Defense Department Leak, Mourning Francis, SCOTUS Considers Opting Out

Summary

Up First from NPR - April 22, 2025

Hosts: Steve Inskeep, Laila Folden
Episode Title: Defense Department Leak, Mourning Francis, SCOTUS Considers Opting Out

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1. Defense Department Leak and Leadership Scrutiny

Summary: The episode opens with alarming news about the U.S. Defense Department. President Trump publicly praised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, despite reports of internal turmoil and potential leadership changes. Recent revelations indicate that Hegseth shared sensitive information about imminent airstrikes in Yemen through the encrypted messaging app Signal, raising significant security concerns.

Key Points:

• Search for Replacement: An unnamed U.S. official confirmed that the search for a new Defense Secretary is underway following the leak incidents. However, President Trump continues to support Hegseth publicly.

• Internal Turmoil: Over the past week, four senior advisors to Hegseth have exited the Pentagon. Former spokesman John Elliott resigned and criticized the Pentagon's operations, while Colin Carroll, Dan Caldwell, and Darren Selnick were dismissed for allegedly leaking information.

• Leak Details: Hegseth participated in two separate Signal chats. The first included high-level officials discussing sensitive military operations, which is against Pentagon policy. The second chat inexplicably involved Hegseth sharing details with his wife, brother, and personal lawyer—raising alarms about potential security breaches.

Notable Quotes:

• Steve Inskeep ([03:15]): "Publicly, the president is standing behind him."
• Quill Lawrence ([04:56]): "They say that really did put US lives at risk and American security at risk."

Analysis: NPR's Quill Lawrence highlights the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the potential risks posed by Hegseth's actions. Despite the White House's defense of Hegseth as combating "fake news" and removing "disgruntled employees," the leaks have sparked outrage among military sources and veterans, who fear the implications for national security.

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2. Mourning the Passing of Pope Francis

Summary: The global Catholic community mourns the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88. His legacy as the first Latin American pope and his advocacy for the poor, migrants, and environmental issues were widely celebrated. Vigils and prayers were held worldwide, with significant emotional displays at St. Peter's Square in Rome.

Key Points:

• Global Tributes: From Notre Dame in Paris to communities in the Philippines, faithful congregated to honor Pope Francis' contributions and compassionate leadership.

• Legacy and Reforms: Pope Francis was recognized for his efforts to simplify the papacy, his stance on social justice, and his push for reforms within the Catholic Church. While some lauded his progressive outlook, others felt he didn't enact enough substantial changes.

• Funeral Arrangements: Unlike his predecessors, Pope Francis will be interred in a single wooden coffin, facing the church pews, symbolizing his humility. The upcoming conclave to elect his successor is anticipated to be the largest in history, with a diverse group of cardinals appointed by Francis himself.

Notable Quotes:

• Ian Kilroy ([08:18]): "Francis was too radical for the conservatives in the church and not radical enough for the reformers."
• Ruth Sherlock ([08:43]): "It's been fascinating to reflect on how much he changed the tone of the church without changing the underlying rules."

Analysis: NPR's Ruth Sherlock provides a nuanced view of Pope Francis' impact, balancing his progressive initiatives with the traditional structures of the Catholic Church. The diverse assembly of cardinals selected by Francis for the conclave suggests a broad spectrum of views will influence the future direction of the Church.

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3. Supreme Court to Hear School Curriculum Opt-Out Case

Summary: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to deliberate on a pivotal case concerning parental rights in public education. The central issue is whether parents should have the authority to selectively remove their children from specific curriculum components based on religious objections, particularly concerning LGBTQ themes in educational materials.

Key Points:

• Case Background: Originating from Montgomery County, Maryland, parents like Grace Morrison argue that certain storybooks with LGBTQ characters conflict with their religious values, prompting them to homeschool their children or seek opt-outs.

• School Board's Stance: Initially accommodating, the school board in Montgomery County has since revoked the opt-out policy, citing logistical challenges and the difficulty of implementing selective removals without disrupting the educational process.

