NPR News: 04-12-2026 12AM EDT
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman. Negotiations between Iran and the U.S. have ended without an agreement. Vice President J.D.
What are the latest developments in U.S.-Iran negotiations?
Vance was in Pakistan to lead the talks and is now headed back to the U.S. Vance says Iran's nuclear program continues to be a major sticking point in the talks.
Their nuclear program, such as it is, the enrichment facilities that they had before, they've been destroyed. But the simple question is, do we see a fundamental commitment of will for the Iranians not to develop a nuclear weapon, not just now, not just two years from now, but for the long term? We haven't seen that yet. We hope that we will.
The talks ended just days after a two-week ceasefire was announced in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the military says two U.S. destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz Saturday. That's the first time that's happened since the war began. A federal appeals court says President Trump's construction of a ballroom at the White House can continue at least temporarily. The administration is continuing to challenge a lower court ruling, saying the project exceeds the president's authority. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports.
A three-judge panel for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled two to one to allow construction to proceed through next Friday, while the district court further reviews the case. The National Trust for Historic Preservation sued to stop construction last December. It argued the president lacked the statutory authority to undertake the project. In March, a district court judge granted a preliminary injunction to halt construction, even though the project was greenlit by the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission on Fine Arts. Also, the east wing had already been demolished. In a statement to NPR in response to today's ruling, National Trust President and CEO Carol Quillen expressed appreciation for the Court of Appeals' swift actions.
Chloe Veltman, NPR News.
The Trump administration is defending a plan to restructure the U.S. Forest Service and send its headquarters to Utah. And as Rachel Cohen of the Mountain West News Bureau reports, the plan would also close dozens of research laboratories.
57 of 77 Forest Service labs nationwide are on a list to shutter. Scientists at these labs study everything from pollinators to wildfires. The agency said this week the closures don't mean an end to research. It's just relocating small teams to other spaces. But Carl Holtman, a union representative with the National Federation of Federal Employees, says those workers haven't been told where their jobs could be moved.
When we ask them for details, they say, well, those are still being worked out.
He says the changes could harm long-term projects. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Cohen.
Russian forces are using drones this weekend to hit targets in Ukraine. At least two people were killed by attacks in Odessa. The strikes come despite Kremlin announced ceasefire. Russian officials say the 36-hour ceasefire was to provide safety for residents during the Orthodox Easter weekend. You're listening to NPR News. The crew from Artemis II are now back in Houston, where they received a big welcome Saturday from their NASA support team. It was an emotional return for the four crew members. U.S. Team Commander Reed Weissman struggled to say just what the trip to the moon meant for him.
Victor, Christina, and Jeremy, we are bonded forever. And no one down here is ever going to know what the four of us just went through. And it was the most special thing that will ever happen in my life.
The trip was NASA's first lunar flyby in more than 50 years. A program offering music lessons, gym access, and cooking facilities to drug-addicted prisoners in Britain has cut reoffending rates dramatically there.
How is the Trump administration addressing the ballroom construction at the White House?
That's according to government data. Vicki Barker reports.
The program was started by a past conservative justice secretary who was eager to encourage abstinence over the methadone treatments he felt left drug-addicted prisoners virtual zombies.
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