• On today's episode: Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to push for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia; stocks in Europe opened lower; Italy's prime minister will visit the White House and officials from Japan are also in Washington; China is promoting iteself as a steady trade partner in Southeast Asia; Puerto Rico is dealing with a power outage; and Holy Week is underway at the Vatican.
• DOGE wanted to assign staff to the nonprofit Vera Institute of Justice because it got federal funds.
• US Army engineers decide to fast-track Great Lakes tunnel permits under Trump energy emergency order.
• California sues to stop Trump from imposing sweeping tariffs.
• Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says US autism cases are climbing at an 'alarming rate.'
• Trump administration plans to end the IRS Direct File program for free tax filing, AP sources say.
• Judge finds probable cause to hold Trump administration in contempt for violating deportation order.
• Harvard's challenge to Trump administration could test limits of government power.
• Trump administration sues Maine over participation of transgender athletes in girls sports.
• Arson attack at Pennsylvania governor's residence prompts an independent security review.
• 10 guards charged over the fatal beating of a New York inmate, including 2 with murder.
• Harvey Weinstein's rape retrial continues with jury selection.
• US stocks drop as Nvidia slides and the fog of Trump's trade war thickens.
• Retail sales rise 1.4% in March as shoppers stock up on big ticket items ahead of tariffs.
• The Heat and Mavericks save their seasons in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament; the Dodgers’ biggest stars shine in a high-scoring win; an Original Six team grabs the final Stanley Cup Playoffs spot; and pro football nears a return to the nation’s capital.
• Israeli strike kills family of 10 in Gaza as UN raises alarm over food cutoff.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

Theme music

The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX

• On today's episode: A judge pressed the Trump administration over Kilmar Abrego Garcia's deportation to a prison in El Salvador; Harvard stands to lose $2.2 billion in federal funding; a ruling by UK's Supreme Court defines a woman as someone born biologically female; Israeli says trooops will remain in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria indefinitely; and a Michigan community came together to move 9,100 books from one store to another.
• Biden alleges Trump has 'taken a hatchet' to Social Security in his first post-presidency speech.
• US judge presses Trump administration on its refusal to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
• DOGE trumpets unemployment fraud that government already found.
• Visa cancellations sow panic for international students, with hundreds fearing deportation.
• Four journalists who were accused of working for Kremlin foe Navalny are convicted of extremism.
• Another US aircraft carrier in Mideast waters ahead of second round of Iran-US nuclear talks.
• Prospective jurors excused from Weinstein retrial include an actor who played a Manhattan prosecutor.
• Sarah Palin makes libel claims against The New York Times to a new jury.
• Wall Street drifts through a rare quiet day following weeks of tariff turmoil.
• Golden State’s star duo triumphs over the Grizzlies and the Magic down the Hawks to secure No. 7 seeds in NBA Playoffs; a pair of NHL teams earn berths to the Stanley Cup Playoffs as an East contender wins its division; the Padres fall for the first time in 12 home games and a star NFL cornerback is on the trading block.
• April 15 is Jackie Robinson Day around Major League Baseball.
• Bucks say Lillard has made 'significant improvement' but aren't indicating when he might play again.
• Judge rejects defense that Gaudreau brothers contributed to their deaths by cycling while impaired.
• Raw materials to keep British Steel plant operating reach the UK.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

Theme music

The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX

• On today's episode: The Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard over activism; President Donald Trump may pause tariffs on the auto industry; El Salvador won't return a wrongly deported man to the US; a New York helicopter company has been grounded after a fatal crash; an Israel airstrike hits a hospital entrance in Gaza.
• White House proposes drastic cuts to State Department and funding for UN, NATO and other groups.
• US Army to control land on Mexico border as part of base, migrants could be detained, officials say.
• Trump considers pausing his auto tariffs as the world economy endures whiplash.
• Gen. Caine has taken over as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• FEMA denies Washington state disaster relief from bomb cyclone, governor says.
• Meta faces historic antitrust trial that could force it to break off Instagram, WhatsApp.
• Bueckers, Malonga and Citron go 1-2-3 in WNBA draft.
• Jury selected for Sarah Palin's libel suit against The New York Times.
• Blue Origin launches an all-female celebrity crew with Katy Perry, Gayle King and Lauren Sanchez.
• California OKs $2.8B to close Medicaid funding gap after expanding immigrant coverage.
• The dead in upstate New York plane crash included 2022 NCAA woman of the year and family members.
• Southern California rocked by a strong earthquake near San Diego.
• Suspect in arson at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's residence planned to beat him, documents say.
• Stocks rally worldwide after Trump eases some of his tariffs on electronics, for now.
• PepsiCo agrees to meet with Al Sharpton over DEI cuts, potential boycott.
• Paige Bueckers is the WNBA’s no-doubt top pick, the Suns fire a championship-winning coach and the Pelicans make a change in leadership, a former All-Star baseball player and manager dies, a star cornerback calls it a career and a Super Bowl winner whose sons also starred in the NFL dies from a heart attack.
• Japan's anti-monopoly watchdog accuses Google of violations in smartphones.
• Hungary passes constitutional amendment to ban LGBTQ+ public events, seen as a major blow to rights.
• WFP calls for end to restrictions on aid access in Sudan to help alleviate deepening famine.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

Theme music

The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX