NPR News: 04-25-2025 6AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 25, 2025, 6AM EDT – Detailed Summary

Hosted by NPR

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1. Global Leadership Change: Pope Francis' Funeral and the Papal Conclave

Timestamp: [00:15]

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump traveled to Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, who tragically passed away this week due to a stroke and heart ailments. The event marks a significant moment for the Catholic Church and global leaders.

Timestamp: [00:29] Top clergy members will remain in Rome, with some participating in a papal conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor.

Timestamp: [00:38] Cardinal Vincent Nicholls, the Church's top official for England and Wales, shared his perspective:

"It's intimidating, frankly, to choose a leader." [00:48]

Cardinal Nicholls highlighted the diversity of the current college of cardinals, noting, "a majority of those voting were appointed by Francis," and emphasized the solemnity of the conclave taking place in the historic Sistine Chapel.

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2. Legal Victory Against Sanctuary City Policies

Timestamp: [01:27]

A federal judge in California struck down President Trump's executive order that aimed to withhold federal funds from sanctuary jurisdictions—cities that limit police cooperation with immigration authorities. The ruling declares the executive order unconstitutional.

Timestamp: [01:46] NPR's Jasmine Garsd reported:

"This injunction temporarily bars the administration from taking any action to withhold or condition Federal Funds." [01:46]

The injunction affects over a dozen municipalities, including San Francisco, Oregon, Connecticut, and New Mexico. The court's decision echoes a similar 2017 ruling against the previous administration's attempt.

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3. Criticism of President Trump's Tariffs by Senator Mitch McConnell

Timestamp: [02:33]

Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell voiced strong opposition to President Trump's global tariffs, asserting they are detrimental to American consumers and businesses.

Timestamp: [02:48] McConnell emphasized the impact on his home state:

"We've had bourbon wars in the past, and it's very easy for a foreign country to have a bourbon war because they don't make it, and we do. 95% of it is made in Kentucky." [02:48]

He highlighted Kentucky's heavy reliance on international trade, stating, "Kentucky is very dependent on international trade," underscoring the broader economic challenges posed by ongoing trade wars.

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4. California's Economic Milestone and Legal Battle Over Tariffs

Timestamp: [03:14]

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California has become the world's fourth-largest economy, surpassing Japan. This milestone underscores the state's significant economic influence on the global stage.

Timestamp: [03:22] Newsom criticized the Trump administration's tariff policies:

"These tariffs specifically hurt California." [03:24]

Highlighting the repercussions, he noted, "they've caused chaos and inflict higher costs on California consumers and businesses," and mentioned that California is actively suing the federal government over these actions.

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5. Wildfire Arson Case in New Jersey

Timestamp: [03:39]

Authorities in New Jersey arrested Joseph Kling, a 19-year-old, on charges of second-degree and third-degree arson for allegedly starting a wildfire that has burned over 15,000 acres. The wildfire remains half-contained.

Timestamp: [03:55] Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billheimer stated:

"We were able to place him at the scene and we have some witness statements that corroborate that." [04:04]

Prosecutors hope this case will raise awareness about the dangers of starting fires, especially under dry conditions.

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6. Texas Implements $1 Billion School Voucher Program

Timestamp: [04:27]

Texas lawmakers approved a substantial school voucher program valued at $1 billion, enabling parents to use taxpayer funds for private school tuition. Governor Greg Abbott announced his intention to sign the legislation.

Opponents argue that the voucher system will divert necessary resources from public schools and disproportionately affect children from low-income families, potentially widening educational inequalities.

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on April 25, 2025, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the latest national and international developments.

Transcript

[Nature Conservancy]

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[Korva Coleman]

News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump and first lady Melania Trump will fly to Rome today for the funeral for Pope Francis tomorrow. The pope died this week of a stroke and heart ailments. After the funeral, world leaders and tourists will go home, but the Catholic Church's.

[Unknown Reporter]

Top clergy will stay on. Some will join a papal conclave to elect Francis successor.

