Summary5 min read

NPR News Now: April 26, 2026, 6AM EDT

Host: Windsor Johnston
Location: Washington, D.C.

Episode Overview

This brief five-minute NPR News Now episode delivers urgent updates on major news stories, including the aftermath of a shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, ongoing Iran-US-Pakistan negotiations, maritime tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, shifting trends in abortion rights across religious groups, and the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner

[00:00 - 01:52]

A shooting occurred at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents Dinner. President Trump and the First Lady were evacuated as shots were fired inside the venue.
- Law enforcement responded swiftly; the suspect was armed with a handgun and knives.
- U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated charges include using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon.
  - Quote: “Right now, the defendant is being charged with two counts, 924 using a firearm during a crime of violence and a second crime under 111, which is assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.” – Jeanine Pirro [00:27]
- The suspect will be arraigned on Monday and could face further charges as the investigation unfolds.
- President Trump provided remarks, noting the suspect has been apprehended and was “a very sick person.”
  - Quote: “The man has been captured. They're going to his apartment. I guess he lives in California and he's a sick person, a very sick person.” – President Trump [00:59]
- The suspect exchanged gunfire with Secret Service agents; one agent was shot but protected by a bulletproof vest.
- The President initially mistook the gunfire for a clattering tray and commended law enforcement for their rapid response.
  - Quote: “He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun.” – President Trump [01:26]
  - Quote: “[Trump] praised law enforcement for their quick responses to the shooter and said the event, though disrupted, brought people together. He also said he wanted the event to continue into the evening, but instead it will be postponed for a later time.” – Deepa Shivaram [01:33]

2. Iran-US-Pakistan Peace Talks & Diplomatic Tensions

[01:52 - 02:56]

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Arakchi, is expected to return to Islamabad after an abrupt departure, with hopes of furthering peace talks despite recent setbacks.
- President Trump canceled the US negotiating team’s planned trip to Pakistan after turning down a peace proposal from Iran.
  - Quote: “Trump on Saturday canceled the U.S. negotiating team's own planned trip to Pakistan shortly after the Iranian foreign minister left and told reporters he'd rejected a new peace proposal from Iran.” – Dori Biscarin [02:12]
- Iran's President told Pakistan's PM that Iran would not enter negotiations “under pressure, threats, or a blockade.”
- The diplomatic climate remains tense, but new discussions could be possible during Arakchi’s visit.

3. Strait of Hormuz: Naval Operations & Economic Impacts

[02:56 - 03:42]

The US Navy is working to clear Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz.
- The process is expected to take months, posing ongoing risks for commercial shipping.
  - Insight: Experts note that the waterway’s closure adds strain to the global economy, with shipping delays and insurance uncertainties.
- The Strait remains a critical chokepoint for global trade.

4. Abortion Rights: Religious Trends and New Data

[03:42 - 04:22]

A new survey from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) reveals that 60% of US adults favor abortion rights in all or most cases.
- Support has risen notably among Black Protestants (70%, up from 56% in 2010).
- Slight declines are seen among mainline Protestants and white Catholics, though both remain majority pro-abortion rights.
- Groups without majority favoring abortion rights: Hispanic Protestants, Latter-Day Saints, white evangelical Protestants, Jehovah’s Witnesses.
  - Quote: “Overall, the four religious groups without majority support are Hispanic Protestants, Latter Day Saints, white evangelical Protestants and Jehovah's Witnesses.” – Jason DeRose [03:42]
- PRRI’s extensive survey underscores a broadening, though nuanced, base of support.

5. 40th Anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster

[04:22 - 04:40]

Today marks four decades since the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion in Ukraine.
- The disaster led to massive evacuations and enduring environmental harm.
- A moment to reflect on its legacy in nuclear safety and environmental policy.

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

Jeanine Pirro, US Attorney:
- “The defendant is being charged with two counts, 924 using a firearm during a crime of violence and a second crime under 111, which is assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.” [00:27]
President Trump:
- “The man has been captured. They're going to his apartment. I guess he lives in California and he's a sick person, a very sick person.” [00:59]
- “He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun.” [01:26]
Deepa Shivaram, NPR:
- “Trump praised law enforcement for their quick responses to the shooter and said the event, though disrupted, brought people together. He also said he wanted the event to continue into the evening, but instead it will be postponed for a later time.” [01:33]
Dori Biscarin, NPR:
- “Trump on Saturday canceled the U.S. negotiating team's own planned trip to Pakistan shortly after the Iranian foreign minister left and told reporters he'd rejected a new peace proposal from Iran.” [02:12]
Jason DeRose, NPR:
- “Overall, the four religious groups without majority support are Hispanic Protestants, Latter Day Saints, white evangelical Protestants and Jehovah's Witnesses.” [03:42]

Timestamps of Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------|------------| | Shooting at Correspondents Dinner | 00:00-01:52| | Iran-US-Pakistan Peace Talks | 01:52-02:56| | Strait of Hormuz, US Navy Operations | 02:56-03:42| | Abortion Rights Survey Results | 03:42-04:22| | Chernobyl Disaster Anniversary | 04:22-04:40|

Note: This summary excludes promotional and sponsor messages per guidelines.
Listeners are encouraged to consult the full episode for additional context and details.

