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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez D. Reamer is resigning after facing a probe from her department for possible misconduct. In January, the New York Post first reported that the IG was looking into complaints that she was having an affair with a member of her security detail, drinking on the job and using taxpayer funded travel to visit family and friends. NPR hasn't independently verified the contents of the investigation. Communications Director Steve Stephen Chung says she's done a phenomenal job and that Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling will become acting labor secretary. Dreamer is the third Trump Cabinet member to leave. President Trump insists peace talks will take place in Islamabad this week, though Iran hasn't said it will come this after the US Seized an Iranian flagged ship in the Strait of Hormuz this weekend that the White House says violated the U.S. s blockade in the waterway. Meanwhile, as the U.S. and Iran cease fire ends in just days, Trump insists that the US has been successful and that he's not under pressure to make a deal with Iran. He also slammed media outlets for their reporting of the war. As NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports.
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In an afternoon social media post, Trump framed the war in Iran, now in its eighth week, as short compared to the U.S. s years long involvements in past conflicts, including World Wars I and 2, as well as the wars in Vietnam and Iraq. In a post shortly thereafter, he wrote, quote, I'm winning a war by a lot, and criticized multiple news outlets for reporting otherwise. President Trump tells Bloomberg that the ceasefire announced nearly two weeks ago expires Wednesday evening. A U.S. delegation plans to travel to Islamabad soon for further peace talks, according to an official familiar with the plans. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News, the White House.
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The State Department says it's hosting a second round of talks between Israel and Lebanon Thursday in Washington. And Israel invaded Lebanon and has been attacking it, displacing more than 1 million civilians in the southern part of the country as it targets Iranian backed Hezbollah militants. FBI Director Kash Patel filed a defamation lawsuit against the Atlantic and one of its reporters for a recent article alleging he has bouts of excessive drinking, emotional outbursts and frequent absences. And here's Jacqueline Diaz has more.
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FBI Director Kash Patel is accusing the Atlantic of publishing former false claims about him. In an article published on Friday, Patel is demanding $250 million in damages. He claims that the Atlantic's goal was to destroy his reputation and drive him out of the FBI. The reporter behind the story, Sarah Fitzpatrick, is also named in the lawsuit. The Atlantic responded in a statement today saying it stands by its reporting and that it plans to, quote, vigorously defend the media company and its journalists.
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NPR's Jacqueline Diaz reporting. This is NPR News. Pope Leo is in Angola on his third stop on a tour of four African countries in Africa where the Catholic Church is rapidly growing. The trip has come amid attacks from the Trump administration over the war in Iran this past weekend. The first American pope tried to downplay those tensions. NPR's Emmanuel Akinwotu has more.
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Pope Leo has sought to return the focus of his 11 day tour in Africa away from growing tensions with President Trump in Angola, his third stop on the tour. He said some of his statements against war had been interpreted as a direct response to attacks against him by President Trump last week.
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It was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest at all.
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Nearly half of Angola's almost 40 million people are Catholic. And on Sunday, Leo visited a sanctuary where enslaved Africans were forcibly baptized before being taken to the Americas. He made a speech acknowledging the, quote, sorrow and great suffering, but stopped short of directly referencing slavery or the church's role in it. Emmanuel Akimotu, NPR News, Lagos.
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Elon Musk has been summoned to Paris as part of an investigation into alleged misconduct on his social media platform X. French authorities are looking into the spread of child sexual abuse material and deepfake content. French prosecutors have alerted US Authorities, but the Justice Department reportedly declined to assist. Reporters Without Borders has also filed a complaint against X for allowing disinformation. Wall street lower by the closing bell. I'm Jeanine Hurst, NPR News, in Washington.
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Host: Jeanine Herbst
Length: 5 minutes
Date: April 20, 2026
Location: Washington, DC
Main Theme: Latest breaking national and international news, including government resignations, escalating global conflicts, legal battles, and international religious diplomacy.
This edition of NPR News Now delivers concise updates on key events: the resignation of the U.S. Labor Secretary amid scandal, developments in the Iran conflict and upcoming peace talks, ongoing tensions between Israel and Lebanon, a high-profile media lawsuit involving the FBI Director, the Pope’s diplomatic tour in Africa, and legal troubles for Elon Musk in France.
"I'm winning a war by a lot," (President Trump, via social media post; reported by Danielle Kurtzleben, 01:19)
“...criticized multiple news outlets for reporting otherwise.” (Danielle Kurtzleben, 01:22)
“[The Atlantic] stands by its reporting and that it plans to, quote, vigorously defend the media company and its journalists.” (Jacqueline Diaz, 02:47)
“It was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest at all.” (Pope Leo, 03:36)
[00:40] Jeanine Herbst (about investigation):
“NPR hasn't independently verified the contents of the investigation.”
[01:19] President Trump (via Danielle Kurtzleben):
“I'm winning a war by a lot.”
[02:47] The Atlantic (read by Jacqueline Diaz):
“It stands by its reporting and that it plans to, quote, vigorously defend the media company and its journalists.”
[03:36] Pope Leo:
“It was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest at all.”
This episode provided a snapshot of urgent domestic and global events, reflecting political tumult, ongoing international diplomacy, legal conflicts in government and media, and the influence of major religious figures on global affairs.