NPR News: 04-18-2025 5AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 18, 2025, 5AM EDT - Detailed Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: NPR News Now
• Host/Author: NPR
• Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.
• Episode: NPR News: 04-18-2025 5AM EDT
• Release Date: April 18, 2025

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1. Senator Chris Van Hollen Meets with Kilmore Abrego Garcia

Key Points:

• Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland engaged in discussions with Kilmore Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident wrongfully detained in El Salvador.
• Abrego Garcia's detention was deemed illegal, prompting his return facilitated by the Trump administration.

Notable Quote:

• Nora Ramm [00:17]: "Salvadoran President Nayibu Kailu also posted, saying now that he's been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador's custody."

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2. President Trump Criticizes Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump publicly expressed dissatisfaction with Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve Chairman, suggesting he could be dismissed.
• Trump criticized Powell for not lowering interest rates promptly, emphasizing the Federal Reserve's traditional political independence.

Notable Quote:

• Donald Trump [00:56]: "I don't think he's doing the job. He's too late. Always too late, late, slow, and I'm not happy with him. I let him know it and if I want him out, he'll be out of there real fast, believe me."

Response:

• Jerome Powell: Affirmed the Federal Reserve's autonomy, stating, "Trump cannot remove him without cause."

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3. National Science Foundation Freezes Grant-Making Process

Key Points:

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) halted its grant issuance following directives from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
• This pause affects billions in research funding, creating uncertainty within the scientific community.
• NSF had previously reviewed grants for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) criteria, but the reasons for the current halt remain unclear.

Notable Quotes:

• Nora Ramm [01:10]: "The National Science foundation is freezing its grant making process at the direction of the Department of government efficiency, or DOGE."
• Jonathan Lambert [01:31]: "On Wednesday, that process came to a halt after DOGE gained access to internal systems."

Additional Information:

• A preliminary injunction was issued to restrict DOGE's access to Social Security systems containing personal data of millions of Americans.

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4. Mass Shooting at Florida State University Tallahassee Campus

Key Points:

• A tragic mass shooting occurred at the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee, resulting in two fatalities and six injuries.
• Police have arrested an individual connected to the incident.
• Survivor accounts highlight the chaos and fear experienced during the attack.

Survivor Account:

• Anna Martens [02:43]: "It's so sad that we're in a place where we're supposed to feel safe on campus getting an education. It's such an exciting part of our lives, college, and it's just so sad that we have to worry about things like this happening."

Reporter Insights:

• Douglas Sowell [02:38]: Shared Martens' experience of seeking shelter and her reflections on campus safety.

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5. U.S. Airstrikes on Yemen's Oil Port and Houthi Response

Key Points:

• Houthi rebels in Yemen reported that U.S. airstrikes targeted an oil port, resulting in at least 38 fatalities, marking one of the deadliest strikes in the recent campaign.
• The U.S. military stated that the objective was to disrupt the Houthis' fuel sources, which are vital for their operations.
• The Houthis have threatened to escalate attacks on Red Sea shipping lanes in retaliation for Israel's actions against Hamas in Gaza.

Notable Quote:

• Nora Ramm [03:11]: "Houthi rebels In Yemen say U.S. airstrikes on an oil port yesterday killed at least 38 people in one of the deadliest strikes since the U.S. began its campaign against the Houthis last month."

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6. Changes to U.S. State Department Human Rights Reports

Key Points:

• The Trump administration has revised the annual State Department human rights reports by omitting several categories of abuses.
• Eliminations include issues like privacy rights, free and fair elections, peaceful assembly, and protections for minorities and disabled individuals.
• These changes align with recent executive orders and represent a significant shift in the U.S.'s stance on promoting personal freedoms globally.

Notable Quote:

• Graham Smith [03:51]: "Internal State Department documents reviewed by NPR show the Trump administration is dropping multiple categories of human rights abuses from its annual country reports."

Concerns Raised:

• Human rights defenders worry that this move undermines U.S. support for personal freedoms and may embolden authoritarian regimes.

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7. Alex Ovechkin Breaks Wayne Gretzky's Goal Record in NHL

Key Points:

• The National Hockey League concluded its regular season with a historic moment as Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals surpassed Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal record.
• Ovechkin scored his 897th career goal, setting a new benchmark in professional hockey.

