NPR News: 04-28-2026 6PM EDT

Summary

---

NPR News Now – April 28, 2026, 6PM EDT

Host: Ryland Barton | Source: NPR
Episode Theme:
A concise roundup of national and international news, including a high-profile indictment, shifts in energy policy, Disney’s accessible animation initiative, intensifying Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, and economic trends influenced by conflict in Iran.

---

Major News Headlines & Insights

1. Indictment of James Comey [00:00–01:05]

• Overview:
  Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted by a North Carolina grand jury for allegedly threatening President Trump. Comey denies the allegations.

• Key Details:

  • This is the second time the Trump-led DOJ has pursued criminal charges against Comey; the first case was dismissed due to issues with the prosecutor’s appointment.
  • The new indictment centers on a social media post where Comey arranged seashells in the numeric sequence “8647,” interpreted by some as a threat using the slang term “86” (meaning to get rid of).
  • Comey claims ignorance of the slang implication and maintains the post was harmless and subsequently deleted.
  • Legal experts quoted by NPR view the gesture as “political speech protected by the amendment.”

• Notable Quotes:

  • James Comey: “This is not how the Department of Justice is supposed to be.” [00:11]
  • Kerry Johnson (NPR):
    “Several legal experts say Comey's photo seems to fall in the bounds of political speech protected by the amendment.” [00:58]

2. Trump Administration’s Pivot from Offshore Wind to Fossil Fuels [01:05–01:57]

• Overview:
  The Trump administration has reached new agreements redirecting investment away from offshore wind energy projects in favor of fossil fuels.

• Key Details:

  • Offshore wind projects off New York, New Jersey, and California have been halted; companies will now invest in natural gas and other conventional energy sources.
  • In return, the government will refund nearly $900 million previously paid for offshore wind leases.
  • A similar agreement from March involved a near $1 billion government payment to steer a company toward fossil fuel projects instead of Atlantic Coast wind farms.
  • Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D) is investigating the legality of these agreements.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Michael Copley (NPR):
    “The administration announced a similar deal in March. It calls for the government to pay a company nearly a billion dollars to invest in fossil fuel projects instead of building wind farms off the Atlantic Coast.” [01:38]
    “Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has said he's investigating whether the March agreement is legal.” [01:53]

3. Disney Releases Songs in American Sign Language [01:57–02:54]

• Overview:
  Disney Animation has debuted American Sign Language (ASL) renditions of songs from popular films for National Deaf History Month, sparking discussion in the Deaf community.

• Key Details:

  • Songs released in ASL: “We Don’t Talk about Bruno” (Encanto), “The Next Right Thing” (Frozen 2), and “What Lies Beyond” (Moana 2).
  • The initiative was a collaboration with Deaf West Theatre to “incorporate ASL gestures into the musical scenes.”
  • The move provoked debate online: While many applaud the effort, some—like prominent signer Rogan Shannon—expressed difficulty understanding the signs due to unclear representation in the animation.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Chloe Veltman (NPR):
    “Lifelong Signer Rogan Shannon says he applauds Disney for the effort it put into the challenging work of animating sign language. But he says he had trouble understanding the gestures because they were not represented clearly enough on screen.” [02:34]

4. Settler Attacks Escalate in West Bank Village [02:54–04:14]

• Overview:
  Israeli Jewish settlers have repeatedly attacked Palestinian homes, with the violence intensifying under Israel’s current right-wing government.

• Key Details:

  • Video footage documents settlers attacking the village of Jalood, including the arson of a Palestinian home.
  • UN reports: Since the Gaza war began (Oct 7, 2023), at least 36,000 Palestinians have been displaced and over 1,000 killed by settlers and the Israeli army in two and a half years.
  • Cabinet members openly advocate for expanding settlements and driving out Palestinians; more settlements were approved in the past year than the previous two decades.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Eleanor Beardsley (NPR):
    “A group of 20 or so settlers was caught on camera Monday as they ran down a hillside toward the village of Jalood…setting fire to a house as scared Palestinian women scream and huddle out front.” [03:30]
    “Two settlers in the Israeli cabinet have made no secret of the fact that they want to drive Palestinians from their land and increase settlements.” [03:56]

5. U.S. Consumer Confidence and Energy Prices [04:14–04:40]

• Overview:
  Despite heightened anxiety over soaring gas prices triggered by the war in Iran, American consumer confidence has risen slightly.

• Key Details:

  • National average for regular gas: $4.18/gal; California: $5.97/gal.
  • Similar price levels were last seen following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly four years prior.