• Legal Perspectives: Yale law professor Justin Driver supports the school district's approach, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a standardized curriculum free from individual parental control. Conversely, some legal experts speculate that the Supreme Court may favor the parents' position, citing the Justices' lack of personal experience with public schooling.

Notable Quotes:

• Grace Morrison ([11:17]): "Instead of risking exposure to the unwanted ideas, I am homeschooling my daughter."
• Nina Totenberg ([11:27]): "It's just very heartbreaking to me how many parents feel like they have to choose between educating their child and raising their children in their faith."

Analysis: The case presents a significant legal debate on the balance between educational integrity and religious freedom. The Supreme Court's decision could set a precedent affecting educational policies nationwide, potentially granting parents greater control over their children's exposure to certain topics within the public school system.

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4. Harvard University Challenges Trump Administration Over Funding Freeze

Summary: In a bold move, Harvard University has initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration following the freezing of over $2 billion in research grants. The administration claims the freeze aims to combat anti-Semitism, imposing stringent requirements on Harvard, such as assessing the political views of students and faculty and screening international students for biases against American values.

Key Points:

• Administration's Justification: The Trump administration asserts that the funding freeze is a measure to address and reduce anti-Semitic sentiments within academic settings, linking it to recent protests and broader societal concerns.

• Harvard's Opposition: Harvard contends that the administration's actions lack a rational basis, arguing that there is no direct connection between anti-Semitism and the withholding of scientific and technological research funds. The university views these demands as infringements on its academic independence and freedom.

Notable Quotes:

• Steve Inskeep ([13:25]): "There's a lot at stake here for academic freedom and the integrity of research at one of the nation's leading institutions."

Analysis: Harvard's lawsuit represents a clash between federal oversight and academic autonomy. The outcome of this legal battle could have far-reaching implications for how federal funding is administered to educational institutions and the extent to which the government can influence academic policies and personnel.

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Conclusion

Today's episode of NPR's Up First delved into pressing national issues, from potential breaches within the Defense Department and the heartfelt global mourning of Pope Francis to significant legal battles shaping the future of public education and academic funding. These stories underscore the dynamic and often contentious landscape of American politics, religion, and education.

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Produced by: Andrew Sussman, Ryland Barton, Krishnadev Kalamer, Arzu Rezvani, Janaya Williams
Produced with: Engineering support from Arthur Laurent, Technical direction by Carly Strange

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For more detailed coverage and to stay updated, subscribe to Up First+ and support your local NPR station at donate.npr.org.

Transcript

[Steve Inskeep]

Good morning.

[Laila Folden]

Good morning.

[Steve Inskeep]

How you doing?

[Laila Folden]

I'm okay. How are you?

[Steve Inskeep]

I'm okay. You're doing better when I have a little more coffee. Isn't that a good sound?

[Laila Folden]

That's a great sound. President Trump praised his defense secretary even as an official talked of a search for a replacement.

[Steve Inskeep]

PETEX has shared details of a forthcoming attack in a second group chat. Also, why did an official in his office question and why were others fired?

[Laila Folden]

I'm Laila Folden. That's Steve Inskeep. And this is up first from NPR News. Some people were in tears at St. Peter's Square. They put into words their appreciation for the late Pope Francis, his concern for.

[Steve Inskeep]

Others and the world and trying to set an example. Also, some parents seek the right to pick what their kids are exposed to in school. It's just very heartbreaking to me how many parents feel like they have to.

[Nina Totenberg]

Choose between educating their child and raising their children in their faith.

[Steve Inskeep]

A Supreme Court case tests the power to opt out of some lessons. Stay with us. We've got the news you need to start your day.

