NPR News: 04-26-2025 1PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 26, 2025 – 1PM EDT Summary

NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on several critical global and domestic issues in its April 26, 2025 episode. This summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, structured into clear sections for ease of understanding.

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Farewell to Pope Francis in Rome

Windsor Johnston opened the episode with a poignant report on the farewell mass for Pope Francis in Rome. The event was marked by a massive turnout, with world leaders, dignitaries, and hundreds of thousands of faithful congregating in St. Peter's Square and the surrounding streets.

• Global Outreach and Inclusivity: The mass was a testament to Pope Francis's extensive global outreach. Johnston notes, “There was huge evidence of his global outreach here,” highlighting the presence of representatives from various world religions and the inclusion of readings in multiple languages beyond the traditional Latin, Italian, and English, such as Arabic, Polish, and Chinese (00:24).

• Pope Francis’s Legacy: Known for his humility and advocacy for the marginalized, Pope Francis left a significant impact worldwide. His numerous foreign trips, including visits to Cuba, the U.S., several African countries, and the Middle East, underscored his commitment to fostering international goodwill.

• Future of the Papacy: Following the funeral, the Pope was laid to rest at a basilica in Rome. Johnston informed listeners that “a conclave to select a new pope will begin in the coming weeks” (01:24), indicating the continuation of the Vatican’s enduring traditions.

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U.S.-Iran Nuclear Talks Progress

The episode shifted focus to international diplomacy, detailing the ongoing talks between the United States and Iran regarding Tehran's nuclear program.

• Negotiations in Oman: Windsor Johnston reported on the third round of negotiations in Oman, describing the discussions as “positive and productive” with both sides agreeing to resume talks in Europe (01:24).

• President Trump's Stance: Highlighting the political landscape, the NPR Host mentioned that President Trump expressed optimism about reaching a deal, stating, “I think we’re going to make a deal with Iran” (02:03). However, Trump also maintained a firm position, not ruling out military strikes if an agreement fails, a stance rooted in his previous administration’s withdrawal from the Obama-era nuclear agreement.

• Implications for Peaceful Nuclear Energy: The talks aim to ensure that Iran’s nuclear advancements remain strictly for peaceful energy purposes, a crucial point for global security and non-proliferation efforts.

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IRS Job Cuts and Tax Filing Season

Domestic affairs were covered with an update on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) amidst significant workforce reductions.

• Tax Filing Statistics: Scott Horsley provided encouraging news despite the IRS's layoffs. More than 140 million people filed their tax returns by the April 15 deadline, with approximately 98% already processed (02:33). This efficiency is slightly ahead of the previous year's pace.

• Refunds and Processing Efficiency: Refunds are being disbursed on schedule, with over 60% of filers expected to receive refunds. The average refund this year exceeds $2,900, and the last-minute filings by about one in six taxpayers did not create any backlog (02:41).

• Impact of Ongoing Job Cuts: Despite the current efficiency, Horsley warned that further job cuts could hinder the IRS’s ability to enforce tax laws, particularly in targeting wealthy individuals who evade taxes. “Many more job cuts are looming at the IRS, though that’s likely to inhibit the agency’s ability to go after wealthy tax cheats” (02:41).

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U.S.-Greenland Relations and Geopolitical Tensions

A significant portion of the episode addressed geopolitical tensions surrounding Greenland.

• House Democratic Leader's Statement: Windsor Johnston relayed that House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries declared it “unlikely lawmakers will support any invasion of Greenland” (03:21). This statement was made during Jeffries' visit to Denmark, emphasizing the improbability of U.S. support for President Trump's longstanding ambition to annex Greenland.

• President Trump's Position: The summary highlighted that President Trump has consistently advocated for U.S. control over Greenland and has not dismissed the potential use of force to achieve this goal. Scott Horsley elaborated on the importance of maintaining strong U.S.-Denmark relations: “The relationship between our two countries is important, has been strong and must remain that way moving forward” (03:36).

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Climate Change Accountability of Fossil Fuel Emitters

Addressing environmental concerns, the episode featured a discussion on a groundbreaking study linking climate change damages to major fossil fuel companies.

• Study Overview: Julia Simon reported on a study published in the journal Nature, which quantified the economic losses attributed to greenhouse gas emissions from companies like Chevron and ExxonMobil. The study estimated that Chevron caused at least $1.98 trillion in economic losses due to extreme heat between 1990 and 2020, while ExxonMobil was responsible for approximately $1.91 trillion (04:11).

• Methodology: The researchers employed thermodynamics, economic models, and emission data from these companies to establish a direct correlation between greenhouse gas outputs and economic damages from heat-related events.

