NPR News: 04-29-2026 8AM EDT

Summary

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NPR News Now: April 29, 2026, 8AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Length: 5 minutes
Theme: A concise roundup of the morning’s top U.S. news stories, covering politics, natural disasters, economic and regulatory updates.

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Episode Overview

This episode delivers updates on key national stories: Federal Reserve leadership changes, federal investigations in Minnesota, severe weather and wildfires in Texas and Georgia, FCC scrutiny of Disney’s ABC stations amid political controversy, and a new Gallup poll on housing market pessimism.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Reserve Policy Meeting and Leadership Change

[00:00–00:59]

• The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged at today’s policy meeting.
• It is likely to be Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s final meeting; President Trump’s nominee, Kevin Warsh, is expected to be confirmed by the Senate Banking Committee soon.
• North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis dropped opposition to Warsh’s nomination after the Justice Department ended its investigation into the Fed, widely seen as White House pressure.
• President Trump has been urging the Fed to lower rates, but concerns about persistent inflation and the ongoing war with Iran are influencing policymakers’ caution.

“Many Fed policymakers are reluctant to do so, however, so long as inflation remains elevated and the war with Iran is putting more upward pressure on prices.”
— Scott Horsley, [00:50]

2. Federal Fraud Investigation in Minnesota Child Care Centers

[00:59–02:04]

• Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, ahead of his final State of the State address, is cracking down on state program fraud following federal raids on dozens of child care centers.
• Walz, not seeking re-election, emphasizes agency collaboration with Homeland Security to flag and act on suspected fraud.
• The governor promises continued efforts to prevent abuse and calls on lawmakers for support and increased penalties.

“People who have ripped us off are getting caught and they are going to jail, just like today. I've said the buck stops with me.”
— Gov. Tim Walz, [01:47]

3. Severe Tornado in Mineral Wells, Texas

[02:04–02:27]

• Mineral Wells near Dallas suffered major structural damage from a powerful tornado yesterday. No fatalities, but several reported injuries.
• Fire Chief Ryan Dunn describes extensive impact in the town’s north sector.

“We had significant damage, major damage in different parts of the area of the north sector of Mineral Wells.”
— Ryan Dunn, [02:20]

• The region is reeling from a string of deadly tornadoes—two deaths reported just last Saturday.

4. Wildfires in Georgia and Florida

[02:27–03:00]

• Two large wildfires in southern Georgia have burned over 85 square miles, destroying numerous homes.
• Progress is being reported, but fires remain mostly uncontrolled.
• Florida officials cite dozens of ongoing wildfires in their state as well.

5. FCC Review of ABC Stations Amid Political Tension

[03:00–03:47]

• The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) orders Disney to launch a renewal review for eight local ABC TV stations.
• The review for “public interest concerns” follows demands from President and Mrs. Trump for ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel’s firing after a controversial joke.
• Critics suggest the FCC’s timing appears to infringe on free speech.

6. Americans’ Housing Market Pessimism

[03:47–04:34]

• A new Gallup poll reveals a steep decline in Americans intending to buy homes: only 25% of non-homeowners plan to purchase in the next five years, compared to nearly 50% a decade ago.
• Nearly half now say they do not intend to buy in the near-term; outlook is the bleakest since 2013.
• High median home prices (over $400,000) and increased cost-of-living, especially for energy, are fueling pessimism.

“The share of non homeowners who intend to buy a house in the next five years has fallen to 25%. That’s down from nearly 50% a decade ago... more than two thirds say now is a bad time to buy.”
— Jennifer Ludden, [03:47]

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• “I've said the buck stops with me.”
  — Gov. Tim Walz on fraud accountability [01:47]
• “We had significant damage, major damage in different parts of the area...”
  — Fire Chief Ryan Dunn on the tornado’s impact [02:20]
• “Many Fed policymakers are reluctant to do so, however, so long as inflation remains elevated...”
  — Scott Horsley on interest rate policy [00:50]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Fed leadership/interest rates: [00:00–00:59]
• MN child care fraud crackdown: [00:59–02:04]
• Tornado hits Mineral Wells, TX: [02:04–02:27]
• GA and FL wildfires: [02:27–03:00]
• FCC-Disney controversy: [03:00–03:47]
• Gallup housing poll: [03:47–04:34]

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This episode provides concise, critical updates on developing national stories, blending direct reporting with brief but impactful quotes from newsmakers.

