NPR News: 04-12-2026 11AM EDT

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Ronan. President Trump said today in a post on social media that the U.S. Navy will begin to blockade any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz. He also said any ship that paid a fee to Iran to pass through the waterway will not have safe passage through the strait. Trump said the U.S. Navy will begin destroying all mines that Iran has put in the strait, and he called the mining of the strait extortion. This morning, during an appearance on Fox News, the president discussed the breakdown of negotiations in Pakistan between the U.S. and Iran. We didn't get there on the important issue. They want to have nuclear weapons. They're not going to have nuclear weapons. I've been saying that for 30 years. I would never allow that to happen before I was in politics. And that country will not have nuclear weapons. Most countries shouldn't be allowed to have, but that country will not have nuclear weapons. Trump did say that progress was made on other issues, but he called the leadership of Iran quote, volatile, difficult and unpredictable people. Vice President Vance left Pakistan after the talks ended and is now returning to Washington. Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon are continuing attacks on each other. NPR's Daniel Estrin reports. Israel's refusal to stop fighting in Lebanon has threatened the Iran ceasefire. Iran threatened quote, strong responses. And President Trump said Israel would reduce its attacks in Lebanon, but attacks continue. Israel's military says this weekend it struck more than 200 Hezbollah targets. And Hezbollah said it continued rocket drone and artillery attacks on Israel and Israeli troops inside Lebanon. Lebanon says the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to Washington will hold their first direct meeting Tuesday at the State Department to discuss a ceasefire and a date for starting negotiations. In a speech, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed historic accomplishments in Iran and Lebanon and that his goal and talks are to disarm Hezbollah and reach a peace agreement with Lebanon. Daniel Estrin, NPR News, Tel Aviv. Russia and Ukraine are each accusing each other of violating a 32-hour ceasefire. The leaders of both countries had agreed to the truce to mark the Orthodox Christian Easter from Moscow Charles Main reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the ceasefire from 4 p.m. Saturday through end of Easter Sunday, a proposal to which Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky agreed. Yet the Russian side accused Ukraine of launching overnight drone attacks on several border regions, injuring civilians, and Ukraine, blamed Russia for waves of drones and shelling that killed several people and injured scores more. Moscow was also quick to dismiss calls by Zelensky to extend the truce and restart peace negotiations. Speaking Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would resume its military campaign as soon as the ceasefire expired at midnight, arguing a lasting peace would only come once Russia's interests in Ukraine were met. Charles Main's NPR News, Moscow. It's NPR. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office says it has opened a sexual assault investigation against California congressman and Democratic candidate for Governor Eric Solwell. He is facing allegations of sexual abuse, one involving a reported incident in September of 2024 at a New York City hotel involving a former staff member. Other women have come forward to accuse Solwell of sexual misconduct. He denies the allegations first reported by the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN. NPR has not independently verified those allegations. Hundreds of gasoline stations in Ireland have run out of fuel. Protesters are blocking roads and access to refineries. The protest over rising fuel prices are now into their sixth day. NPR's Fatima Asakab has more. For nearly a week, slow-moving convoys of tractors and trucks have blocked major highways and roads across the country, including some of the busiest streets in Ireland's capital, Dublin. Protesters are demanding more support from the government as fuel prices continue to rise because of the U.S. and Israel's war against Iran. The Irish government has been meeting with farmers and truckers over the weekend and say more support is coming. But opposition party Sinn Féin says they will bring a motion of no confidence in the Irish government over the crisis. Fatima Asakab, NPR News, London. This year's Masters Golf Tournament is now a wide-open affair in a span of five hours. Rory McElroy's his six-stroke lead disappeared. He begins the Sunday final round of competition tied for the lead at 11 under par with Colin Cameron Young. This is NPR News. This is Ira Glass. On This American Life, we tell stories about when things change. Like for this guy David, whose entire life took a sharp, unexpected, and very unpleasant turn. And it did take me a while to realize that it's basically because the monkey pressed the button. That's right, because the monkey pressed the button. Rising stories every week wherever you get your podcasts.