[00:00] Peter Rowan: This is Neural Newscast.
[00:02] Evelyn Hartwell: Here is what matters this morning, Thursday, April 2nd, 2026.
[00:08] Peter Rowan: From Neural Newscast, I'm Peter Rowan.
[00:12] Evelyn Hartwell: And I'm Evelyn Hartwell.
[00:14] Peter Rowan: More than 8 million people joined the third No King's Day of protest this past Saturday.
[00:21] Peter Rowan: This marks the largest single-day demonstration in United States history across over 3,300 events.
[00:29] Evelyn Hartwell: These rallies reached all 50 states and a dozen countries.
[00:33] Evelyn Hartwell: Demonstrators specifically targeted the administration's war in Iran,
[00:38] Evelyn Hartwell: federal immigration raids, and rising costs for basic necessities like gas and groceries.
[00:44] Peter Rowan: In other news, NASA successfully launched the Artemis II mission from Florida's Kennedy Space Center.
[00:51] Peter Rowan: The mission sends four astronauts on a historic 10-day journey to circle the Moon.
[00:57] Evelyn Hartwell: This mission represents the first time humans have returned to lunar orbit since 1972.
[01:04] Evelyn Hartwell: It utilizes the Space Launch System rocket, which produced over 8 million pounds of thrust during liftoff.
[01:13] Peter Rowan: Commander Reed Wiseman and his crew cleared the moment of maximum atmospheric pressure just 70 seconds after launch.
[01:21] Peter Rowan: This signals the success of years of engineering and preparation by the agency.
[01:27] Evelyn Hartwell: While the spacecraft is currently orbiting Earth before its final trans-lunar injection,
[01:33] Evelyn Hartwell: the successful launch is being hailed by NASA officials as the dawn of a new era in exploration.
[01:40] Peter Rowan: Turning to Greece, the trial for the country's deadliest train disaster resumed this Wednesday in Larissa.
[01:48] Peter Rowan: Families of the 57 victims are demanding accountability for the 2023 collision.
[01:54] Evelyn Hartwell: 36 defendants, including a station master and former rail officials,
[01:59] Evelyn Hartwell: face charges of negligence following the head-on crash near Tempe.
[02:05] Evelyn Hartwell: Many citizens describe the incident as a state-sponsored crime.
[02:10] Peter Rowan: Relatives of the victims have criticized the courtroom conditions.
[02:14] Peter Rowan: They report that the proceedings are overcrowded and that critical evidence was destroyed when the crash site was bulldozed within days.
[02:21] Evelyn Hartwell: The European Public Prosecutor's Office previously stated the disaster could have been avoided if European Union funding had been properly used to modernize the rail network's outdated signaling systems.
[02:36] Peter Rowan: Meanwhile, a significant spring storm is moving across Minnesota. It brings a complex mix of ice, snow, and rain that is expected to disrupt travel through Thursday morning.
[02:49] Evelyn Hartwell: Winter weather advisories are in place for much of the state.
[02:52] Evelyn Hartwell: Central and northwestern regions may see up to four inches of heavy, wet snow by this evening.
[02:59] Peter Rowan: In today's watch list, NATO allies are reportedly balking at requests from the United States for direct military assistance in the expanding conflict with Iran following recent missile attacks.
[03:12] Evelyn Hartwell: Diplomatic sources indicate that several European members are concerned about regional stability.
[03:18] Evelyn Hartwell: They are hesitant to engage in a war that has already caused volatility in global markets.
[03:24] Peter Rowan: Next, the Minnesota Twins are set to hold their home opener this Friday.
[03:30] Peter Rowan: Local officials are monitoring the forecast for lingering rain and unseasonably cold temperatures at game time.
[03:37] Evelyn Hartwell: Finally, we are watching the latest polling in the Kentucky Republican Senate primary.
[03:43] Evelyn Hartwell: Representative Andy Barr maintains a lead as the field prepares for the upcoming primary season.
[03:49] Peter Rowan: That is the news for now. Thank you for listening to Neural Newscast.
[03:54] Evelyn Hartwell: Neural Newscast is AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
[03:59] Evelyn Hartwell: View our AI transparency policy at neuralnewscast.com.