NPR News: 04-28-2025 7PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: April 28, 2025, 7 PM EDT – Detailed Summary

NPR’s "News Now" delivers the latest headlines in a concise five-minute format. This episode from April 28, 2025, covers significant political developments, environmental policies, economic indicators, and cultural news. Below is a comprehensive summary capturing all key discussions, insights, and conclusions.

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1. President Donald Trump's Declining Approval Ratings and Republican Leadership's Confidence

Host: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [00:18] - [00:38]

Despite a noticeable decline in President Donald Trump's public approval ratings, Republican leaders remain unwavering in their confidence. A recent ABC News Washington Post Ipsos poll reveals Trump's job approval rating has dipped to 39%. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed optimism about the Republican Party maintaining its majority in the House during upcoming midterm races.

Quote:
"No, I'm not worried at all. I just had a great meeting with the president at the White House and he's in good spirits, and we are as well."
— Mike Johnson, House Speaker [00:45]

2. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker Criticizes Trump Administration and Raises Presidential Ambitions

Host: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [00:57] - [01:54]

Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois delivered a powerful critique of President Trump's economic policies, particularly focusing on tariffs and the trade war with China, which he argues have negatively impacted the economy. Speaking in New Hampshire, a critical early state in the presidential primaries, Pritzker received standing ovations for his forthright opposition.

Quote:
"Pritzker blasted Trump over what he called authoritarian power grabs and allegedly sending U.S. citizens to, quote, foreign gulags."
— J.B. Pritzker [01:20]

Pritzker also lambasted certain Democrats, accusing them of prioritizing decorum over defending the party’s voters and values.

Unidentified Speaker Quote:
"Now that this culture of timidity is on full display, those same do nothing. Democrats want to blame our losses on our defense of black people, of trans kids, of immigrants, instead of their own lack of guts and gumption."
— Unknown Speaker [01:38]

These remarks have sparked interest from Democratic organizations nationwide, suggesting Pritzker may be considering a bid for the 2028 presidential race.

3. The Papal Conclave Begins to Elect the Next Pope

Host: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [02:05] - [02:48]

NPR’s Jason DeRose reports from Rome on the commencement of the papal conclave, set to elect the next leader of the 1.4 billion Roman Catholics worldwide. Initiating on May 7, the conclave involves 135 eligible cardinals, the majority appointed by Pope Francis, marking the most geographically diverse election in history with increased representation from the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

Quote:
"There are currently 135 cardinals eligible to vote. The vast majority were appointed by Pope Francis. It's the most geographically diverse group in history."
— Jason DeRose, NPR Reporter [02:14]

Cardinals will be sequestered in the Sistine Chapel, conducting multiple voting rounds each day until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority.

4. EPA Extends Sales of Higher Ethanol Gasoline Amid Environmental Concerns

Host: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [02:48] - [03:33]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to extend the sales period for E15, a higher ethanol content gasoline, through the summer and into early fall. This move is aimed at reducing costs for consumers. However, environmentalists have raised alarms, warning that increased E15 sales during hotter months could adversely affect air and water quality.

5. Economic Indicators: Stock Market and Oil Prices

Host: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [02:48] - [04:56]

Wall Street: The Dow Jones Industrial Average saw an uptick of 114 points, signaling positive movement in the stock market.

Oil Prices: Crude oil futures experienced a decline, dropping 97 cents to close at $62.05 per barrel.

6. Lin Manuel Miranda’s Upcoming Baseball Movie Project

Host: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [03:33] - [04:12]

NPR highlights Lin Manuel Miranda’s latest venture—a baseball movie centered on the Molina brothers from his father's hometown in Puerto Rico. The Molina trio is renowned as the only set of brothers in Major League Baseball to have all secured World Series rings.

Quote:
"I'll tell you something I'm working on, which is the Molina brothers, who are from my dad's hometown of De Galta, Puerto Rico."
— Lin Manuel Miranda [03:41]

Miranda, also engaged in a stage adaptation of Warrior and portraying Hermes in a TV adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, has not disclosed a timeline for the baseball film.

7. Trump Administration’s Efforts to Revive the Declining Coal Industry

Host: Jack Spear
Timestamp: [04:12] - [04:56]

In contrast to the ongoing decline of the U.S. coal industry, the Trump administration is implementing measures to rejuvenate it. An executive order has been signed to permit coal mining on federal lands, and emergency authority is being utilized to allow older coal-fired power plants, slated for retirement, to continue operations to meet increasing energy demands.

