2026 NFL Draft, Tough Times for Tech, and Toad-ally Wild Animal News

Summary

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The Ten News: "2026 NFL Draft, Tough Times for Tech, and Toad-ally Wild Animal News"

Date: April 30, 2026
Hosted by: Ryan Willard & Pamela Kirkland
Podcast for: Curious kids (and adults) wanting a fun, clear, kid-friendly take on timely events

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode of The Ten News, Ryan and Pamela cover highlights from the 2026 NFL Draft, address the growing skepticism around technology among Gen Z and new screen-time policies, bring astrobiology and wild animal news from Mars to the Smithsonian Zoo, and wrap up with animal activism and amphibian trivia. Throughout, the episode balances facts with humor and relatable moments, making the news engaging for younger listeners.

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Key Discussion Points & Segments

1. 2026 NFL Draft Recap (00:40–02:58)

• Fernando Mendoza (Indiana, Quarterback) goes #1 to the Las Vegas Raiders—an anticipated pick.
• Surprise Pick: Alabama QB Ty Simpson drafted at #13 by the LA Rams despite a shaky end to last season.
  • "Simpson struggled in key moments last season, throwing for just 67 yards in the national championship against IU and failing to complete 20 passes in any of his final five games. However, his future looks promising under the Rams head coach Sean McVay." — Pamela (01:17)
• Ruben Bane Jr. (Miami, Edge Rusher) predicted Top 10, slides to #15 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Fun Fact: Ruben Bane Jr.’s arm length is just under 31 inches—first since 2003 with such short arms to go in the 1st round.
• Heinz & the "Mr. 57" Club:
  • Logan Jones (Iowa, Center) gets drafted #57, becoming "the luckiest player in the NFL."
  • Receives “lifetime supply of Heinz ketchup” and a custom Mr. 57 jacket.
  • "It’s all part of Heinz paying tribute to their iconic 57 on ketchup bottles that have been around for 157 years, counting." — Pamela (02:52)

2. Technology in Schools & Gen Z Discontent (02:58–04:57)

• LA Unified School District to limit screens, favoring pen-and-paper learning; youngest students won’t use devices at all.
  • This change follows advocacy from “Schools Beyond Screens” parents group over concerns with Chromebook/iPad use.
  • Details of the new policy due in June, applied 2026–27.
• Gen Z and Tech:
  • Study: 47% of adults (18–29) say they’d rather live in the past than the present or future.
  • Poll shows a longing for “community and comfort without screens,” possibly due to tech overwhelm.
  • "A recent study shows that some gen zers aren't very confident about the country's future and modern technology, so much so that they'd like to travel back in time." — Ryan (03:56)

3. Science Update: Ancient Ocean on Mars? (04:57–05:40)

• New study identifies a “bathtub ring” on Mars, likely a coastal shelf left behind from an ancient ocean.
• Suggests Mars once had conditions for life; future missions might find evidence in sediment.
  • "Researchers identified a broad, flat coastal shelf in Mars northern hemisphere. Like the bands of land that outline the oceans here on Earth, this feature likely formed over a long period, supporting the idea that Mars may also have had conditions suitable for life at one time." — Pamela (05:02)

4. Current Events: Security Scare & Travel Challenges (06:11–07:37)

• White House Correspondents Dinner Incident:
  • Armed man (Cole Thomas Allen) targets event attended by President Trump; tackled and arrested after brief chaos.
  • Event ended safely, threat neutralized.
• War in Iran Impacts Air Travel:
  • Strait of Hormuz conflict threatens global jet fuel supplies.
  • Europe could run low on jet fuel in six weeks; many flights already cut.
  • "The Strait of Hormuz is a route for roughly 20% of global oil transit, plus 25 to 30% of the world's jet fuel." — Pamela (06:54)

5. Wild Animal Stories (07:37–08:37)

• Smithsonian Zoo Asian Elephant Birth:
  • Lin Mai, two-month-old, debuts—the first elephant born at the Zoo in 25 years.
  • Lin Mai’s “auntie” Swarna helps care for her after mother’s aggression; elephant herd thriving.
  • "Lin Mai, whose name also means spirit blossom in Vietnamese, was born in February to her mother, Ngh Lin, and her father, Spike." — Ryan (08:00)

6. Amphibian Crisis in Wales (08:37–09:16)

• Over 1,000 toads: Feared dead after Nantifrish Reservoir was drained during breeding season.
• Conservationists: Angered, as volunteers helped 1,500 toads cross roads only to lose them to the draining.
  • Water company claims work was for public safety.

