NPR News: 04-24-2026 12PM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Libby Casey. The Justice Department is dropping its investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, instead asking the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve to, once again, review building costs related to the Fed's Washington headquarters. It has twice found no wrongdoing. The move paves the way for the Senate to confirm the president's nominee, Kevin Warsh, to be the next Fed Chair. Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. Navy blockade of Iranian ships and ports will continue quote as long as it takes. And he says other countries need the Strait of Hormuz open more than the U.S. does. We're not counting on Europe, but they need the Strait of Hormuz much more than we do. And might want to start doing less talking and having less fancy conferences in Europe and getting a boat. This is much more their fight. President Trump says he's in no hurry to make a deal with Iran to end the war.

1:02The president was speaking to reporters at the White House yesterday, after directing the U.S. Navy to quote, shoot and kill any Iranian small boats choking the Strait of Hormuz that are laying mines. NPR's Jackie Northern reports. President Trump says he has ordered U.S. minesweepers to begin clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz, a slow and dangerous process that could take months to complete. The threat of mines in the Strait and attacks and ship seizures by Iran is forcing many vessels to stay put. That's preventing oil and commodities such as helium, fertilizer and aluminum, all critical elements for industry farming and the like from moving through the Gulf. That's causing shortages and driving up prices. Jackie Northam in NPR News. NPR has confirmed U.S. defense officials told lawmakers in closed-door briefings it could take months to clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines. Tennessee is angling to become the model state for President Trump's immigration agenda.

2:02Mariana Bacchial from Member Station WPLN in Nashville reports that the state house there has passed a slew of bills crafted in coordination with the White House. Tennessee Republicans attribute the immigration package to conversations with U.S. Homeland Security Advisors Stephen Miller. The bills would deputize local law enforcement, act as federal immigration agents, restrict who can become nurses or electricians, and require schools to report the number of students without legal status. State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson says Tennessee is seizing the moment. And during this very unprecedented time we're in, where we have an occupant in the White House who is actually doing something about the scourge of illegal immigration and securing the border and so forth. Democrats argue the bills will have a chilling effect on immigrants, regardless of legal status, reporting crimes going to school or seeking health care. For NPR News, I'm Mariana Bacchial in Nashville. You're listening to NPR live in Washington. The former President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, will stand trial at the

3:05International Criminal Court. As Michael Sullivan reports, Duterte is accused of crimes against humanity. Duterte's so-called war on drugs, while Mayor of Davao and later as President was both extremely popular and brutal, with little accountability for the perpetrators. Duterte was arrested in Manila last year and extradited to the Hague. He denies the charges against him, but the judges say there are substantial grounds to believe the 81-year-old Duterte played a key role in the murders of dozens during the year's long campaign, which prosecutors say left thousands of civilians dead. The court said that the evidence shows the existence of a quote, common plan between Duterte and his co-perpetrators to kill alleged criminals during his time in office. It's not known when his trial will begin. Friend P.R. News, I'm Michael Sullivan in Changri. President Trump says he is weighing a taxpayer-funded takeover of spirit airlines, with the plan to sell it off once oil prices drop. The airline has filed for bankruptcy and is

4:09facing liquidation. An American soldier involved in the military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been charged with using that classified information to win money in an online prediction market. Again, in Ken Van Dyke, an active duty soldier stationed in North Carolina was part of the January plan. Federal officials say he used the information to win more than $400,000 on polymarket. I'm Libby Casey and P.R. News.