Details:

• Approximately 70 older coal-fired plants have received a two-year exemption from federal environmental requirements.
• The administration plans to ease mine safety regulations and close certain federal offices that oversee mine safety.

These actions aim to bolster coal production and address rising electricity demand but have sparked debates over environmental and safety implications.

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Note: This summary intentionally excludes all advertisements, introductory remarks, and non-essential content from the original podcast transcript to focus solely on the core news segments.

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Even as polls continue to show President Donald Trump's public approval ratings plunging, the latest being an ABC News Washington Post Ipsos poll that shows the president job approval rating at 39%, the Republican leadership seems to be hanging tough.

[Lin Manuel Miranda]

Today.

[Jack Spear]

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he's confident his party will hold onto its majority with some special House races this year in the midterms next year looming.

[Mike Johnson]

No, I'm not worried at all. I just had a great meeting with the president at the White House and he's in good spirits, and we are as well. Richard Hudson, who's the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, was with me and we talked about the upcoming races.

[Jack Spear]

Recent poll numbers have shown Trump doing especially poorly due to some of his economic policies, including tariffs, a trade fight with China. Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker drew standing ovations from New Hampshire Democrats over the weekend as he hammered President Trump's administration. Alex Degman of member station WBEZ reports it's raising questions about whether he'll enter the 2028 presidential race.

[J.B. Pritzker]

Pritzker blasted Trump over what he called authoritarian power grabs and allegedly sending U.S. citizens to, quote, foreign gulags. New Hampshire is traditionally an important early state in presidential primaries, and Pritzker did take aim at fellow Democrats. He said some care more about decorum than defending the party's voters and values.

[Unknown Speaker]

Now that this culture of timidity is on full display, those same do nothing. Democrats want to blame our losses on our defense of black people, of trans kids, of immigrants, instead of their own lack of guts and gumption.

[J.B. Pritzker]

Pritzker spokesperson says he's been getting invites from Democratic organizations all over the country as the party looks for ways to unify against Trump's agenda. For NPR News, I'm Alex Degmon in Springfield.

[Jack Spear]

The conclave to elect the next leader of the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics begins Wednesday, May 7. NPR's Jason DeRose reports from Rome.

[Jason DeRose]

A papal conclave must begin between 15 and 20 days after the death of the pope. There are currently 135 cardinals eligible to vote. The vast majority were appointed by Pope Francis. It's the most geographically diverse group in history, with more representatives from the Americas, Africa and Asia than ever before. When the Cardinals convene on May 7th. The electors will be sequestered in the Sistine Chapel and a nearby guest house. They'll take multiple votes each day until one candidate emerges with a two thirds majority. Jason DeRose, NPR News, Rome.

[Jack Spear]

The Environmental Protection Agency says it's prepared to extend the period of time Americans are permitted to buy higher ethanol content gasoline. EPA says it will issue an emergency order allowing sales of the higher ethanol blend, known as E15, through the summer and into early fall. It's less expensive for consumers, though. Environmentalists say allowing sale of the higher blended gas in hot weather could damage the air and water. On Wall street today, the dow is up 114 points. This is NPR Writer, actor and director Lin Manuel Miranda is working on a new project, a baseball movie about the Molina brothers from his father's hometown in Puerto Rico. The major league catchers are the only trio of brothers to have won World Series rings. Jeff London reports.

[Lin Manuel Miranda]

While walking the red carpet at the Hispanic Federation Gala, Lin Manuel Miranda revealed his latest undertaking to a reporter.

[Jason DeRose]

I'll tell you something I'm working on, which is the Molina brothers, who are from my dad's hometown of De Galta, Puerto Rico.

[Lin Manuel Miranda]

Jose Benji and Yadier Molina all played in the major leagues in the 2000s to great success. Miranda didn't reveal any timeline or specifics about his involvement in the film. He's currently working on a stage adaptation of the Warrior and playing Hermes in a television version of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.

[Jack Spear]

Even as the US Coal industry remains mostly in decline, the Trump administration continues to work to give it new life. The president issuing an executive order to allow mining on federal lands and also using his emergency authority to allow some older coal fired plants set for retirement to keep producing electricity to meet rising demand. About 70 older coal fired plants have been granted a two year exemption from federal requirements. The administration says it also intends to ease mine safety requirements and shutters some federal offices that support mine safety. Crude oil futures prices moved lower today. Oil down 97 cents a barrel to end the session at $62.05 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

[J.B. Pritzker]

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