NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-26-2025 11AM EDT

Episode Date: April 26, 2025

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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. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Tens of thousands of people lined the streets and roamed today to witness the funeral procession

for Pope Francis, who died on Monday. They clapped and cheered as the Pope's wooden coffin made its way to its final resting place. Earlier today in Vatican City, massive crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Pope's funeral service, and PR's Ruth Sherlock was there and filed this report. Pope Francis' casket, a simple wooden casket, per the requests he made and his will, is in front of the altar on the steps of St. Peter's Square.

The setting of this funeral only amplifies the spectacle here. Grand stone colonnades to either side of me, and above them 140 statues representing Catholic saints. There's a feeling standing here in the crowd, people tell me, that Pope Francis is watching all this from the blue sky above us. NPR's Ruth Sherlock reporting. The Kremlin says it's regained control over a border region of Russia held by Ukrainian forces since last summer.

NPR's Charles Maynes reports from Moscow. In comments aired on state television, the head of Russia's armed forces, Valeriy Garasimov, informed President Vladimir Putin that Russian forces, with support from North Korean infantry, had fully liberated Russia's Kursk region. The border region had been partially occupied by Ukrainian forces following a surprise offensive last August. While Russian control over Kursk could not be independently confirmed, Putin insisted Russia's success would soon be felt across the front line, bringing Ukraine's military defeat closer. The

apparent vow to secure an outright military victory comes a day after Putin appeared to stall on a U.S.-backed peace plan that would have rewarded the Kremlin with most of the territory it already had seized from Ukraine. Charles Mainz, NPR News, Moscow. Attorney General Pam Bondi has rescinded a policy that provided protections for journalists. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports. Bondi announced the changes in a memo to Justice Department employees. The document obtained by NPR says the department will not tolerate the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information to the media. The new policy

allows for the use of subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants to compel production of information and testimony by journalists. Such actions must be approved by DOJ leadership. Reporters must be given advance notice and the requests must be as narrow as possible. The policy change comes as news outlets continue to report stories with leaked information that has angered the administration. The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press says in a statement that strong protections for journalists serve the public by safeguarding the free flow of information. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington. This is NPR News. President Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for

Kentucky. Stan Engel from Member Station WEKU reports the state is recovering from widespread flooding that caused extensive damage to homes and businesses this month. The president approved individual assistance for Kentuckians in 13 of the counties affected by the most recent flooding. The Governor's request also included public assistance for 33 counties and hazard mitigation for the entire state. Those portions of the request are still pending.

The Governor will request that additional counties be added to the declaration through an amendment once ongoing assessments are complete. Seven Kentuckians died as a result of the flooding earlier this month. This is the second major flooding event in Kentucky in three months. Kentucky was recently denied federal public assistance in two counties, as well as federal individual assistance for families in six other counties affected by February's flood event. For NPR News, I'm Stan Engold in Richmond, Kentucky. House Democratic

leader Hakeem Jeffery says it's unlikely lawmakers will support any invasion of Greenland. Jeffery spoke in Copenhagen while on a visit to Denmark with other members of Congress. The relationship between our two countries is important, has been strong, and must remain that way moving forward. President Trump has repeatedly said he wants the U.S. to take over Greenland and has not ruled out the use of force. This is NPR News in Washington.