NPR News: 04-27-2026 4AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now – April 27, 2026, 4AM EDT

Host: Dale Willman
Duration: 5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This NPR News Now update provides a concise roundup of the latest headlines, including details on the White House correspondent’s dinner shooting, global reactions, updates on the Federal Reserve, strong stock market performance in Asia, wildfires in Georgia, negotiations around Colorado River water, and box office results. The tone is urgent and factual, reflecting the fast-moving nature of recent news events.

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Key News Stories & Discussion Points

1. White House Correspondent’s Dinner Shooting & Fallout

• [00:30] Dale Willman opens with breaking developments on the shooting incident at the White House correspondent’s dinner.

• The suspect, Cole Allen, reportedly sent a document being called a “manifesto” to his family minutes before the event.

• President Trump confronted questions on CBS 60 Minutes regarding alleged references to sexual misconduct in the writings.

  "Well, I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would because you're, you're horrible people. Horrible people. Yeah, he did write that. I'm not a rapist. I didn't rape anybody."
  — Unidentified Interviewee/Guest (presumed President Trump), [00:54]

  "Excuse me, I'm not a pedophile. You read that crap from some sick person. I got associated with all stuff that has nothing to do with me. I was totally exonerated. Your friends on the other side of the the plate are the ones that were involved with, let's say, Epstein or other things."
  — Unidentified Interviewee/Guest, [01:08]

• NPR has not confirmed the contents of the writings.

• European leaders expressed relief that President Trump and his cabinet were unharmed.

2. European Leaders Respond to Violence

• [01:48] Terry Schultz, reporting from Brussels, summarizes European reactions:
  • Antonio Costa (European Council President): called the incident "deeply unsettling," praised law enforcement’s speedy response.
  • Ursula von der Leyen (European Commission President): expressed "relief," stating “violence has no place in politics, ever.”
  • Kayakalis (EU foreign policy chief): wrote, "An event meant to honor a free press should never become a scene of fear."

3. Federal Reserve Leadership Transition

• [02:21] Dale Willman introduces a segment on the Federal Reserve.

• [02:35] Rafael Nam provides insight:

  • Jerome Powell’s term as Chair is expiring but he delayed stepping down due to a criminal probe into Fed renovations.
  • DOJ dropped the investigation Friday, opening the way for Kevin Warsh (President Trump’s nominee) to take over.
  • Powell’s next move—remaining on the Board or stepping down completely—is still unannounced.

  "Powell doesn't have to announce his decision this week, but a lot of eyes will definitely be on him."
  — Rafael Nam, [03:13]

4. Asian Markets Surge on AI Optimism

• [03:19] Brief market update: the Kospi, Nikkei, and Taiwan indices all hit record highs driven by optimism surrounding artificial intelligence.

5. Wildfires in Southeastern Georgia

• [03:23] Two major wildfires are burning:
  • Highway 82 fire: 6% contained, burned 31+ square miles, active since April 20.
  • Second fire near the Florida border: burned 46+ square miles.

6. Colorado River Water Negotiations

• [03:44] Alex Hager reports on water-sharing talks:

  • The seven states that rely on the Colorado River remain deadlocked; four (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico) now urging mediation.
  • Without agreement, federal intervention could mean harsh cutbacks and lawsuits.

  "This is really trying to see if we can break any of the deadlock and set aside the legal theories and try to find a way to get to a deal."
  — Becky Mitchell, Colorado representative, [04:21]

  • No clear decision on who the mediator should be—needs consensus among all seven states.

7. Weekend Box Office Highlights

• [04:39] Despite critical and production setbacks, the ‘Michael’ biopic earned $97 million domestically, shattering the music biopic record.
  • International gross: $217 million.
  • ‘Super Mario Galaxy’ placed second ($21.2 million); ‘Project Hail Mary’ added $13.2 million.

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Memorable Quotes

• President Trump (on CBS 60 Minutes, responding to manifesto references):
  "I'm not a rapist. I didn't rape anybody... I'm not a pedophile. You read that crap from some sick person. I got associated with all stuff that has nothing to do with me." — [00:54 – 01:08]

• Antonio Costa, European Council President:
  Described the shooting as "deeply unsettling" and praised law enforcement. — [01:48]

• Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President:
  "Violence has no place in politics, ever." — [01:58]

• Kayakalis, EU Foreign Policy Chief:
  "An event meant to honor a free press should never become a scene of fear." — [02:08]

• Becky Mitchell, Colorado River negotiations:
  "This is really trying to see if we can break any of the deadlock and set aside the legal theories and try to find a way to get to a deal." — [04:21]

