NPR News: 04-26-2025 11PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 26, 2025, 11 PM EDT

Hosted by NPR, this episode of NPR News Now delivers the latest headlines and in-depth reports from around the world in just five minutes. Below is a comprehensive summary of the key topics covered in the April 26, 2025, episode.

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1. President Trump’s Meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky

Host: Dan Ronan
Reporter: Deepa Shivaram
Timestamp: [00:32]

President Donald Trump returned to the United States after attending the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican. During his brief stay, Trump met with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in St. Peter's Basilica shortly before the funeral proceedings began. While the White House has not disclosed details of their conversation, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his concerns regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin. He suggested that Putin might be "tapping me along and doesn't want to end the war," criticizing Russia's attacks on civilian areas and hinting at potential sanctions against Russia. Following his return, Trump is spending the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Notable Quote:

"I think Russian leader Vladimir Putin might be, quote, tapping me along and doesn't want to end the war."
— President Donald Trump [00:32]

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2. Clash Between the Trump Administration and the Judiciary Over Immigration

Host: Dan Ronan
Reporter: Amy Held
Timestamp: [01:05]

In a significant development, a Wisconsin judge, Hannah Dugan, was arrested and charged with aiding an immigrant in evading arrest at her courthouse. This case is part of the Trump administration's intensified confrontation with the judiciary concerning immigration policies. Protesters in Milwaukee rallied in support of Judge Dugan, demanding her exoneration ahead of her next court appearance on May 15. The Justice Department accuses her of concealing an individual to prevent their arrest, specifically assisting a Mexican national in evading federal agents.

Notable Quote:

“We will come after you and we will prosecute you.”
— Attorney General Pam Bondi [01:57]

Additionally, a former New Mexico judge was arrested this week under similar accusations of assisting a man allegedly linked to a Venezuelan gang, highlighting the administration's broader efforts to deter judicial interference in immigration enforcement.

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3. Tensions Escalate in Kashmir Following Militant Attack

Host: Dan Ronan
Reporter: Omkar Khandekar
Timestamp: [02:18]

In the region of Kashmir, administered by India, over a thousand individuals have been detained following a militant attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 people this week. Family members of suspected militants reported that Indian security forces destroyed their homes using explosives. A senior police officer confirmed the demolition of five houses but did not disclose the responsible party. Indian authorities allege that gunmen linked to Pakistan targeted Hindu tourists in the Kashmiri town of Pahalgam on Tuesday. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has denied any involvement and has called for a neutral and transparent investigation into the incident.

Notable Quote:

“When asked if he was concerned, President Trump said on Friday that the two nuclear-armed countries will get it figured out.”
— Omkar Khandekar, NPR News, Mumbai [02:18]

This incident underscores the fragile relations between India and Pakistan, both of which are nuclear-armed nations, raising international concern over regional stability.

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4. Devastating Explosion in Southern Iran

Host: Dan Ronan
Reporter: [Unnamed]
Timestamp: [03:02]

A massive explosion at a port in southern Iran has resulted in the deaths of at least 14 individuals and injuries to as many as 750 others. The blast is currently under investigation, with authorities seeking to determine the cause and responsible parties. The incident adds to the regional tensions and highlights ongoing security challenges within Iran.

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5. NFL Draft Surprise: Shador Sanders Selected by the Cleveland Browns

Host: Dan Ronan
Reporter: Chandelyse Duster
Timestamp: [03:29]

In a surprising turn during the 2025 NFL Draft, Shador Sanders, the son of famed football coach Deion Sanders, was selected by the Cleveland Browns as the 144th overall pick. Sports analysts had anticipated Sanders to be a first-round pick, leading to widespread anxiety among fans and commentators when he was overlooked in the initial two days of the draft. Despite the unexpected placement, Sanders remained optimistic.

Notable Quote:

“Just gotta remain positive, stay happy at all times and know God got you. I knew the whole time God had me, so I wasn't really panicking because I understood it's about perfect timing.”
— Shador Sanders [03:53]

Sanders, who played quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes under his father and was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, expressed gratitude towards the Browns for the opportunity, viewing his selection as a testament to patience and faith.

