NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-20-2025 7PM EDT

Episode Date: April 20, 2025

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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.npr.org. law option. Learn more at plus.npr.org. Janine Hurst Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Hurst. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, is defending his trip to El Salvador where he visited a man illegally deported by the Trump administration. He says the man must be returned. And here's Luke Garrett has more.

Luke Garrett Last week, the Trump administration posted court filings and police reports on social media claiming Kilmar Abrego-Garcia is a violent criminal. But Senator Van Hollen says these posts have no legal bearing. Donald Trump and his administration need to put up or shut up in court. They keep putting stuff out on social media. A federal judge says there's been no court evidence tying Abrego Garcia to MS-13 or terrorist activities. The Supreme Court has ordered the Trump administration to, quote, facilitate,

end quote, the man's return to the U.S., but the White House has so far refused. Van Holland says the Supreme Court should hold President Trump in contempt. Trump called Van Holland a, quote, fool, end quote, for visiting Abrego Garcia. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington. The Trump administration's sweeping staffing cuts at federal land agencies are causing anxiety across the tinder-dry Southwest. NPR's Kirk Ziegler reports the wildfire threat is already severe. The Trump administration says wildland firefighters continue to be exempt from the federal hiring freeze, but an untold number of Forest Service staffers who hold red cards, meaning they can leave their day jobs to fight

fires, were laid off in February. One of them in New Mexico is Kayla, whose full name we aren't using because she fears retaliation. Yeah, I just feel like if it's a ticking time bomb, like, I feel like we were doing everything in our power to help prevent the catastrophic fires. She recently got her job back after a court ruling but says Forest Service staff are, quote, walking on eggshells and all the work that goes into protecting communities and

wildlife from wildfires is on hold. Kirk Sigler, NPR News, Santa Fe. Businesses and investors are trying to get ahead of President Trump's tariffs and their impact on the economy. And here's Maria Aspin reports. It's the height of corporate earnings season when big publicly traded companies report their most recent quarterly results

and talk about the future. But so far this spring, President Trump's tariffs are clouding the outlook. Investors are waiting to hear from Tesla, the carmaker run by billionaire Elon Musk, who is also one of Trump's closest and most powerful advisors. But Musk has criticized the new tariffs, which are likely to damage his car company. Tesla's sales are already falling, as consumers protest protests must roll in cutting government agencies, programs, and workers. Other big companies reporting results this week include Google

and Pepsi, which has operations around the world. Maria Aspen, NPR News, New York. You as futures contracts are trading lower at this hour. You're listening to NPR News. At some of the holiest sites in Jerusalem, Christians are celebrating Easter under another year of tight restrictions. Ampires, Kari Kahn has more. Bells rang out in many Christian sites in Israel, including the annual Holy Fire Ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem's Old City.

The Greek Orthodox ceremony has been held for hundreds of years at the church, where tradition holds Jesus was crucified and resurrected. This year, like last Easter, the second since the war between Israel and Hamas began, the number of pilgrims and worshippers was limited. Palestinian Christians living in the occupied West Bank must possess permits to travel into Jerusalem's old city. Israel says the restrictions are critical for security. More than 50,000 Christians live in West Bank cities. The government says it issued 6,000 permits.

Carrie Cahn, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Pope Francis, still recovering from pneumonia, appeared briefly on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica celebrating Easter Sunday to a cheering crowd of thousands. The 88-year-old, using a wheelchair, wished the crowd a happy Easter and gave his blessing. He was then driven through the crowd using the open-topped Pope Mobile. Francis also met briefly with Vice President Vance today. The visit with the Catholic convert came days after Francis rebuked the Trump administration for its immigration crackdown and its slashing of international aid.

I'm Janene Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.