7. Trivia Time: Axolotl Surprise (09:27–10:37)

• Owen hosts trivia on axolotls (“Lake Xochimilco, Mexico” is their real home) (09:42)
• "A 10 year old named Evie actually discovered the endangered amphibian while playing under a bridge in Bridgend, Wales. Given that these creatures are typically found in Mexico, Evie's discovery is incredibly rare." — Owen (10:10)
• First wild axolotl sighting in the UK—only 50–1,000 left worldwide.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Heinz’s new NFL tradition:
  • "He's also now a proud member of the Mr. 57 Club, as the condiment company is honoring the player chosen at that spot with special perks, including a custom Mr. 57 jacket." — Ryan (02:29)
• Tech time humor:
  • "Tick a tick a tech yourself before you wreck yourself." — Ryan (03:56)
• On the rare axolotl:
  • "Dude, I'm impressed that you could pronounce that because I could not." — Ryan (09:38)
  • "Keep practicing, my guy." — Owen (09:42)
• Elephants and family:
  • "Swarna, a 52 year old elephant, stepped in as the ultimate auntie. She's part of the reason Lin Mai is doing so well today as she spends her days enjoying milk bottles, exploring the enclosure and becoming one with her elephant herd." — Ryan (08:17)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:59] – Sports (NFL Draft recap begins)
• [02:12] – Heinz’s “Mr. 57” highlight
• [02:58] – LA schools’ tech policy
• [03:55] – Gen Z & Technology attitudes
• [04:57] – Mars ancient ocean discovery
• [06:11] – Security scare at journalist dinner
• [06:47] – Travel impacts from Iran war
• [07:37] – Smithsonian Zoo baby elephant
• [08:37] – Wales toad tragedy
• [09:27] – Axolotl trivia
• [12:49] – Listener “10 News Snaps” shoutouts

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Tone & Final Takeaways

The episode maintains a playful, conversational tone, combining fun facts (like Heinz ketchup traditions and axolotl sightings) with clear coverage of serious events (like school screen time, geopolitical issues, and animal welfare). The hosts’ banter makes heavy topics easier to digest, and listener engagement sections underline the community feel.

This episode is packed with “10 things you need to know”—from sports stats and tech debates to rare wildlife events—perfect for sparking curiosity in young listeners!

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Transcript

[Lindsay]

Pick me.

[Ryan Willard]

Pick me. Pick me. Pick me. With the 57th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Ryan, I love you, but I don't think your name was in the NFL draft. Didn't we already figure out that professional football wasn't the best sport for you to play?

[Ryan Willard]

I know, but there's a special prize. If I'm the 57th person selected in the NFL draft and I got a

[Pamela Kirkland]

win, you know that the draft already happened, right?

[Ryan Willard]

Wait, so this video isn't live?

[Pamela Kirkland]

Nope.

[Ryan Willard]

So since I didn't know that, we should probably start the show. I'm Ryan Willard.

[Pamela Kirkland]

And I'm Pamela Kirkland. It's Thursday, April 30th.

[Ryan Willard]

This is 10 things you need to know. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. We obviously have to kick things off in the wild world of sports.

[Pamela Kirkland]

The 2026 NFL Draft is officially a wrap, and thankfully, there were no prank calls made to players this year. As expected, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza went number one overall to the Las Vegas Raiders, setting the tone for the night. But things took a surprising turn at number 13 when Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was selected by the Los Angeles Rams. Simpson struggled in key moments last season, throwing for just 67 yards in the national championship against IU and failing to complete 20 passes in any of his final five games. However, his future looks promising under the Rams head coach Sean McVay. To cap off night one, Miami edge rusher Ruben Bane Jr. Projected by many as a top 10 pick, slid to number 15, where he was scooped up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A fun football fact for you. Bain Jr. S arm measures at 30 and 78 inches, and no pass rushers with shorter arms than 31 inches have been selected in the first round since 2003.

[Ryan Willard]

I do not know how long my arms are, which might be another reason why I'm not joining the NFL. But you know who is pick number 57? The luckiest player in the NFL. Logan Jones, a center from the University of Iowa, was the 57th pick in the second round, kicking off his NFL career and receiving a lifetime supply of Hines ketchup. He's also now a proud member of the Mr. 57 Club, as the condiment company is honoring the player chosen at that spot with special perks, including a custom Mr. 57 jacket and and official recognition as part of their new tradition. It's all part of Heinz paying tribute to their iconic 57 on ketchup bottles that have been around for 157 years, counting

[Pamela Kirkland]

the Los Angeles Unified School district is making a big change and will become the first major American school system to restrict classroom use of laptops and tablets, Shifting toward a more pen and paper approach, there will be a screen time policy in place for each grade and sub subject. Plus students in the first grade or younger will be prohibited from using any devices. This all comes thanks to a group of parents called Schools Beyond Screens who spoke out at board meetings, in private meetings with board members and administrators, and on social media, raising concerns about the problems their children faced when using school issued Chromebooks and iPads. A more detailed screen time policy will be presented to the school board in June and then take effect in the 2026-20 school year.

