NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-19-2025 11PM EDT

Episode Date: April 20, 2025

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Should you throw out your black plastic cooking utensils? Can we decode whale language? And how do you stop procrastinating? I'm Mike and Scott. Every week, the Pulse digs into health and science issues that matter to you and your life. Listen to the Pulse podcast from WHYY, part of the NPR Network.

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. The Supreme Court early this morning took issue with the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act. As NPR's Jimena Bustillo reports, the order temporarily blocks the administration from deporting Venezuelans now held in the Blue Bonnet Detention Center in Texas. In a brief order issued after midnight Eastern, the justices wrote that the government is directed to not remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order from this court. These would be some of the Venezuelan migrants being held at the Blue Bonnet facility in

Texas. Justice Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented. The move comes after the Supreme Court previously ordered that the administration could remove people but that they had to get due process first. The ACLU argues that the administration violated that order when it gave some people less than a day's notice that they would be removed under the act. Homeland Security said it's complying with the Supreme Court's original ruling. Jimena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.

The Trump administration, meanwhile, asked the Supreme Court to dissolve the temporary stay. Tens of thousands of people rallied across the country today to protest a wide variety of President Trump's recent actions. Alaska Public Media's Eric Stone reports from a demonstration at the state Capitol. It's not the first time 500 people have braved cold rain and wind to protest Trump here in Juneau, and organizer Megan Lingle says it won't be the last. We are going to keep showing up until they listen to us.

She held a sign saying, bring Kilmar home. That's a reference to the man the Trump administration deported to El Salvador in what government lawyers called an administrative error. Another organizer, Erin Brakel, says Alaska is suffering from cuts by Elon Musk's Department of Government efficiency effort. Alaska receives more federal funding per resident

than any other state. We're in a lot of trouble in this state because of Donald Trump's policies. Federal cuts have hit fishing, forestry, and weather forecasting especially hard here in Alaska. For NPR News, I'm Eric Stone in Juneau. Two online retailers that are known for their bargains, they ship to the U.S. directly from China, are now warning about rising prices and they say they're being forced to adapt the way they do business, all because of US changes in trade policies.

NPR's Alina Selyuk has more on that story. Jian and Temü built their US businesses around a tax loophole, which allowed them to send clothes and home goods to American shoppers totally duty-free. That's unlike most retailers who tend to ship in bulk from overseas to a U.S. warehouse and pay import taxes. XIAN and TEMU ship straight from China to your door and they get an exemption meant for small packages, no import tax. Many groups and companies and bipartisan politicians have long called for this loophole to close. President Biden began that, President Trump is ending it, and that means Xi and Temü will soon have to pay

tariffs up to a hundred and forty five percent, and the companies say their prices will start going up after April 25th. Alina Seluk, NPR News. And you're listening to NPR News. 250 years ago today a few dozen colonists in Lexington, Massachusetts came face to face with British soldiers marching west. There was gunfire, which has become known as the shot heard round the world and the American battle for independence had begun. Miriam Wasser from member station WBUR reports from the battle green in Lexington where reenactors staged a musket filled rendition of the early morning events.

No one knows who fired the first shot, but within seconds both sides were firing muskets. The reenactment happens every April, but this year, the 250th anniversary, the town went all out and thousands of people arrived before dawn to watch. It's so amazing to see how many people are excited about history. Justin Murray portrays a British sergeant in the reenactment. He says everyone involved worked to make this year the most historically accurate reenactment yet. Every single person in our group, for example, had new britches, the pants that we wear,

and we use our own money for this. There are hundreds of dollars just to get a new set. The 250th celebration continues throughout the weekend. For NPR News, I'm Miriam Wasser in Lexington, Massachusetts. The Denver Nuggets came back from a 15-point deficit in the first half today to slip past Los Angeles Clippers in overtime, 112 to 110. Nikola Jokic scored 29 points in the opening game

of their Western Conference Playoff Series. Pascoe Siakam scored 25 points. Meanwhile, as the Indiana Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 117 to 98. The Knicks beat the Pistons, 123 to 112. And with less than two minutes remaining, the Timberwolves lead the Lakers in that game. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News. The scary new movie Sinners

from the director of Black Panther finds Michael B. Jordan playing twin brothers. It's got vampires, it's got great music, and it's a fun one to see with a big crowd. This is the most excited I've been about a movie in a very long time. We'll tell you why you should see Sinners on the biggest screen you can. Listen to the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR.