NPR News Now - NPR News: 04-26-2025 6AM EDT

Episode Date: April 26, 2025

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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. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Giles Snyder. Huge crowds are packed into St. Peter's Square for the funeral of Pope Francis. Francis died Monday at age 88. He was the first non-European pope in centuries.

NPR's Lauren Frayer is at the Vatican where dozens of foreign leaders are among the crowd, including President Trump. About 10 minutes before the funeral began, St. Peter's Square went silent. There are about 200,000 people here. Church bells rang out across the city and in St. Peter's Basilica here. President Trump and First Lady Melania, who's wearing a black mantilla head covering, was escorted

to their seats just to the right of the altar. Immediately after them, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was escorted in alone in a black suit without a tie and applause erupted through the crowd. The White House is confirming that Trump and Zelensky met briefly just before the funeral service began. That meeting came after President Trump called on Ukraine and Russia to hold high-level talks on ending the war. MPR's Franco Ordonia's report said Trump says

they're close to reaching a deal. President Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an effort to broker an end to the war in Ukraine. After the meeting, Trump took to social media, where he announced that most of the major points had been agreed to. He wrote, quote, they're very close to a deal,

and the two sides should now meet at very high levels to finish it off. Trump went on to say that it was time to stop the bloodshed and that the US will be wherever it's needed to help facilitate the end of this quote, cruel and senseless war. The Trump administration has suggested that Ukraine would be expected to give up large portions of land including the Crimean Peninsula which Russia annexed in 2014. An idea that Ukraine has so far rejected.

Franco Ordonez, NPR News. To Colorado now where the Trump administration is appealing a ban on the deportation of roughly 100 Venezuelans being detained there. Colorado Public Radio's Allison Sherry has more. Earlier this week, a federal judge ruled that the administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act, enacted in 1798, was specious. An order that roughly a hundred people in Colorado being considered for deportation to El Salvador stay put for now. In an emergency appeal to the 10th Circuit Court, the Trump administration

is arguing the wartime measure, which hasn't been used since World War II, is an executive power privilege. They are seeking a reversal from the higher circuit court, setting up a potentially longer and more escalated battle on the Alien Enemies Act in the state's backyard. For NPR News, I'm Allison Sherry in Denver. And you're listening to NPR News. Wisconsin's Democratic governor is accusing the Trump administration of attempting to

undermine the judiciary. Governor Tony Evers remarks follow yesterday's arrest of a Wisconsin judge accused of helping a man to evade federal immigration authorities. Here's MPR's Ryan Lucas. It's an escalation for sure in the Trump administration's clash with the judiciary. It also sends a message about the priority that immigration enforcement is for the White House. Attorney General Pam Bondi was on Fox News. She said the Justice Department is sending what she called a strong message with this arrest. She said, no matter who you are, if you're harboring anyone who is in this country illegally,

she says the Justice Department will come after you and prosecute you. President Trump has approved part of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear's request for a major disaster declaration from the April flooding that hit much of Kentucky. Stan Engold of Member Station WEKU has more. 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. 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. And I'm Giles Snyder. This is NPR News from Washington. Hey, it's a Martinez. Even as the host of a news show, it can be hard to keep up with the headlines. That is why we make the Up First Podcast. Every morning in under 15 minutes, we cover three major stories with context and analysis from reporters around the world so you can catch up on lo que está pasando while getting ready, making desayuno, or going to work. So listen to the Up First Podcast from NPR.