NPR News: 04-27-2026 11AM EDT

0:00Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Corva Coleman, the alleged gunman at the White House correspondence dinner is expected to make his first appearance in federal court today. And Piers-Renka Ordonia's reports, Cole Allen faces charges, including using a firearm during a crime of violence and assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon. The White House says President Trump is, quote, standing by the leadership of the Secret Service and felt agents did an excellent job neutralizing the shooter, according to a senior White House official. The official said Chief of Staff Susie Wiles will be holding meetings this week with Secret Service and Homeland Security officials to, quote, discuss protocol and practices for major events. The 31-year-old suspect allegedly told law enforcement after that he intended to target high-ranking Trump administration officials. According to a U.S. official, Allen's sister told law enforcement that her brother had a tendency to make radical statements, and that his rhetoric referenced a plan to do

1:01quote something to fix the issues with today's world. Franco Ordonia's NPR News. Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla are scheduled to arrive in the U.S. today for a state visit. British officials say, despite the attempted attack on the press dinner over the weekend, the meetings with President Trump will go ahead as planned. The Pentagon has announced another boat strike of alleged drug traffickers, three people were killed, and PR's Quill Lawrence reports the U.S. military is killed at least 186 people this way since September. U.S. Southern Command posted surveillance video on social media showing a small boat exploding into flames. Southcom said it was on a known narco-trafficking route in the Eastern Pacific. The Trump administration says it is at war with drug cartels, and that makes it legal to destroy these boats and kill the people on board without trial. There have been more than 50 such strikes in the past eight months, and in some instances Southcom has killed shipwreck survivors or simply left them to drown.

2:04Critics say this is murder and violates military and maritime law. Coast Guard data show that when boats are interdicted instead of being destroyed, they have evidence of drug trafficking about 75% of the time. Iran's foreign minister is in Moscow for meetings with Russian leaders, but the vital straight of Hormuz remains blocked, both by Iran and by the U.S. military. That is cutting off vital crude oil supplies from much of the world. Dangerous thunderstorms are sweeping through the central U.S. this morning. Many warnings are in Missouri, southern Illinois and western Kentucky. There was a tornado warning earlier north of Columbia, Missouri. Over the weekend, powerful tornadoes struck several states, including Texas. Authorities there say two people were killed outside Dallas on Saturday night. You're listening to NPR. Many Israelis are hopeful the merger of two former prime ministers who are centrist candidates

3:06will create political momentum to finally defeat prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition. Israel's general election is set for October. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports Netanyahu's policies have driven a record number of Israelis from their country. Leftist Ya'ir Lapid and mainstream right, Naftali Bennett, announced they will unite forces to oppose Netanyahu. Tel Aviv University economics professor Itay Atar says that's good, because for the first time in 20 years, the number of people leaving the country has surpassed the number coming in. We see this jump starting in 2023 and who is leaving physicians, tech people, academics, and this is a big concern because the Israel economy is pretty much based on human capital. Those immigrating cite Netanyahu's attempts to chip away at the independence of the judiciary and the war in Gaza. Atar says only new leadership can stop the brain drain and bring Israelis who've immigrated

4:08back home. Eleanor Beardsley in Pair News, Tel Aviv. Justice Department says it is dropping a probe of federal reserve chair Jerome Powell. That satisfies a demand from North Carolina Senator Tom Tillis. Tillis says he will now support President Trump's nominee to be the next Fed Chair, Kevin Warsh. Jerome Powell's term as Chair of the Federal Reserve Board expires May 15th. He is eligible to remain as one of the board's governors. You're listening to NPR. 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.