NPR News Now: April 28, 2025, 1PM EDT
Host: NPR
Release Date: April 28, 2025
1. President Trump's 100-Day Milestone and Immigration Policies
As President Donald Trump's 100th day in office approaches, his administration is intensifying efforts to address illegal immigration in the United States. The White House is spotlighting recent actions aimed at curbing unauthorized entries and enhancing deportation processes.
Operation Tidal Wave: At a recent briefing, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt discussed the outcomes of Operation Tidal Wave, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initiative in Florida. The operation resulted in the arrest of nearly 800 individuals residing illegally in the U.S.
“Operation Tidal Wave is a preview of what is to come around this country, large scale operations that employ our state and local enforcement partners to get criminal illegal aliens off our streets.”
— Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary [00:49]
Executive Actions on Border Security: President Trump is also set to sign two executive actions focused on strengthening border security. One of these actions specifically targets sanctuary cities—jurisdictions that have enacted laws limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
These measures signify a strategic collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to enhance the effectiveness of immigration enforcement nationwide.
2. Ukraine’s Stance on Crimea Amid U.S. Peace Efforts
In the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, President Trump has indicated a willingness to reconsider Ukraine’s stance on Crimea—a peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains steadfast in his refusal to relinquish claims over the region without a legally binding referendum.
Zelenskyy's Position: Joanna Kakisis of NPR News in Kyiv elaborates on Ukraine's legal and political constraints regarding Crimea.
“Ukraine cannot legally recognize the Russian takeover without changing its constitution, which requires a referendum.”
— Joanna Kakisis, NPR News [01:08]
Indigenous Rights and International Law: Artem Chigoz, a member of Ukraine's parliament and a Crimean Tatar, emphasized the importance of upholding international law and protecting indigenous populations.
“Russians persecute Crimean Tatars. President Trump and his team cannot ignore international law. He said he cannot ignore the indigenous Crimean people.”
— Artem Chigoz, Ukrainian Parliament Member [01:48]
Zelenskyy's unwavering stance highlights the complexities of negotiating a peace deal that respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the rights of its indigenous citizens.
3. Massive Power Outage Disrupts Spain and Portugal
A significant power failure has affected millions across Spain and Portugal, leading to widespread disruptions in transportation and communication systems. Efforts to restore electricity are currently underway, albeit the cause of the outage remains unidentified.
Restoration Efforts: Danny Eberhard from the BBC reports on the progress being made to bring power back online.
“The network operated in Spain is talking about six to 10 hours before services are resumed.”
— Danny Eberhard, BBC [02:46]
In Spain, power restoration has commenced in certain northern and southern regions, while southwest France has seen an end to interruptions. A brief disruption also occurred in Andorra. The situation remains fluid as utility companies work diligently to restore full services.
4. Atlanta Falcons' Prank Call Incident During NFL Draft
An incident involving the Atlanta Falcons has captured significant attention during the NFL draft, where a prank call was made to quarterback Shadour Sanders, altering the narrative surrounding his draft status.
Details of the Prank Call: Alex Helmick from WABE in Atlanta provides an in-depth look into the incident.
Shadour Sanders, a highly touted quarterback from the University of Colorado and the son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, experienced an unexpected decline in draft projections—from a first-round pick to the fifth round. During this period, Sanders received a phone call purportedly from the New Orleans Saints' general manager.
A video of the call surfaced online, showing a young man falsely claiming that the Saints intended to draft Sanders. Investigations revealed that the call originated from defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrook's 21-year-old son, who had access to Sanders's phone number through an unsecured iPad.
“The Falcons and Ulbricht have apologized to Sanders, who dismissed the call, saying it didn't impact him.”
— Alex Helmick, WABE Atlanta [03:43]
The Falcons have formally apologized for the prank, acknowledging the unintentional nature of the call and its potential impact on Sanders's draft experience.
5. Washington Commanders' Relocation to the Nation’s Capital
The Washington Commanders have announced plans to relocate back to Washington, D.C., marking a significant development in the team's history and the city's sports landscape.
New Stadium Plans: In collaboration with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, the Commanders have unveiled a deal for a new roof stadium to be constructed on the city's RFK campus, projected to open in five years.
“The Commanders are calling it the single largest private investment in D.C. history.”
— Lakshmi Singh [04:29]
Financial Commitments: The team is committed to investing at least $2.7 billion into the project, while the District of Columbia will contribute $500 million. This partnership underscores the mutual benefits anticipated from the stadium's development, including economic growth and enhanced local infrastructure.
Currently, the Commanders play their home games in Landover, Maryland. The move to D.C. represents a return to the nation's capital, aligning the team more closely with its historical roots and fanbase.
6. U.S. Stock Markets Experience Decline
In the financial sector, U.S. stocks are experiencing a downturn, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping by 145 points at the time of this report.
Note: Further details on the causes and future implications of the market movement are anticipated in subsequent updates.
This summary provides an overview of the key news stories covered in the NPR News Now episode released on April 28, 2025, at 1PM EDT.