[Nina Totenberg]

This message comes from the Nature Conservancy. Working together to create a future with a livable climate, healthy communities and thriving nature. Explore ways to act on Earth Day and every [e-mail] NPR support for NPR and the following message come from GoodRx. Looking for relief from allergies this spring? Pay as little as $15 for common allergy medications with GoodRx. Plus, find savings on everyday prescriptions for you and your family. GoodRx lets you compare prescription prices at over 70,000 pharmacies and instantly find discounts of up to 80%. And even if you have insurance or Medicare, GoodRx may beat your copay price. Stop allergy season in its tracks. Go to goodrx.com first. This message comes from NPR sponsor Dana Farber Cancer Institute. It's called protein degradation. And if you're a bad protein in a cancer cell, you'd better get your affairs in order because now, thanks to Dana Farber's foundational work, protein degradation can target cancer causing proteins and destroy them right inside the cell. This approach is making a difference in multiple myeloma and other blood cancers and is how Dana Farber is working to treat previously untreatable cancers. More@dana farber.org everywhere.

[Steve Inskeep]

We are waiting to see how, if at all, President Trump addresses the leadership of the Defense Department.

[Laila Folden]

One U.S. official tells NPR that the search is underway to replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Publicly, the president is standing behind him. After A tumultuous week. Heath's office fired some of his aides. Then came revelations that the secretary shared details of impending airstrikes in Yemen. Again, NPR confirmed this second chat on the messaging app Signal, which included Hexif's wife, his brother, and his personal lawyer. The first chat was with top officials and a journalist who was inadvertently included.

[Steve Inskeep]

NPR's Quill Lawrence is here to tell us more. Quill, good morning.

[Quill Lawrence]

Hey, good morning.

[Steve Inskeep]

So we'll note that you're reporting this story with our colleague Tom Bowman. What are you guys hearing?

[Quill Lawrence]

Yeah, a U.S. official told us that the the search has begun after this second round of headlines about Hegseth. I should add that the White House has said our anonymous source doesn't know what they're talking about. But at a Rose Garden event yesterday, the president stood firmly by Hegseth, at least publicly.

[Steve Inskeep]

No, he's doing a great job. It's just fake news. They just bring up stories. I guess it sounds like disgruntled employees. You know, he was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people, and that's what he's doing. Quill, that phrase, disgruntled employees. I think Hegseth used a similar phrase in his public remarks about this and referred to people who were fired in his office. What's he talking about?

[Quill Lawrence]

Yeah, there were four senior advisors to Hegseth who left in just the past week. Former Defense Department spokesman John Elliott resigned last week and then published a quite extraordinary opinion piece, calling the past month at the Pentagon a quote, full blown meltdown and saying that this infighting is hurting President. He served in Trump's first administration and appears to want to continue to serve. Three other Pentagon advisors, Colin Carroll, Dan Caldwell, and Darren Selnick, were escorted out of the Pentagon and accused of leaking information to the press. They then put out as a trio. The three of them put out a joint statement on X saying that their dismissal was unconscionable and that they haven't even been told what they stand accused of leaking. All three of them served in uniform. They say they understand the importance of information security. Caldwell and Selnick, notably are longtime associates of Hegseth. They've worked with him over a decade, back to when he was at Concerned Veterans for America policy group.

[Steve Inskeep]

So I'm trying to figure out what all of this adds up to. The White House does appear to be backing Hegseth, but he's been revealed. NPR has confirmed the original New York Times report that there was a second chat group on Signal where he was sharing information about an impending attack.

[Quill Lawrence]

Yeah. I mean, with the first chat group, it was against Pentagon policy to use Signal for that. There were a lot of security issues with it, discussing details of an attack hours before the bombs hit in Yemen. But the people in that chat were the vice president, the secretary of state, people who would need to know. This second group, it appears that Hegseth was just cut and pasting this actionable intelligence about US Strikes to his wife. People who just I can't think of any conceivable need they would have to know this information. And military sources, veterans I talked to were just outraged about this. They say that it really did put US Lives at risk and American security at risk. And they're concerned that this example being set, you know, the military really drills into troops that they have to take responsibility for their actions, own up. And so far, Hegseth has not done that yet for either of these Signal chats.

[Steve Inskeep]

Yeah. And I guess we should emphasize Hegseth's side has insisted no classified information was shared, leaning on how they define classified information. But it was information about an impending attack, which is always considered sensitive. Quill, thanks so much.

[Quill Lawrence]

Thank you, Steve.

