NPR News: 04-28-2025 3PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of Episode Released on April 28, 2025

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Episode: NPR News: 04-28-2025 3PM EDT
Release Date: April 28, 2025

---

1. Trump Administration Celebrates First 100 Days with Immigration Policy Claims

Lakshmi Singh opens the episode by reporting on the Trump administration's commemoration of its first 100 days in office, focusing on fulfilling its campaign promise to tackle illegal immigration.

• President's Border Czar, Tom Homan, at the White House, declared the border secure:

  "[...] if you arrive at our border without proper documentation, you shall be detained, not, maybe not think about it shall. And that's what President Trump's doing, catching leases over. That's what the law says and that's what we've done." (00:54)

• To reinforce this message, the administration has displayed placards featuring images of arrested migrants accused of serious offenses, including the distribution of fentanyl, rape, and murder.

• Judicial Concerns: Several federal judges have expressed issues with the administration's immigration enforcement, particularly regarding the denial of due process to deportees. Advocates argue that some individuals, including U.S. citizens and legally status holders, have been wrongfully deported.

• Political Developments: President Trump met with House Speaker Mike Johnson as lawmakers return from a two-week recess to advance Trump's budget agenda.

---

2. Federal Government Halts $11 Billion in University Research Funding

Elisinad Warning reports on significant cuts to university research funding by the federal government, amounting to approximately $11 billion over the past three months.

• Impacted Sectors: The funding cuts affect a wide range of research areas, including cancer research, wearable technology, jet engines, and agricultural solutions.

• Affected Institutions: Dozens of colleges and universities have had their research funds frozen due to the shutdown of federal departments like USAID and accusations of anti-Semitism on campuses.

• Expert Opinion:

  "Industry is focused on outputs, what they can sell, whereas government is investing in innovation in order to benefit society and the US at large."
  — Sabrina Howell, Professor of Finance at NYU (01:55)

• Potential Consequences: Researchers warn that without federal support, there are no alternative entities to maintain the current level of research funding, potentially stalling critical scientific advancements.

---

3. Massive Power Outage Strikes Spain, Portugal, and Southern France

Eleanor Beardsley reports on a widespread electricity outage affecting the Iberian Peninsula and parts of southern France.

• Extent of the Outage: Over 50 million people experienced disruptions, leading to halted subways, disrupted phone services, non-functional traffic lights, and inoperative ATM machines.

• Government Response:

  • Spain's National Security Council and the Portuguese cabinet held emergency meetings.
  • The Portuguese National Cyber Security Center stated there is no evidence the outage resulted from a cyber attack.

• Critical Services Maintained: Backup systems ensured the continuity of power for essential facilities such as hospitals, nuclear plants, and prisons.

  "Backup systems kept power going at priority sites such as hospitals, nuclear plants and prisons."
  — Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris (02:46)

• Restoration Efforts: Electricity restoration is underway across affected regions, with ongoing assessments to prevent future occurrences.

---

4. Wall Street Faces Volatility Amid Trump's Tariffs

Maria Aspen provides an update on the stock market's recent performance amidst the uncertainty caused by President Trump's import tariffs.

• Market Movements:

  • Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up 16 points
  • S&P 500: Down 13 points
  • Nasdaq: Down 83 points (approximately half a percent) (03:20)

• Tariffs Announcement: In early April, President Trump introduced significant tariffs on nearly all imports, leading to fluctuating investor confidence between optimism and pessimism.

• Economic Impact: The tariffs are expected to raise consumer prices and potentially weaken the U.S. economy.

• Corporate Reactions: Major companies like Pepsi, Intel, and Tesla have warned that the tariffs will negatively impact their businesses. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and Trump advisor, is among those expressing concerns.

• Future Outlook: As major corporations such as Apple, Amazon, and Meta prepare to release their quarterly results, further caution is anticipated in the market.

  "The tariffs will increase prices for consumers and are widely expected to weaken the U.S. economy."
  — Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York (03:50)

• Current Sentiment: Investors are bracing for continued instability, marking an extraordinarily volatile period for the stock market.

---

5. NFL's Washington Commanders Secure $2.7 Billion Stadium Deal in D.C.

Lakshmi Singh covers the latest developments in the NFL's Washington Commanders' plans to move to a new stadium in the nation's capital.

• Stadium Proposal: The Commanders and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser have agreed to construct a new roof stadium on the RFK campus.

• Financial Commitments:

  • Commanders' Investment: At least $2.7 billion over five years.
  • District of Columbia's Contribution: $500 million.

• Significance: This deal is touted as the single largest private investment in D.C. history.

