NPR News: 04-18-2025 5PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 18, 2025, 5 PM EDT

Host: NPR

---

U.S. Advocates for El Salvadoran Detainee Kilmar Abrego Garcia

[00:26] Louise Schiavone reports from Washington on the plight of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvadoran detainee. Maryland Democrat Chris Van Hollen expressed concern at a Washington area airport regarding Garcia's sudden removal to a notorious maximum-security prison.

Abrego Garcia, tearfully appealing to Van Hollen, stated, "I wish to see my wife and son again." Van Hollen responded, emphasizing the necessity for the U.S. to uphold Garcia's rights, declaring, "It's time for the US to honor Abrego Garcia's rights" ([00:26]). An unnamed commentator criticized the White House's handling of the case, asserting, "The White House and the president had been lying about this case from the beginning" ([01:23]), highlighting the importance of due process and constitutional rights.

President Trump's Upcoming Rare Earth Minerals Agreement with Ukraine

President Trump announced plans to finalize a rare earth minerals agreement with Ukraine in the coming week. However, details from the U.S. side remain unclear. NPR’s Greg Myhre reports that the specifics of this deal have yet to be disclosed, leaving stakeholders uncertain about its implications for both nations.

West Texas Measles Outbreak Escalates

[01:56] Louise Schiavone updates listeners on a concerning public health issue in West Texas. According to Texas Department of State Health Services, there have been 36 new confirmed cases of measles linked to the ongoing outbreak, bringing the total to 597 cases since late January. David Martin Davies of Texas Public Radio reports, "In their Friday update, 62 of the patients have been hospitalized. There have been two fatalities in school-age children" ([02:05]). Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. noted, "The outbreak is not slowing down," underscoring the virus's highly contagious nature and the likelihood of additional cases in affected and surrounding communities.

Legal Challenge Halts Trump Administration's CFPB Layoffs

[02:45] In a significant legal decision, U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson has paused President Trump's attempt to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by firing nearly all its staff. Judge Jackson expressed concern that the proposed layoffs would violate her prior order preventing the administration from shutting down the bureau. The White House had proposed eliminating approximately 1,500 positions, leaving only 200 employees, raising substantial legal and ethical questions about the administration's actions.

Escalation of Conflict in Gaza and U.S. Diplomatic Response

Amid ongoing tensions, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have resulted in at least 25 deaths, including children. The new U.S. ambassador to Israel made his first public address in Jerusalem, addressing the volatile situation. Gaza hospitals reported casualties in a refugee camp, emphasizing the dire humanitarian consequences of the conflict.

U.S. Imposes Visa Restrictions on Nicaraguan Officials

The U.S. government has announced visa restrictions targeting over 2,000 officials associated with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, "With this latest move, the US government has established visa restrictions on more than 2,000 officials in the co-presidency of Ortega and his wife." The United Nations criticized the Nicaraguan regime as "centralized and oppressive," prompting the U.S. response aimed at curbing authoritarian practices.

Ukraine Sanctions Chinese Companies Amid Accusations of Supplying Weapons to Russia

[04:03] Emily Fang reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sanctioned three Chinese companies, accusing them of supplying weapons to Russia. The sanctioned entities include an aeronautics firm and two industrial component companies based in China. Zelensky released videos purportedly showing two Chinese fighters engaging with Russian forces; however, China has categorically denied these allegations, labeling them "groundless" ([04:03]).

This move signifies a shift in Ukraine's previously neutral stance toward China, despite China's "no limits partnership" with Russia initiated weeks before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Prior to the invasion, China was Ukraine's largest trading partner, and thousands of Ukrainian students were studying in China, highlighting the complexity of international alliances and economic dependencies.

Venice Extends Arrivals Tax for Day Visitors

[04:47] Louise Schiavone reports that Venice has decided to continue its "arrivals tax" for day visitors after a year-long pilot program. The city, known for its heavy tourism in Canal City, will maintain the five euro fee for passes purchased in advance. This measure aims to manage the influx of tourists and mitigate the impact on local infrastructure and quality of life for residents.

