NPR News: 04-22-2025 8AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – April 22, 2025, 8 AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Source: NPR
Duration: Approximately 5 minutes

---

Passing of Pope Francis and Global Tributes

Timestamp: [00:16]
Korva Coleman opens the episode with poignant news about the death of Pope Francis. The Vatican announced that the late Pope Francis succumbed to a stroke and cardiac ailments on April 21, 2025. In the wake of his passing, the Holy See has scheduled his body’s transfer to St. Peter's Basilica for the following day, April 22.

Roman Catholic cardinals are preparing for the conclave, a private meeting set to begin within the next 20 days in the Sistine Chapel, to elect the next pope.

Global Impact and Personal Stories:

Jason DeRose reports on the heartfelt tributes pouring in from around the world, highlighting Pope Francis's resonance with younger Catholics through his advocacy for the poor, environmental stewardship, and peace.

At St. Monica's Catholic Church in Santa Monica, California, Daniel Trinh, a 29-year-old active member, shares his personal journey influenced by Pope Francis:

Timestamp: [00:54]
Marc Vanderhoo: “Just the fact that he picked Francis as his St. Francis, he was born very rich, but he gave up everything so that he could help those who were in need.”

Trinh explains, “[...] Pope Francis led me to think about the kind of person I wanted to be, a person who lives out his faith in loving service to others” [01:06]. This sentiment underscores Francis's enduring legacy in inspiring individuals to embrace service and humility.

---

Harvard University Sues Trump Administration Over Funding Freeze

Timestamp: [01:16]
In a significant development in higher education and politics, Harvard University has initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration. The administration had previously frozen billions in federal funding to Harvard, demanding the right to audit the university's hiring processes and its recognition of student groups accused of anti-Semitism.

Harvard's Stance:

Kirk Karapeza from member station GBH outlines Harvard's response, stating, “Harvard says the funding freeze is retaliatory and baseless. Its lawsuit argues there's no rational link between real antisemitism concerns on campus and life-saving research funding” [01:50].

Harvard's President, in a message to the community, emphasized the severity and potential long-term impact of the government’s actions, asserting that the measures taken are unfounded and punitive.

---

ICE Detention Case: Mahmoud Khalil Misses Birth of First Child

Timestamp: [02:09]
Adrian Florido reports on a distressing case involving Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student facing deportation due to his pro-Palestinian activism. Despite his wife's labor on April 21, Khalil remains detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Louisiana.

Khalil’s legal representative, Marc Vanderhoo, expressed frustration: “He had certainly hoped and expected that the government would show some humanity, but they did not” [02:58].

Khalil was apprehended in New York the previous month and has since been held in a remote detention center, awaiting the outcome of a federal lawsuit challenging his arrest as unconstitutional. His family and legal team remain hopeful for his release in the near future, though as of the report, the request for temporary release to attend his child's birth was denied [03:05].

---

Global Financial Leaders Address Trump's Tariffs at World Bank and IMF Meeting

Timestamp: [03:11]
Financial leaders convene in Washington for the annual spring meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A primary agenda is President Trump's recent imposition of tariffs, which are anticipated to significantly influence the IMF's economic forecast set for release today.

Impact on Global Shipping:

DHL, a major global shipping company, announced it will cease shipping packages valued over $800 to the United States, attributing the decision to the 10% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration [03:11]. This policy affects all DHL shipments sent from foreign countries to recipients in the U.S., citing that the tariffs are causing delays and slowing down delivery times.

---

Earth Day Celebrations Highlight Sustainable Initiatives

Timestamp: [03:11]
Celebrations for Earth Day are in full swing across the United States. NPR's Alina Hartunian interviews representatives from two innovative online networks focused on sustainability and combating climate change.

Buy Nothing Project:

Lizelle Clark, co-founder of the Buy Nothing project, discusses the initiative's mission to reduce plastic waste and promote a circular economy through sharing and reusing goods:

Timestamp: [04:06]
Lizelle Clark: “The Buy Nothing project started with a question. How do you curb plastic waste of the three Rs?”

She explains that the movement encourages members to share items ranging from bread tags to sofas, thereby minimizing the need to purchase new products and keeping discarded items out of landfills. The project emphasizes a lifestyle shift towards sustainability.

GardenExchanges.com:

Daphane Weaver, founder of Arizona-based GardenExchanges.org, introduces a network of neighborhood plant stands enabling residents to exchange plants, seeds, and gardening supplies:

Timestamp: [04:12]
Daphane Weaver: “It's nice to just be able to bike down to your neighborhood stand, get your books, get your plants, and share what you have.”

This initiative not only fosters community spirit but also supports sustainable gardening practices by facilitating the free exchange of plant-related resources.