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Notable Timestamps

• 00:30: Introduction and top story—the White House correspondent's dinner shooting
• 01:48: European reactions to the shooting
• 02:35: Federal Reserve leadership transition update
• 03:19: Asian stock market records
• 03:23: Georgia wildfires status
• 04:00: Colorado River water negotiations and call for mediation
• 04:39: Box office weekend results

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This summary covers all significant news from the April 27, 2026, 4AM EDT edition of NPR News Now.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. A White House official tells NPR that the White House correspondent's dinner shooting suspect Cole Allen sent his family members what the White House is calling a manifesto. Just minutes before the incident on CBS 60 Minutes Sunday night, President Trump was asked about possible mentions of sexual misconduct in those writings. Those mentions are not attributed to any one person.

[Unidentified Interviewee/Guest]

Well, I was waiting for you to read that because I knew you would because you're, you're horrible people. Horrible people. Yeah, he did write that. I'm not a rapist. I didn't rape anybody.

[Unidentified Interviewer]

Oh, you think he was referring to you?

[Unidentified Interviewee/Guest]

Excuse me, I'm not a pedophile. You read that crap from some sick person. I got associated with all stuff that has nothing to do with me. I was totally exonerated. Your friends on the other side of the the plate are the ones that were involved with, let's say, Epstein or other things.

[Dale Willman]

NPR has not confirmed the contents of Allen's writings. The strained relationship between the White House and the EU did not prevent European leaders from expressing their relief that the president and his Cabinet members were unharmed after the shooting at the correspondent's dinner. Terry Schultz has more.

[Becky Mitchell]

European Council President Antonio Costa said the incident was, quote, deeply unsettling and praised the swift action of law enforcement in apprehending the shooter quickly. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chimed in with relief, adding that violence has no place in politics ever. European Union foreign policy chief Kayakalis expressed relief in an ex post that President Trump and all other attendees were uninjured, writing, quote, an event meant to honor a free press should never become a scene of fear. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels.

[Dale Willman]

The Federal Reserve is set to hold its latest policy meeting this week. It may be Jerome Powell's last time presiding over the gathering as the chair of that central bank. NPR's Rafael Nam has more on that story.

[Rafael Nam]

Powell's term as chair is due to expire in May, but he has said he wouldn't step down until a criminal investigation by the Department of Justice into renovations being done at the Fed was dropped. Powell had blasted the probe as being intended to pressure the central bank into lowering interest rates. The doj, though, dropped that investigation on Friday, paving the way for the confirmation of Kevin Warsh, who has been nominated by President Trump to succeed Powell. That makes it likely Powell will step down as chair. The question, though, is whether he stays on the Fed's board. Powell doesn't have to announce his decision this week, but a lot of eyes will definitely be on him. Rafael Nam, NPR News.

[Dale Willman]

In trading in Asia Monday, the Kospi, Nikkei and Taiwan markets all set record highs on AI optimism. This is NPR News. Two wildfires are continuing to burn in southeastern Georgia at this hour. The Highway 82 fire is just 6% contained and has burned more than 31 square miles. That fire has been burning since April 20th. And 70 miles to the southwest, another fire has consumed more than 46 square miles near the state's border with Florida. Some states that use the Colorado river are trying to break a standstill in negotiations about sharing its water. As as Alex Hager of member station KJZZ reports, they're calling for talks to resume with a mediator in the room.

[Alex Hager]

The states haven't met for negotiations in over two months. If they can't reach a deal for sharing the shrinking water supply, the federal government will likely force big unpopular cutbacks that could trigger lawsuits. Now Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico are calling for a mediator to join those talks and help states lay down their swords. Becky Mitchell represents Colorado.

[Becky Mitchell]

This is really trying to see if

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we can break any of the deadlock

[Becky Mitchell]

and set aside the legal theories and

[Shopify/DSW Sponsor]

try to find a way to get to a deal.

[Alex Hager]

It's not clear exactly who would mediate the talks. Colorado's Mitchell says it should be a decision among all seven states that use the river's water. For NPR News, I'm Alex Hager in Phoenix.

[Dale Willman]

Despite poor reviews and production difficulties, the biopic Michael danced into movie theaters this weekend, bringing in $97 million from North American theaters that shattered the record for music biopics. The the film was co produced by the late performers estate, including international sales that brought in $217 million. The Super Mario Galaxy movie finished in second with $21.2 million and Project Hail Mary added $13.2 million to its total. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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