NPR News Now: April 17, 2025

Host: Shea Stevens

1. Controversial Deportation Case: Kilmar Obrego Garcia

[00:18] Shea Stevens opens the episode with breaking news about the Trump administration's staunch position on the case of Kilmar Obrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador earlier this month. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt categorically stated, “Abrego Garcia is a gang member who will never live in the US again” (00:18).

Despite these claims, the United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision overturning the administration's stance. The Court ruled that neither the President nor the Secretary of State can be forced to retrieve Garcia, who is currently incarcerated in a maximum-security prison in El Salvador due to his alleged MS-13 gang membership (00:38).

[00:55] In a significant turn, the Supreme Court ordered the administration to facilitate Garcia's return and process his case as if he had never been deported. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen expressed frustration, noting that he was denied access to Garcia during a recent trip to El Salvador (00:55).

2. Federal Funding Freeze Impacts Tribal and Nonprofit Initiatives

Shea Stevens transitions to a critical issue involving the freezing of federal funds intended for tribes and nonprofits. More than 20 tribes and organizations nationwide were awarded approximately $350 million from the EPA's Community Change Grants, a program funded by the Inflation Reduction Act aimed at addressing urgent infrastructure needs. However, the Trump administration has subsequently frozen these funds (00:55).

[01:25] NPR's Nate Perez reports that the frozen funds were crucial for projects like the Tabona Foundation's $20 million grant, designated to replace homes in Tyonek, Alaska, contaminated with asbestos and lead. Vaide Croto, executive director of the Tabona Foundation, highlighted the dire consequences of the freeze:

“Everything is in limbo, and the bills still come in, the rent still comes in.” (01:48)

The EPA spokesperson, Molly Vaslou, clarified that the Community Change Grants are currently under review to ensure they align with the administration's priorities, leaving dozens of tribes uncertain about when or if they will receive their awarded funds (01:55).

3. Department of Defense Schools Under Fire for Curriculum Changes

Shea Stevens brings attention to a growing controversy in Department of Defense (DoD) schools, where students and parents are suing the administration over alleged removals of books and modifications to curricula. Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman details the case of Jessica Henninger, a resident of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, whose children attend a DoD-operated school:

[02:24] Jessica Henninger states:

“My husband fights for our constitutional rights and our freedoms in this country, and to see those rights being taken away from my children was just absolutely something that I could not abide.” (02:35)

The lawsuit alleges that significant educational content, including a fourth-grade reading titled "A Nation of Immigrants" and a canceled Black History Month project, has been removed. Additionally, other DoD-led academies, such as the U.S. Naval Academy, have reportedly cut nearly 400 books from their libraries (02:48).

A spokesperson for the DoD Education Activity (DODEA) declined to comment on the ongoing litigation but affirmed the commitment of military schools to provide an excellent educational experience (02:48).

4. Infrastructure and Power Challenges: Puerto Rico’s Ongoing Struggles

[03:10] Shea Stevens reports on a massive power outage that has plunged Puerto Rico’s 1.4 million residents into darkness. The blackout has severely affected both residents and the tourism industry, with hotels operating near capacity and relying on generators to accommodate thousands of tourists celebrating Easter. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of residents are without access to water. The exact cause of the outage remains unclear, but it underscores Puerto Rico’s ongoing challenges with an aging power grid, exacerbated by repeated blackouts since the devastating 2017 hurricane.

5. United Nations' Humanitarian Response Faces Significant Cuts

[03:55] Fatma Tanis updates listeners on the United Nations’ Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) facing a severe funding shortfall of $60 million. In response, Tom Fletcher, head of OCHA, announced that the organization must reduce its workforce by 20% and scale back operations in several countries, including Colombia, Iraq, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe. Fletcher emphasized the dire situation:

“Underfunded, overstretched and literally under attack. Vital life-saving work is ending.” (03:55)

These cuts are attributed to the Trump administration’s dismantling of U.S. foreign aid, with other nations also withdrawing support from humanitarian funding efforts (03:55).

6. Financial Markets Update

[03:10] Shea Stevens provides a brief update on financial markets, noting that U.S. futures are higher in after-hours trading on Wall Street.

[04:42] The positive trend continues in Asia-Pacific markets, with shares in Hong Kong and Tokyo rising by 1% (04:42).

Recorded at 3:00 AM EDT on April 17, 2025.

Note: Sponsorship messages from Home Instead and Bombas have been omitted to focus on the core news content of the episode.