NPR News: 04-24-2026 2AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – April 24, 2026, 2AM EDT

Host: Giles Snyder | Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This hourly update covers breaking national and international news, focusing on the aftermath of a major tornado in Oklahoma, U.S. foreign policy developments with Iran, a ceasefire extension in the Middle East, findings in a deadly LaGuardia Airport crash, a criminal case involving a U.S. special forces soldier and prediction markets, new federal policies on medical marijuana, and a landmark media industry merger.

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Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. Tornado Aftermath in Enid, Oklahoma

[00:13 - 01:24]

• Massive tornado struck Enid, a city of 50,000 about 80 miles north of Oklahoma City.
• Active search and rescue as emergency crews look for people trapped in debris.
• Mayor David Mason described the change to a more systematic search process:

  “They were doing search and rescue. We have now backed them out so that, oh, people can come in and do a secondary search and do it in quadrants.” — Mayor David Mason [00:37]

• No fatalities reported, only minor injuries according to Garfield County Sheriff.

2. U.S. – Iran Tensions; Trump Rules Out Nuclear Weapons

[01:24 - 02:02]

• President Trump firmly rules out nuclear weapons in confrontation with Iran:

  “Why would I use a nuclear weapon against when we've totally, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it? No, I wouldn't use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody.” — Donald Trump [01:29]

• Trump emphasizes a patient approach to a peace deal:

  “I don't want to rush it. I want to take my time. We have plenty of time.” — Donald Trump [01:41]

• Noted that earlier in the month, Trump had made alarming threats on social media.
• Reported by NPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben from the White House.

3. Israel-Lebanon Ceasefire Extension

[02:02 - 02:35]

• Announcement from Trump: Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon extended by three weeks.
• Plans for upcoming White House meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

4. LaGuardia Airport Crash Investigation

[02:35 - 03:13]

• Early report from National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) after a fatal airport collision.
• Key findings:
  • Firefighter failed to recognize runway warnings from air traffic control.
  • Crash prevention alert system failure due to lack of required transponders in emergency vehicles.
  • Two Air Canada pilots killed—first deadly LaGuardia crash in over 30 years.
• Reported by NPR’s Joel Rose.

5. U.S. Special Forces, Venezuela, and Prediction Markets

[03:13 - 04:13]

• Federal case against Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a U.S. special forces soldier involved in Venezuela's President Maduro’s capture.
• Accused of profiting on the Polymarket prediction market:
  • Used pseudonym “Burdensome Mix” to bet $32,000 on Maduro’s ousting, netting over $400,000.
  • Van Dyke first person criminally charged for trading on U.S.-relevant prediction markets.
  • Mention that Donald Trump Jr. is an investor/advisor to Polymarket.
• Reported by NPR’s Bobby Allen.

6. Medical Marijuana Reclassification

[04:13 - 04:35]

• Trump administration reclassifies medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug.
  • Does not legalize federally, but eases restrictions and could boost research.
  • Seen as a first step toward broader acceptance.

7. Paramount – Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

[04:35 - 04:57]

• Shareholders approve Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery for $31/share.
• Deal still pending regulatory review on antitrust grounds.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On tornado rescue efforts:

  “We have now backed them out so that, oh, people can come in and do a secondary search and do it in quadrants.”
  — Mayor David Mason [00:37]

• On nuclear weapons and Iran:

  “A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody.”
  — President Trump [01:29]

• On approach to peace with Iran:

  “I don't want to rush it. I want to take my time. We have plenty of time.”
  — President Trump [01:41]

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Notable Timestamps

• Enid, OK tornado aftermath: [00:13 – 01:24]
• Trump on Iran/nuclear weapons: [01:24 – 02:02]
• Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extension: [02:02 – 02:35]
• NTSB LaGuardia Airport crash findings: [02:35 – 03:13]
• Venezuela/prediction markets/Van Dyke case: [03:13 – 04:13]
• Medical marijuana reclassification: [04:13 – 04:35]
• Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger: [04:35 – 04:57]

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Summary

This edition of NPR News Now delivers urgent updates on natural disasters, international diplomacy, aviation safety, legal firsts in financial technologies, drug policy reform, and major business moves—all in five brisk, information-packed minutes, with emphasis on accuracy and quick context for stories still developing.

