NPR News: 05-02-2025 5PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 2, 2025, 5 PM EDT

Host: NPR
Release Date: May 2, 2025

---

White House Unveils "Skinny Budget" Proposal

Jeanine Herbst opens the news segment by reporting on President Trump's first budget proposal for his second term. The proposal, described as an "incomplete budget outline" or "skinny budget," indicates Trump's intention to implement significant changes within the government.

Daniel Kurtzleben provides an in-depth analysis of the budget:

"The White House budget proposal includes sharp cuts to an array of agencies like the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Internal Revenue Service. The proposal would match those non-defense cuts with increases to defense spending. All told, the White House proposes increasing defense spending by 13% as well as a 65% increase in spending on homeland security. That money would go in part towards mass deportations as well as completing the border wall."
(00:46)

Kurtzleben emphasizes that while the budget remains a proposal, President Trump has demonstrated a willingness to bypass Congress by utilizing executive orders to address governmental deficiencies.

---

TikTok Faces $600 Million Fine Over Data Privacy Violations

Jeanine Herbst transitions to the tech world, highlighting a significant penalty imposed on TikTok by European Union regulators. Terry Schultz expands on the details:

"Ireland's Data Protection Commission led the probe on behalf of the EU into whether TikTok was in compliance with the bloc's privacy rules. They found the video-sharing app was transferring personal data to servers located in China, contrary to what the company initially claimed. EU officials are concerned this information can be accessed by staff in China, where TikTok's parent company ByteDance is based, and by the Chinese government, violating strict privacy rules."
(01:41)

Schultz notes that TikTok failed to maintain transparency with its users regarding data transfers and has been ordered to comply within six months. TikTok has announced its intention to appeal the decision.

---

President Trump Orders Termination of Federal Funding for NPR and PBS

In a bold move, Jeanine Herbst reports that President Trump signed an executive order directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to cease federal funding for NPR and PBS to the fullest extent permitted by law. Trump accuses these organizations of exhibiting a "left-wing bias."

David Folkenflik provides further context:

"He has the power to do this. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting has filed a suit in court that's supposed to move forward next week. It's being heard on an expedited basis by a federal judge in Washington. And we're going to see. It appears right now that the CPB is simply ignoring the president's edict, saying he doesn't have the authority to do this."
(02:51)

Folkenflik underscores the uncertainty surrounding the legal challenge and the potential implications for public broadcasting.

---

Wall Street Soars as Markets Close Higher

Jeanine Herbst briefly updates listeners on the stock market's performance:

"Wall Street sharply higher by the closing bell, the Dow up 564 points, the NASDAQ up 266."
(03:10)

This surge reflects investor confidence amid the day's economic developments.

---

Measles Cases Surge in the United States

Health officials are grappling with a rise in measles infections across the nation. Jeanine Herbst relays information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

"Measles cases in the U.S. have surpassed 900 as outbreaks continue across the country. The CDC says 935 cases have been confirmed in 29 states, and in 13% of the cases, the majority of whom are under 19, have resulted in hospitalizations."
(03:10)

Further details from the CDC reveal that over 90% of the confirmed cases are among the unvaccinated or individuals with unknown vaccination statuses. The agency attributes the resurgence to declining vaccination rates, reversing a status where measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000.

---

NBA Legend Gregg Popovich Steps Down from Coaching Role

In sports news, Jeanine Herbst announces that Gregg Popovich, the most successful coach in NBA history, is retiring from coaching to assume a new role with the San Antonio Spurs.

Paul Flav elaborates on Popovich's illustrious career:

"Popovich joined the team in 1988 as an assistant coach, took the reins nearly 30 years ago, and oversaw more than 1,400 winning games, five national championships, and countless unforgettable playoff moments. Beyond Coach Pop's winning career, he's known for his acerbic wit, mentorship of young players, and outspokenness on political issues."
(04:23)

Flav also mentions Popovich's health struggles, including a stroke in November and another medical incident earlier in the year, which influenced his decision to transition to the role of president of basketball operations.