---

Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, and outros to focus solely on the essential news content presented in the episode.

Transcript

[NPR Announcer]

Wait, wait, don't tell me. Fresh Air up first, NPR News. Now Planet Money TED Radio Hour Throughline the NPR Politics podcast Code Switch Embedded books we love Wildcard are just some of the podcasts you can enjoy. Sponsor free with NPR. Get all sorts of perks across more than 20 podcasts with the bundle option. Learn more at plus.npr.org live from NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

In Washington, I'm Louise Schiavone, fresh from El Salvador and a visit with Kilmar Abrego. Abrego Garcia Maryland Democrat Chris Van Hollen told reporters at a Washington area airport that the man removed suddenly to a notorious maximum security prison was shocked by his apprehension and removal. Abrego Garcia told Senator Van Hollen that he did have concerns about his security at El Salvador's CECOT prison and that nine days ago he was moved to a different facility. Van Hollen declared it's time for the US to honor Abrego Garcia's rights. Abrego Garcia tearfully told Van Hollen that he wished to see his wife and son again. President Trump says the US Plans to finalize a rare earth minerals agreement with Ukraine next week. NPR's Greg Myhre reports. The U.S. side of the deal isn't clear.

[Unnamed Commentator]

The White House and the president had been lying about this case from the beginning. They've been trying to change the subject from the beginning, as I said, and the courts have said, from the Supreme Court to the Fourth Circuit to the district court. What this is about is adhering to the Constitution to the right of due process. And that's why we say bring Kilmar home so he can be afforded his rights under the constitution.

[Louise Schiavone]

There are 36 new confirmed cases of measles connected to the West Texas outbreak. Texas Public Radio's David Martin Davies reports.

[David Martin Davies]

597. That's the total of confirmed measles cases since late January, the start of the outbreak, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. In their Friday update, 62 of the patients have been hospitalized. There have been two fatalities in school age children. Despite claims by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The outbreak is not slowing down. Texas Health and Human Services say that due to the highly contagious nature of the virus, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and in the surrounding communities. I'm David Martin Davies in San Antonio.

[Louise Schiavone]

U.S. district Judge Amy Berman Jackson has paused President Trump's attempt to fire nearly everyone at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She says she's worried the layoffs would violate her earlier order stopping the administration administration from closing the bureau. The White House yesterday had moved to fire 1,500 people, leaving 200. Israeli airstrikes across Gaza have killed at least 25 people, including children, as the new US ambassador to Israel made his first public afference in Jerusalem. Gaza hospitals say among the dead early Friday were 10 people in a refugee camp. This is NPR News in Washington. The US government is to impose visa restrictions on more than 250 officials of the Nicaraguan government. The UN says Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo have created a centralized and oppressive regime. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says with this latest move, the US government has established visa restrictions on more than 2,000 officials in the co presidency of Ortega and his wife. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has sanctioned three Chinese companies after he accused China of supplying weapons to Russia, an accusation NPR's Emily Fang says China has rejected.

[Emily Fang]

Zelensky announced the sanctions on an aeronautics firm and two industrial component companies, all registered in China. Ukraine's president had earlier released videos of two Chinese fighters Ukraine said they captured fighting with Russian forces. China has denied it sending fighters or weapons to Russia, saying Zelensky's allegations were groundless. But the Ukrainian sanctions are a reversal of Ukraine's studiously neutral stance towards China, even though China has what it calls a no limits partnership with Russia, inked just weeks before Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine. Before that invasion, thousands of Ukrainian students studied in China and China was Ukraine's biggest trading partner. Emily Fang, NPR News.

[Louise Schiavone]

After a year, Venice has decided to continue its so called arrivals tax for day visitors to Venice. Started last year as a pilot program in the heavily visited Canal City. It's a five euro fee for passes purchased in advance. I'm Louise Schiavone, NPR News, Washington.

[NPR Announcer]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.