NPR News: 05-04-2025 9PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 4, 2025, 9 PM EDT Summary

Released May 5, 2025

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U.S. Trade Policies and Small Businesses

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Reporter: Luke Garrett

President Donald Trump addressed the ongoing trade tensions with China during an interview on NBC's Meet the Press with Kristen Welker. When questioned about the possibility of lowering tariffs to initiate trade negotiations, Trump stated, "At some point I'm going to lower them because otherwise you could never do business with them" (00:43). However, he assured that small businesses reliant on Chinese imports would not receive relief from the hefty 145% tariffs, asserting, "They're going to make so much money" (01:01).

Despite Trump's promises, many small businesses are struggling under the current tariff regime. NPR's Luke Garrett reported that the White House has yet to finalize any new trade deals following Trump's recent tariff policies.

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Federal Budget Cuts Impacting Housing Aid

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Reporter: Jennifer Ludden

President Trump's new budget proposal includes significant reductions to federal rental aid, which could severely impact affordable housing. The White House plans to slash rental assistance by 40% and restrict it to two-year limits for able-bodied adults. Kim Johnson from the National Low Income Housing Coalition criticized the move, stating, "We would see homelessness escalate in a way that has been really unprecedented and unheard of" (01:43).

Conversely, Kevin Corinth of the American Enterprise Institute believes while such deep cuts may not pass Congress, there is merit in reducing long-term aid. He noted, "It makes sense to get people aid when they need it, but we don't necessarily want them to stay on it forever" (01:56). Additionally, the budget proposes shifting homelessness funding from permanent housing solutions to emergency shelters.

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Conclave Preparations for Papal Election

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Reporter: Scott Detrow

As the conclave to elect the next pope begins, Catholic cardinals are actively meeting in Rome. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, who also participated in the 2013 conclave, shared his experiences, saying, "It helps. I was so nervous last time, and I thought, now what do I do? But now I feel kind of seasoned, a little more relaxed" (02:39).

Dolan also addressed recent controversies, including an AI-generated image of Trump as pope circulated on social media. He expressed disapproval, stating, "It wasn't good and I hope Trump himself was not directly involved in the post" (02:46). The Catholic bishops of New York State echoed this sentiment, releasing a statement urging respect and condemning mockery.

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Economic Indicators and New Developments

Host: Jeanine Herbst

• Market Update: U.S. futures are trading lower, with all three major indices down approximately half a percent.

• SpaceX's New Hub: Texas welcomes its new city, Starbase, home to Elon Musk's SpaceX. Located along the Mexico border, Starbase serves as the launch site for SpaceX's projects contracted by the Department of Defense and NASA, with aspirations to send astronauts to the moon and eventually Mars.

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Mental Health Trends in the United States

Host: Jeanine Herbst
Reporter: Ritu Chatterjee

A recent study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry highlights a shift in mental health treatment preferences among Americans. From 2018 to 2021, the number of individuals receiving psychotherapy rose from 16 million to 22 million. Dr. Mark Olson of Columbia University noted that while most therapy patients also use psychiatric medications, there has been a decline in those relying solely on medications, particularly among those treated for trauma and stress-related disorders (04:05).

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Terrorism Alert in the United Kingdom

Host: Jeanine Herbst

In the UK, authorities have arrested five men, predominantly of Iranian nationality, between the ages of 29 and 46 on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack in London. The details of the intended target remain undisclosed. This development underscores ongoing security concerns within the region.

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Notable Quotes

• Donald Trump on Tariffs: "At some point I'm going to lower them because otherwise you could never do business with them." (00:43)

• Kim Johnson on Housing Cuts: "We would see homelessness escalate in a way that has been really unprecedented and unheard of." (01:43)

• Cardinal Timothy Dolan on Conclave Experience: "It helps. I was so nervous last time, and I thought, now what do I do? But now I feel kind of seasoned, a little more relaxed." (02:39)

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Timestamp Guide:

• 00:00: Introduction and Sponsor Message
• 00:18: U.S. Trade Policies
• 00:37: Trump on Tariffs
• 01:00: Small Businesses and Tariffs
• 01:14: Federal Budget and Housing Aid
• 01:28: Impact on Homelessness
• 02:03: Shift in Homelessness Spending
• 02:13: Papal Conclave Preparations
• 02:24: Cardinal Dolan's Preparations
• 02:39: Dolan on Conclave Experience
• 02:46: Reaction to Trump's AI Image Post
• 03:07: Market Update and Starbase Announcement
• 03:51: Mental Health Treatment Trends
• 04:33: Terrorism Arrests in the UK
• 04:56: Closing Sponsor Message

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode aired on May 4, 2025. Whether you're catching up on U.S. trade policies, federal budget impacts, global religious events, economic indicators, mental health trends, or security alerts, this summary provides a detailed overview to keep you informed.