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6. Controversial Deportation Case Involving a Toddler

Host: Dan Ronan
Reporter: [Unnamed]
Timestamp: [04:14]

In Louisiana, a federal judge nominated by President Trump raised concerns over the deportation of a two-year-old American citizen to Honduras alongside her mother and sister. Judge Terry Doherty highlighted that the child appears to have been deported without meaningful legal proceedings to determine her status. In response, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the action, stating that the parents chose to leave the United States with their child, a decision DHS notes is common among parents facing deportation. The case has been scheduled for an update on May 16, with ongoing debates about due process and the rights of American citizens in immigration actions.

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This summary encapsulates the key stories and discussions presented in the April 26, 2025, episode of NPR News Now. For full details and more updates, listeners are encouraged to tune into the podcast.

Transcript

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[Dan Ronan]

News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. President Trump is back in the US After a brief trip to the Vatican to attend Pope Francis funeral. As NPR's Deepa Shiveran reports, while there, he met with Ukraine's President Vladimir Zelensky.

[Deepa Shivaram]

The meeting between Trump and Zelensky took place in St. Peter's Basilica shortly before the funeral program began. The White House hasn't released any detail of the conversation between the two leaders, but Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social and said he thinks Russian leader Vladimir Putin might be, quote, tapping me along and doesn't want to end the war. He was critical of Russia's attacks on civilian areas and floated the idea of sanctions against Russia, but provided no further details. Trump is spending the rest of the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

A Wisconsin judge arrested and charged with helping an immigrant evade arrest at her courthouse says she will be exonerated. NPR's Amy Held reports. It's part of the Trump administration's escalating clash with the judiciary over immigration.

[Amy Held]

Protesters in Milwaukee chanted in support of County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, her next court appearance set for May 15. She's facing charges, including concealing an individual to prevent arrest. The Justice Department says she helped a Mexican escape federal agents at her courthouse. In a statement, Dugan says she's committed to due process. But critics say the Trump administration, as it scales up deportations, is skipping due process, the legal constitutional right of all people in the U.S. attorney General Pam Bondi tells Fox News they're sending a message to judges who help those in the country illegally.

[Chandelyse Duster]

We will come after you and we will prosecute you.

[Amy Held]

A former New Mexico judge was also arrested this week, accused of helping a man allegedly linked to a Venezuelan gang. Amy Held, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

Indian authorities have detained more than a thousand people in India's administered Kashmir after a militant attack killed 26 people this week. Amkar Kandikar has more.

[Omkar Khandekar]

Family members of suspected militants in Kashmir told NPR that Indian security forces used explosives to blow up their houses. A senior police officer confirmed that five such houses were destroyed but did not say who did it. Indian authorities say gunmen linked to Pakistan targeted Hindu tourists holidaying in the Kashmiri town of Pehalgam on Tuesday. Pakistan's prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has denied involvement and said they are open to a neutral and transparent investigation. When asked if he was concerned, President Trump said on Friday that the two nuclear armed countries will get it figured out. Omkar Khandekar, NPR News, Mumbai.

[Dan Ronan]

In Iran, at least 14 people are dead. As many as 750 are injured after a massive explosion Saturday after a port in southern Iran. It's under investigation. This is NPR News. The son of famed football coach Deion Sanders has been drafted by an NFL team. This after several days of anticipation that left fans and analysts nervous. NPR's Chandeliers Duster has more.

[Chandelyse Duster]

Shador Sanders was selected by the Cleveland Browns as the 144th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday. Sports analysts had expected Sanders to be drafted in the first round, but he was surprisingly passed over by teams during the draft's first two days. But Sanders was optimistic and after Saturday's announcement thanked the team for giving him a chance. He also said the moment was perfect timing.

[Shador Sanders]

Just gotta remain positive, stay happy at all times and know God got you. I knew the whole time God had me, so I wasn't really panicking because I understood it's about perfect timing.

[Chandelyse Duster]

Sanders was a quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes under his father and named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. Chandelyse Duster, NPR News.

[Dan Ronan]

A federal judge in Louisiana nominated to the bench by President Trump said Friday that a two year old American citizen appears to have been deported to Honduras with no meaningful process. The judge, Terry Doherty, said the toddler was deported to Honduras with her mother and sister as the court was seeking to clarify the girl's legal status. In an email statement to npr, the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ice, defended its decision. The parents made the decision to take the child with them to Honduras. It is common that parents want to be removed with their children. The judge set a May 16 court date to update the case. I'm Dan Ronan, NPR News, in Washington.

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