NPR News: 04-28-2026 10PM EDT

King Charles III's address to Congress marked only the second time a British monarch has spoken there, following Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. This NPR News Now roundup also covers U.S. legal developments involving former officials and states, political maneuvering in Florida, a Supreme Court immigration case, a Minnesota fraud probe, and the return of NASA's Artemis II capsule amid a mix of diplomatic, domestic, and scientific news.

King Charles III's Political Speech to U.S. Lawmakers

King Charles III delivered what NPR's Lauren Freyer described as a notably political speech to Congress, breaking from the sovereign's typical apolitical stance. He urged stronger U.S. support for Ukraine, highlighted NATO's collective defense—activated once for the U.S. after 9/11—and called for "collective strength" to aid victims of societal ills in both nations. A royal aide, speaking anonymously to NPR, clarified that the king intended this line as a veiled reference to Jeffrey Epstein's victims. Epstein denies wrongdoing but remains under police investigation. One member of Congress requested that Charles meet some victims, though no such meeting appears on his schedule. The speech underscores tensions around transatlantic alliances and high-profile scandals.