Transcript

[NPR Sponsor]

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[Jeanine Herbst]

In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. President Trump says he'll lower tariffs on China at some point, but in the meantime promise no relief for small businesses. He made the comments on the economy in an interview with NBC. NBC's Meet the Press with Kristen Welker that aired today. NPR's Luke Garrett has more.

[Luke Garrett]

President Trump was asked by NBC News whether he'd lower tariffs on China in order to start trade negotiations.

[Donald Trump]

At some point I'm going to lower them because otherwise you could never do business with them.

[Luke Garrett]

Meanwhile, some small businesses that rely on Chinese imports say they're struggling with the 145% tariffs on some goods from China. When asked if these businesses would receive government relief, Trump said, they're not going to need it.

[NPR Sponsor]

Okay.

[Donald Trump]

They're going to make so much money. Are these tariffs if you build your product here?

[Luke Garrett]

Following Trump's new tariff policy against China and other nations, no trade deals have been made by the White House yet. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Federal aid to help people afford rent would take a big hit under President Trump's new budget proposal. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports. It comes as housing prices and homelessness are at record highs.

[Jennifer Ludden]

The White House would slash rental aid by 40% and limit it to two years for able bodied adults. Kim Johnson of the National Low Income Housing Coalition calls that devastating. We would see homelessness escalate in a.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Way that has been really unprecedented and unheard of.

[Jennifer Ludden]

Kevin Corinth of the conservative American Enterprise Institute does not think Congress will go for such deep cuts on housing, but he sees a case for scaling back.

[Luke Garrett]

It makes sense to get people aid when they need it, but we don't necessarily want them to stay on it forever.

[Jennifer Ludden]

Trump's budget would also shift homelessness spending away from permanent housing to more emergency shelter. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Catholic cardinals who will elect the next pope are meeting with each other and preparing for the conclave that gets underway on Wednesday. Emperor Scott Detrow has more from Rome.

[Scott Detrow]

On Sunday, New York's archbishop, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, presided over mass in a residential Roman neighborhood. This will be the second conclave Dolan takes place in after the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis. He says this time he's better prepared.

[Donald Trump]

It helps. I was so nervous last time, and I thought, now what do I do? But now I feel kind of seasoned, a little more relaxed.

[Scott Detrow]

Dolan spoke at both of President Trump's inaugurals. Asked about Trump's social media posts showing an AI image of Trump as pope, Dolan said it, quote, wasn't good and that he hoped Trump himself was not directly involved in the post. The Catholic bishops of New York State released a statement criticizing Trump's post writing, quote, do not mock us. Scott Detrow, NPR News, Rome.

[Jeanine Herbst]

U.S. futures contracts are trading lower at this hour, all three major indices down about a half percent. You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Texas has a new city, Starbase. It's the South Texas home of Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket company. The city, which is along the Mexico border, is the facility and launch site for the SpaceX rocket program that's under contract with the Department of Defense and NASA and hopes to send astronauts to the moon again and someday to Mars. A new study finds that more Americans have been receiving outpatient talk therapy in recent years, while fewer are relying only on psychiatric medications. NPR's Ritu Chatterty had more.

[Ritu Chatterjee]

From 2018 to 2021, the number of Americans receiving psychotherapy or talk therapy grew from about 16 million to 22 million. Dr. Mark Olson is a psychiatrist and epidemiologist at Columbia University.

[NPR Sponsor]

This increase represents a period where psychotherapy is assuming a more important role in outpatient mental health care.

[Ritu Chatterjee]

While a majority of people in therapy also used antidepressants or other psychiatric medications, the number of people using only medication declined during this time, especially among people getting treatment for trauma and stress related disorders. The findings are published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Ritu Chatterjee, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

In the uk, several Iranian men have been arrested after an alleged plot to attack an unspecified target in London. Police say five men between the ages of 29 and 46 were arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack. The majority of of them are Iranian. I'm Jeanine Herbst, NPR News, in Washington.

[NPR Sponsor]

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