NPR News: 04-19-2026 8PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: April 19, 2026, 8PM EDT

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Date: April 20, 2026
Duration: Five minutes

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers a concise roundup of key international and domestic news, focusing on renewed US-Iran peace talks, escalating tensions in the Middle East, a tragic mass shooting in Louisiana, updates on import tariff refunds, Boston Marathon preparations, and a cultural highlight honoring Eddie Murphy.

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Major News Stories & Key Moments

1. Resumption of U.S.–Iran Peace Talks

[00:13–01:17]

• Summary: U.S. officials are heading to Islamabad to resume negotiations aimed at ending the war with Iran, though Iran's participation remains unconfirmed.
• Context: President Trump recently stated the U.S. struck an Iranian vessel violating the Strait of Hormuz blockade, putting a fragile two-week ceasefire at risk.
• Details:
  • Vice President Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner will attend the talks.
  • Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire and claimed the blockade is costing Iran $500 million daily.
  • The U.S. neutralized an Iranian cargo ship, now under U.S. marine control.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Trump posted that the US had stopped an Iranian flagged cargo ship by, quote, blowing a hole in its engine room and that U.S. marines are now in control of the vessel.” — Eric McDaniel [00:57]

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2. Israel–Lebanon Ceasefire Remains Fragile

[01:17–02:12]

• Summary: Despite continuing fatalities, a ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon border is holding, though tensions remain high.
• Details:
  • French peacekeeper and Israeli soldier killed in southern Lebanon.
  • Incident attributed to Hezbollah by French officials, denied by the group.
  • Israeli public sentiment largely opposes the ceasefire; perception that military gains are being halted too soon.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “We stop in the middle to finish the work.” — Gabriel Levy, Tel Aviv taxi driver [01:54]
  • “Levy also supports pursuing military operations against Iran to finish with the regime, he says, even if it means more missiles on Israel.” — Eleanor Beardsley [02:01]

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3. Mass Shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana

[02:12–02:44]

• Summary: A mass shooting claimed the lives of at least eight children, ages 1–14, during a domestic disturbance. The gunman, believed to be the father of most victims, is dead.
• Details:
  • The children's mother and another woman suffered life-threatening injuries.
  • Police have not released a motive.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “The mother of the children was also shot and had very serious injuries, although we are hopeful she will recover. There is another female that was in this residence that has life threatening injuries. We are hopeful that she will pull through.” — Police Corporal Chris Bordelon [02:31]

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4. Tariff Refunds Initiated After Supreme Court Ruling

[02:44–03:30]

• Summary: Starting tomorrow, importers can submit online claims for refunds on tariffs deemed illegal by a recent Supreme Court ruling, which found that President Trump overstepped by doubling most import tariffs.
• Details:
  • This marks the first step in a longer process that might eventually lead to consumer refunds.

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5. Preview: 130th Boston Marathon

[03:30–04:08]

• Summary: Hopkinton, Massachusetts, prepares to welcome 30,000 runners from 123 countries for the Boston Marathon.
• Details:
  • Grand Marshal: Jack Foltz, winner of the 1976 “Run for the Hoses.”
  • Foltz is celebrated for persevering during the 1976 heat wave, famously cooled by spectators’ hoses.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “30,000 participants are expected to make the 26.2 mile journey from the cozy New England town of Hopkinton to Boston’s Copley Square for the marathon.” — Esteban Bustillos [03:33]

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6. Eddie Murphy Honored by AFI

[04:08–04:56]

• Summary: Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy received the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award at a star-studded Los Angeles ceremony, honored for his near 50-year career.
• Details:
  • Attendees included Spike Lee, Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and Jennifer Hudson.
  • Murphy expressed gratitude for his career and family.
  • The tribute will air on Netflix.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “Spike Lee praised Murphy’s cultural impact and Chris Rock and others highlighted his influence across generations.” — Jeanine Herbst [04:33]

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Market Updates

[Throughout, closing at 04:56]

• U.S. futures contracts traded lower; Dow futures fell 467 points.

