NPR News: 04-26-2026 2PM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – April 26, 2026, 2PM EDT

Host: Nora Ram | Podcast: NPR News Now
Episode Date: April 26, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this 5-minute NPR News Now update, Nora Ram and NPR correspondents deliver key headlines on breaking U.S. and global events. Coverage includes the aftermath of a shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding struggles, the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, attacks in Mali, and a new world record at the London Marathon.

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Key News Highlights & Discussion Points

1. Shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

[00:29–01:38]

• President Trump’s Response:

  • President Trump left the White House Correspondents’ Dinner after a gunman opened fire and cited the incident to justify the need for a new, secure White House ballroom under construction.
  • Trump described the current venue, the Washington Hilton, as insecure, referencing its size and layout.
  • Quote (Donald Trump, [01:04]):
    "It’s always tough when you have a thousand rooms... people come down in elevators and they’re right over the top of where you’re speaking... we’re building a big, beautiful, very, very secure ballroom in every way with massive bulletproof glass that’s almost 4 inches thick."
  • The new ballroom faces ongoing legal challenges, and its future use is uncertain.

• Suspect Information:

  • The shooter has been identified as Cole Allen, a 31-year-old from Torrance, California.
  • Initial charges include weapons and assault, with more possible as investigation progresses.
  • Reporting from the Scene (Steve Futterman, [01:58]):
    • Authorities searched Allen’s residence for items like computers and digital storage as they seek motives.
    • Allen is a Caltech graduate working in academic tutoring.

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2. Department of Homeland Security Shutdown

[02:25–03:26]

• Funding Stalemate Intensified by Shooting:
  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—including Secret Service—remains unfunded since February 14.
  • The recent attack has heightened political urgency to resolve the issue.
  • Quote (Senator Mike Lee, [02:54]):
    "Same Secret Service that just saved President Trump’s life... has been defunded along with the rest of DHS for more than two months... To my Democrat colleagues in the Senate, it’s time to end this. Let’s end the Homeland Security shutdown now, please."
  • While the Senate advanced a bipartisan funding deal (with some exclusions for immigration enforcement), the House GOP is backing a slower, one-party plan.

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3. 40th Anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster

[03:26–03:38]

• Marking four decades since the Chernobyl nuclear plant explosion in the former Soviet Union.
• Millions exposed to radiation; large-scale evacuations in Ukraine and Belarus; thousands of deaths linked to radiation illnesses.

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4. Violence and Instability in Mali

[03:38–04:47]

• Attack on Defense Minister’s Residence:
  • Mali’s defense minister reportedly killed in an attack; militant and rebel groups claim responsibility for widespread incidents.
  • Reporting (Michael Koloki, [04:10]):
    • JNIM (al-Qaeda linked) and FLA (rebel group) both issue statements taking responsibility for attacks.
    • Malian military confirms deaths among the assailants and injuries to several individuals.
    • U.S. Embassy issues security alert; UN calls for international response in the Sahel region.
    • Quote (Michael Koloki, [04:25]):
      "The American Embassy in Mali has issued a security alert calling on US citizens in the West African nation to shelter in place following the attacks."

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5. Sports: London Marathon World Record

[04:47–05:09]

• Moment of Athletic Achievement:
  • Kenyan runner Sebastian Sawway sets a new world record—finishing the London Marathon in 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds.
  • Quote (Sebastian Sawway, via Nora Ram, [04:54]):
    "With them calling, you feel so happy and strong."
  • Sawway credits the support of cheering crowds for his performance.

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Notable Quotes

• Donald Trump on Venue Security:
  "We’re building a big, beautiful, very, very secure ballroom in every way with massive bulletproof glass..." ([01:04])
• Senator Mike Lee on DHS Shutdown:
  "Same Secret Service that just saved President Trump’s life... has been defunded along with the rest of DHS..." ([02:54])
• Michael Koloki on Mali Security:
  "The American Embassy in Mali has issued a security alert calling on US citizens... to shelter in place..." ([04:25])
• Sebastian Sawway on Setting Marathon Record:
  "With them calling, you feel so happy and strong." ([04:54])

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Shooting at White House Correspondents’ Dinner: 00:29–01:38
• Shooter Background & Residence Search: 01:38–02:25
• DHS Shutdown & Political Reactions: 02:25–03:26
• Chernobyl Anniversary: 03:26–03:38
• Attacks and Security in Mali: 03:38–04:47
• London Marathon Record: 04:47–05:09

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This concise bulletin captures critical events in national security, politics, international crises, and sports, providing listeners with the most recent and impactful news.

