Monday, April 20, 2026

RFK Jr. on vaccines; Ukraine’s post-war security : NPR

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Right now’s high tales

In a Senate listening to yesterday, Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confronted calls to resign from Democrats and criticism from Republicans. For many years, Kennedy has established a fame as an anti-vaccine activist. Nevertheless, when President Trump was contemplating him for the HHS secretary position, Kennedy made guarantees to not forestall folks from acquiring vaccines. Within the listening to, he was requested to clarify his current actions relating to vaccines. This included how he went again on his vow to not contact the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention’s advisory committee on immunization practices. He fired all 17 members of the committee and changed them with folks with a historical past of anti-vaccine activism.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrives to testify before the Senate Finance Committee at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on September 4, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Well being and Human Providers Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrives to testify earlier than the Senate Finance Committee on the Dirksen Senate Workplace Constructing on September 4, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs


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Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs

  • 🎧 Kennedy insisted that anyone who desires to obtain the shot can and acquired offended when he was pressed on the subjectNPR’s Selena Simmons-Duffin tells Up First. This 12 months, the Meals and Drug Administration accepted the COVID booster, however just for folks with sure situations and people over 65. This resolution has brought about confusion amongst medical doctors, sufferers and insurance coverage firms. Simmons-Duffins says it is nonetheless unknown what the CDC’s advisory committee on immunization practices plans to do about vaccinations. The panel is ready to evaluate routine childhood vaccines, together with the one for measles, mumps and rubella, and Hepatitis B.

D.C. Lawyer Common Brian Schwalb has filed a lawsuit in opposition to the Trump administrationstating that the deployment of the Nationwide Guard within the nation’s capital is unlawful. For the previous three weeks, Nationwide Guard troops have been patrolling the streets of Washington, D.C., following Trump’s declaration of a “crime emergency” within the metropolis. The president’s declare got here as D.C. reported a 30-year low for violent crimes. Schwalb says the navy should not be concerned in home regulation enforcement, and they’re untrained in policing.

  • 🎧 Since troops had been deployed to Washington, estimates point out that crime total has decreasedsays Alex Koma of NPR community station WAMU. Troops will not be approved to make arrests, however can inform police of against the law. This makes it arduous to judge if they’ve any direct correlation with the decline in crimein line with Koma. D.C. has requested a decide to take away the Nationwide Guard troops from the realm instantly. The lawsuit comes two days after a federal decide dominated that Trump broke the regulation when he despatched Nationwide Guard troops into Los Angeles throughout the protests in opposition to immigration raids. This case is being carefully monitored by cities like Chicago and Baltimore, the place Trump threatened to deploy federal forces.
  • ➡️ On Tuesday, the White Home mentioned that 1,669 folks have been arrested since Trump’s takeover of the D.C. police. NPR combed by way of court docket data and different knowledge. Here is a breakdown of who has been arrested and what costs they’re going through.

Europe introduced yesterday that it had finalized a plan to ensure Ukraine’s peace and safety after the battle with Russia ends. The proposal would come with troops on the bottom in Ukraine from a number of nations from a gaggle generally known as the coalition of the keen. The coalition at present consists of 35 nations that gathered in Paris, bodily and by video. Representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada additionally attended.

  • 🎧 Russian President Vladimir Putin warned this morning that any overseas troops in Ukraine could be a goal. NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley says his response to the information is not stunning. Additionally it is why French President Emmanuel Macron, says the spine of Ukraine’s post-war safety is a powerful Ukrainian military. Macron acknowledged that that is the rationale they will not be accepting restrictions on the Ukrainian military’s measurement and form.

Residing higher

Close-up of woman pouring a meal replacement shakes into her friend's glass. Horizontal shot.

Shut-up of girl pouring a meal substitute shakes into her buddy’s glass. Horizontal shot.

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Thomas_EyeDesign/Getty Photographs/iStockphoto

Residing Higher is a particular sequence about what it takes to remain wholesome in America.

Creatine dietary supplements have gained recognition amongst social media influencers who say they may help with muscle development, enhance athletic efficiency and even improve mind perform. The compound is constituted of three amino acids that function a supply of vitality to your muscular tissues. Whereas your physique naturally produces some creatine, can maximizing on it actually ship the advantages influencers are claiming? Here is what the proof exhibits:

  • 🥛 Creatine does work for including lean muscle mass, however it’s important to work out to profit from its results.
  • 🥛 Males who mixed the dietary supplements with resistance coaching added round two to a few kilos of lean physique mass, in line with a evaluate of 35 research. This may very well be vital for older males, who are likely to lose muscle mass as they age.
  • 🥛 Preliminary proof signifies that advantages like regulating blood sugar in Sort 2 diabetes and enhancing reminiscence will not be strongly supported, in line with Jose Antonio, an train and sports activities science professor at Nova Southeastern College in Florida.
  • 🥛 Vegans and vegetarians usually tend to see the advantages from taking creatine, as they most likely do not get a lot or any of it of their weight loss plan. Creatine comes from purple meat, rooster or fish.

Weekend picks

Daniel Dae Kim plays a spy who faked his own death in Butterfly.

Daniel Dae Kim performs a spy who faked his personal dying in Butterfly.

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Juhan no/prime

Take a look at what NPR is watching, studying and listening to this weekend:

🍿 Motion pictures: In The Thursday Homicide Membership a gaggle of retirees collect to analysis chilly circumstances to cross the time — till an actual homicide and a plucky new member present up on their doorstep.

📺 TV: Naelel is timed began. Butterfly as a former U.S. authorities spy who comes out of hiding to avoid wasting his long-lost daughter from her life as an murderer.

📚 Books: To the Moon and Again follows Steph Harper, who aspires to turn out to be NASA’s first Cherokee astronaut. Earlier than she will obtain her desires, she should escape an abusive mother or father and navigate her youth spent on a reservation whereas experiencing a queer coming of age.

🎵 Music: Artist Nourished by Time’s new album, The Passionate Onesis a not-so-quiet, craving and romantic expression that nothing can stand in the best way of pursuing love.

❓ Quiz: I’ve been bested this week. I acquired seven out of the 11 questions proper. I do know you are able to do higher! Check your reminiscence.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

Amanda Anisimova of the United States celebrates after defeating Naomi Osaka of Japan in three sets during their women's singles semifinal match on Sept. 5, 2025, in the Queens borough of New York City.

Amanda Anisimova of america celebrates after defeating Naomi Osaka of Japan in three units throughout their ladies’s singles semifinal match on Sept. 5, 2025, within the Queens borough of New York Metropolis.

Sarah Stier/Getty Photographs


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Sarah Stier/Getty Photographs

  1. American Amanda Anisimova defeated Naomi Osaka of Japan early at present within the U.S. Open semifinals. She is anticipated to compete in her first U.S. Open finals tomorrow.
  2. Giorgio Armani, the founding father of the Italian luxurious vogue home Armani, died yesterday in Milan at age 91. His designs had a aim of highlighting the physique as a murals.
  3. Susan Stamberg, one among NPR’s “founding moms,” is retiring after over 50 years behind the mic. Morning Version shares a tribute to her legacy.

This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

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