NPR News: 04-24-2026 1PM EDT

This NPR News Now update from April 24, 2026, covers a range of developments: the Justice Department ending its probe into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell amid political pressure; fragile ceasefire talks between Israel and Lebanon tested by cross-border strikes; Meta's staff cuts to fund AI expansion; a Trump administration memo easing restrictions on certain medical cannabis products; Turkey's new limits on children's social media access; and mixed stock performance.

Justice Department Closes Powell Investigation

The U.S. Attorney's Office for Washington, D.C., led by Janine Pirro, announced it is dropping its investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over cost overruns related to renovations. NPR's Ryan Lucas reports that the probe, revealed earlier this year, drew significant backlash against the Trump administration. North Carolina Republican Senator Tom Tillis had threatened to block President Trump's nominee to replace Powell, former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, unless the Justice Department ended the inquiry. This closure removes a key obstacle to Warsh's potential confirmation, highlighting how the investigation became a political flashpoint tied to Fed leadership transitions.