[Ryan Willard]

Modern tech seems to be taking a toll on more than just the kids in school.

[Pamela Kirkland]

It's tech time.

[Ryan Willard]

Tick a tick a tech yourself before you wreck yourself A recent study shows that some gen zers aren't very confident about the country's future and modern technology, so much so that they'd like to travel back in time. According to a NBC News Decision Desk Poll, 47% of adults between the ages of 18 and 29 said they'd choose to live in the past if they had the option. A third of that group said they'd pick a time period less than 50 years ago and another 14% would choose more than 50 years ago. 38% of Gen Zers prefer the present and about 15% would prefer to go to the future. These results could be from young adults relationship with technology and the overwhelm of always being connected to the Internet. And instead they're longing for the nostalgia of previous eras built on community and comfort without screens. Three, two one out of this world

[Pamela Kirkland]

and in another new study, a large bathtub ring like geological feature on Mars may be evidence of an ancient ocean that once covered about a third of the planet's surface. Researchers identified a broad, flat coastal shelf in Mars northern hemisphere. Like the bands of land that outline the oceans here on Earth, this feature likely formed over a long period, supporting the idea that Mars may also have had conditions suitable for life at one time. Future missions may be able to investigate this coastal shelf, and if there was once life on the red planet, sedimentary deposits on the shelf might have preserved evidence of it, according to researchers.

[Ryan Willard]

I don't personally want to go to Mars, but I do personally want to take a quick break.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Hey Tenors, we're working on a deep dive about AI and we're curious, what do you think of AI and what do you want to know? Send us an emailtennews.com or leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a comment on Spotify and we might have you on the show. Speaking of, let's get back to it.

[Ryan Willard]

What was supposed to be an evening honoring current and future journalists took a scary turn when an armed suspect tried to get past a security checkpoint and bolted toward the ballroom. President Donald Trump, White House officials and journalists were in attendance. Based on a note to his family just moments before the incident, the suspected gunman, Cole Thomas Allen, was believed to be targeting Trump administration officials. Although shots were fired between Allen and law enforcement, the suspect was tackled to the ground and quickly taken into custody by Secret Service agents, bringing the situation under control and keeping everyone at the event safe.

[Pamela Kirkland]

As a result of the ongoing war in Iran, summer travel plans may change for many Americans, especially those traveling overseas on international airlines, the Strait of Hormuz is a route for roughly 20% of global oil transit, plus 25 to 30% of the world's jet fuel. And because because of the blockades in and around the Strait of Hormuz, jet fuel stocks may soon begin to run out in parts of the world. For instance, at the beginning of this month, the International Energy Agency said that Europe may only have six weeks worth of jet fuel left. Rising fuel costs and potential shortages have already caused some airlines to cut flight schedules, a trend that could worsen as peak summer travel approaches.

[Ryan Willard]

Hey, tenors for 10 points, what animal is this? Earth Day is already one of the best days of the year, but this year it was extra special at the Smithsonian national zoo in Washington, D.C. lin Mai, a two month old Asian elephant, made her debut at the zoo where visitors got to see the first elephant born at the zoo in almost 25 years. The Asian elephant is an endangered species with an estimated 50,000, maybe fewer in the wild. Lin Mai, whose name also means spirit blossom in Vietnamese, was born in February to her mother, Ngh Lin, and her father, Spike. But after birth, Lin Mai's mom showed signs of aggression towards the calf, and that's when Swarna, a 52 year old elephant, stepped in as the ultimate auntie. She's part of the reason Lin Mai is doing so well today as she spends her days enjoying milk bottles, exploring the enclosure and becoming one with her elephant herd.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Up next, animal activists are deeply upset by a reservoir's recent actions. Over a thousand toads have disappeared and are feared dead after the Nantifrish Reservoir in Wales was drained during their breeding season. Volunteers from Renham Toad Patrols, who recently helped about 1,500 toads safely cross a nearby road to reach the water were never warned that the reservoir would be drained. While conservationists argue the timing should have been delayed because toad populations are already declining, the water company says the work was necessary for safety.

[Ryan Willard]

And for the last thing you need to know, let's go to our trivia master, Owen. What is going on here?

