NPR News: 04-21-2025 4AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 21, 2025

Host: Dale Willman
Release Date: April 21, 2025
Duration: 4 minutes and 54 seconds

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1. Supreme Court Blocks Deportation of Venezuelans to El Salvador

Timestamp: [00:15]
Reporter: Dale Willman

The Supreme Court has temporarily halted the Trump administration's efforts to deport Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. This decision marks a significant setback for former President Trump, who has frequently cited a "national immigration emergency" to justify his administration's stringent immigration policies.

Quote:
Domenico Montanaro ([00:39]):
"He's really reaching back pretty deep to find ways to justify his actions and go around Congress, the courts or really anyone else for approvals."

Montanaro criticizes Trump's repeated use of emergency declarations, suggesting that such actions could precipitate a constitutional crisis by bypassing established governmental branches.

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2. Canadian General Election Sees Record Early Voting

Timestamp: [01:10]
Reporter: Dale Willman
Correspondent: Lyse Doucet

Canada is experiencing record levels of early voting as part of its general election, which concludes on April 28. The election is considered one of the most consequential in recent years, especially in the context of heightened tensions with the United States over President Trump's aggressive tariff policies and unfounded annexation threats.

Quote:
Lyse Doucet ([01:35]):
"President Trump's repeated threats to take over Canada have sparked an outpouring of patriotism and defiance."

Former central banker Mark Carney currently leads his conservative rival, Pierre Poilievre, amidst a shifting political landscape where Canadian voters increasingly advocate for leadership with economic expertise.

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3. South Korean Air Force Grounded Following Accidental Jettison

Timestamp: [02:00]
Reporter: Dale Willman
Correspondent: Anthony Kuhn

A South Korean attack plane inadvertently released its gunpods and empty fuel tanks during a night flying exercise in Pyeongchang county, approximately 78 miles east of Seoul. Thankfully, no casualties or damage have been reported. In response, the South Korean Air Force has grounded all aircraft except those designated for reconnaissance or emergency standby roles.

Quote:
Anthony Kuhn ([02:16]):
"The incident has forced a pause in U.S.-South Korean Joint Air Force drills currently in progress."

This mishap follows a recent series of accidental military incidents, including the crash of an unmanned aerial vehicle into a parked helicopter and an accidental bombing of a South Korean village that injured 52 people.

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4. Global Markets React to U.S. Tariff Policies

Timestamp: [03:02]
Reporter: Dale Willman

Asian stock markets are predominantly higher today, while U.S. stock futures are declining as several major U.S. tech companies prepare to release their latest earnings reports. The ongoing market volatility is largely attributed to President Trump's tariff policies, which continue to create uncertainty and affect investor confidence.

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5. Pope Francis Makes Rare Public Appearance on Easter Sunday

Timestamp: [03:28]
Reporter: Dale Willman
Correspondent: Joe Hernandez

Pope Francis made a rare public appearance at the Vatican on Easter Sunday, marking a significant moment in his ongoing recovery from a serious illness that required hospitalization earlier this year. The 88-year-old Pope delivered a blessing from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica and greeted worshipers from the Popemobile in St. Peter's Square.

Quote:
Joe Hernandez ([03:28]):
"He also toured through St. Peter's Square in the Popemobile, greeting worshipers who'd gathered for Easter Mass."

Additionally, Pope Francis had a brief meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance, who was visiting Italy with his family.

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6. U.S. Women's Ice Hockey Team Wins World Championship

Timestamp: [04:04]
Reporter: Dale Willman

The U.S. women's ice hockey team secured the World Championship by defeating Canada 4-3 in overtime. Tessa Janicki scored the decisive goal with just under three minutes remaining in the first overtime period. Taylor Heiss and Abby Murphy each contributed a goal and an assist, while Caroline Harvey also found the back of the net for the American squad.

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7. Minecraft Movie Achieves Strong Box Office Performance

Timestamp: [04:04]
Reporter: Dale Willman

The "Minecraft" movie continues its successful run at North American box offices, grossing an additional $41.3 million this weekend and maintaining its second-place position. Globally, the film has amassed over $720 million in its three-week theatrical run. However, it currently trails behind the new vampire-themed release "Sinners," directed by Ryan Coogler, which has achieved $45.6 million in ticket sales despite a production budget of $90 million.

