NPR News: May 5, 2025, 10 PM EDT Summary
Host: Jack Speier
Release Date: May 6, 2025
1. Israel-Houthi Tensions Escalate in the Middle East
Jack Speier opens the evening with a report on escalating tensions between Israel and the Houthi fighters in Yemen. The Israeli military has conducted multiple strikes targeting the strategic seaport of Hodeidah and a nearby concrete factory on Yemen’s western coast. According to Greg Myhre at [00:30], these locations are pivotal to Houthi military operations.
“This marked an extremely rare instance of a Houthi missile penetrating Israeli air defenses and hitting near a sensitive site,” Myhre explains, highlighting the severity of the recent missile attack where a long-range missile from Yemen landed close to Israel’s main airport outside Tel Aviv, injuring several individuals.
The attacks come on the heels of the United States intensifying its involvement, with Greg Myhre reporting that the U.S. has been bombarding Yemen nearly daily for the past seven weeks. The U.S. aims to curtail Houthi assaults on Red Sea shipping lanes, emphasizing the global implications of the conflict.
2. Trump Administration Halts Federal Fossil Fuel Ban
In domestic policy news, Jack Speier introduces a significant shift in federal energy regulations. Jeff Brady reports from [01:13] that the Trump administration is suspending a rule mandating the phase-out of fossil fuels in new and remodeled federal buildings by 2030. This rule was initially required under a 2007 law, with the Department of Energy delaying regulations until the Biden administration.
Jeff Brady elaborates that Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced the pause to better align future regulations with the Trump administration’s energy policies. Alex Bomstein from the Clean Air Council criticizes the decision, stating at [01:49], “This is taking a law that's been on the books for nearly two decades... and saying, you know, we're not actually going to move forward with it. And this is a matter of defying Congress.”
The Clean Air Council is currently reviewing the change before determining its response, signaling potential challenges ahead for the administration's policy reversal.
3. Education Department Cuts Funding to Harvard; Impact on Emmitsburg
Jack Speier shifts focus to education, reporting at [02:08] that the Department of Education plans to reduce federal research funding to Harvard University. Frank Langford provides on-the-ground insights from Emmitsburg, Maryland, where the federal government has already frozen $2.2 billion in grants to the Ivy League institution.
The repercussions of this decision extend to the local community, particularly after the administration canceled classes at the National Fire Academy. Emmitsburg, a town with strong Trump support, faces economic and public safety concerns. Mayor Frank Davis expresses frustration at [02:48], “They need to get back up and get the students back here. There are plenty of rocks to look under, but the National Fire Academy is not one of them.”
Congresswoman April McLean Delaney voices confusion over the administration's actions, stating at [02:56], “I have no idea why they're doing this,” highlighting political tensions surrounding the funding cuts.
4. Celebrating Square Root Day
In a lighter segment, Ari Daniel shares insights about Square Root Day, a numerical date event that occurs nine times each century. Speaking at [03:19], Daniel explains, “It happens anytime the number of the month times the day equals the year. Like today, 5 times 5 is 25.”
Terrence Blackman, chair of the math department at Medgar Evers College, adds at [03:35], “It's a good day to get things squared away... Square Root Day is a reminder that math is all around us.” The day serves as an opportunity to appreciate mathematical patterns and their influence on daily life.
5. Pulitzer Prizes Announced; Oil Prices Drop
Jack Speier concludes the evening with updates on the latest Pulitzer Prizes and financial markets. The New York Times secured four Pulitzer awards, while The New Yorker received three, honoring excellence in reporting, photography, and commentary. Key topics recognized include the war in Gaza, the fentanyl crisis, and the assassination attempt on President Trump last summer.
Noteworthy achievements include ProPublica receiving the prestigious Public Service Medal for the second consecutive year, and Washington Post editorial cartoonist Antalnus being honored posthumously after resigning over censorship issues concerning tech leaders’ criticism.
In financial news, crude oil futures experienced a significant decline, dropping over a dollar per barrel due to concerns about potential OPEC output increases. As of [04:07], oil prices decreased by $1.16 per barrel, settling at $57.13 in New York.
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