NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-24-2025 5PM EDT

Episode Date: April 24, 2025

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Have you or someone you love been confused by the push to make America healthy again? Then you, my friend, are in dire need of our new series. On It's Been A Minute from NPR, we're delving into some of the origins, conspiracy theories, and power grabs that have led us to this moment and what it could mean for our health. That's on the It's Been A Minute podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Trump says he thinks Russian President Vladimir Putin will listen to him about stopping strikes in Ukraine. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports Trump expects optimism a deal can be reached.

During a bilateral meeting at the White House with the prime minister of Norway, President Trump expanded on his feelings about the lack of progress in ending the war in Ukraine. He said he believes both Russia and Ukraine are interested in ending the conflict, but also acknowledged that his patience was wearing thin. I have my own deadline. I have my own deadline and we want it to be fast. Trump did not say what that deadline was, but that the U.S. would have a different attitude if it passed. Earlier, Trump took to social media to express his displeasure after Russia launched one of its deadliest attacks on Kiev, writing,

Vladimir, stop. Franco, Ordonez, NPR News, the White House. conservative Catholics in the US are expressing hopes for a new pope while offering critiques of Pope Francis. They argue Francis abandoned important aspects of Catholic tradition. Aleja Herzler-McHain of Religion News Service reports. conservatives are revisiting Francis policies that they disagreed with. Those include his

suppression of certain Latin masses, allowing the blessing of same-sex couples and his advocacy for the environment and thawing of relations with China. New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan told the Today Show he's looking for the next pope to have a blend of the heart of Francis, but also some qualities he liked in Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI. More clarity in teaching, more refinement of the church's tradition, more digging in the treasures of the past. According to a poll taken in February, most Republican-leaning Catholics in the U.S. supported Pope Francis, and Vatican watchers warn against trying to reduce any pope into U.S. political

terms. Aleha Herzler-McCain, NPR News. Stocks rally for a third straight session amid investor hopes President Trump is backing down from his trade war with China. As NPR's Maria Aspin reports, the Dow closed up more than 1 percent but remains below what it was when tariff battles began. Wall Street continues to whipsaw this week as it hopes for more relief from the sweeping tariffs that have upended the markets this month. President Trump has slapped particularly aggressive taxes on Chinese

imports, escalating a trade war with one of the country's largest trading partners. But now, the president says U.S. officials have been meeting with China. But many big companies are still worried about how Trump's new tariffs will hurt their businesses and their customers. Shares in Pepsi and Procter & Gamble fell after both companies warned they will make less money and face higher costs thanks to the tariffs. Maria Aspin, NPR News, New York. The Dow rose 486 points. The Nasdaq gained 457 points today. This is NPR. The NFL draft begins tonight and the winner of last year's Heisman Trophy, a genuine two-way player, unlike any one professional football has seen in decades, could be one of the first to be chosen.

NPR's Becky Sullivan is more and Travis Hunter. Hunter was one of the best wide receivers in college football last year. He got 96 passes for more than 1,200 yards, and that alone might be enough to get him drafted early. But he's also a great defender, a cornerback with four interceptions last season. In total, he played more than 80% of all offensive and defensive snaps for Colorado. That unique versatility has most experts rating him the best player available in the draft, though he might not go first overall. Quarterbacks are king in the NFL, and the Tennessee Titans, with a top overall pick, need one. They're expected to take Cam Ward from Miami. Other top picks could

include the Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter and the Heisman Trophy runner-up running back Ashton Gentry from Boise State. Becky Sullivan, NPR News. A carnivorous caterpillar that apparently sometimes dons the remains of its prey has been dubbed the bone collector by researchers. They say the caterpillar creeps along spider webs feeding on captured insects and decorating its silk case with body parts. It's found only on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Scientists say the bugs' origins go back at least six million years, more ancient than the islands themselves. The research on the insect-eating carnivorous caterpillar was published in the journal Science. Crude oil futures prices moved modestly higher today. Oil gained 52 cents a barrel to settle at 62.79 a barrel in New York.

I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.