NPR News: 04-24-2026 3AM EDT

0:00Live from MPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. What talks between the U.S. and Iran's stalled President Trump ordered the U.S. Navy Thursday to, quote, shoot and kill any boat trying to lay minds in the straight of four moves. Shipping through the waterway has virtually stopped over the fear of minds and Iranian attacks. Here's MPR's Jackie Northam reporting. There are no reliable numbers as to how many minds are in and around the straight of four moves. But the threat of one hitting a ship is enough to keep some vessels anchored. The Washington Post reported that a classified Pentagon assessment shared with Congress says it could take up to six months to clear the straight, and that such an operation wouldn't begin until after the war. President Trump dismissed that assessment and said an a social media post that U.S. mind sweepers had already started clearing the straight. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy boarded a second ship carrying oil from Iran that was bound for China. Jackie Northam in PR News. In the Oval Office, Thursday, President Trump said he does not want to be rushed into

1:03making a deal with Iran, saying his top priority is making sure Iran does not possess nuclear weapons. He also said he expects to meet at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aun in the next couple of weeks after announcing a three-week extension of a ceasefire between Israel and Hasbalah. A search and rescue operation underway in Enid, Oklahoma, where a massive tornado swept through Thursday evening, Mayor David Mason told KOCO TV that the Twister touched down near Vance Air Force Base. We didn't have a tornado hit the south side of Enid. I had been in touch with the base commander, Josh London, the colonel, and he has assured me that they have got minimal damage out on the base to down some events and signs. No fatalities have been reported, but KOCO is reporting that at least 10 people were injured. Video posted online shows the tornado bearing down in homes flattened in or near Enid.

2:07Authorities say search and rescue crews are looking for people who may be trapped by debris. Forecasters warning the threat of severe weather will extend through the weekend from Oklahoma to Minnesota. Police in Baton Rouge say Thursday's fatal shooting inside the mall of Louisiana was not a random act of violence, but a disagreement between two groups. TJ Morris is Baton Rouge's police chief. We've found out looking through surveillance videos. It looks like it was kind of a targeted two groups of people got into an argument inside the food court and started shooting at each other. Unfortunately, there were some innocent people that were in the area that might have also caught some rounds. One person was killed five more wounded when gunfire broke out in the food court. If he had parish officials say at least three of the victims are high school seniors, Baton Rouge police say five people have been taken into custody for questioning. And you're listening to NPR News. The tech company meta is laying off about 10% of its staff. The parent company of Facebook and Instagram has been pumping billions of dollars into artificial

3:11intelligence. NPR Sean Ruich reports on an internal memo saying it's reorganizing to offset investments. A meta spokesperson confirmed the internal memo. In it, meta's chief people officer, Janelle Gayle says the layoffs are part of a continued effort to run the company more efficiently. The cuts will also allow it to offset other investments the company's making. Gayle says while it's unwelcome news that puts employees in an uneasy state, the company feels it's the best path forward given the circumstances. The layoffs will take place on May 20th. Meta also will not hire for 6,000 open roles that it had intended to fill. In January, meta forecast record capital expenditures this year of up to $135 billion, almost double what it spent last year. John Ruich NPR News. President Trump says he is considering a taxpayer takeover of spirit airlines. The president confirmed his interest in offering a spirit of financial lifeline after a lawyer told a U.S. bankruptcy court that the airline is in advanced talks with the U.S. government

4:15on a financing deal. During an Oval Office event, Trump said he believes that one spirit gets back on solid financial footing. It could eventually be sold for a profit. Now the global markets, Asian shares are mixed in Friday trading stocks in Japan and Hong Kong are higher, but shares are down in mainland China. Oil prices are up, benchmark crude, above $105 a barrel. Want to hear this podcast without sponsor breaks? Amazon Prime members can listen to NPR News now sponsor free through Amazon Music. Or you can also support NPR's vital journalism and get NPR Plus at plus dot NPR dot org. That's plus dot NPR dot org.