NPR News: 04-23-2026 10PM EDT

President Trump, speaking to reporters, firmly ruled out using nuclear weapons against Iran, calling it something that "should never be allowed to be used by anybody." He emphasized that U.S. actions have already "decimated" Iran conventionally and reiterated his priority: ensuring Tehran never acquires nuclear weapons. Trump dismissed any rush to a peace deal, stating, "I don't want to rush it. I want to take my time." This followed his earlier social media threat that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again." Separately, Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks after high-level White House talks.

## DOJ Probes Epstein Files Compliance

The Justice Department's Inspector General has launched an investigation into whether the agency followed a congressional law requiring the release of all files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The DOJ missed a December deadline for disclosure but maintains it has complied with the law. These files relate to Epstein's case, and the probe examines potential violations amid public interest in the handling of his records.