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Episode Date: April 24, 2026

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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingley. President Trump says Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks. The president announced the extension after high-level delegations from both countries met yesterday at the White House. That's also where Trump told reporters he's not going to rush any potential agreement with Iran to end the war with the U.S. and Israel. I want to make the best deal. I could make a deal right now. Do you know that if I left right now, We had a tremendous success. It would take them 20 years to rebuild, but I don't want to do that. The U.S. Navy continues its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, amid Trump's indefinite extension of a ceasefire with Iran.

U.S. Central Command says more than 30 vessels have been redirected from the narrow waterway since the blockade began. A soldier with the U.S. Army's Special Forces, who was involved in the January raid to capture Venezuela's president, is under arrest. As NPR's Bobby Allen reports, prosecutors say the Army Master Sergeant profited on the prediction market from the operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Nicholas Maduro. Prosecutors have unsealed an indictment against Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a U.S. Special Forces soldier who helped plan and carry out the arrest of Maduro. Under the username Burdensome Mix, Van Dyke allegedly placed $32,000 in bets on polymarket that Maduro would soon be out of power. Those wagers netted him more than $400,000 in profit. Polymarket is an overseas unregulated exchange where traders are anonymous and bet with cryptocurrency.

But federal investigators worked with Polymarket to identify Van Dyke. He's the first person criminally charged in the U.S. over trades on prediction markets, which have seen massive growth in Trump's second term. Donald Trump Jr. is an investor and advisor to Polymarket. Bobby Allen and PR News. Damage assessments are underway in and around Enid, Oklahoma. after tornadoes moved through the area last night. No deaths are reported, but at least 10 people were hurt.

Logan Layden, with member station KGOU, has more. The National Weather Service says a large violent tornado moved through southeast Enid, Oklahoma, near Vance Air Force Base. Only minor damage was reported at the base and no injuries. But just to the east, a neighborhood suffered heavy damage, with some homes destroyed. Another large tornado touched down near Brayman, just south of the Kansas border. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt issued a statement saying he would work with local leaders to assess damage and get resources to people in the local community. The threat of severe weather is forecast to extend through the weekend from Oklahoma to Minnesota.

For NPR News, I'm Logan Layden in Oklahoma City. Wildfires continue to destroy homes in South Georgia, where officials say extreme drought is fueling the flames. More than 80 homes have been lost there thus far. This is NPR News from Washington. The parent company of Facebook says it's laying off about 8,000 employees. That's roughly 10% of META's workforce. The job cuts were announced as META continues to put more emphasis on artificial intelligence. The company says it also plans to leave 6,000 jobs unfilled.

Meta is a financial supporter of NPR. A spokesman for Republican Congressman Tom Cain of New Jersey says a personal medical issue has prevented the lawmaker from being on Capitol Hill in recent weeks. Bruce Convizer has more. It has been seven weeks since Kane last cast a vote on the Hill. In that time, the Republican representative has missed dozens of roll call votes, including one on a bill that he sponsored. His office says he's battling an unspecified health issue. They say he'll return to work soon, but didn't offer more specifics. Kane represents New Jersey's 7th Congressional District. It's one of the GOP's most vulnerable House seats.

Kane is running unopposed in the June 2nd primary, but a clutch of Democrats are vying for their party's nomination and a chance to oust the two-term representative in November. The race is considered a toss-up. For NPR News, I'm Bruce Conviser in Greenbrook, New Jersey. Heisman trophy winner Fernando Mendoza was the first pick in last night's NFL draft. The Las Vegas Raiders selected the quarterback. out of Indiana with the league's top pick. Mendoza led the Hoosiers to a national championship in his final season of college football. Wall Street futures are mixed this morning. Dow futures are down 166 points.

I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News, in Washington.