NPR News: 04-23-2026 9AM EDT
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman.
What budget plan did Senate Republicans advance this morning?
Early this morning, Senate Republicans voted to advance a $70 billion budget plan. It's aimed at funding immigration enforcement agencies. NPR's Barbara Sprunt reports the Homeland Security Department has been partially shut down for weeks.
After a late-night, early-morning voterama, the Senate adopted a budget resolution that enables Republicans to use reconciliation to fund ICE and Border Patrol for the next three and a half years.
What concerns were raised about the rise in measles cases?
Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky joined all Democrats in voting against it. Now the measure heads to the House, where there's already efforts to broaden the scope beyond just immigration enforcement. The budget tool of reconciliation was used to pass President Trump's signature legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill. It's a complicated and lengthy process that enables a party to pass a measure along party lines with no filibuster threat. Barbara Sprint, NPR News, Washington.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was on Capitol Hill yesterday.
How is the war in Iran affecting global poverty and food security?
He was pressed by lawmakers about the rise in measles cases. As NPR's Selina Simmons-Duffin reports, Kennedy deflected blame for the country experiencing its highest number of measles cases in three decades.
Secretary Kennedy has a history of anti-vaccine activism. He has emphasized vaccination as a personal choice rather than encouraging more people to get the measles vaccine as the disease spreads across the country. Here is Democratic Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware in one committee hearing.
Do you take any responsibility in your role for the situation that we are in with this measles epidemic?
What changes are being made to marijuana regulations by the Justice Department?
As I said, the measles epidemic began before I came into office. I'm going to take that as a no.
How is the European Union supporting Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict?
Kennedy said he's done a great job containing the spread of measles and stressed that it's a global problem. Selina Simmons-Duffin, NPR News, Washington.
What role does AI play in law enforcement's search for missing persons?
The United Nations Development Arm says the war in Iran is pushing 30 million people back into poverty. It warns of lower crop yields and growing hunger. NPR's Jane Araf has details.
The head of the UN Development Program says the war and a halt to most shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted fuel and fertilizer supplies, just as farmers are planting crops. Alexander Dekru told Reuters that fertilizer shortages are expected to reduce crop yields and increase food security later this year. D'Cruz said the effects would be felt even if the war stopped immediately. Disruptions to shipping have already led to higher oil and gas prices, and they're expected to affect prices of thousands of consumer items, from condoms to teddy bears that use petrochemicals. U.S. stock markets, however, fueled partly by tech company earnings, on Wednesday hit record highs. Jaina Raff, NPR News, Amman.
You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanch says the Justice Department is loosening restrictions on FDA-approved and state-regulated marijuana. Blanch says marijuana will be reclassified as a less dangerous drug. The European Union has formally approved a $106 billion loan package to Ukraine. This will help Ukraine pay its bills and purchase military equipment to fight the Russian full-scale invasion. The European decision came after Hungary lifted its veto. Hungary's prime minister was also defeated in his re-election bid last week. A sheriff's department in western Colorado is using an AI-generated photo to help find a missing person. Aspen Public Radio's Hallie Zander reports this raises questions about how law enforcement should engage with the technology.
The Chafee County Sheriff's Office posted the image to Facebook on Monday after searching for Caden's sights for five days. The image depicted sights in what investigators believe he was wearing when he disappeared while hunting. Sandra Rostovska is the director of CU Boulder's visual evidence lab.
While this might seem a very small, insignificant example, it does help normalize, naturalize this technology.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:03
2
What budget plan did Senate Republicans advance this morning?
0:03–0:27
3
What concerns were raised about the rise in measles cases?
0:27–1:02
4
How is the war in Iran affecting global poverty and food security?
1:02–1:41
5
What changes are being made to marijuana regulations by the Justice Department?
1:41–1:46
6
How is the European Union supporting Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict?
1:46–1:54
7
What role does AI play in law enforcement's search for missing persons?
1:54–5:03