NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-26-2025 5AM EDT

Episode Date: April 26, 2025

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Having news at your fingertips is great, but sometimes you need an escape. And that's where Shortwave comes in. We're a joy-filled science podcast driven by wonder and curiosity that will get you out of your head and in touch with the world around you. Listen now to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. The sun is shining at the Vatican today where huge crowds are saying goodbye to Pope Francis. St. Peter's Square is packed, some spent the night to secure their spot and more than 160 foreign delegations are attending the funeral, among them

dozens of foreign leaders including President Trump. NPR's Lauren Frayer is at the Vatican. President Trump and First Lady Melania wearing a black mantilla head covering were escorted to their seats. World leaders are taking their seats to the right of the altar. Immediately after Trump and his wife, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was escorted in alone in a black suit without a tie and at that moment applause erupted through the crowd. Just before arriving in Rome, Trump said on social media that Russia and Ukraine should

meet for high-level talks. For decades, researchers asked whether they could trace climate change damages back to the biggest fossil fuel emitters. And Paris Julia Simon explains how a new study in the Journal of Nature came up with yes for an answer. The study finds chevron, for example, likely caused at least $1.98 trillion in economic losses from intensifying extreme heat between 1990 and 2020. ExxonMobil, it estimates, $1.91 trillion.

The Dartmouth scientists who wrote the study used thermodynamics and other science plus economics to estimate every 1% of greenhouse gases causes $502 billion in damage from heat alone. They then use data from big fossil fuel producing companies showing their greenhouse gas emissions to make estimates of damages. A lawyer for Chevron says this quote, so-called attribution science is junk science. ExxonMobil did not respond. As states like Vermont sue big oil companies,

researchers say science like this could play a role in litigation. Julia Simon, NPR News. Attorney General Pam Bondi has rescinded a Biden-era Justice Department policy that provided protections for journalists and leak investigations. The move paves the way for the use of subpoenas and other investigative tools against reporters as part of such probes. Here's NPR's Ryan Lucas. 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. And you're listening to NPR News. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries says it is unlikely that Congress will support any invasion of Denmark's semi-autonomous territory of Greenland. The relationship between our two countries is important, has been strong, and must remain that way moving forward. Jeffrey, speaking in Copenhagen, well on a visit to Denmark with other members of Congress.

President Trump has said he wants the US to take over Greenland and has not ruled out the use of force. The US delegation visiting Denmark included members of both parties. Jeffries remarks came after a meeting with Denmark's prime minister and the country's defense minister. Moose are on the move in Sweden. They've begun their annual migration across the northern part of the country, and millions are tuning in to watch as NPR's Anna Archie reports. Anna Archie Each spring, hundreds of moose journey from their winter hangout spot to their summer one, which is in the mountains near the Sweden-Norway border.

They're looking for new food sources as well as a nice place to raise their calves. Since 2019, Swedish public broadcaster SVT has livestreamed the trip. More than 9 million people watched around the world last year, and viewership is expected to be even higher this year. That's according to an executive producer of the livestream. The program is an indication of how popular the slow TV genre has become. Slow TV includes live, unedited and hours or even months long coverage of some routine event, usually with a theme or journey in mind.

Ayanna Archie, NPR News. And I'm Jyle Snyder. This is NPR News. At NPR News.