NPR News: 04-26-2025 7PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now - Detailed Summary

Episode: NPR News: 04-26-2025 7PM EDT
Release Date: April 26, 2025
Host/Author: NPR

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US and Ukrainian Presidents Hold Historic Meeting Amid Ongoing Conflict

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst, Joanna Kakissis
Timestamps: [00:18] - [01:14]

In a significant diplomatic development, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of Pope Francis' funeral. Jeanine Herbst introduces the segment from Washington, highlighting the meeting's potential impact on international relations ([00:18]).

Key Points:

• Historic Potential: Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed optimism about the meeting, stating, "this meeting could turn out to be historic" ([00:31]).
• Criticism of Putin: President Trump utilized the platform to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin, writing on his social media network, Truth Social, "It makes me think he doesn't want to stop the war, he's just tapping me along" ([00:31]).
• U.S. Pressure on Ukraine: The meeting follows a week of U.S. pressure urging Zelensky to concede certain territories. Zelensky remains resolute, declaring, "I will never recognize Russian occupied Ukrainian land as part of Russia" ([00:31]).
• Crimea Stance: Trump informed Time magazine, "Russia can keep the southern Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014" ([01:14]).

Joanna Kakissis provides in-depth coverage from Kyiv, discussing the implications of the leaders' discussions and the broader geopolitical context surrounding the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

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Pope Francis' Funeral Marks Transition to New Papacy

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst, Sarah Ventri
Timestamps: [01:14] - [02:06]

Following the funeral of Pope Francis, the Catholic Church enters a period of mourning and prepares for the selection of his successor. Jeanine Herbst transitions to the Vatican's updates, with Sarah Ventri reporting from Rome ([01:14]).

Key Points:

• Novem Diales: The funeral mass initiated the Novem Diales, a nine-day tradition of mourning that includes daily masses led by cardinals ([01:24]).
• Papal Conclave Preparation: After the mourning period, the papal conclave will convene to elect the new pope. There are 135 cardinal electors under the age of 80 eligible to vote out of a total of 252 cardinals ([01:24]).
• Papabili: Likely candidates for the papacy are referred to as "papabili," an Italian term meaning "pope-able" ([01:24]).

Sarah Ventri elaborates on the conclave process, the qualifications of the cardinal electors, and the significance of the upcoming papal election within the Catholic community.

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National Science Foundation Cuts Over 700 Research Grants

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst, Nell Greenfield Boyce
Timestamps: [02:06] - [03:10]

In a major shift affecting scientific research across the United States, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has canceled more than 700 of its grants. Jeanine Herbst introduces the story from Washington, with Nell Greenfield Boyce providing detailed reporting ([02:06]).

Key Points:

• Scope of NSF: The NSF is a pivotal agency funding research, education, and infrastructure in science, math, and engineering at colleges and universities nationwide ([02:06]).
• Initial Cancellations: Approximately a week prior, the NSF began canceling grants focused on misinformation research and efforts to increase diversity in STEM fields ([02:06]).
• Leadership Changes: The abrupt resignation of the NSF director on Thursday has raised concerns about potential budget and staff reductions, prompting further grant cancellations ([02:06]).
• Agency Priorities: An NSF spokesperson stated that the canceled projects were "not aligned with agency priorities" ([02:24]).

Nell Greenfield Boyce discusses the potential long-term impacts of these cancellations on scientific research and education, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the NSF's future direction.

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Appalachian Caverns in Tennessee Listed for $2.2 Million

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst, Chad Barrett
Timestamps: [03:10] - [04:17]

A unique Appalachian attraction, Appalachian Caverns in Blountville, Tennessee, is now up for sale for $2.2 million. Jeanine Herbst introduces the segment, and Chad Barrett provides on-the-ground reporting from Johnson City ([03:10]).

Key Points:

• Property Details: The sale includes two apartments, over nine acres of land, and a three-mile cave system, offering a distinctive opportunity for prospective buyers ([03:10]).
• Owner's Intent: Roger Hartley, the owner since 2004, stated, "I'm three, three and a half years away from retirement, got time to sell. And if it doesn't sell right now, I'm still okay" ([03:49]).
• Visitor Statistics: Appalachian Caverns attracts over 10,000 visitors annually, serving as a popular regional attraction ([03:38]).
• Environmental Considerations: The caverns are home to endangered species, including approximately 15,000 gray bats and Indiana bats ([03:55] - [04:09]).
• Preservation Hopes: Hartley emphasizes the importance of preserving the caverns, expressing hope that buyers will share his passion for conservation ([04:17]).

Chad Barrett interviews Roger Hartley, who discusses his reasons for selling and the importance of maintaining the ecological integrity of the caverns alongside their commercial use.

