NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-21-2025 6PM EDT

Episode Date: April 21, 2025

NPR News: 04-21-2025 6PM EDTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. Warners are paying tribute to Pope Francis, who died today from a stroke and heart failure at the age of 88. And many gathered in St. Peter's Square today, including Amakin Johansson of Norway. I think that all the good that he did for people and his legacy will be about many things, not least compassion and humility and his courage to criticize the rulers and openness and kindness. He was born in Argentina to parents of Italian descent and is the first Latin American Pope. He was known for his focus on helping migrants and the poor. He died

a day after celebrating Easter on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, where from a wheelchair he issued blessings to the thousands gathered, then surprised the crowd with a ride in the open-air Pope Mobile, blessing children along the way. In his will, Francis said he wanted to be buried at the papal basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome, where six other popes are buried in a simple, undecorated tomb. So what happens next? As Imperialist Jason DeRose reports, when a pope dies, there are official procedures that are followed, ranging from announcing his death to electing a new head of the Roman Catholic Church. After a pope dies, a series of Vatican officials

get word before the death is announced to the public. The pope's funeral is usually scheduled within the next four to six days, allowing cardinals time to travel to Rome. Then, between 15 and 20 days after the pope's death, all cardinals under the age of 80 enter a conclave held in the Sistine Chapel behind sealed doors. They participate in four rounds of balloting every day until someone receives two-thirds of the vote. The ballots of the final vote are burned with a special chemical to produce white smoke, announcing to the world the conclave has chosen the new head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Jason Derose, NPR News. The White House may be looking to replace Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. NPR's Quill Lawrence report, he is under fire for a second instance of sharing classified information. NPR has learned that the White House has begun the process of looking for a new secretary of defense, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly. NPR has reached out to the White House for comment. In March, Hegseth shared details about airstrikes in Yemen in a signal chat that accidentally included a journalist. Now NPR has confirmed he also shared details in a group chat, including his wife and brother using his personal cell phone.

Hegseth is trying to turn the tables. This is what the media does. They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputation. Not going to work with me. In recent weeks, four senior advisors to Hegseth have left abruptly and suggested that Pentagon infighting is hurting President Trump. Quill Lawrence, NPR News. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt said NPR's reporting on this matter is, quote,

fake news. Wall Street sharply lower by the close, the Dow down 971 points. You're listening to NPR News. The Texas gunman, who killed 23 people in a racist attack outside a Walmart in El Paso in 2019, was sentenced this morning in state court to 23 consecutive life sentences. Patrick Crousis accepted a plea deal offered by the El Paso District Attorney's Office in return for not pursuing the death penalty. He's already been sentenced in federal court to 90 consecutive life sentences after pleading guilty to hate crimes and firearms violations. A new woman's record was set at the Boston Marathon today. Esteban Bustillos from

member station GBH has more. Last year Kenya's Sharon Loquetti lost to Helen O'Berry by just eight seconds in the women's race. But Loquetti flipped the tables this year by beating O'Berry and setting a new course seconds in the women's race. But Loketi flipped the tables this year by beating Obiri and setting a new course record in the process with a time of two hours, 17 minutes, 22 seconds. Afterwards, Loketi said she loves competing with Obiri. The only difference this year is where she passed me last year is where I passed her today.

I was like, I'm just not gonna let her not gonna get a like, let her take it today from me. So I just wanted to fight as hard as I could. John career also of Kenya won on the men's side with a time of two hours, four minutes, 45 seconds. His brother Wesley won the marathon in 2012 for NPR news. I'm a step on both deals in Boston and Wall Street was sharply lower by the closing bell on trade war concerns and president Trump's continued comments on Fed chair, Jerome Powell. deals in Boston.