NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-22-2025 1PM EDT

Episode Date: April 22, 2025

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Donald Trump has an extraordinary approach to the presidency. At the NPR Politics Podcast, we're recapping the first 100 days of Donald Trump's second term from his early promises to his policy decisions and what it all means for you. Politics may not always make sense, but we'll sort it out together over on the NPR Politics Podcast. Lyle from NPR News. I'm Lakhshmi Singh. A U.S. official tells NPR the administration is searching for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's replacement. Hegseth is mired in controversy after a New York Times report that he shared military

operational details in a signal group chat on his private cell with his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. The information shared was about airstrikes in Yemen in March, shortly after he shared similar details in another Signal group chat with top administration officials that inadvertently also included a journalist. On Fox, Hegseth slammed his critics. What was shared over Signal then and now, however you characterize it, was informal, unclassified coordinations for media coordination and other

things. That's what I've said from the beginning. At the beginning, it was left-wing reporters from the Atlantic who got a hold of it and then wanted to create a problem for the president. This is what it's all about, trying to get at President Trump and his agenda. The White House initially called reports of searching for Hegseth's replacement fake news. The U.S. financial markets have been a top destination for global investors for decades, but as NPR's Rafael Nam tells us, President Trump's tear of shock and criticism of Fed Chair Jerome Powell are sparking fears the U.S. may no longer be seen as a safe haven. Something unusual has been happening in U.S. markets ever since Trump unveiled more tariffs this month. Stocks, bonds and the dollar have all been falling at the same time. That rarely

happens. Usually at times of uncertainty US bonds and the dollar tend to gain. The fear in Wall Street is that those declines reflect foreign investors cutting their exposure to the U.S. It's hard to fully know so far, but if true, it would have major implications. It would likely mean foreign investors no longer see the U.S. as a safe place to invest. And that would be game-changing for the global financial system. Rafal Nam, NPR News. Mahmoud Khalil, the Columbia University student President Trump's trying to deport over his

pro-Palestinian activism, missed the birth of his first child. NPR's Adrienne Floody reports Khalil had requested temporary release from immigration detention. Since ICE agents arrested him in New York last month, they've held Khalil at a remote detention center in Louisiana. His lawyers have been trying to free him while his federal lawsuit challenging his arrest as unconstitutional moves forward. On Sunday his wife went into labor. Kalil's lawyers asked the director of ICE's Louisiana office to temporarily release him so he could attend the birth. The request was quickly denied. Mark Vanderhoo is one of Kalil's lawyers.

He had certainly hoped and expected that the government would show some humanity, but they did not. His baby was born the next day. Kalio listened on the phone. Adrienne Flerido, NPR News. The Dow is up more than a thousand points. This is NPR News. Texas health officials are reporting another increase in measles cases since the weekend.

The state's health services website shows an increase of 27 cases, pushing the overall number in the state to 624 cases since late January. The largest number is in Gaines County with 386. The measles outbreak is primarily in West Texas. The state has the biggest outbreak of measles in the country. The U.S. Department of Education says it will again start collecting payments from student borrowers who have loans that are in default. NPR's Tanaki Mehta reports collections will resume May 5th.

During the pandemic, the Biden administration introduced a series of measures that gave students wiggle room on federal student loan payments. The reprieve was never permanent. Now the Trump administration says the Education Department will begin collections next month. It could also begin garnishing wages from borrowers, meaning a portion of their paycheck would automatically be sent to the federal government. Linda McMahon, the Education Secretary, says, quote, American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies. About 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans.

Janaki Mehta and PR News. In the middle of a four-day visit to India, Vice President J.D. Vance says his host and the U.S. are a step closer to a bilateral trade agreement by fall. Vance has been promoting closer collaboration on matters of defense, technology, energy, and other critical sectors. He's traveling with his wife, who is of South Asian descent, as well as with their children. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News. Climate change is drying up some water supplies and making others undrinkable. That's why News.