NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-16-2025 3PM EDT

Episode Date: April 16, 2025

NPR News: 04-16-2025 3PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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 dot npr dot org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. The Justice Department is refusing to facilitate the return of a migrant from Maryland who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador last month. Attorney General Pam Bondi says the Trump administration has no plans to return Kilmar Abrega-Garcia to the US.

He is not coming back to our country. President Bukele said he was not sending him back. That's the end of the story. The Salvadoran citizen entered the US illegally, but an immigration court later granted him protection from deportation to El Salvador. Abrego-Garcia has been living in the U.S. legally and has no criminal record.

Some tense moments last night at a Republican town hall led by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Georgia Public Broadcasting's Sarah Kalis reports demonstrators interrupted the event in Atlanta. Just minutes into Congresswoman Greene's town hall in Akroth, Georgia, protesters were removed. If you want to shout and chant, we will have you removed just like that man was thrown out. We will not tolerate it.

Greene answered questions submitted ahead of time in her hour-long town hall, touting President Donald Trump's agenda and her work as chair of the House Department of Government Efficiency Subcommittee. Police said six people were removed and three others were arrested. Officers used a taser on two people. For NPR News, I'm Sarah Kalis in Akroth, Georgia. Fed Chair Jerome Powell is emphasizing a cautious approach to monetary policy and a growing economic uncertainty, specifically those stemming from recent tariff

implementations. Powell spoke today at the Economic Club of Chicago. In addition, strong imports during the first quarter reflecting attempts by businesses to get ahead of potential tariffs are expected to weigh on GDP growth. Surveys of households and businesses report a sharp decline in sentiment. Powell indicated that the central bank will maintain current interest rates until there is clear insight into the impacts of the new tariffs. Russia attacked the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa overnight just hours after a visit there by NATO chief Mark Ruta. NPR's

Joanna Kikissis reports from Kyiv. Ruta condemned Russia for recent missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, which killed dozens of civilians. He told reporters that NATO wants a durable peace for Ukraine. Some have called NATO support into question in the last couple of months. But let there be no doubt. Our support is unwavering. Rutta said he supports the ceasefire deal brokered a month ago in Saudi Arabia by the U.S. Joanna Kakissis, NPR News, Kiev.

On Wall Street, the Dow was down 776 points. This is NPR. President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at lowering prescription drug prices. 76 points. This is NPR. President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at lowering prescription drug prices. The White House says the order will improve the Medicare price negotiations program that became law three years ago. In 2024, the prices of 10 medications were negotiated by Medicare. 15 additional drugs are set to be negotiated by the end of this year. The North and South Poles periodically shift, which can weaken Earth's magnetic field and

let in more ultra-violent radiation. As NPR's Jonathan Lambert reports, new research suggests that the last time this happened, ancient humans may have developed new sun protection strategies. About 41,000 years ago, the magnetic North Pole started drifting. This weakened Earth's magnetic field to as little as 10% of its current strength in parts of Europe and the Middle East. That would have exposed those regions to higher levels of harmful solar radiation, according to new research in the journal Science Advances.

Around that time, people in those regions began more frequently tailoring clothes to more fully cover their bodies, and using ochre, a mineral-based pigment with sun-protective properties. Neanderthals didn't use these technologies. The researchers suggest that difference might, in part, explain Neanderthal's downfall. Jonathan Lambert, NPR News. Stonks are trading sharply lower on Wall Street at this hour. The Dow Jones Industrial averages down 820 points. Nasdaq Composite down 692. The S&P down 154 points. This is NPR News.

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