NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-17-2025 1AM EDT

Episode Date: April 17, 2025

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You want to follow what's happening in Washington, D.C., but you don't want to be scrolling your phone all day. I'm Scott Detrow, and NPR has a podcast that can help. It's called Trump's Terms, stories about big changes the 47th president is pursuing on his own terms. They're short, they're focused episodes that tell you calmly, factually, what is happening and what isn't. Listen to Trump's Term terms from NPR.

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shae Stevens. U.S. District Court Judge James Boesberg says there is probable cause to find the government in criminal contempt of court. Boesberg says the Trump administration disobeyed his order to turn back two planes that ferried deported migrants to a prison in El Salvador last month. More from NPR's Adrienne Florido.

On March 15, President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 so the government could quickly deport without due process people it said were members of a Venezuelan gang. It loaded two planes and they took off for El Salvador. The ACLU sued and Judge Boasberg ordered the government to turn the planes around. It didn't. Boasberg has been trying to determine whether the government purposely ignored his order. He's now ruled that it did. The Constitution does not tolerate willful disobedience of judicial orders, he wrote.

He's given the government until April 23rd to rectify the contempt or to identify the specific people who defied his order. Adrienne Plerido, NPR News. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says the Trump administration is suing the state of Maine for allowing transgender athletes to compete in female sports. From Maine Public, Steve Missler has that report. Bondi's announcement is the latest development in a dispute that began when Maine Governor Janet Mills told President Trump that she would continue to follow a state law that

allows transgender athletes to participate on girls' sports teams. The Trump administration contends that the state is violating Title IX, and Bondi said its lawsuit will seek to end that practice, restore state titles to girls defeated by transgender athletes, and potentially pull federal education funds retroactively. In a statement, Mills said the lawsuit is the latest salvo in the Trump administration's ongoing retaliation campaign designed to coerce the state into ignoring the Constitution and the rule of law. For NPR News, I'm Steve Missler in Augusta, Maine.

The suspect in the burglary and arson at the Pennsylvania Governor's Mansion told 911 operators he was angry over Josh Shapiro's views on the war in Gaza. That's according to search warrants released on Wednesday. Speaking at the opening of a new plant in Hershey, Governor Shapiro said he is not intimidated by the attack. Nothing he could do would deter me from doing my job as governor. Nothing he could do would deter me from proudly and openly practicing my faith. Shapiro says prosecutors will ultimately decide the suspect's motive. 38-year-old Cody Ballmer is being held

without bail on attempted homicide, aggravated arson, terrorism and other charges. The Israeli military says it will keep troops in security zones set up in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely. That stance could complicate efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and gain the release of the remaining hostages there. This is NPR. Iranian state media is confirming that a second round of nuclear talks with the U.S. will

be held this weekend in Rome. President Trump has warned of U.S. airstrikes if no deal is reached on ending Iran's nuclear program. The first round of talks since Trump returned to the Oval Office were held last weekend in Oman. White House officials call that gathering very positive and constructive, noting that some very complicated issues still must be resolved. Scientists are reporting success using stem cells to treat Parkinson's disease.

NPR's John Hamilton reports on two new studies published in the journal Nature. The studies showed that two different kinds of stem cells began making the chemical messenger dopamine after being transplanted into the brains of Parkinson's patients. In one study, 12 patients received either a low or high dose of neurons derived from human embryonic stem cells. Dr. Loren Studer of Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York says over the next 18 months, scientists used a standard rating scale to assess symptoms like tremor. You would expect every year to get two to three points worse.

And actually the high dose group, they got about 20 points better. A team in Japan reported similar success using a different type of stem cell treatment. Researchers caution that it will take larger studies to confirm the results. John Hamilton, NPR News. point. Researchers caution that it will take larger studies to confirm the results. John Hamilton, NPR News. A new law in Arkansas makes it illegal for a pharmacy benefit manager to own a pharmacy in that state. It's one of several states adopting similar restrictions. Pharmacy benefit managers are hired to oversee prescription drug programs for large companies. This is

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