[Steve Inskeep]

That's NPR's Quill Lawrence. And since we mentioned Signal, we will also mention that NPR's CEO chairs the board of the nonprofit Signal foundation, which we cover like any other entity. Church bells tolled from Notre Dame in Paris to the Philippines for the death of Pope Francis.

[Laila Folden]

He died on Monday at 88 years old after leading the Catholic Church's 1.4 billion followers. Tributes have poured in from around the world, remembering Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first pope from Latin America, as a leader who advocated for the poor and the dispossessed. In Rome, the faithful gathered for rosary prayers for Francis, and preparations are underway for his funeral.

[Steve Inskeep]

NPR's Ruth Sherlock is in Rome. Hi there, Ruth.

[Ruth Sherlock]

Hi, good morning.

[Steve Inskeep]

What are you hearing from people in St. Peter's Square?

[Ruth Sherlock]

There's real emotion and a sense of loss. You know, many were in tears at the rosary prayers last night. But, Steve, people are also talking about Francis legacy, about what he st for in his 12 years as pope. This is Ruth Angeletti from Montana.

[Ian Kilroy]

His concern for others and the world.

[Steve Inskeep]

The environment, concern for other people and trying to set an example.

[Ruth Sherlock]

Part of that example was to his own church. Francis famously derided the wealth and the lace and the frills that come with the papacy. He'd wear simpler outfits. He kept his plastic watch, traveled in a small Fiat car, promoting this idea of a less Ornate, gold laden church. And then he was also an advocate, migrants and the environment and seen as being friendlier to the LGBTQ faithful. He's been accused, though, of not making substantial enough changes to the church. Here's Ian Kilroy from Ireland.

[Quill Lawrence]

I think Francis was too radical for the conservatives in the church and not radical enough for the reformers in the church. But certainly his impulse was towards reform.

[Nina Totenberg]

Within Catholicism and he will be remembered for that.

[Ruth Sherlock]

So even among regular people, you can kind of see the debates taking shape on what his future legacy might be.

[Steve Inskeep]

Yeah. It's been fascinating to reflect on how much he changed the tone of the church without changing the underlying rules of the church.

[Ruth Sherlock]

Yeah, exactly.

[Steve Inskeep]

And now we go on to the funeral and a selection. What are you hearing about the next few days?

[Ruth Sherlock]

His body will be moved to St. Peter's Basilica where people could come to see him. From Wednesday, previous popes were placed in these three nested coffins standing on an elevated bier for the public viewing. But Francis has ordered that he'll be put in a single wooden coffin and it's going to be positioned facing the church pews. His funeral will be Saturday. Of course, many people come from all around the world, including President Trump.

[Steve Inskeep]

And then what about the conclave that comes after?

[Ruth Sherlock]

Well, it's the largest conclave in history. Pope Francis has appointed 108 of the 135 cardinals who can vote in that conclave. Here's Austin Ivory, Pope Francis's biographer. He's appointed so many cardinals who are from far flung places, often with very small Catholic populations who are on the frontier of interreligious dialogue or war or suffering or anyway the realities of the world so that they bring those realities into the room. So even if Francis chooses cardinals with a similar outlook, experts say many will still differ in view on some of the huge range of issues. And there's really no guarantee that the conclave will choose a more liberal pope like Francis.

[Steve Inskeep]

Yeah, it is a fascinating choice to be watching. NPR's Ruth Sherlock, thanks so much.

[Ruth Sherlock]

Thank you.

[Steve Inskeep]

Today, the U.S. supreme Court considers a question about public schools.

[Laila Folden]

Right. That question is whether and when parents should be allowed to pull their kids out of class over religious objections. Can parents pick and choose different bits of the curriculum, taking education a la carte?

[Steve Inskeep]

NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg is covering this case. Hi, Nina.

[Ian Kilroy]

Hi there, Steve.

[Steve Inskeep]

So what are the basics of the case before the court?

