NPR News: 04-24-2026 2PM EDT
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Libby Casey. The White House says Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are planning to travel to Pakistan Saturday for a new round of direct talks with Iran. Vice President Vance had been the lead U.S. negotiator but is not planning to travel this weekend. Iran's top diplomat says he is also heading there. Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is urging European countries to join the U.S. effort to open the Strait of Hormuz. NPR's Quill Lawrence reports it could take six months to clear the key waterway.
At a news conference, Hegseth repeated President Trump's threat to destroy any Iranian small boats laying mines in the narrow strait, through which about 20 percent of the world's oil passes.
We would welcome a serious European effort to do something about this strait and this passage, considering... It's their energy capabilities that are most at stake.
But since oil is globally traded, the blockade is driving up prices worldwide. On Thursday, Trump said the U.S. is using minesweepers in the region, but there are no known U.S. minesweepers there. Hegseth dodged a question about Pentagon estimates that it could take six months to clear the strait. Quill Lawrence, NPR News.
The Food and Drug Administration is speeding up its review of psychedelics for treating mental health. Today, the agency said it is giving priority status to several psychedelic drugs, which companies have been studying for depression and PTSD. NPR's Will Stone has more.
Three companies are submitting drug applications to the FDA. Two are for psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms for treating depression. The third is for a drug that's similar to MDMA, which has shown promise for PTSD. FDA is giving out special vouchers that are intended to expedite the agency's review of the drugs. It does not mean the drugs are FDA approved yet. This comes on the heels of an executive order from President Trump that directs federal health agencies to prioritize research on psychedelics. Scientific interest in these drugs for treating mental health has grown substantially in the last few years, though an effort to get MDMA approved for treating PTSD fell short in 2024.
Will Stone, NPR News.
An American soldier involved in the military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was in court today. Federal officials say Gannon Ken Van Dyke used his insider information to win more than $400,000 on the online prediction site Polymarket. The case is drawing attention to Polymarket, the use of which is actually banned in the United States. But Polymarket is accessible with a virtual private network, or VPN, which disguises where someone is based. NPR's Bobbi Allen has more.
The Trump administration has dropped investigations into Polymarket that were started under President Biden. And, you know, while Polymarket's main competitor, Kalshi, is subject to more rules by being regulated by the federal government, Trump officials don't seem too bothered by Polymarket operating overseas. In fact, Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, is an advisor and investor in Polymarket. He's
A study published this week found youth suicides declined since the launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in 2022. NPR's Ritu Chatterjee reports.
15 to 34-year-olds fell by 11 percent between July 2022 when 988 launched and December 2024. That translated to more than 4,300 fewer suicide deaths during this time period compared to what scientists would have expected based on trends in prior years. Hannah Weslowski is chief advocacy officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
This is the first time we've had validation that 988 is truly having an impact. And all of the work and investment around building out 988 may be turning the tide on a suicide crisis in our country.
States like Virginia and Rhode Island, with the highest uptick in calls to 988, saw a larger decline in youth suicides, 18%, compared to 11% decrease in states like Alabama and Texas, which had the lowest uptick in calls.
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