NPR News: 04-20-2025 11AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now Summary

Episode: NPR News: 04-20-2025 11AM EDT
Release Date: April 20, 2025
Host: Nora Ramm

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1. Constitutional Concerns Over Deportation

Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen criticized the Trump administration for undermining the Constitution by forcibly deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador. The Supreme Court had mandated Garcia's return, deeming his deportation illegal. Van Hollen emphasized the broader implications of this action on constitutional rights in the United States.

"If you can deny one person their constitutional rights, that is a threat to the constitutional rights of everybody who lives in the United States of America."
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (00:42)

Van Hollen revealed that the U.S. is financially supporting El Salvador in retaining the deported prisoners, a move he believes misuses American taxpayers' money by violating constitutional protections.

2. Protests in Juneau, Alaska

Tens of thousands rallied nationwide against President Trump's recent policies, with significant demonstrations in Juneau, Alaska. Organizer Megan Lingle highlighted the persistent efforts of protesters despite harsh weather conditions.

"We are going to keep showing up until they listen to us."
— Megan Lingle (01:35)

Another organizer, Aaron Brakel, pointed to the detrimental effects of Trump's policies on Alaska, particularly citing federal funding cuts affecting vital sectors like fishing, forestry, and weather forecasting.

"We're in a lot of trouble in this state because of Donald Trump's policies."
— Aaron Brakel (01:57)

3. Vatican: Pope Francis Meets Vice President JD Vance

In a notable development, Pope Francis engaged in a brief, private meeting with Vice President JD Vance at the Vatican. This encounter followed Vance's discussions with senior Vatican officials, during which tensions regarding immigration policies surfaced.

"The immigration policy is a major Crisis for the U.S."
— Pope Francis (02:17)

Despite recovering from pneumonia and not attending formal meetings, Pope Francis addressed the ongoing immigration crisis, labeling the Trump administration's crackdown as a "disgrace." He also indirectly criticized Vance for leveraging Christian values to support stringent immigration measures.

4. Weather and Safety: Flood Watch Issued

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for extensive regions, including Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, and southern Illinois, in response to severe weather conditions. Yesterday's storms in Oklahoma resulted in tragic losses, with authorities reporting the deaths of a woman and a boy due to floodwaters.

5. Space News: ISS Crew Returns to Earth

NASA's longest-serving astronaut, alongside two Russian cosmonauts, successfully concluded their seven-month mission aboard the International Space Station, landing safely in Kazakhstan. The capsule touched down on schedule in the remote steppe area, where the crew underwent immediate post-landing procedures.

"By for touchdown and touchdown."
— Aaron Brakel (03:50)

Upon exiting the capsule, astronaut Don Pettit, celebrating his 70th birthday, appeared disoriented but showed no signs of major issues. One of the Russian cosmonauts humorously began peeling and eating an Easter egg provided by the crew during the landing process.

6. Lighthearted News: Juno Wins Corgi Derby in Scotland

In a heartwarming event celebrating the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II, the Juno, a Corgi—a breed favored by the late queen—triumphed in Scotland's Corgi Derby. The race, inaugurated in 2020 to honor the queen's 70-year reign, featured 16 dogs adorned in vibrant sweaters. Juno made a remarkable comeback in the final stretch to secure the trophy and dog treats, delighting spectators.

Additional Updates

• Pope Francis' Easter Celebrations: Although the 88-year-old pontiff did not conduct the Easter Mass due to his health, he made a touching appearance in St. Peter's Square via his popemobile, receiving cheers and blessings from attendees.

• NASA and Space Coordination: The smooth landing of the ISS crew highlights continued international collaboration in space exploration, maintaining the longstanding partnership between NASA and Russian space agencies.

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This summary provides an overview of the key topics discussed in the April 20, 2025, episode of NPR News Now. For detailed information and further updates, please listen to the full episode.

Transcript

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[Nora Ramm]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ramm. Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen says the Trump administration is thumbing its nose at the Constitution. The Supreme Court has ordered that it facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was illegally deported to a Salvadoran prison. Van Holland had met with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador last week. He told NPR he must be returned.

[Chris Van Hollen]

If you can deny one person their constitutional rights, that is a threat to the constitutional rights of everybody who lives in the United States of America. So that's the bottom line. They need to obey the court orders and bring him home so he can have due process.

[Nora Ramm]

Van Hollen also said the US Is paying El Salvador to keep the prisoners. He said he doesn't think Americans want their tax money spent in defiance of constitutional rights. Tens of thousands of people rallied across the country yesterday to protest a wide variety of President Trump's recent actions. Alaska Public Media's Eric Stone reports from a demonstration at the state Capitol in Juneau.

[Eric Stone]

It's not the first time 500 people have braved cold, rain and wind to protest Trump here in Juneau, and organizer Megan Lingle says it won't be the last.

[Megan Lingle]

We are going to keep showing up until they listen to us.

[Eric Stone]

She held a sign saying bring Kilmar home. That's a reference to the man the Trump administration deported to El Salvador in what government lawyers called an administrative error. Another organizer, Aaron Brakel, says Alaska is suffering from cuts by Elon Musk's Department of Government efficiency effort. Alaska receives more federal funding per resident than any other state.

[Aaron Brakel]

We're in a lot of trouble in this state because of Donald Trump's policies.

[Eric Stone]

Federal cuts have hit fishing, forestry and weather forecasting especially hard here in Alaska. For NPR News, I'm Eric Stone.

[Nora Ramm]

In Juneau, Pope Francis had a brief meeting with Vice President JD Vance this morning in his residence inside Vatican City. Megan Williams reports.

[Megan Lingle]

The Vatican says Pope Francis met privately with Vance on Easter morning to exchange holiday greetings. The brief encounter came a day after Vance held more formal talks with senior Vatican officials. Francis, still recovering from pneumonia, did not attend those meetings. Vance, a Catholic convert, has publicly clashed with the pope over immigration. Francis has called President Donald Trump's crackdown a, quote, disgrace and indirectly rebuked Vance for using Christian values to justify hardline immigration policies. The pope called the immigration policy a, quote, major Crisis for the U.S. for NPR News, I'm Megan Williams at the.

[Nora Ramm]

Vatican as he is still recovering. The 88 year old Pope did not celebrate Easter Mass today, but did appear in St. Peter's Square in his popemobile drawing cheers and applause. Applause. He stopped occasionally to bless babies brought up to him. This is NPR News. In Washington. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for large swaths of Oklahoma, as well as parts of Texas, Missouri, Arkansas and southern Illinois today. Oklahoma was hit by severe weather yesterday. Police say a woman and a boy died when their car was caught in floodwaters. The capsule carrying NASA's oldest serving astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts landed in Kazakhstan early today. They'd completed a seven month mission aboard the International Space Station. The BBC's Orlando Thiel has more standing.

[Aaron Brakel]

By for touchdown and touchdown.

[Orlando Thiel]

The landing in the remote steppe area of Kazakhstan took place on schedule in the early morning. The three men were carried one by one out of the capsule and given time to adjust to gravity before being whisked away by helicopter. The American astronaut Don Pettit, who is celebrating his 70th birthday, looked disorientated as he was carried out, but there was no indication of any major problem. One of the Russian cosmonauts first move as he returned to Earth was to peel and eat an Easter egg handed to him by one of the crew.

[Nora Ramm]

The BBC's Orlando Teal. In case you missed it, Juno won Scotland's Corgi Derby yesterday. The Corgi was the favorite breed of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The race was first held in 20 to mark her 70 years on the throne. This year, 16 dogs competed, all dressed in bright sweaters. Juno came from behind in the final stretch to win the trophy and dog treats. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

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