Notable Quote:

• Nora Ramm [04:37]: "Alex Ovechkin of the Washington capital scored another goal, the 897th of his career, three more than the record set by hockey great Wayne Gretzky."

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provided a comprehensive overview of significant events ranging from political tensions and policy changes in the U.S., tragic incidents affecting communities, international military actions, and notable achievements in sports. Through timely reporting and including firsthand accounts, the episode offered listeners a nuanced understanding of both domestic and global issues shaping April 18, 2025.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been excluded from this summary to focus solely on the newsworthy topics discussed.

Transcript

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[Nora Ramm]

In Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. Senator Chris Von Holland met yesterday with Kilmore Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who had been sent to a prison in El Salvador illegally. The Maryland Democrat posted a picture on X of himself and Abrego Garcia sitting at a table. Salvadoran President Nayibu Kailu also posted, saying now that he's been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvador's custody. The Trump administration has been ordered to facilitate his return. President Trump says he could fire Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell if he wants to. He again criticized Powell for not lowering interest rates.

[Donald Trump]

I don't think he's doing the job. He's too late. Always too late, late, slow, and I'm not happy with him. I let him know it and if I want him out, he'll be out of there real fast, believe me.

[Nora Ramm]

The central bank has a tradition of political independence. Powell says Trump cannot remove him without cause. The National Science foundation is freezing its grant making process at the direction of the Department of government efficiency, or DOGE. As NPR's Jonathan Lampert reports, the agency has stopped issuing new grants for basic research.

[Jonathan Lambert]

The National Science foundation issues billions of dollars worth of research grants to scientists and institutions each year on a rolling basis. On Wednesday, that process came to a halt after DOGE gained access to internal systems. Sources told NPR all proposals that had been approved for funding were sent back to NSF staff for further review, though it's unclear why. Earlier this year, NSF reviewed all its grants, flagging many for diversity, equity and inclusion related terms. An NSF spokesperson told NPR the agency continues to issue new awards. Publicly available data reflect a stoppage that started Wednesday. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction yesterday that restricts DOGE access to Social Security systems that hold the personal data of millions of Americans. Police in Florida say a man has been arrested in connection with the mass shooting at Florida State University Tallahassee campus that killed two people and wounded six others. Douglas Sol, with member station WUSF spoke to a student on campus at the time.

[Douglas Sowell]

First year FSU student Anna Martens was sunbathing on the campus green when she heard screams.

[Anna Martens]

So I dropped all my stuff. I was on the phone with my mom and I just started running.

[Douglas Sowell]

Martens ran barefoot. She says she took shelter in a nearby church with about a dozen other students for hours.

[Anna Martens]

It's so sad that we're in a place where we're supposed to feel safe on campus getting an education. It's such an exciting part of our lives, college, and it's just so sad that we have to worry about things like this happening.

[Douglas Sowell]

She says she is praying for those who were injured and killed. For NPR News, I'm Douglas Sowell in Tallahassee.

[Nora Ramm]

This is NPR News in Washington. Houthi rebels In Yemen say U.S. airstrikes on an oil port yesterday killed at least 38 people in one of the deadliest strikes since the U.S. began its campaign against the Houthis last month. The U.S. military says it intends to cut off a source of fuel for the Houthi militant group, which has threatened to resume their attacks on ships in the Red Sea to protest Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. Every year, the State Department releases human rights reports on every country around the world. NPR's Graham Smith reports there are major changes this year.

[Graham Smith]

Internal State Department documents reviewed by NPR show the Trump administration is dropping multiple categories of human rights abuses from its annual country reports. No LONGER Will the U.S. call out governments for violations against the freedom to privacy, the right to free and fair elections, or the right to peacefully assemble. More than 20 kinds of violence violations are being stripped out, according to these documents, to comply with recently issued executive orders from the White House, among them violence against minorities and disabled people and serious government corruption. Human rights defenders tell NPR they're concerned the US Is abandoning its post as a supporter of personal freedoms and that this will send the wrong message to authoritarian governments. Graham Smith, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

The National Hockey League ended its regular season last night. Alex Ovechkin of the Washington capital scored another goal, the 897th of his career, three more than the record set by hockey great Wayne Gretzky. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

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