NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-17-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: April 18, 2025

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Am I a propagandist? A truth teller? An influencer? There's probably no more contested profession in the world today than mine, journalism. I'm Brian Reed, and on my show, Question Everything, we dive head first into the conflicts we're all facing over truth and who gets to tell it. Listen now to Question Everything, part of the NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Ukraine's president said a Trump administration, an envoy, appears to be adopting Russia's narrative about the war it started in Ukraine as France brought American and European partners to Paris to find common ground. Burei Straunikis says more from Kyiv. The US delegation in Paris included Steve Woodkoff, a real estate mogul who has become

an envoy to Russia. In an interview with Fox News, he said ending the war seems to hinge on five Ukrainian territories, which he did not name. Speaking to reporters in Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wittkopf appears to be spreading Russian narratives. And he does not have the mandate to discuss Ukrainian territories, Zelensky said, because those belong to our people. Russia illegally annexed one Ukrainian region in 2014 and partially occupies four more.

Zelensky says there can be no talks about territories without a ceasefire in place. Joanna Kekesis, NPR News, CAVE. Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside of Manhattan Hotel, has now been indicted in a federal courthouse in New York on four charges. Two counts of stalking, one count of murder with a firearm, and one firearms offense. Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty. It is the first death penalty case

the Department of Justice has sought since President Trump took office. The 26-year-old Mangione was previously charged on multiple counts in both New York State and Pennsylvania in connection with Thompson's death. Police in Florida say a man is now in custody after killing two people and injuring six others

on Florida State University's Tallahassee campus today. The alleged shooter is 20-year-old Phoenix Eichner, who is believed to be a student and is the son of a local sheriff's deputy. Douglas Solw with member station WUSF spoke to a student who was on campus at the time of the shooting. First year FSU student Anna Martens was sunbathing on the campus green when she heard screams. So I dropped all my stuff. I was on the phone with my mom and I just started running.

Martins ran barefoot. She says she took shelter in a nearby church with about a dozen other students for hours. It's so sad that we're in a place where we're supposed to feel safe on campus getting an education. It's such an exciting part of our lives, college, and it's just so sad that we have to worry about things like this happening. She says she is praying for those who were injured and killed. For NPR News, I'm Douglas Soll in Tallahassee.

Following remarks yesterday where Fed Chair Jerome Powell said President Donald Trump's tariff programs have potential to slow economic growth and increase inflation, Trump today attacking the Fed Chairman for not cutting interest rates. Trump also said he could fire Powell if he wanted to, though a number of Trump advisors have warned against that. Powell has previously said he has no intention of stepping down. A mixed close on Wall Street today, the Dow was down 527 points, the Nasdaq fell 20 points, the S&P rose 7 points.

This is NPR. The latest assessment from the International Monetary Fund is that surging U.S. tariffs will likely weigh on global economic growth. As a result, the IMF's managing director is forecasting weaker growth and a rise in inflation. More details on that report are due out next week. IMF head Kristalina Georgieva is saying sharp increases in the tariff are causing global uncertainties. The 19th century artist

known as God's architect is one step closer to becoming a saint. Claire Giangreva at Religious News Service in Rome has more on Antony Gaudí. Gaudí's most famous work is the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, a building so grand that Gaudí died before completing it. It's a soaring cathedral that some have described as lifting you up to the sky. His work is so powerful that a number of people converted to Catholicism after visiting. Gaudí's faith and work were deeply intertwined. He was so devout that he once almost starved to death because of his rigid fasting during Lent. In order for Gaudí to become a saint, the Vatican will have to attribute two miracles to him, which could happen before his life's work in Barcelona is scheduled to be completed in 2026,

on the centennial of his death. For NPR News, I'm Claire Jean-Gave in Rome. There have been some good news in terms of the ability of some endangered types of sea turtles to bounce back worldwide. A study looked at 48 populations of turtles, measuring impacts of threats like hunting pollution and climate change. About half the areas examined, overall threats are declining. Atlantic Ocean turtles are doing better than those in Pacific waters, so I'd just say leatherback turtles are not recovering as well. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News.

This message comes from NYU Langone. The NYU Langone Health app gives you access to your I'm Jack Spear, NPR News.