• Industry Response and Legal Implications: Chevron’s lawyer dismissed the findings as “so called attribution science is junk science” (04:11), reflecting the contentious nature of holding fossil fuel companies accountable. As states like Vermont initiate lawsuits against big oil firms, such scientific studies could become pivotal in litigation efforts.

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Conclusion

The April 26, 2025 episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a thorough overview of significant current events, ranging from the heartfelt farewell to a globally respected leader, Pope Francis, to intricate diplomatic negotiations affecting international security and environmental responsibility. The discussions on domestic issues, such as IRS efficiencies amid job cuts, and geopolitical tensions over Greenland, further highlighted the diverse range of topics NPR covers to inform and engage its audience.

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This summary was crafted based on the transcript provided and aims to encapsulate the essential elements of the NPR News Now episode for those who have not listened.

Transcript

[NPR Host]

These days there is a lot of news. It can be hard to keep up with what it means for you, your family and your community. Consider this from NPR is a podcast that helps you make sense of the news. Six days a week, we bring you a deep dive on a story and provide the context, backstory and analysis you need to understand our rapidly changing world. Listen to the Consider this podcast from npr.

[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. World leaders, dignitaries and hundreds of thousands of faithful filled St. Peter's Square and the surrounding streets in Rome today to bid farewell to Pope Francis. Crowds of people clutched rosaries and openly wept while holding photos of the pontiff and handwritten notes. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports. Pope Francis, known for his humility and advocacy for the marginal respected figure around the world.

[NPR Host]

There was huge evidence of his global outreach here. There were representatives of many of the world's religions, and the mass was sprinkled with readings in many languages, not just Latin, Italian and English, but also Arabic, Polish and Chinese. Pope Francis made many foreign trips to Cuba, the U.S. several African countries and the Middle East.

[Windsor Johnston]

NPR's Silvio Paggioli reporting. Pope Francis was later laid to rest at a basilica in Rome. A conclave to select a new pope will begin in the coming weeks. Negotiators from the United States and Iran wrapped up a third round of talks today in Oman to discuss Tehran's advancing nuclear program. The latest round of discussions are being described as positive and productive, with the two sides agreeing to resume talks again in Europe. NPR's Hadil Al Shouji reports. Officials say while progress was made, there's still more work to be done after.

[NPR Host]

The second round of talks last week, Oman said that the two sides agreed to enter a next phase aimed at reaching a deal that would also allow Iran to develop, quote, peaceful nuclear energy only. In an interview published in Time magazine this week, President Trump said, quote, I think we're going to make a deal with Iran. But he hasn't ruled out military strikes if a deal isn't agreed to. During his last term as president, Trump pulled out of an Obama era agreement which aimed to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities. Hadil Alshalji, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

Large scale job cuts at the IRS don't appear to have affected this year's tax filing season. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

[Scott Horsley]

More than 140 million people filed tax returns by the week of the April 15 deadline, and so far about 98% of those returns have been processed. That's slightly ahead of last year's pace even after the IRS laid off thousands of workers this spring. Refunds also appear to be going out on schedule. More than 60% of tax filers get money back from the government. The average refund this year is more than $2,900. About one in six taxpayers waited until the last week to file. But that's not unusual and doesn't appear to have caused any backlog. Many more job cuts are looming at the irs, though that's likely to inhibit the agency's ability to go after wealthy tax cheats. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Windsor Johnston]

It's NPR House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says it's unlikely lawmakers will support any invasion of Greenland. Jeffries spoke in Copenhagen while on a visit to Denmar with other members of Congress.

[Scott Horsley]

The relationship between our two countries is important, has been strong and must remain that way moving forward.

[Windsor Johnston]

President Trump has repeatedly said he wants the US to take over Greenland and has not ruled out the use of force for decades. Researchers asked whether they could trace climate change damages back to the biggest fossil fuel emitters. NPR's Julia Simon explains how a new study in the journal Nature came up with yes for an answer.

[Julia Simon]

The study finds Chevron, for example, likely caused at least 1.98 trillion in economic losses from intensifying extreme heat between 1990 and 2020. ExxonMobil, it estimates 1.91 trillion. The Dartmouth scientists who wrote the study used thermodynamics and other science plus economics to estimate every 1% of greenhouse gases causes 502 billion in damage from heat alone. They then use data from big fossil fuel producing companies showing their greenhouse gas emissions to make estimates of damages. A lawyer for Chevron says this, quote, so called attribution science is junk science. ExxonMobil did not respond. As states like Vermont sue big oil companies, researchers say science like this could play a role in litigation. Julia Simon, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

This is NPR News in Washington.

[Scott Horsley]

This message comes from NPR sponsor Shopify. No idea where to sell? Start selling with Shopify today. Whether you're a garage entrepreneur or IPO ready, Shopify is the only tool you need to start, run and grow your business without the struggle. Go to shopify.com npr.