  "The commanders are calling it the single largest private investment in D.C. history."
  — Lakshmi Singh, NPR News (04:36)

• Economic Implications: The stadium is expected to boost the local economy, creating jobs and increasing economic activities in the surrounding areas.

• Market Update: Following this announcement, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced a slight increase of 13 points, bringing it to 40,126 (04:36).

---

6. Wall Street Summary

At the episode's close, Lakshmi Singh provides a succinct update on the stock market's status:

• Dow Jones Industrial Average: Up 13 points, totaling 40,126.
• S&P 500 and Nasdaq: Both indices experienced slight declines as previously detailed.

---

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights presented in the NPR News Now episode from April 28, 2025, providing listeners with a detailed overview of the day's most pressing news topics.

Transcript

[Advertisement Voice]

This Message comes from stamps.com if you run a business that requires a lot of mailing and shipping, use stamps.com you'll save time and money by printing postage, tracking packages and scheduling free pickups all in one easy to use dashboard. More than 4 million customers have relied on stamps.com let stamps.com do what they do best so you can spend your time doing what you do better. Go to stamps.com NPR to sign up for a special offer. No contract, Cancel Anytime. That's stamps.com NPR.

[Lakshmi Singh]

LIVE FROM NPR News. I'm Lakshmi Singh. The Trump administration is marking its first 100 days this week by telling the US public that it has delivered on its campaign promise to combat illegal immigration. At the White House this morning, the president's border czar, Tom Homan, told reporters the border is now secure.

[Tom Homan]

The law clearly says if you arrive at our border without proper documentation, you shall be detained, not, maybe not think about it shall. And that's what President Trump's doing, catching leases over. That's what the law says and that's what we've done.

[Lakshmi Singh]

To amplify the administration's point, the White House set up placards on its grounds that bear the images of migrants who have been arrested for various alleged offenses. They include the distribution of fentanyl, rape and murder. However, multiple federal judges have raised concerns the administration's denied deportees due process process. In some cases, advocates argue U.S. citizens and others with legal status have been illegally deported. President Trump's meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson as lawmakers return from a two week recess to take up Trump's budget agenda. In the last three months, the federal government has canceled about $11 billion worth of university research funding. NPR's Elisinad warning reports, when the government stops funding research, there is really no other entity position to fill the void.

[Alyssa Nadwiny]

Cancer research, research in new wearable technology and jet engines and farming solutions. A broad range will be impacted. Dozens of colleges and universities have had research funds frozen because of the shuttering of federal departments like USAID and in response to alleged anti Semitism on campus. But researchers say if the federal government gets out of the university research funding, there won't be anyone else to step in. Sabrina Howell, a professor of finance at nyu, says industry is focused on outputs what they can sell, whereas government is investing in innovation in order to benefit society and the US at large. Alyssa Nadwiny, NPR News.

[Lakshmi Singh]

Electricity is being restored across parts of Spain and Portugal after a massive power outage. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports from Paris that parts of southern France were also affected.

[Eleanor Beardsley]

Spain and Portugal came to a standstill after an electricity outage halted subways, cut five phone service and shut down traffic lights and ATM machines for more than 50 million people who live across the Iberian Peninsula. Spain's National Security Council and the Portuguese cabinet both convened emergency meetings. The Portuguese National Cyber Security center issued a statement saying there is no sign the outage was due to a cyber attack. Backup systems kept power going at priority sites such as hospitals, nuclear plants and prisons. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Paris.

[Lakshmi Singh]

At a last check on Wall street, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 16 points, the S&P was down 13, and the Nasdaq is down 83 points, roughly half a percent. This is NPR News. Investors are ending an incredibly volatile month for the stock market. NPR's Maria Aspen reports. Wall street and corporate America are all bracing for more uncertainty from President Trump's tariffs.

[Maria Aspen]

Since early April, when President Trump unveiled his steep taxes on almost all imports, investors have swung wildly between hope and despair, mostly the latter. The tariffs will increase prices for consumers and are widely expected to weaken the U.S. economy. The stock market recovered some ground last week as Trump indicated that he might be backing down for more of his trade war. But many of the largest US Companies are warning that the tariffs will hurt their businesses, including Pepsi, intel and Tesla, the car company run by Trump advisor Elon Musk. More warnings will likely come this week as Apple, Amazon, Meta and many more companies report their quarterly results. Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York.

[Lakshmi Singh]

The NFL's Washington commanders are returning to the nation's capital. Today, the commanders and D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser announced an agreement on a new roof stadium open on the city's RFK campus. In five years, the commanders are expected to put up at least $2.7 billion, and the District of Columbia has agreed to invest 500 million. The commanders are calling it the single largest private investment in D.C. history. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slightly higher, up 13 points at 40,126. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.

[Podcast Sponsor Voice]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.