---

Closing Remarks

Timestamp: [04:48]
Korva Coleman wraps up the broadcast, summarizing the day's major news stories ranging from global religious leadership transitions and significant legal battles in higher education to pressing immigration issues and impactful sustainability efforts celebrated on Earth Day.

---

Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been excluded from this summary to focus solely on the informative aspects of the broadcast.

Transcript

[NPR Announcer]

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 Live from NPR News in Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

On Corva Coleman, the Vatican says the body of Pope Francis will be moved to St. Peter's Basilica tomorrow. Francis died yesterday of a stroke and cardiac ailments. The Holy See says Roman Catholic cardinals have set the pontiff's funeral for this Saturday. Tributes are pouring in from around the world. NPR's Jason DeRose reports. Many younger Catholics embraced Francis as a pope who echoed their concerns about the poor, the environment and peace.

[Daniel Trinh]

At St. Monica's Catholic Church in Santa Monica, California, 29 year old Daniel Trinh is an active member. After falling away from the church, Trinh became interested again because of Francis emphasis on serving the most vulnerable.

[Marc Vanderhoo]

Just the fact that he picked Francis as his St. Francis, he was born very rich, but he gave up everything so that he could help those who were in need.

[Daniel Trinh]

Trinh says Pope Francis led him to think about the kind of person he wanted to be, a person who lives out his faith in loving service to others. Jason DeRose, NPR News, Santa Monica.

[Korva Coleman]

Roman Catholic cardinals will meet within 20 days to select the next pope. This meeting is called a conclave. It will be conducted in the Vatican's historic Sistine Chapel. Harvard University is suing the Trump administration. Seeking to block the administration's freeze of billions of dollars in federal funding, the administration is demanding the right to audit, hiring and academics at the university. It wants Harvard to stop recognizing student groups accused of anti Semitism. From member station gbh, Kirk Karapeza says Harvard refused the demands.

[Harvard President]

Harvard says the funding freeze is retaliatory and baseless. Its lawsuit argues there's no rational link between real antisemitism concerns on campus and life saving research funding. In a message addressed to the Harvard community, President Garber said the government's actions will be severe and long lasting.

[Korva Coleman]

Kirk Karapezza reporting. Officials with U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement have rejected the request of a former Columbia University graduate student for a temporary release from Det. Mahmoud Khalil missed the birth of his first child yesterday. In New York, NPR's Adrian Florido reports. President Trump is seeking to deport Khalil over his pro Palestinian activism.

[Adrian Florido]

Since ICE agents arrested him in New York last month, they've held Khalil at a remote detention center in Louisiana. His lawyers have been trying to free him while his federal lawsuit challenging his arrest is unconstitutional moves forward on Sunday, his wife went into labor. Khalil's lawyers asked the director of ICE's Louisiana office to temporarily release him so he could attend the birth. The request was quickly denied. Marc Vanderhoo is one of Khalil's lawyers.

[Marc Vanderhoo]

He had certainly hoped and expected that the government would show some humanity, but they did not.

[Adrian Florido]

His baby was born the next day. Khalil listened on the phone. Adrian Florido, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to npr. Financial leaders are in Washington to attend the spring meeting of the World bank and the International Monetary Fund. One main issue they're expected to talk about is President Trump's tariffs. The IMF will release its latest economic forecast today. The tariffs are expected to play a large role. Meanwhile, global shipping company DHL says it is going to stop shipping packages to the US that are worth more than $800. DHL is pointing to the 10% global tariffs imposed by Trump this month. The carrier says this is slowing down deliveries. This decision affects DHL delivered packages sent from any foreign country to anybody in the United States. Many people in the U.S. are celebrating Earth Day today. NPR's Alina Hartunian spoke with two online networks about their sustainable solutions to combat climate change.

[Lizelle Clark]

Co founder Lizelle Clark says the Buy Nothing project started with a question. How do you curb plastic waste of the three Rs?

[NPR Announcer]

There's reduce, reuse, recycle.

[Daphane Weaver]

Okay, how about refuse?

[Lizelle Clark]

The group's millions of members share everything from bread tags to sofas. This circular economy stops people from buying new goods and keeps old stuff out of landfills. ArizonaBased GardenExchangestands.org is a network of neighborhood plant stands. People can pick up and drop off plants, seeds and other garden related items. Founder Daphane Weaver says that promotes both sustainability and community.

[Daphane Weaver]

It's nice to just be able to bike down to your neighborhood stand, get your books, get your plants, plants and seeds and then share what you have.

[Lizelle Clark]

As the group's website says, it's a lifestyle. Alina, Hartunian, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

And I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.

[NPR Announcer]

This message comes from Warby Parker. What makes a great pair of glasses at Warby Parker? It's all the invisible extras without the extra cost, like free adjustments for life. Find your [e-mail] or visit one of their hundreds of stores around the country.