NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of the April 26, 2025 Episode

Released: April 26, 2025 | Host: NPR

1. Farewell to Pope Francis

Jeanine Herbst opens the episode with the somber news of Pope Francis's passing and subsequent funeral:

• Funeral Proceedings: Pope Francis was laid to rest in a basilica in Rome, attracting world leaders and hundreds of thousands of mourners. The funeral featured a traditional Requiem mass in Latin, enriched with prayers in Chinese and Arabic, highlighting the global diversity of the Catholic Church's followers.
  "Presidents and kings and princes of the church gathered to bid Francis farewell," reports Jason DeRose at [00:42].

• Historic Burial Location: Notably, Pope Francis is the first pope in over a century to be buried outside Vatican City, emphasizing his enduring legacy and the broad impact of his ministry. His body was transported across the Tiber River to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he was laid to rest amid representations of refugees, the homeless, the poor, and victims of violence—groups that were central to his life's work.

2. Diplomatic Developments: Trump and Zelensky's Meeting

In the wake of Pope Francis's death, significant political developments unfolded between the United States and Ukraine:

• Historic Meeting Potential: Joanna Kakisis reports that President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a meeting hailed by Zelensky as potentially "historic" ([01:39]).

• Contentious Relations: Despite the meeting's promise, tensions remain, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict with Russia. Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting skepticism about the U.S.'s commitment to ending the war.
  "It makes me think he doesn't want to stop the war, trump wrote on Truth Social," as highlighted by Kakisis.

• Territorial Disputes: The discussion also touched upon territorial issues, with Trump controversially stating to "Time magazine that Russia can keep the southern Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014," reflecting the complex geopolitical challenges in the region ([01:24], [01:39]).

3. IRS Workforce Reductions and Tax Filing Status

Scott Horsley provides an update on the Internal Revenue Service amidst significant staffing changes:

• Tax Filing Progress: Despite large-scale job cuts, the IRS has successfully processed over 140 million tax returns by the April 15 deadline, with approximately 98% already handled ([02:22]). This performance is marginally ahead of the previous year's pace.

• Refunds and Delays: Refunds are proceeding on schedule, with more than 60% of taxpayers receiving returns exceeding $2,900 on average. Horsley notes that even with a surge of last-minute filings, there has been no backlog, indicating efficient handling by the remaining workforce.

• Future Implications: However, the ongoing and potential future layoffs could impede the IRS's capacity to pursue tax evasion, particularly among the wealthy, raising concerns about fiscal enforcement ([02:34]).

4. Wall Street Performance

Briefly touching on the financial markets:

• Stock Market Rise: For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average saw an increase of 2.5%, signaling a positive trend in Wall Street's performance ([03:16]).

5. Passing of Alexis Herman, Trailblazing Secretary of Labor

The podcast mourns the loss of Alexis Herman, a significant figure in American politics:

• Legacy and Contributions: Tom Dreisbach recounts Herman's journey from her early life in mobile, Alabama, during the Jim Crow era, to becoming the United States' first black Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. Her efforts in civil rights, voting rights, and women's rights are highlighted as pivotal to her enduring legacy.

• Inspirational Leadership: Herman was known for inspiring young people to engage in political and social activism. Reflecting her commitment, she stated during a 2016 commencement address, "I fought for civil rights. I fought for voting rights. I fought for women's rights in the 70s, but now it is your turn," emphasizing the importance of continued advocacy ([04:07]).

• Final Tributes: At 77 years old, Herman is remembered as a trailblazer who significantly impacted both the Carter and Clinton administrations, fostering inclusivity and progressive policies ([03:16], [04:16]).

6. Auction of Titanic Survivor's Letter

An intriguing historical tidbit concludes the episode:

• Rare Auction Piece: A letter written by Archibald Gracie, one of the Titanic's most renowned survivors, was sold for nearly $400,000 at auction. The correspondence, addressed to his great uncle, reflects Gracie's initial impressions of the Titanic, stating, "It was a fine one, but that I would wait till the trip was over to pass judgment" ([04:21]).

• Historical Significance: This letter is believed to be the only surviving correspondence from Gracie aboard the ill-fated ship. Gracie survived the Titanic disaster, which claimed over 1,500 lives, and later authored "The Truth about the Titanic," providing a firsthand account of the tragic event.

This episode of NPR News Now delivers a comprehensive update on global events, significant political developments, economic indicators, and noteworthy historical artifacts, providing listeners with a thorough overview of the day's most pressing news.