[Ian Kilroy]

At the center of the case is the school system in our own nearby Montgomery County, Maryland. And it's the most religiously diverse county in the United States of America. It has 160,000 students of almost all faiths. And on one side are parents who want to opt their elementary and middle school children out of classes, when those classes include storybooks with LGBTQ characters and themes. And the parents contend that the books expose their children to ideas that contradict their religious values. I talked to Grace Morrison, who's one of the parents who's suing the school system. Her daughter was 10 when the LGBTQ LGBTQ books were introduced in their curriculum.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay.

[Ian Kilroy]

So rather than risk exposure to the unwanted ideas, Morrison is homeschooling her daughter. And here she is.

[Nina Totenberg]

It's just very heartbreaking to me how.

[Steve Inskeep]

Many parents feel like they have to.

[Nina Totenberg]

Choose between educating their child and raising their children in their faith.

[Ian Kilroy]

And what she really wants to do is to have her kid in the public school and be able to say that when certain material is discussed at all, the kid will be opted out of class and go to a different.

[Steve Inskeep]

Has the school board made any effort to accommodate that point of view?

[Ian Kilroy]

Well, the board initially did allow opt outs, but it says it became just unmanageable. Unlike a sex ed class, for example, where the school system does allow opt outs, the board says it became a logistical nightmare to take children out of a classroom when a single storybook that features some same sex parent or gay and lesbian kids could come up at any time. And then there's the question of, where do you draw the line? Could parents opt their kids out of a science class where Darwin's theory of evolution is being taught, or a history class where there's a section on how women got out of the kitchen and into the workforce? These are things that are against some people's religious views.

[Steve Inskeep]

Well, what has the law said up to now before this case?

[Ian Kilroy]

Well, I talked to Yale law professor Justin Driver, who's written extensively about the history of public schools, and he says that generally these curriculum decisions are left to local school boards unless there's some effort to coerce students into accepting a religious belief. He defends the way the Montgomery county system has handled this issue.

[Quill Lawrence]

It seems to me that the process is working as it should, rather than.

[Steve Inskeep]

Empowering individual parents or students to be.

[Quill Lawrence]

Able to control it. People have raised objections. The school district has heard those objections and modified their practice.

[Steve Inskeep]

So we've heard the facts of this case. We've heard a little bit of the history. What happens when you take those facts and that history and put it before these particular nine justices?

[Ian Kilroy]

Well, answering that question is dangerous. You know, my guess is that a majority of the justices will side with the objectors who want an opt out, but that's not a certainty. I draw that conclusion mainly because a majority of the court has had little exposure to attending a public school themselves. I don't know where they sent their kids to school, but only three of the justices went to public schools. All attended private Catholic schools.

[Steve Inskeep]

Nina, thanks so much.

[Ian Kilroy]

Thank you, Steve.

[Steve Inskeep]

That's NPR's Nina Totenberg. Today, we're also following a lawsuit filed by Harvard University. The nation's wealthiest school is challenging President Trump's administration, which froze more than $2 billion in grants for research. The administration asserts that it wants to crack down on anti Semitism. It made wide ranging demands on Harvard, for example, learning the political view of students and professors and screening international students for those who are, quote, hostile to American values. Harvard argues there's no rational connection between anti Semitism concerns that grew out of protests in the last couple of years and the scientific and technological research funds that were frozen. The university frames the government's demands as a threat to its independence. And that's a first for this Tuesday, April 22nd. I'm Steve Inske.

[Laila Folden]

And I'm Layla Falden. The NPR app lets you keep public radio right in your pocket. You'll find a mix of local, national and international news, plus the very best podcasts from the NPR network. Download the NPR app.

[Steve Inskeep]

Oh, I was waiting for you to.

[Laila Folden]

Say in your app store. I was like, where else would they get it?

[Steve Inskeep]

That's the question I always have. Download the NPR app at 7:11.

[Ruth Sherlock]

Yeah, exactly.

[Steve Inskeep]

Download the NPR app at your corner. Today's Up first was edited by Andrew Sussman, Ryland Barton, Krishnadev Kalamer, Arzu Rezvani and Janaya Williams. It was produced by Ziad Bach, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Arthur Laurent, who has been supportive as long as I've ever been on this program. And our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us tomorrow.

[Nina Totenberg]

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