NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-25-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: April 25, 2025

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When Malcolm Gladwell presented NPR's Throughline podcast with a Peabody Award, he praised it for its historical and moral clarity. On Throughline, we take you back in time to the origins of what's in the news, like presidential power, aging, and evangelicalism. Time travel with us every week on the Throughline podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington on Korova Coleman, there are conflicting statements from President Trump and Chinese officials about whether they've been in trade talks. Trump says he has, but won't clarify how recently those talks happened. China has been insisting

that any report of current U.S.-Chinese trade talks is false. Top Chinese leaders met today in Beijing and pledged a string of new measures to boost their economy. NPR's John Ruich reports it's been complicated by high U.S. tariffs. An official readout of the meeting of the Communist Party's elite Politburo said external shocks to the economy are increasing and it's necessary to prepare contingency plans.

For companies significantly affected by tariffs, the Politburo said more funds should be allocated to help with retention. The meeting called for the prompt implementation of more proactive and effective macroeconomic policies. It urged local governments to issue special bonds to support basic living expenses and salaries. It called for steps to boost pay for low and middle income groups and said there should

be more done to help struggling companies and boost core tech industries. The Politburo also called for steps to boost domestic consumption. That's something many economists have been urging and something likely to help cushion the blow from tariffs. John Ruhich, NPR News, Shanghai. President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is in Moscow meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump says the U.S US is trying to get support

for its plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine. He wants Ukraine to give up territory to Russia to bring this about. In an interview published today by Time Magazine, Trump said that the annexed Ukrainian region of Crimea will stay with Russia. That's been a non-starter for the Ukrainian government. Ukraine is observing a day of mourning today for the 12 people killed this week by a

Russian attack on the capital Kyiv. Trump had rebuked Russia's president writing online quote Vladimir stop. A federal judge is blocking the president's executive order on voting saying President Trump lacks the authority to make the change. As NPR's Jude Jaffe Block reports, the provision would require someone to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote in the U.S. The federal judge paused that provision, writing, quote, our constitution entrusts Congress and the states, not the president, with the authority to regulate federal elections. The judge's ruling is a victory for voter registration groups and Democrats who say such a requirement could create barriers for millions

of eligible voters. In a statement, White House spokesperson Harrison Field said the president will keep fighting for election integrity. Jude Jaffe Block, NPR News. Texas lawmakers have passed legislation to create an enormous school voucher program. The $1 billion plan will let parents use taxpayer money to pay for tuition at private schools for children. Opponents of vouchers say this will drain money away from public schools and hurt children from low-income families. On Wall Street, the Dow is down 200 points. This is NPR.

World leaders, including President Trump, are traveling to Rome to attend tomorrow's funeral for Pope Francis. Some conservative American Catholics are expressing their hopes for a new pontiff. They're also criticizing Pope Francis. They claim he abandoned important aspects of Catholic tradition. Aleja Herzl-McCain of Religion News Service has more. Conservatives are revisiting France's 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 Catholics in the U.S. supported Pope Francis, and Vatican watchers warned against trying to reduce any pope into U.S. political terms. Aleha Herzlom-McCain, NPR News. The man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year will appear in federal court today in New York to enter a plea. Luigi Mangione was indicted last week on murder and other charges. Federal prosecutors say they'll seek the death penalty. Today is World Malaria Day. The World Health Organization says that since the 90s more than two billion

cases have been prevented worldwide. But the WHO says malaria still kills one person every minute. This is NPR. On the next Thru Line from NPR. For the presidency, I'm indebted to Almighty God. I'm in charge of the country and I need to serve all the American people and not just the political machine. The origins of the modern civil service. Listen to Thru Line wherever you get your podcasts.