NPR News: 04-17-2026 12PM EDT
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What recent events are impacting crude oil prices and the stock market?
Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh. Crude oil prices are down more than 10 percent and on Wall Street, major market indices are sharply higher from one and a half percent to over two percent, with the Dow climbing more than a thousand points. U.S. stocks are rallying following the announcement that the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for the globe's oil and gas shipments, is reopening, at least temporarily. President Trump announced it on social media. So did Iran. Here's Dury Baskaran.
In a post on the social media platform X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakci said, said the passage for commercial vessels is, quote, completely open in the Strait of Hormuz for the duration of the ceasefire in Lebanon. Arakji said ships could use a coordinated route determined by Tehran. That may be a reference to Iran allowing certain vessels to pass through its coastal waters before the U.S. imposed its own naval blockade on the strait. He made no reference to clearing mines in the strait. U.S. President Trump responded with his own posts, saying the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports would continue until negotiations end. For NPR News, I'm Dara Buskaran.
How is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz affecting global trade?
In Van, Turkey.
The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement will leave his job at the end of May. Todd Lyons' departure is the latest shakeup at the Department of Homeland Security. NPR's Ximena Bustillo reports Lyons has played a central role in carrying out President Trump's mass deportation policies.
Lyons testified Thursday before House lawmakers to discuss the fiscal year 2027 budget, but the agency is still not funded for fiscal year 2026. That is because Senate Democrats stripped funding for all of the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year after federal immigration officers shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis. Although some Republicans agree changes are needed, a deal to change how ICE operates has not yet been reached. In statements to NPR, top Trump administration officials praised Lyons' leadership and tenure at ICE. Lyons has been with the agency for nearly 20 years and will leave for a job in the private sector. His last day is expected to be May 31st. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.
President Trump has named his choice to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NPR's Ping Wang with details.
Dr. Erica Schwartz has served as chief medical officer for the Coast Guard and as deputy surgeon general in the first Trump administration. She's a preventive medicine doctor and lawyer with a master's in public health from the Uniformed Services University. Admiral Brett Giroir worked closely with her as assistant secretary for health in the first Trump administration.
Her academic training and intellect is second to none. I mean, she's a person of the highest integrity and commitment to service to this country.
Schwartz will now go through the Senate confirmation process, which could take several months. In the meantime, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya will continue to lead both the CDC and the National Institutes of Health. Ping Huang, NPR News.
From Washington, this is NPR News. A new poll from Pew Research looks at President Trump and religion. NPR's Jason Derose says it comes amid recent back and forth between the president and Pope Leo.
Seven in 10 Americans say President Trump is not too religious or not at all religious. That's up 8% from the last time Pew asked the question in the fall of 2024. Still, white evangelicals continue to say Trump stands up for people with religious beliefs like theirs. One of the biggest changes, today 80% of Hispanic Catholics say Trump is not too or not at all religious, up from 60% in the previous survey. Latino voters helped return him to office last year. Notably, this poll was conducted earlier this month, just before President Trump harshly criticized Pope Leo on social media. Jason DeRose, NPR News.
Forecasters are monitoring another round of severe storms that could spawn more tornadoes, some as strong as EF3, in the central U.S.
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