NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-19-2025 9PM EDT

Episode Date: April 20, 2025

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This is out of her glass. In Lily's family, there's a story everybody knows by heart. If this story had never happened, all of us wouldn't be here right now. Sammy wouldn't be here. Nina wouldn't be here. Wally wouldn't be here. Anyone that we know wouldn't be here. So what happens when Lily's mom tells her the story is not true? This American Life, surprising stories every week. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janene Hurst. The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to lift its temporary block on deporting Venezuelan men being held in North Texas using an obscure 18th century law. This after a filing from the American Civil Liberties Union

yesterday saying their deportations needed more time to go through the courts. The ACLU says migrants were being loaded onto buses last night for deportation. But in a rare overnight decision, the court issued the stay telling the Trump administration not to remove the men. MPR Simena Bustillo has more. The Justice Department argued that notices comply with previous Supreme Court's guidance on the issue, and I reached out to the Homeland Security Department last night and they declined to comment on quote counter-terrorism operations, but they did say that they believe they are

complying with the Supreme Court's original ruling. Still the ACLU argues that they're not. They have since been suing the administration in each individual district court since that first ruling, and judges in several districts have blocked the deportations of people using the Alien Enemies Act. And here's Ximena Bustillo reporting. Constituents of Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson held an empty chair town hall today at a suburban Milwaukee high school.

As Mai and Silver from WUWM reports, organizers invited the senator to hear feedback about cuts to federal programs and services and other Trump administration efforts. Organizers placed stuffed and rubber chickens in an empty chair to reflect their view that the senator was, quote, too cowardly to show up. Many of the 350 people who attended were livid about cuts, detentions and other immigration efforts and what they say is consolidation of power into the hands of a few. Angela Schneider from a GOP-leaning suburb of Milwaukee addressed Johnson directly. This is how democracies fall.

Stand for democracy, not dictatorship. Stand for your oath. Johnson's office said in a statement that he appreciates invitations but is unable to accept them all. He pointed organizers to teletown halls. For NPR News, I'm Ayaan Silver in Milwaukee. President Trump says he will allow commercial fishing in one of the world's largest ocean reserves. As Imperial Julius Simon reports, the area west of Hawaii has many endangered species. Endangered whales and sea turtles,

tropical seabirds and black coral live in the vast area in the Pacific. President George W. Bush originally established the monument and President Obama expanded it. While the Trump administration argues that this move to open the area for commercial fishing will help that industry, some ecologists argue the opposite. That's because protected areas can allow space for fish to spawn more successfully. Julia Simon, NPR News. You're listening to NPR News from Washington.

Crowds descended on the two Massachusetts towns to commemorate the battles of Lexington and Concord, which began the American Revolutionary War 250 years ago. Robert Goulston of GBH News in Boston has more. There were parades, reenactments, and ceremonial cannon salutes across both Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, all to mark 250 years since a single gunshot changed the world and set off the American Revolution. Henry Wan brought his two elementary-aged children. He says they had many questions about the Old North Bridge, where the first British

soldier fell. Being able to hear the sights and sounds and feel like the cannon fire I think brings a level of realism that we can't get from a book. Historians say more than 100 Minutemen and British troops lost their lives on April 19, 1775. For NPR News, I'm Robert Guelston. In basketball, the first round of the NBA playoffs got underway today. Earlier today, the Indiana Pacers beat the Milwaukee Bucks 117-92, and the New York Knicks beat the Detroit Pistons 123-112 just now.

Right now, the Timberwolves are playing the Lakers, the score at last check, 4-0 Lakers. The team with the best record is the Oklahoma Thunder, the number one seed in the West. The Cleveland Cavaliers lead the Eastern Conference. This year is shaping up to be a tough road for the Thunder and the Cavs, who won 68 and 64 games this season, respectively. I'm Janene Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington. This message comes from WISE, the app for doing things and other currencies. Janine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.