NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-05-2025 10AM EDT

Episode Date: April 5, 2025

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Wait, wait, don't tell me. Fresh Air, Up First, NPR News Now, Planet Money, Ted Radio Hour, Thru Line, the NPR Politics Podcast, Code Switch, Embedded, Books We Love, Wildcard, are just some of the podcasts you can enjoy sponsor-free with NPR+. Get all sorts of perks across more than 20 podcasts with the bundle option. Learn more at plus.npr.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Senate Republicans have moved forward on President Trump's agenda during a session that lasted well into the early morning hours. They overcame united Democratic opposition, approving a framework that sets the stage for Trump's agenda. Here's NPR's Claudia Grisales. This is a blueprint for a

multi-trillion dollar measure that could become a hallmark of Trump's agenda here's NPR's Claudia Grisales. This is a blueprint for a multi-trillion dollar measure that could become a hallmark of Trump's second term. It reimagines defense, energy, immigration, and tax policy spending. So lots of major elements here that includes an extension of tax cuts passed during Trump's first term that are set to expire by year end. Republicans argue Americans would see their tax bills rise without it, but critics say it will come with a huge price tag. That's just the beginning of a legislative process that would allow Senate Republicans to avoid a filibuster. This week's outbreak of deadly severe weather is not letting up.

The National Weather Service warning of more pounding rain that could again lead to life-threatening flash flooding from Texas to Tennessee. Meanwhile, a suite of websites for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration almost went dark yesterday as Trump administration leadership wrangled over contracts. NPR's Alejandra Burundov reports. Alejandra Burundov Noa collects vast quantities of data. Its scientists turn a lot of that data into forms regular people can use, from weather forecasts to drought outlooks. But the websites where you can access many of those tools nearly went down this week. That's because the contract with Amazon Web Services to host these sites caught the eye of the Trump administration's new Secretary

of Commerce, which is where Noah is housed. Sources in the agency told NPR he nearly slashed the contract with just over a day of warning. Noah's staff scrambled to back up the sites and save their information. But at the last minute, the contract deadline got bumped to July. Overall, Noah's staffers say it's an example of how government-wide cuts are hurting the agency. Alejandra Burunda, NPR News. A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to return a Maryland man who was deported to El Salvador by mistake. The decision guaranteed to set up another high-stakes clash between the White House

and the courts, as NPR's Sergio Martinez Beltran reports. U.S. District Judge Paula Zinis called the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia an illegal act. The man had been living in the U.S US legally and had a work permit when he was arrested and deported last month, despite having been granted deportation protection by an immigration judge in 2019. The Justice Department admits that Abrego-Garcia was deported because of an administrative error, but DOJ lawyers argued that he is a member of the criminal gang MS-13 and that the judge lacks the authority to order his return since Abrego Garcia is now in El Salvador. But Judge Zinis did not agree.

She ordered the government to return Abrego Garcia to the US by 11.59 pm on Monday, April 7. Sergio Martinez Beltran, NPR News And you're listening to NPR News. Opponents of President Trump and Elon Musk are planning to rally in cities across the U.S. today. The more than 1,200 of what are being called hands-off demonstrations have been organized by more than 150 groups. Protests are planned in all 50 states. Washington Capitol star Alex Ovechkin has tied the all-time NHL career goals record set decades ago by the great one, Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky's record was once thought to be untouchable. Then-Pierce Becky Sullivan was at last night's game.

Ovechkin came into the night two goals shy of 894 career regular season goals. Exactly how many Gretzky had when he retired 26 years ago. And Gretzky was on hand Friday to watch Ovi tie it up. Ovechkin's first goal came just a few minutes into the game. Then the second was a classic power play slap shot from the left face off circle, the spot on the ice known as his office. After the game, Ovechkin said it was a relief to tie the record. It's such a great moment for hockey.

It's such a great moment for DC. And to be part of it, it's crazy. The Capitals have six games left this season for Ovechkin to score at least one more goal to claim the record all for himself. Becky Sullivan, NPR News, Washington. One of Britain's biggest sporting events of the year is set to get underway in about an hour. The Grand National horse race is being held at Aintree in northwest England.

It's a steeple chase and I am Maximus could become just the second horse since 1970s to win the race back to back. The Grand National has drawn protests from animal rights activists. I'm Jai Hill Snyder in PR News. Do you remember when discovering a new artist felt like finding buried treasure? activists. I'm Gile Snyder, NPR News.