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This summary provides an overview of the key topics discussed in the NPR News Now episode released on April 21, 2025. For the latest updates, tune into NPR News Now or visit NPR's website.

Transcript

[Nature Conservancy Representative]

This message comes from the Nature Conservancy working together to create a future with a livable climate, healthy communities and thriving nature. Explore ways to act on Earth Day and every [e-mail] NPR.

[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News. I'm Dale Willman. The Supreme Court this weekend stopped, at least temporarily, efforts by the Trump administration to deport more Venezuelans to El Salvador. Trump has said the deportations are needed to stop a national immigration emergency. NPR's Domenico Montanaro says it's just just the latest example of Trump declaring emergencies to justify behavior, something that he says could be moving the country toward a constitutional crisis.

[Domenico Montanaro]

He invoked emergencies when it comes to tariffs, for example, against Canada and Mexico. It's over fentanyl coming across the borders, even though very little of it comes from Canada. He invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers act of 1977 for his tariffs more broadly to address what his administration has deemed, quote, the national emergency posed by the large and persistent trade deficit. So he's really reaching back pretty deep to find ways to justify his actions and go around Congress, the courts or really anyone else for approvals.

[Dale Willman]

That's Domenico Montanaro. Record numbers of Canadians have been casting ballots in four days of advanced voting in that country's general election. The early voting ends later today. The election on April 28 is being seen as one of the most consequential for Canada as it confronts President Trump's threats of annexation. Former central banker Mark Carney is currently ahead of his conservative rival, Pierre Pouliev. The BBC's Lyse Doucet has more.

[Lyse Doucet]

President Trump's repeated threats to take over Canada have sparked an outpouring of patriotism and defiance. And US Tariffs are biting. President Trump has also turned Canadian politics upside down. Mr. Poiev used to be ahead in the polls by double digits. Now a majority of Canadians seem to think they need an economist and former banker at the helm.

[Dale Willman]

That's the BBC's Lise Tousset with our report. South Korean Air Force planes remain grounded after a warplane accidentally jettisoned gunpods and empty fuel tanks. No casualties or damage have been reported. NPR's Anthony Kuhn has more on that from Seoul.

[Anthony Kuhn]

A light attack plane was on a night flying exercise Friday over Pyeongchang county, about 78 miles east of Seoul. The Air Force says one of two pilots aboard was trying to adjust the heat but accidentally pressed a button, jettisoning fuel tanks and gun pods with 500 rounds of live ammunition. All Air Force aircraft have been grounded except for those on reconnaissance or emergency standby duty. The incident has forced a pause in U S. South Korean Joint Air Force drills currently in progress. It comes a month after a South Korean unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into a parked helicopter, destroying both vehicles. Two weeks before that, fighter planes accidentally bombed a South Korean village, injuring 52 people. Anthony Kuhn, NPR News, Seoul.

[Dale Willman]

Asian shares mostly higher today while US Stock futures have fallen as some US Tech companies get ready to release their latest earnings as the market turmoil brought on by President Trump's tariff policies continues. This is NPR News. Pope Francis made a rare public appearance in the Vatican on Easter Sunday. It comes as the 88 year old continues to recover from a life threatening illness that had him hospitalized earlier this year. MPO's Joe Hernandez reports.

[Joe Hernandez]

Francis appeared on the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica as a blessing he'd written was read aloud by another church official. He also toured through St. Peter's Square in the Popemobile, greeting worshipers who'd gathered for Easter Mass. Francis public appearances have been limited since he was released from the hospital in late March. He'd been hospitalized for five weeks to treat several medical conditions, including a severe respiratory infection and bilateral pneumonia. On Sunday, Francis also met briefly with Vice President J.D. vance, who had traveled to Italy with his family. Joe Hernandez, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

The U.S. beat Canada 43 in overtime to claim the women's ice hockey world Championship on Sunday. Tessa Janicki scored the winning goal with 2 minutes and 54 seconds remaining in the first overtime period. Taylor Heiss and Abby Murphy each scored a goal and had an assist, while Caroline Harvey also scored a goal for the American squad. A Minecraft movie continues its roll through North American box offices this weekend. The video game adaptation brought in another $41.3 million, good for second place and a worldwide three week total of more than $720 million. First place, though, was taken by the new vampire release Sinners. The Ryan Coogler directed flick brought in $45.6 million in ticket sales. The movie cost $90 million to produce. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.

[Nature Conservancy Representative]

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