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• James Comey:
  “This is not how the Department of Justice is supposed to be.” [00:11]

• Kerry Johnson (NPR):
  “Several legal experts say Comey's photo seems to fall in the bounds of political speech protected by the amendment.” [00:58]

• Michael Copley (NPR):
  “The administration announced a similar deal in March. It calls for the government to pay a company nearly a billion dollars to invest in fossil fuel projects instead of building wind farms off the Atlantic Coast.” [01:38]

• Chloe Veltman (NPR), quoting Rogan Shannon:
  “He applauds Disney for the effort it put into the challenging work of animating sign language. But he says he had trouble understanding the gestures because they were not represented clearly enough on screen.” [02:34]

• Eleanor Beardsley (NPR):
  “A group of 20 or so settlers was caught on camera Monday as they ran down a hillside toward the village of Jalood…setting fire to a house as scared Palestinian women scream and huddle out front.” [03:30]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• James Comey Indictment: 00:00–01:05
• Energy Policy Shift (Wind to Fossil Fuels): 01:05–01:57
• Disney's Songs in ASL: 01:57–02:54
• Israeli Settler Violence: 02:54–04:14
• Economic Update (Consumer Confidence & Gas Prices): 04:14–04:40

---

This episode covered rapid-fire, high-impact stories with a focus on U.S. justice, political maneuvering on energy, advances (and controversies) in disability inclusion, Middle East conflict, and economic anxiety—all in NPR’s succinct, fact-based tone.

Transcript

[A]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Ryland Barton. A grand jury in North Carolina has indicted former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly making a threat against President Trump. In response, Comey says he's innocent and that, quote, this is not how the Department of Justice is supposed to be. NPR's Kerry Johnson reports Trump has been pushing the DOJ to go after Comey for years.

[B]

The two count indictment in North Carolina marks the second time the Trump Justice Department has tried to pursue a criminal case against Jim Comey. A judge in Virginia threw out the first case because the prosecutor there was not legally appointed. Now DOJ is accusing Comey, a longtime critic of the president, of threatening the 47th president, referring to an incident last year when Comey posted a photo of the numbers 8647 in seashells. Comey later deleted the post and said he didn't know the slang term 86 could be considered a threat. Several legal experts say Comey's photo seems to fall in the bounds of political speech protected by the amendment. Carrie Johnson, NPR News, Washington.

[A]

The Trump administration says it has struck more deals to divert investment away from the offshore wind industry and toward fossil fuel projects. NPR's Michael Copley reports. The agreement's come after the administration failed to stop offshore wind projects over alleged national security concerns.

[C]

The Interior Department said companies agreed to abandon plans for an offshore wind farm off the coast of New York and New Jersey and another offshore California, and instead invest in conventional energy projects, including natural gas. In exchange, the administration said it will return nearly $900 million the company's paid for offshore wind leases. The administration announced a similar deal in March. It calls for the government to pay a company nearly a billion dollars to invest in fossil fuel projects instead of building wind farms off the Atlantic Coast. Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has said he's investigating whether the March agreement is legal. Michael Copley, NPR News.

[A]

Disney Animation released several songs from some of its most popular recent movies in American Sign Language this week to mark national deaf History Month. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports.

[D]

Disney has given three songs an ASL spin so far. We Don't Talk about Bruno from Encanto, Frozen 2's the Next Right Thing and Beyond from Moana 2 what Lies Beyond. The releases are part of Disney Animation's Songs in Sign Language initiative, created in collaboration with Deaf West Theatre in Los Angeles to incorporate ASL gestures into the musical scenes. And they've sparked a debate among members of the deaf community on social media. In a post on Instagram, Lifelong Signer Rogan Shannon says he applauds Disney for the effort it put into the challenging work of animating sign language. But he says he had trouble understanding the gestures because they were not represented clearly enough on screen. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[A]

Wall Street's record setting rally halted today. This is NPR News. The FCC has ordered a review of ABC's broadcast licenses. The agency says the move is related to the network's diversity policies. It also comes amid a fight between President Trump and Late Night host Jimmy Kimmel. Israeli Jewish settlers have attacked Palestinian homes in a West bank village twice this week. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports. The attacks are increasingly frequent as the settlement banned under the right wing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

[E]

A group of 20 or so settlers was caught on camera Monday as they ran down a hillside toward the village of Jalood. Another close up video shows them setting fire to a house as scared Palestinian women scream and huddle out front. Black smoke billows from the door. One settler was arrested. According to the UN Office for Humanitarian Coordination, some 36,000 Palestinians have been displaced in the west bank since the October 7, 2023 war in Gaza. The the organization says more than 1,000 have been killed by settlers and the Israeli army in the last two and a half years. Two settlers in the Israeli cabinet have made no secret of the fact that they want to drive Palestinians from their land and increase settlements. More settlements have been approved in the last year than in the previous two decades. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Tel Aviv.

[A]

US Consumer confidence rose modestly this month despite growing anxiety over soaring energy prices brought on by the war in Iran. The national price for for a gallon of regular gas is now $4.18. In California, it's $5.97. The last time drivers were paying this much for gas was nearly four years ago after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This is npr.

[C]

This message comes from Amazon Business. You can't rely on guesswork to run your business with smart business. Buying innovative AI tools optimize your purchasing experience paired with delivery options, empower your team today. [e-mail].