NPR News Now – April 29, 2026, 2PM EDT

Host: Lakshmi Singh
Duration: 5 minutes

Overview

This episode delivers a compact roundup of breaking and developing news on April 29, 2026. Key themes include U.S. defense spending amid the war with Iran, central banking leadership changes, a terrorism-related stabbing attack in London, updates on investigations into prominent figures, and a major international climate conference in Colombia.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. U.S. War with Iran: Defense Spending and Congressional Scrutiny

[00:01-01:05]

• Main Point: The Pentagon reports the Iran war has cost $25 billion to date.
• Testimony: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testified before Congress, defending a proposed $1.45 trillion defense budget.
• Congressional Questions:
  • Rep. Adam Smith (Democrat) pressed Hegseth on why the war was ordered if Iran’s nuclear facilities were "obliterated" as previously claimed.
  • Contradictions in the administration’s statements regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions and motivations for starting the war.
• Political Friction:
  • Hegseth cited criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans as a significant challenge.

Notable Quote:

"We had to start this war, you just said 60 days ago, because the nuclear weapon was an imminent threat. Now you're saying that it was completely obliterated. They had not given up their nuclear ambitions."
— Adam Smith [00:37]

2. Federal Reserve: Leadership Transition Amid Economic Uncertainty

[01:05-01:40]

• Federal Reserve: Interest rates are held steady as the Iran war increases energy prices.
• Leadership Change:
  • This meeting likely marks Jerome Powell’s final session as Fed Chairman.
  • Kevin Warsh, President Trump’s nominee, is endorsed by the Senate Banking Committee to succeed Powell.

3. James Comey Indictment: DOJ Investigates Online Threats

[01:40-01:57]

• Incident: Former FBI Director James Comey appears in court, indicted for allegedly making an online threat on President Trump’s life.
• Details:
  • DOJ cites a social media post using “8647” in seashells, interpreting “86” as slang for “eliminate” and “47” as Trump’s presidential number.
• Comey’s Defense: He claims no knowledge that the image could be seen as a call to violence.

4. London Stabbing: Anti-Semitic Attack Under Terrorism Investigation

[01:57-02:57]

• Event: Two Jewish men stabbed in Golders Green, London.
• Police Response:
  • The suspect was tackled and tasered. He attempted to stab police officers.
  • Witnesses say the attacks targeted Jewish individuals outside a shop and near a synagogue.
• Political Response:
  • Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack “deeply concerning” for Parliament and “anti-Semitic and utterly appalling” on social media.
• Context:
  • Recent arson attacks on a Jewish ambulance charity and synagogue.
  • Counterterrorism officials probing possible links to Iranian proxies.

Notable Quote:

"This attack, it is deeply concerning to everyone in this house."
— Prime Minister Keir Starmer [02:35]

5. U.S. News: Royal State Visit and Congressional Testimony

[02:57-03:30]

• British Royals in the U.S.: King Charles III and Queen Camilla visit the National 9/11 Memorial in NYC, joined by Michael Bloomberg.
• Jeffrey Epstein Case: Former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding DOJ handling of Epstein-related files.

6. International Climate Action: Fossil Fuels and the War’s Impact

[03:30-04:37]

• Event: International climate conference in Colombia focusing on moving away from fossil fuels.
• Participating Nations:
  • 55 countries, including oil and gas producers (Canada, Australia, Nigeria); U.S. absent despite being the world’s largest producer.
• Context:
  • Energy security and prices are heightened concerns due to the war with Iran.
  • Ongoing struggles for consensus as traditional oil producers resist rapid transition.

Notable Quote:

"Burning fossil fuels is the single biggest driver of climate change. This conference is explicitly dedicated to figuring out how to make the transition to technologies like renewable energy and batteries happen. The energy crisis brought on by the war in Iran gives even more motivation."
— Julia Simon [03:53]

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On U.S. Defense:
  “Hegseth was defending the administration's proposed $1.45 trillion defense budget with a focus on rebuilding US military industry.” — Quill Lawrence [00:17]
• On London Stabbing:
  “Police say he tried to stab officers, too.” — Lauren Freyr [02:15]
• On Climate Conference:
  “The world’s largest oil and gas producer, the U.S. is not here.” — Julia Simon [04:19]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• War with Iran & Defense Testimony: 00:01–01:05
• Federal Reserve Update & Leadership Change: 01:05–01:40
• James Comey Indictment: 01:40–01:57
• London Stabbing Attack: 01:57–02:57
• Royal Visit & Epstein-Related Testimony: 02:57–03:30
• International Climate Conference: 03:30–04:37

This summary captures the main developments and tone of NPR’s news coverage for the afternoon of April 29, 2026, providing concise context and notable soundbites from each story segment.