NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-25-2025 6AM EDT

Episode Date: April 25, 2025

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At NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, we sort through a lot of television. And we've found some recent TV comedies we really like that you don't want to miss. And we'll tell you where to watch them in one handy guide. Listen to the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, on Korova Coleman, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will fly to Rome today for the funeral for Pope Francis tomorrow. The Pope died this week of a stroke and heart ailments. After the funeral, world leaders and tourists will go home, but the Catholic Church's top

clergy will stay on. Some will join a papal conclave to elect Francis' successor. In Rome, NPR's Lauren Frayer spoke to one of the electors. Cardinal Vincent Nichols is the Church's top official for England and Wales and this will be his first conclave. It's intimidating, frankly. To choose a leader for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. Nicholls is part of the most diverse college of Cardinals ever.

A majority of those voting were appointed by Francis. And now they'll choose his successor via secret ballot in the Sistine Chapel under ceilings painted by Michelangelo. The magnificence of that chapel will be focusing everything we try and do. All cardinals are invited to meetings in the lead-up, but only those under age 80 go into the conclave to vote. Nichols says he feels lucky. His 80th birthday isn't until November. Lauren Freyer, NPR News, Rome.

A federal judge in California has issued a ruling on sanctuary jurisdictions. The judge blocked the Trump administration from freezing federal funds to the jurisdictions that limit police cooperation with immigration authorities. NPR's Jasmine Garst reports the judge says President Trump's executive order is unconstitutional. In the order, signed on his first day in office,

President Trump instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem to withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities. This injunction was requested by San Francisco and over a dozen other municipalities in California, Oregon, Connecticut, and New Mexico. It temporarily bars the administration from taking any action to withhold or condition federal funds. In 2017, during the prior administration, a similar executive order was also found unconstitutional.

The administration must notify all federal departments of this order by next Monday. Jasmine Garst, NPR News, New York. Kentucky Republican Senator Mitch McConnell says President Trump's global tariffs are hurting Americans because they're a tax on everyone. Speaking to a group of business leaders yesterday in Kentucky, the former Senate Majority Leader says that trade war hurt all Americans, but especially people in his home state. We've had bourbon wars in the past, and it's very easy for a foreign country

to have a bourbon war because they don't make it and we do. 95% of it is made in Kentucky. McConnell says that Kentucky is very dependent on international trade. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom says his state is now the world's fourth largest economy. He says California has overtaken the economy of Japan to secure the spot. Last week, California sued the Trump administration

over actions to impose global tariffs. Newsom says these tariffs specifically hurt California. He says they've caused chaos and inflict higher costs on California consumers and businesses. New Jersey authorities have arrested a suspect, they allege, committed arson and launched a wildfire in the southern part of the state this week. From member station WHYY, Kenneth Burns reports the wildfire has burned more than 15,000 acres and is half contained. Officials are confident

that 19 year old Joseph Klink started the fire. Ocean County prosecutor Bradley Billheimer shared limited details during a Thursday news conference. We were able year old Joseph clings sta County prosecutor Bradley details during a thursday We were able to place him we have some witness stat that cling was taken into is currently being held a jail on second degree aggr

third degree arson. Bill sparks a conversation abo of starting a fire in the woods, particularly when conditions are dry. For NPR News, I'm Kenneth Burns in Waretown, New Jersey. 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. Texas Governor Greg Abbott says he will sign it. Opponents of vouchers say this will drain money from public schools and will hurt children from low-income families.

I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News. 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.