[Korva Coleman]

In Rome, NPR's Lauren Frayer spoke to.

[Unknown Reporter]

One of the electors.

[Cardinal Vincent Nicholls]

Cardinal Vincent Nicholls is the church's top official for England and Wales, and this will be his first conclave.

[Unknown Cardinal]

It's intimidating, frankly, to choose a leader.

[Cardinal Vincent Nicholls]

For the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. Nichols is part of the most diverse college of cardinals ever. A majority of those voting were appointed by Francis, and now they'll choose his successor via secret ballot in the Sistine Chapel under ceilings painted by Michelangelo.

[Unknown Cardinal]

The magnificence of that chapel will be focusing everything we try and do.

[Cardinal Vincent Nicholls]

All cardinals are invited to meetings in the lead up, but only Those under age 80 go into the conclave to vote. Nichols says he feels lucky his 80th birthday isn't until November. Lauren Frayer, NPR News, Rome.

[Korva Coleman]

A federal judge in California has issued.

[Unknown Reporter]

A ruling on sanctuary jurisdictions. The judge blocked the Trump administration from.

[Korva Coleman]

Freezing federal funds to the jurisdictions that limit police cooperation with immigration authorities. NPR's Jasmine Garsd reports. The judge says President Trump's executive order is unconstitutional.

[Jasmine Garsd]

In the order signed on his first day in office, President Trump instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities. This injunction was requested by San Francisco and over a dozen other municipalities in California, Oregon, Connecticut and New Mexico. It temporarily bars the administration from taking any action to withhold or condition Federal Funds. In 2017, during the prior administration, a similar executive order was also found unconstitutional. The administration must notify all federal departments of this order by next Monday.

[Unknown Reporter]

Jasmine Garzd, Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell.

[Korva Coleman]

Says President Trump's global tariffs are hurting.

[Unknown Reporter]

Americans because they're attacks on everyone.

[Korva Coleman]

Speaking to a group of business leaders yesterday in Kentucky, the former Senate majority leader says that trade wars hurt all.

[Unknown Reporter]

Americans, but especially people in his home state.

[Mitch McConnell]

We've had bourbon wars in the past, and it's very easy for foreign country to have a bourbon war because they don't make it, and we do 95% of it is made in Kentucky.

[Unknown Reporter]

McConnell says that Kentucky is very dependent on international trade.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[Unknown Reporter]

California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom says his.

[Korva Coleman]

State is now the world's fourth largest economy. He says California has overtaken the economy.

[Unknown Reporter]

Of Japan to secure the spot.

[Korva Coleman]

Last week, California sued the Trump administration over actions to impose global tariffs. Newsom says these tariffs specifically hurt California.

[Unknown Reporter]

He says they've caused chaos and inflict higher costs on California consumers and businesses.

[Korva Coleman]

New Jersey authorities have arrested a suspect they allege committed arson and launched a wildfire in the southern part of the state this week. From member station WHYY, Kenneth Burns reports the wildfire has burned more than 15,000 acres and is half contained.

[Kenneth Burns]

Officials are confident that 19 year old Joseph Kling started to fire. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billheimer shared limited details during a Thursday news conference.

[Bradley Billheimer]

We were able to place him at the scene and we have some witness statements that corroborate that.

[Kenneth Burns]

Kling was taken into custody Wednesday and is currently being held at the Ocean County Jail on second degree aggravated arson and third degree arson. Bill Hymer hopes the arrest sparks a conversation about the dangers of starting a fire in the woods, but particularly when conditions are dry. For NPR News, I'm Kenneth Burns In.

[Unknown Reporter]

Waretown, N.J. texas lawmakers have passed legislation to create an enormous school voucher program. The $1 billion plan will let parents use taxpayer money to pay for tuition at private schools for children. Texas Governor Greg Abbott says he will sign it. Opponents of vouchers say this will drain money from public schools and will hurt children from low income families. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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