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Boston Commemorates 1965 Freedom Rally Amidst Trump's DEI Critiques

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst
Timestamps: [04:17] - [04:56]

Boston marked the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Freedom Rally, a pivotal event led by Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., while addressing contemporary issues surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Jeanine Herbst provides coverage of the event ([04:17]).

Key Points:

• Historical Significance: The 1965 Freedom Rally protested housing discrimination and school segregation in Boston, with hundreds gathering at the same site today to honor the legacy ([04:17]).
• Memorial Site: The rally took place near a 20-foot-high memorial dedicated to racial equity, depicting King embracing his wife, Coretta Scott King ([04:17]).
• Continuing Struggles: Martin Luther King III remarked, "More work is needed to ensure everyone has access to quality health care," highlighting ongoing challenges in achieving equity ([04:17]).
• Trump's Stance: President Trump's attacks on DEI initiatives were a central theme during the commemoration, reflecting current political debates on these issues ([04:17]).

Jeanine Herbst discusses the parallels between the historical event and today's societal issues, emphasizing the continued relevance of King's message in contemporary discourse.

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Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. Ahead of Pope Francis funeral, President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky met for a discussion the White House says was very productive. NPR's Joanna Kakissis has more.

[Joanna Kakissis]

Writing on social media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this meeting could turn out to be historic. Trump wrote his own post criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin for attacking Ukrainian civilians. It makes me think he doesn't want to stop the war, trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media network. He's just tapping me along. The meeting comes after a week of US Pressure on Zelensky to concede territory. Zelensky says he will never recognize Russian occupied Ukrainian land as part of Russia. Trump told Time magazine that Russia can keep the southern Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, which it illegally annexed in 2014. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kyiv.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And now that Francis has been laid to rest, a period of mourning begins, followed by a much anticipated conclave to select the new pope and Pierre. Sarah Ventri has more from Rome.

[Sarah Ventri]

Pope Francis funeral mass marked the beginning of an ancient tradition called the Novem Diales, nine consecutive days of mourning. They'll include daily masses presided by cardinals. Following this will be the papal conclave, during which time 135 cardinal electors will be sequestered as they choose the next pope. Although there are 252 cardinals in total, only those under the age of 80 qualify to be electors. The rest can serve in an advisory capacity but may not vote. And those who are considered likely candidates are called papaboli, an Italian term meaning popable. Sarah Ventri, NPR News, Rome.

[Jeanine Herbst]

The National Science foundation, the government agency that's a major funder of research in science, math and engineering, has canceled more than 700 of its grants. NPR's Nell Greenfield Boyce reports. The move comes after the NSF director abruptly announced his departure on Thursday.

[Nell Greenfield Boyce]

The NSF funds a lot of the research, education and infrastructure for the science that goes on around the nation, especially at colleges and universities. But it's now stopping funding for a lot of work. The first wave of cancellations about a week ago targeted research on misinformation and efforts to increase diversity in science, math and engineering. Then, amid reports that the agency's budget and staff might possibly be cut in half, the NSF director resigned. And now there's been another wave of cancellations, more than 700 projects this time. An NSF spokesperson says the cancelled work was, quote, not aligned with agency priorities. Nell Greenfield Boyce, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And you're listening to NPR news from Washington. $2.2 million might seem like a hefty asking price for two apartments on just over nine acres of land in Tennessee, but what if that included a three mile cave system? Chad Barrett with member station WETS has more on a unique Appalachian attraction that's now up for sale.

[Chad Barrett]

Appalachian Caverns in Blountville, Tennessee, opened to the public in 1991 and has been a popular attraction in the region ever since. Here's Roger Hartley, the owner since 2004, on why he's decided to sell.

[Roger Hartley]

I'm three, three and a half years away from retirement, got time to sell. And if it doesn't sell right now, I'm still okay.

[Chad Barrett]

A little over 10,000 people visit the Appalachian Caverns per year, but a couple endangered species also call the caverns home.

[Roger Hartley]

So you do have the endangered gray bat, the most populous bat we have here. We have about 15,000 grays, and then we have the endangered Indiana bat.

[Chad Barrett]

Hartley hopes that whoever buys the property shares his passion for preservation of the caverns. For NPR News, I'm Chad Barrett in Johnson City.

[Jeanine Herbst]

President Trump's attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion took center stage in Boston today as the city remembers the 1965 Freedom Rally. Sixty years after the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Led a rally protesting housing discrimination and segregation in schools in Boston, hundreds of people gathered today at the same site to honor and reflect on the historic event. The rally at the Boston Common near the site of a 20 foot high memorial to racial equity, shows King embracing his wife, Coretta Scott King. His eldest son, Martin Luther King iii, says more work is needed to ensure everyone has access to quality health care. This is NPR News.

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