fed really owes it to the American people to get interest rates down. That's the only thing he's good for.

[Scott Horsley]

Powell told the Economic Club of Chicago this week that Trump's tariffs are likely to cause higher inflation, at least temporarily. That's a big reason the Fed is taking its time in cutting rates. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

A gunman opened fire at a Florida State university Thursday, killing two people and injuring five others. Police say a suspect, identified as 20 year old Phoenix Eichner, was injured by officers and taken into custody. Leon KEARNEY, Sheriff Walter McNeil says Eichner is the son of a county law enforcement official.

[Leon Kearney]

Our deputy, Deputy Eichner has been with the Leon County Sheriff's office for over 18 years. She has a tremendous job that she's done. Her service to this community has been exceptional. Unfortunately, her son had access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene.

[Shea Stevens]

The shootings occurred Thursday morning at FSU's main campus in Tallahassee. The university has canceled all events there through Sunday. This is NPR. The U.S. supreme Court is delaying its ruling on President Trump's claim that the Constitution does not automatically guarantee citizenship for everyone born in the United States. Lower courts have blocked Trump's executive order to end birthright citizenship for people whose parents are in the US Illegally. The high court justices planned to hear arguments on the matter at a hearing scheduled for May 15. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with European officials in Paris Thursday. They were discussing efforts to end Russia's war in Ukraine. As NPR's Michele Keleman reports, Rubio also spoke with his Russian counterpart by phone.

[Tammy Bruce]

According to the State Department, Rubio told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov the same message he's been communicating to the Ukrainian delegation in Paris that is that President Trump wants this war to end. Here's State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.

[Scott Horsley]

And now the civilized world waits to see if Russia is indeed serious.

[Tammy Bruce]

She says Rubio is in Paris along with Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, who met with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week, just days before a deadly Russian missile strike on Ukraine on Palm Sunday. That strike has added urgency to the Trump administration's peace efforts. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

The State Department officials in belize say a U.S. citizen was killed there Thursday while trying to hijack a small plane carrying 16 people using a knife. Authorities say the suspect allegedly stabbed three people before a passenger fatally shot him. No word on the suspect's hometown in the US Or a possible motive. This is NPR News.

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