[Owen]

Trivia on the 10. Thanks, Ry. Today's trivia is also from Wales and about another amphibian called an axolotl.

[Ryan Willard]

Dude, I'm impressed that you could pronounce that because I could not.

[Owen]

Keep practicing, my guy. But first, do you know where axolotls are originally from? Is it A, the Amazon River, B, Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City, C, the Great Barrier Reef, or D, the Nile River? The answer is B, Lake Xochimilco in Mexico city. And a 10 year old named Evie actually discovered the endangered amphibian while playing under a bridge in Bridgend, Wales. Given that these creatures are typically found in Mexico, Evie's discovery is incredibly rare. So rare that according to BBC, this is the first stonewild sighting of an axolotl in the United kingdom and only 50 to 1,000 are believed to remain globally.

[Ryan Willard]

Whoa. And that was 10 things you need to know.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Ry, since you weren't the 57th pick of the NFL draft, I got you three bottles of ketchup.

[Ryan Willard]

What? Yes. Thank you, Pam. I need some hot dogs, cheeseburgers and ice cream.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Wait, you put ketchup on ice cream?

[Ryan Willard]

No, but I just want ice cream.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Fair enough. We should give some 10 new snaps out first.

[Ryan Willard]

But before that, here's a quick note for the grown ups.

[Lindsay]

Hey 10 News listeners. As the school year starts wrapping up, a lot of families, especially homeschool families, are thinking about how to finish strong and maybe even keep learning going into the summer. And that's where IXL comes in. Ixcel is an award winning learning platform with interactive practice in math, language arts, science and social studies from pre K all the way through 12th grade. It's designed to fit right into your routine whether you're wrapping up end of year projects or just trying to keep your brain sharp over the summer break. And it's super flexible. You can practice a little each day, review tricky topics, or even get ahead for next year. No pressure. So whether you're finishing strong or trying to beat the summer slide, Iexcel makes it easy to keep learning going. So make an impact on your child's learning and get Iexcel now. And TenU's listeners can get an exclusive 20% off Iexcel membership when they sign up today at Iexcel.com 10 Visit Iexcel.com 10 to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.

[Marshall]

Are you looking for a podcast that your whole family can enjoy that asks the deep philosophical questions like do trees fart?

[Ryan Willard]

If you are, then you'll love Tumble A Science Podcast for Kids.

[Lindsay]

I'm Lindsay.

[Marshall]

And I'm Marshall. Join us as we explore stories of science discovery from butts to animals, dinosaurs, astronomy, and everything in between.

[Pamela Kirkland]

You'll love these stories and you'll learn something new.

[Marshall]

Find and follow Tumble Science Podcasts for Kids wherever you get your podcasts or at sciencepodcastforkids.com.

[Ryan Willard]

It's time for 10 News Snaps.

[Pamela Kirkland]

A tenor named iBrooks12345 left us a five star Apple podcast review and said, I love the Savannah Bananas. My brother and I always watch their games and I'm actually going to see them on the 26th of April. Oh cool. Ibrooks. How was the game? I'm guessing it must have been awesome.

[Ryan Willard]

And a tenor named Forrest left us a comment on Spotify and said, this podcast is awesome. 10 million out of 10 stars. You guys rock. Actually, you rock. Forest. Cool name by the way. And a tenor named Zeke left a Spotify comment and said, I love this show. What game console does Ryan play on? Thank you for asking. Zeke. Cool name by the way. I play on my Nintendo Switch 2, a PlayStation 5 and I have a PC. Can you tell I'm a gamer?

[Pamela Kirkland]

And two extra notes for the grownups. You can now get ad free versions of our episodes when you join the Tenors Club on our website.

[Ryan Willard]

And if you want to help support the 10News, you can make a tax deductible donation at the link in our show notes. The whole team thanks you for your support.

[Pamela Kirkland]

The 10News is a co production of Small But Mighty Media and Next Chapter Podcast and part of the Airwave Podcast Network.

[Ryan Willard]

The 10News Creative team is barbecuing like it's already the summer and includes Tracy Nada Crooks, Adam the Great Bambino, Bernard Brian Not Ryan Douglas, the Duke of Earl Davis and Carson not so Harry Potter. Big thanks to Owen. Not slowing down for anybody.

[Pamela Kirkland]

Our production director is Jeremiah Tittle and our executive producers are Donald Albright. Albright Albright and show creator Tracy takes the leads. Kaplan Pamela I'm Pamela Kirkland.

[Ryan Willard]

And I'm Ryan Willard. Thanks for listening to the 10 news.