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Transcript17 lines

[00:01]
A
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Investigators are working to piece together what led to a shooting at the Washington Hilton during last night's White House Correspondents Dinner. President Trump and the first lady were rushed out as Secret Service agents responded to reports of shots fired inside the hotel. U.S. attorney Jeanine Pirro says the suspect was armed with a handgun and multiple knives.
[00:27]
B
Right now, the defendant is being charged with two counts, 924 using a firearm during a crime of violence and a second crime under 111, which is assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon.
[00:43]
A
Pirro says the suspect will be arraigned Monday in federal district Court and says he could face additional charges as investigators learn more. President Trump spoke at the White House after being rushed from the Washington Hilton after the suspect opened fire last night.
[01:00]
C
The man has been captured. They're going to his apartment. I guess he lives in California and he's a sick person, a very sick person.
[01:09]
A
Authorities say the suspect exchanged gunfire with Secret Service agents near a security checkpoint at the hotel. NPR's Deepa Shivaram reports. One agent was shot, but was wearing a bulletproof vest.
[01:22]
D
President Trump and administration officials briefed reporters after the shooting at the Hilton Hotel
[01:27]
C
in D.C. he was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun.
[01:33]
D
Trump shared that at first when he heard the gunshots, he thought it might be a tray falling. Trump praised law enforcement for their quick responses to the shooter and said the event, though disrupted, brought people together. He also said he wanted the event to continue into the evening, but instead it will be postponed for a later time. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News, the White House.
[01:53]
A
Iran's foreign minister is expected to return to Islamabad a day after leaving Pakistan without meeting US Officials for peace talks. President Trump on Saturday called off sending a delegation dealing another setback to ceasefire negotiations. Dori Biscarin has more from Istanbul.
[02:13]
E
After hopes of a new round of peace talks dimmed, US Negotiators may have another shot. According to Iranian state media, Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi will complete his planned trip to Oman but make an unplanned return to Islamabad today. He he'll continue on to Russia afterwards. Trump on Saturday canceled the U.S. negotiating team's own planned trip to Pakistan shortly after the Iranian foreign minister left and told reporters he'd rejected a new peace proposal from Iran. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistan's prime minister that his country would not enter forced negotiations under pressure, threats or a blockade. For NPR News, I'm Dari Busgaran in Istanbul.
[02:56]
A
This is NPR News. In Washington. President Trump says the U.S. navy is working to clear Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz. Experts say clearing underwater explosives could take months, even with a fragile ceasefire in place. And they warn it may take time before commercial ships and insurers consider the waterway safe again. The key shipping route remains largely closed, adding strain to the global economy. Six in 10 U.S. adults say they favor abortion rights. That's according to a new survey from the Public religion research institute. NPR's Jason DeRose reports that majorities across most religious traditions say that abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
[03:43]
F
Support for abortion rights has risen among some religious groups and declined among others. According to the survey, 70% of black Protestants now favor abortion being legal in all or most cases. That's up from 56% in 2010. Meanwhile, favorability has dropped slightly among mainline Protestants and white Catholics, but majorities of both groups still favor abortion rights. Overall, the four religious groups without majority support are Hispanic Protestants, Latter Day Saints, white evangelical Protestants and Jehovah's Witnesses. PRRI surveyed more than 22,000 people from all 50 states. Jason DeRose, NPR News.
[04:23]
A
Today marks the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine. The explosion at the plant in 1986 forced mass evacuations and left lasting environmental damage. I'm Windsor Johnston, NPR News, in Washington.
[04:41]
G
This message comes from Midi health co founders Dr. Kathleen Jordan and CEO Joanna Strober discuss why they started a virtual care platform for women in perimenopause and menopause.
[04:53]
H
The symptoms and experiences that women have in midlife I think were underappreciated or possibly even trivialized. The changes of perimenopause and menopause create a broad spectrum of symptoms and can actually lead to long term health issues, but too few clinicians are trained in it.
[05:09]
I
I also want to add often the type of care that women are needing is very iterative. It requires trying different medications, learning about their body and learning how to take care of themselves. And so what we've tried to do at MIDI Health is create a new type of care system that is responsive to women's needs and helps them take care of themselves and stay healthy instead of just treating disease.
[05:32]
G
Midi Health committed to helping women in midlife with perimenopause and menopause care. Accessible via telehealth visits@joinmidi.com.