---

Closing Note: This summary encapsulates the key stories featured in the NPR News Now episode released on May 2, 2025. For the latest updates and comprehensive news coverage, tune into NPR News Now.

Transcript

[Peter Sagal]

Imagine, if you will, a show from NPR that's not like npr, a show that focuses not on the important but the stupid, which features stories about people smuggling animals in their pants, incompetent criminals and ridiculous science studies. And call it Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, because the good names were taken. Listen to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Yes, that is what it is called wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. The White House is out with its first budget proposal of President Trump's second term. It's an incomplete budget outline known as a skinny budget. But as NPR's Daniel Kurtzleben reports, it nevertheless shows that Trump wants to make further drastic changes to government.

[Daniel Kurtzleben]

The White House budget proposal includes sharp cuts to an array of agencies like the National Institutes of Health, the National Science foundation and the Internal Revenue Service. The proposal would match those non defense cuts with increases to defense spending. All told, the White House proposes increasing defense spending by 13% as well as a 65% increase in spending on homeland security. That money would go in part towards mass deportations as well as completing the border wall. The president's budget is only a proposal Congress passes spending bills. However, Trump has shown he's willing to act unilaterally because via executive orders at his Department of Government deficiency. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

TikTok has been hit by a fine of $600 million for transferring the private data of European users to China. Terry Schultz reports. The penalty is the result of a four year investigation by European Union regulators.

[Terry Schultz]

Ireland's Data Protection Commission led the probe on behalf of the EU into whether TikTok was in compliance with the bloc's privacy rules. They found the video sharing app was transferring personal data servers located in China, contrary to what the company initially claimed. EU officials are concerned this information can be accessed by staff in China, where TikTok's parent company ByteDance is based, and by the Chinese government violating strict privacy rules. The regulators also said TikTok had not been transparent with users about this and ordered the company to come into compliance within six months. TikTok says it will appeal. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels.

[Jeanine Herbst]

President Trump signed an executive order yesterday telling the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private entity created and funded by Congress, to end federal funding for NPR and pbs, quote, to the maximum extent allowed by law. Trump has accused the organizations of left wing bias. The order also calls for ending indirect funding to NPR and PBS and prohibits local public radio and TV stations from using taxpayer dollars to support the news organizations. NPR's David Folkenflik has It's not clear.

[David Folkenflik]

He has the power to do this. The Corporation of Public Broadcasting has filed a suit in court that's supposed to, you know, move forward next week. It's being heard on an expedited basis by a federal judge in Washington. And we're going to see. It appears right now that the CPB is simply ignoring the president's edict, saying he doesn't have the authority to do this.

[Jeanine Herbst]

NPR's David Folkenflick reporting. Wall street sharply higher by the closing bell, the Dow up 564 points, the NASDAQ up 266. You're listening to NPR. Measles cases in the U.S. have surpassed 900 as outbreaks continue across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 935 cases have been confirmed in 29 states, and in 13% of the cases, the majority of whom are under 19, have resulted in hospitalizations. The CDC also says among the confirmed cases, more than 90% are either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status isn't known. The agency says measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000 because of a very effective vaccination program, but that those rates have fallen in recent years, leading to more cases. The winningest coach in NBA history is stepping down and into a new role for the San Antonio Spurs. Hall of Fame inductee Gregg Popovich will become president of basketball operations after 29 seasons of coaching. Texas Public Radio's Paul Flav has more.

[Paul Flav]

Popovich joined the team in 1988 as an assistant coach, took the reins nearly 30 years ago and oversaw more than 1400 winning games, five national championships and countless unforgettable playoff moments. Beyond Coach Pop's winning career, he's known for his acerbic wit, mentorship of young players and outspokenness on political issues. In a statement, he thanked the team and the fans. Popovich has suffered from health problems, a stroke sidelining him from full time coaching duties in November. He suffered another medical incident earlier this year.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Paul Flav reporting from San Antonio. And I'm Jeanine Herbst. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

[David Folkenflik]

Listen to this podcast sponsor, free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now. [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.