Transcript

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[Nora Ram]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ram. President Trump says he wanted to continue the White House correspondents dinner last night after a gunman opened fire, but that it was the right thing to leave The Washington Hilton. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports. Now Trump is pointing to the shooting as a reason to finish the controversial White House ballroom under construction.

[Franco Ordonez]

President Trump says the shooting would never have happened if it were held in the new ballroom he's having built at the White House. He called the Washington Hilton not a particular particularly secure site, as he explained on Fox News.

[President Donald Trump]

Well, it's always tough when you have a thousand rooms. It's a large hotel right on top. And so people come down in elevators and they're right over the top of where you're speaking, not very far away. And it's pretty tough. And you know, as you know, we're building a big, beautiful, very, very secure ballroom in every way with massive bulletproof glass that's almost 4 inches thick.

[Franco Ordonez]

The White House ballroom is facing legal hurdles. Even if it is built, it's not clear if the dinner could be held. The annual event is private. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Nora Ram]

The suspect is due to be arraigned tomorrow in federal court, initially facing weapons and assault charges. Officials say more charges may be added as the investigation continues. He's been identified as Cole Allen, a 31 year old man from the Los Angeles suburb of Torrance, California. Steve Futterman went there and spoke with people who knew him.

[Steve Futterman]

On the street where Cole Thomas Allen lived, law enforcement spent much of the night gathering evidence that might explain what led to last night's shooting. Allen, a graduate of Caltech, worked for a company that provides tutoring and preparation for college entrance examinations. Among the evidence that law enforcement was looking for overnight were such things as computers, cell phones and external digital storage devices.

[Nora Ram]

Steve Futterman reporting. Congress has just one week in town before its next recess. The Department of Homeland Security has been shut down since February 14, which means lawmakers haven't appropriated money to pay Secret Service agents. NPR's Eric McDaniel reports.

[Eric McDaniel]

As though the longest agency shutdown in history weren't enough pressure, Saturday night's shooting at the White House Correspondents association dinner has refocused lawmakers attention on the lack of DHS funding. Here's Utah Senator Mike Lee Saturday night

[Senator Mike Lee]

in a video on X, same Secret Service that just saved President Trump's life and thank heaven above that he's safe, has been defunded along with the rest of the Department of Homeland Security for more than two months. To my Democrat colleagues in the Senate, it's time to end this. Let's end the Homeland Security shutdown now, please.

[Eric McDaniel]

The Senate has twice advanced a unanimous bipartisan deal to fund all of the agency with the exception of some immigration enforcement teams that House Republicans have refused to take up. The GOP is now advancing a slower one party plan. Eric McDaniel, NPR News, Washington.

[Nora Ram]

This is NPR News. It was 40 years ago today that the Chernobyl nuclear plant exploded in what was then the Soviet Union. It exposed millions of people in the region to dangerous levels of radiation and forced the permanent evacuation of hundreds of towns and villages. In Ukraine and in Belarus, thousands have died from radiation related illnesses. There are reports from Mali that the defense minister has been killed in an attack on his residence. Militant groups have claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in various parts of the West African nation. Yesterday. More gunfire was reported today. Michael Koloki reports the al Qaeda linked

[Michael Koloki]

militant group JNIM claimed responsibility for attacks in parts of the country, while the rebel group FLA also claimed to have carried out a number of attacks. In a statement, Mali's military said that several assailants had been killed during the incidents, with the government spokesperson adding that a number of people had also been injured. Meanwhile, the American Embassy in Mali has issued a security alert calling on US Citizens in the West African nation to shelter in place following the attacks. The UN has called for an international response to violence in the West Africa Sahel region. For NPR News, I'm Michael Kaluki.

[Nora Ram]

In Nairobi, a runner from Kenya set a new record at the London Marathon today. Sebastian Sawway finished in under 2 hours at 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds. He later thanked the crowds that lined the streets for the race, saying, with them calling, you feel so happy and strong. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

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