NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-25-2025 3PM EDT

Episode Date: April 25, 2025

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On this week's Wild Card podcast, Brett Goldstein says even though his shows Ted Lasso and Shrinking get emotional, he doesn't. I'm a crybaby. I guess I thought you might be like a closet crier. No. I mean, I write all this stuff because then I don't have to live it. Whoa. She's like, I got him.

I'm Rachel Martin. Brett Goldstein is on Wild Card, the show where cards control the conversation. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Laxmey Singe. In a major reversal, the federal government is restoring the legal status of more than a thousand international students whose visas it had moved to cancel in recent weeks, according to a lawyer representing the plaintiffs in one of the cases. The database attracts whether student visa holders are complying with the terms of their

visas, include recording any disciplinary action or criminal charges against the students. In order for their visas to remain valid, students' records must remain active. However, ICE had begun abruptly terminating hundreds of records in recent weeks, often without notifying students or their schools. Attorney General Pam Bondi is defending the arrest of a Wisconsin judge accused of helping a Mexican defendant in her court thwart immigration authorities who are searching for him. I think some of these judges think they are beyond and above the law and they are not and we're sending a very strong message today.

If you are harboring a fugitive, we don't care who you are. If you are helping hide one, if you are giving a TDA member guns, anyone who is illegally in this country, we will come after you and we will prosecute you. Bondi speaking on Fox after the arrest of Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge

Hannah Dugan and a former New Mexico judge and his wife were also arrested yesterday on charges they aided a Venezuelan gang member. White House envoy Steve Witkoff has wrapped up talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin and PRS Charles Means has details from Moscow. Putin and Witkoff met for three hours of talks that Kremlin adviser Yuri Shukhov later characterized as constructive and useful. Yushchenkov said positions on Ukraine and other international issues had grown closer as a result.

Yet at least for now, it appears Witkoff failed to get Russian support for the U.S.-backed peace plan. Critics of the U.S. proposal said it overwhelmingly favors Moscow in recognizing Russia's hold over territories it sees from Ukraine by force. Instead, Russia raised the possibility of direct talks with Ukraine while agreeing to more active dialogue with the U.S. Trump had been threatening to walk away from peace efforts in Ukraine entirely if he didn't see immediate progress. Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow.

The president's side in executive order aimed at making it easier for mining companies to dig for minerals on the ocean floor. Here's NPR's Julia Simon. NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's

Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR's Julia Simon, NPR for reviewing and issuing permits for mining on the seafloor. Scientists and environmental groups are already condemning the order, arguing that

opening the deep seabed for mining could damage important marine ecosystems. Underwater mining involves giant machines and creates plumes of sediment that could suffocate marine life. That can have serious impacts on and disrupt the fishing industry. It's NPR. A federal judge in New York has sentenced former U.S. Representative George Santos to just over seven years in prison for wire fraud and identity theft. Santos deceived voters and donors during his 2022 campaign for Congress. Desiree Diorio of member station WSHU has details.

The less than one term congressman represented parts of Queens and Long Island before his historic expulsion in 2023. U.S. Attorney John Durham says Santos has been ordered to pay over half a million dollars in restitution and penalties. And he's going to be punished for his staggering fraud, the abuses he put on our electoral process, for mocking our democratic institutions, and most importantly, for betraying and defrauding his supporters, his voters, his donors,

federal agencies, state agencies. Santos is expected to report to federal prison this summer. For NPR News, I'm Desiree D'Orio on Long Island. The maker of Donkey Kong and Super Mario games has to contend with the ongoing trade wars impact on its latest major release. Online pre-orders of Nintendo's Switch 2 console kicked off just after midnight Thursday and quickly sold out. It's a test of the Japanese video game company's ability to manage its supply chain and maintain Switch 2's nearly $450

price tag in the face of tariffs. China, a major manufacturing base, was hit with a 145% U.S. tariff. I'm Lakshmi Singh, NPR News.