Transcript

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The Federal Reserve is expected to leave US Interest rates unchanged when it wraps up its latest policy meeting today. In Washington, NPR's Scott Horsley reports. This will likely be the final rate setting meeting for Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

[Scott Horsley]

Powell's term as Fed chair is set to expire in mid May, and it now looks as if President Trump's pick to replace Powell will win Senate confirmation in time to take over before the next rate setting meeting in June. The Senate Banking Committee is set to vote this morning on Kevin Warsh's nomination to be the next Fed chair. North Carolina Republican Thom Tillis dropped his opposition to that vote after the Justice Department agreed to end its criminal investigation of the Fed, which was widely seen as part of a White House pressure campaign. President Trump has repeatedly called on the Fed to lower interest rates. Many Fed policymakers are reluctant to do so, however, so long as inflation remains elevated and the war with Iran is putting more upward pressure on prices. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to testify this morning before the House Armed Services Committee. It will be his first hearing on Capitol Hill since the Trump administration started the war against Iran. Minnesota Governor Tim Wall says he is working to combat fraud in state programs. That's after federal agents executed search warrants on dozens of child care centers. Minnesota Public Radio's Dana Ferguson has more.

[Dana Ferguson]

Walz said state agencies worked with the Department of Homeland Security to flag potential fraud and assisted with the activity Tuesday. The actions came hours before his final State of the State address. The Democrat dropped a bid for re election in January after the federal government honed in on fraud in the state. Walls says he hopes to take additional action to prevent fraud.

[Tim Walz]

People who have ripped us off are getting caught and they are going to jail, just like today. I've said the buck stops with me.

[Dana Ferguson]

Walz urged lawmakers to work with him on proposals to root out fraud in state programs and hike penalties. For NPR News, I'm Dana Ferguson in St. Paul.

[Korva Coleman]

There's been another major tornado in Texas. Not far from Dallas, the town of Mineral Wells was hit by a strong tornado yesterday. There are no fatalities, but several injuries were reported. Ryan Dunn is the fire chief for Mineral Wells.

[Ryan Dunn]

We had significant damage, major damage in different parts of the area of the north sector of Mineral Wells.

[Korva Coleman]

Last Saturday, two people were killed by tornadoes in towns in the same general region of Texas. Two major wildfires in southern Georgia remain mostly out of control. Together, they have burned more than 85 square miles, and they have destroyed scores of homes. Georgia officials say that fire crews are making progress. Officials in Florida say dozens of wildfires are also burning there. You're listening to NPR News. The Federal Communications Commission is ordering entertainment company Disney to start an early renewal process of its eight ABC local TV stations. The FCC wants the stations reviewed for public interest concerns. But this follows President and Mrs. Trump's demand that ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel be fired for a joke they did not like. Critics say the FCC is moving to interfere in free speech. More Americans see buying a home as increasingly out of their reach. That's according to a new poll conducted by Gallup. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports. It comes as a majority also say their own finances are getting worse.

[Jennifer Ludden]

The share of non homeowners who intend to buy a house in the next five years has fallen to 25%. That's down from nearly 50% a decade ago ago and the lowest since Gallup started tracking this in 2013. Now, nearly half of non owners say they do not intend to buy a home anytime soon. The poll was taken earlier this month, and it comes as median home prices top $400,000 and are historically high compared to average incomes. For decades, most Americans were optimistic about the housing market, but more than two thirds say now is a bad time to buy. Separately, Gallup also finds Americans continue to worry about the high cost of living generally. That includes a notable bump up in concern over oil and gas prices. Jennifer Lutton, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

And I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News from Washington.

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