NPR News: 04-27-2026 4PM EDT

This NPR News Now broadcast from April 27, 2026, leads with federal charges against a man for an attempted assassination of President Trump outside the White House correspondents dinner, amid reviews of security protocols. It also covers employee protests over AI use in defense, shifts in major tech partnerships, stagnant teacher pay adjusted for inflation, and severe storms in the Midwest.

Charges in Shooting Outside Correspondents Dinner

A California man, Cole Allen, faces three federal counts stemming from Saturday's shooting at the Washington Hilton during the White House correspondents dinner. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the primary charge: attempting to assassinate President Trump, punishable by up to life in prison. Additional counts include interstate transportation of a firearm to commit a felony (up to 10 years) and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence (mandatory minimum 10 years, consecutive, up to life). Allen allegedly breached a security perimeter, firing shots that wounded a Secret Service agent—though it's unclear if the injury came from the gunman or friendly fire. This marks the third apparent assassination attempt on Trump since his 2024 presidential campaign.