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Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps & Attribution)

• “Trump posted that the US had stopped an Iranian flagged cargo ship by, quote, blowing a hole in its engine room and that U.S. marines are now in control of the vessel.”
  — Eric McDaniel [00:57]
• “We stop in the middle to finish the work.”
  — Gabriel Levy (Israeli taxi driver) [01:54]
• “The mother of the children was also shot and had very serious injuries, although we are hopeful she will recover. There is another female that was in this residence that has life threatening injuries. We are hopeful that she will pull through.”
  — Police Corporal Chris Bordelon [02:31]
• “30,000 participants are expected to make the 26.2 mile journey from the cozy New England town of Hopkinton to Boston’s Copley Square for the marathon.”
  — Esteban Bustillos [03:33]

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Episode Tone & Notes

• Objective, tightly focused, and serious given the global tension and domestic tragedy.
• Cultural and human-interest elements (Marathon, AFI Award) brighten the episode's closing minutes.

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Listeners are encouraged to follow developing international stories—including the fate of U.S.–Iran talks and the Israel-Lebanon border—while the episode also pays tribute to communal resilience, both in somber remembrance and in celebration.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. U.S. officials are heading to Islamabad to resume peace talks to negotiate the end of the war with Iran. But but Iran hasn't confirmed it will take part. This comes after President Trump said the US Struck an Iranian vessel that attempted to violate its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This says the fragile two week ceasefire is set to end this week. NPR's Eric McDaniel has more.

[Eric McDaniel]

Vice President Vance, U.S. special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president's son in law, will be involved in the talks, according to a White House official who spoke on background. In a post online Sunday morning, Trump accused Iran of violating a two week ceasefire by firing on some ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which is a key energy transit waterway. He said Iran is losing $500 million a day thanks to the US blockade of its ships there. Later in the day, Trump posted that the US had stopped an Iranian flagged cargo ship by, quote, blowing a hole in its engine room and that U.S. marines are now in control of the vessel. Eric McDaniel, NPR News, the White House.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is being tested, but it's still holding for now. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. A French peacekeeper and an Israeli soldier were killed in southern Lebanon this weekend.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the French soldier soldier's death, which he said appeared to be caused by fire from Hezbollah. The Iran backed militant group denies any responsibility. The Israeli military says a soldier was killed when his engineering vehicle ran over a bomb. Meanwhile, polls show most Israelis oppose the ceasefire, which comes as they believe their army was making progress in routing the group. 56 year old Gabriel Levy is a taxi driver in Tel Aviv. We stop in the middle to finish the work. Levy also supports pursuing military operations against Iran to finish with the regime, he says, even if it means more missiles on Israel. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[Jeanine Herbst]

In Shreveport, Louisiana, at least eight children are dead, ranging in age from 1 to 14 after a domestic disturbance turned into a mass shooting. Police Corporal Chris Bordelon says the gunman has been identified as Shamar Elkins and that seven of the children shot and killed are believed to be his.

[Esteban Bustillos]

The mother of the children was also shot and had very serious injuries, although we are hopeful she will recover There is another female that was in this residence that has life threatening injuries. We are hopeful that she will pull through.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Speaking there to KSLA News, the gunman is also dead. There's no word on a motive for the shooting. Starting tomorrow, importers that paid tariffs that were later found to be illegal will be able to claim refunds online. In February, the Supreme Court ruled President Trump overstepped his authority in setting double tariffs on almost all imports to the U.S. it's the first step in a complicated process that could eventually lead to refunds for consumers. US Futures contracts are trading lower. You're listening to NPR News. Dense of thousands of runners and athletes will be in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, tomorrow to line up at the starting line of the 130th Boston Marathon. ESTAMD Bustillos with member station GBH News

[Esteban Bustillos]

has more 30,000 participants are expected to make the 26.2 mile journey from the cozy New England town of Hopkinton to Boston's Copley Square for the marathon. Residents of 123 different countries are set to participate in the big race. This year's grand marshal is Jack Foltz, who won the Boston Marathon in 1976 in what became known as the Run for the Hoses. Temperatures in the 90s that year saw many runners drop out and spectators cool off runners with water hose. For NPR News, I'm Esteban Bustillos in Boston.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Eddie Murphy received the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award at a star studded ceremony at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles last night. The event featured appearances from Spike Lee, Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle and more. Murphy, known for his roles in Beverly Hills Cop, Shrek and SNL over a nearly 50 year career, said he was grateful for his family and that career. The Spike Lee praised Murphy's cultural impact and Chris Rock and others highlighted his influence across generations. The tribute, which will air on Netflix, also included performances by Jennifer Hudson. And futures contracts are trading lower. Dow futures down 467 points. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News in Washington.

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