Transcript

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[NPR News Anchor]

[e-mail] Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. A long night in Enid, Oklahoma, where search and rescue operations are underway following a massive tornado. Rescuers are searching for people who may be trapped in Debri. Mayor David Mason says police have been able to get some people out of homes that sustained heavy damage.

[Local Official (Mayor David Mason)]

They were doing search and rescue. We have now backed them out so that, oh, people can come in and do a secondary search and do it in quadrants.

[NPR News Anchor]

Mason spoke to KocoTV. Video posted online shows a rapidly moving twister touching down. The Garfield County Sheriff's Office says there are no immediate reports of fatalities and that injuries are minor. Enid is a city of about 50,000 people about 80 miles north of Oklahoma City. President Trump has ruled out using a nuclear weapon against Iran. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump also said he has plenty of time to reach a peace deal and stressed that his top priority is making sure that Tehran never possesses nuclear weapons. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports.

[NPR Correspondent (Danielle Kurtzleben)]

Trump was testy responding to a reporter's question as to whether he'd use a nuclear weapon against Iran.

[Local Official (Mayor David Mason)]

Why would I use a nuclear weapon against when we've totally, in a very conventional way, decimated them without it? No, I wouldn't use it. A nuclear weapon should never be allowed to be used by anybody.

[NPR Correspondent (Danielle Kurtzleben)]

Earlier this month, Trump threatened Iran on social media, saying, quote, a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again, unquote. Trump also tells reporters now that he is not in a hurry to come to a peace deal with Iran, saying, quote, I don't want to rush it. I want to take my time. We have plenty of time. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News, the White House.

[NPR News Anchor]

President Trump says Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire by three weeks. The announcement came at the White House Thursday following a meeting between Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors. Trump says he expects to meet at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in the next couple of weeks. Federal safety investigators say a series of communication failures contributed to last month's deadly crash at New York's LaGuardia Airport. Imperial's Joel Rose reports on the National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report.

[NPR Correspondent (Joel Rose)]

The firefighter whose truck collided with an Air Canada jet on a Runway at New York's LaGuardia Airport told investigators he heard an air traffic controller repeatedly saying, stop, stop, stop. But the firefighter said he didn't know that those instructions were intended for his truck until it was already on the Runway. That's not the only communication failure detailed in the preliminary report from the ntsb. Investigators also say a crash prevention alert system did not work as intended because the fire truck and other emergency vehicles were not outfitted with transponders. The two pilots of the Air Canada jet were killed in the collision, the first deadly crash at LaGuardia in more than 30 years. Joel Rose, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

This is NPR News. Federal authorities have charged a special forces soldier involved in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. NPR's Bobby Allen reports that prosecutors say the army official profited on the prediction market site Polymarket.

[NPR Correspondent (Bobby Allen)]

Prosecutors have unsealed an indictment against Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a US Special Forces soldier who helped plan and carry out the arrest of Maduro under the username Burdensome Mix, Van dyke allegedly placed $32,000 in bets on Polymarket that Maduro would soon be out of power. Those wagers netted him more than $400,000 in profit. Polymarket is an overseas unregulated exchange where traders are anonymous and bet with cryptocurrency. But federal investigators worked with polymarket to identify Van Dyke. He's the first person criminally charged in the trades on prediction markets, which have seen massive growth in Trump's second term. Donald Trump Jr. Is an investor and advisor to Polymarket. Bobby Allen, NPR News.

[NPR News Anchor]

The Trump administration is reclassifying medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug. The move Thursday does not legalize marijuana under federal law, but it does put licensed medical marijuana on par with drugs that are less strictly regulated. It marks a first step toward broader federal acceptance, and it could boost research. The proposed merger between Paramount and Werner Warner Bros. Discovery has received shareholder approval. Warner Bros. Said Thursday that preliminary results show an overwhelming majority voted to support selling the entire business to Paramount for $31 a share, a deal not quite done. It faces regulatory review on the merger's impact on competition. I'm Jael Snyder, NPR News.

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