NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-22-2025 3AM EDT

Episode Date: April 22, 2025

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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. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. Cardinals are meeting at the Vatican to prepare for the funeral of Pope Francis and to discuss church operations. Catholic churches around the world are in mourning following Francis' death on Monday. Noel

Ananan of Member Station WBHM spoke with mourners in Birmingham. Parishioners ascended the steps of the Cathedral of St. Paul, attending the first mass since Pope Francis' death was announced. You know, I was first said he was, I think he was an excellent pope. I think he did, I think he did a lot of good for the church and for the world. That is Mark Sendzik on his way into the church. His fellow parishioner, Nancy Heck, says as she watched coverage of the pope at the Vatican on Easter Sunday, she said he seemed to be suffering and says she's glad that he isn't any longer.

I'm sad for our church. I'm happy for him. A spokesperson for the Diocese of Birmingham says the church will pray for the soul of Pope Francis and the conclave of cardinals as they choose a new pope. For NPR News, I'm Noelle Annenen in Birmingham. White House officials say there is no truth to reports that President Trump is looking to replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. As NPR's Quill Lawrence reports,

they're responding to reports alleging Hegseth is under fire over a second incident 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 is 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.

President Trump's terrors have upended decades of assurances that the United States is among the safest places in the world to invest. As NPR's Rafael Nam reports, it's raising questions about confidence among foreign investors who own more than $8 trillion worth of U.S. government bonds. Typically, when you see the major markets in a country all fall at once, it's a sign that foreign investors are heading to the exits. The Asian financial crisis back in the late 1990s is an example. Now, it's too soon to say we are in a crisis, but there are genuine concerns that at the very least trust in the U.S. has been shaken. NPR's

Rafael Nam. China is warning other nations against trading with the United States that would be unfavorable to Beijing. The warning comes as Taiwan, Japan and South Korea begin talks to ease or eliminate President Trump's sweeping tariffs. Trump paused most of the levies but increased import taxes on goods from China. This is NPR. The wife of former U.S. Senator Bob Menendez has been convicted of teaming up with her husband in a years-long bribery scheme.

Nadine Menendez faces sentencing on June 12, less than one week after her husband is to report to prison. The couple were convicted of accepting cash, gold bars, and a luxury vehicle from three New Jersey businessmen seeking political favors and acting as an agent for the Egyptian government. The Trump administration's deadline for New York to stop collecting tolls in the busiest part of Manhattan has come and gone. New York Governor Kathy Hochul says the cameras are not going anywhere.

NPR's Giles Snyder has more. Governor Hochul posted a video on social media dismissing a letter from transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, demanding that the state end what's known as congestion pricing. Hokel said congestion pricing is legal and that the cameras are staying on. New York began collecting the tolls in January after receiving approval from the Biden administration, but the Trump administration wants to end the program.

Secretary Duffy initially set a March deadline for New York to comply. He pushed that deadline to Easter Sunday, but the tolls remain in place. Duffy is threatening to withhold money from federally funded road projects in late May if the state does not end the program. Trial Snyder, NPR News. Harvard University is suing to block the Trump administration's freeze of more than $2 billion in research grants. NPR News. NPR News. NPR News. NPR News. NPR News. You want to follow what's happening in Washington, D.C., but you don't want to be scrolling your phone all day. This is NPR News.