NPR News: 05-05-2025 10PM EDT

Summary

NPR News: May 5, 2025, 10 PM EDT Summary

Host: Jack Speier
Release Date: May 6, 2025

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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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Note: This summary excludes advertisements and non-content sections to focus solely on the key news highlights discussed during the NPR News Now podcast episode.

Transcript

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[Jack Speier]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jack Speier. The Israeli military has carried out multiple strikes directed at a key port in Yemen. As NPR's Greg Myhre reports, the Israeli attack comes a day after Yemen's Houthi fighters fired a missile into central Israel.

[Greg Myhre]

The Israeli military posted a statement saying its jet fighters targeted the seaport of Hodeidah on Yemen's western coast, as well as a nearby concrete factory. The Israelis say both facilities are central to Houthi military operations. A day earlier, a long range missile from Yemen crashed close to Israel's main airport outside Tel Aviv, causing several injuries. This marked an extremely rare instance of a Houthi missile penetrating Israeli air defenses and hitting near a sensitive site. The U.S. meanwhile, has been bombing Yemen almost daily for seven weeks. The U.S. is demanding a halt to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Greg Myrey, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

The Trump administration is pausing a rule that would require new and remodeled federal buildings to phase out fossil fuels by 2030. NPR's Jeff Brady reports. The rule was required under a 2007 law.

[Jeff Brady]

The Department of Energy was supposed to craft regulations within a year of the 2007 law's enactment. That didn't happen until last year during the Biden administration. Now Energy Secretary Chris Wright says he's pausing the fossil fuel ban as the department reviews regulations to ensure they're aligned with Trump administration energy policies. Alex Bomstein with the Clean Air Council calls it a favor to the fossil fuel industry.

[Alex Bomstein]

This is taking a law that's been on the books for nearly two decades at this point and saying, you know, we're not actually going to move forward with it. And this is a matter of defying Congress.

[Jeff Brady]

The Clean Air Council says it's reviewing the change before deciding how to respond. Jeff Brady, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

The Department of Education says it will cut additional federal research funding to Harvard University. US Secretary of Education Lyndon McMahon will issue a letter to Harvard's President Alan Garber. Federal government has already frozen 2.2 billion in federal grants to the university. Trump supporters in a Maryland town are pondering their votes after the administration canceled classes at the National Fire Academy. NPR's Frank Langford reports from Emmitsburg.

[Frank Langford]

The town voted overwhelmingly for Trump. Many liked his vow to cut waste and government spending. But Emmitsburg was jolted when the administration canceled classes at the Academy here, which trains thousands of firefighters who visit each year. Mayor Frank Davis says the move hurts the town's economy and is bad for public safety.

[Frank Davis]

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.

[Frank Langford]

The administration suggested it canceled in person training because it's not, quote, mission critical. Congresswoman April McLean Delaney, a Democrat, said, quote, I have no idea why they're doing this. Frank Langford, NPR News, Emmitsburg, Maryland.

[Jack Speier]

You're listening to NPR News. Today is square root day. Here's NPR's Ari Daniel. To explain what it all means, Ron.

[Ari Daniel]

Gordon started square root Day in 1981. It happens anytime. The number of the month times the day equals the year. Like today, 5 times 5 is 25. It only happens 9 times each century. So Gordon says each one is worth celebrating.

[Terrence Blackman]

It's a good day to get things squared away, to try to fit a square peg into a round hole, go square dancing, root for the underdog or watch the pigs root around.

[Ari Daniel]

Square Root Day is a reminder that math is all around us, says Terrence Blackman, who chairs the math department at Medgar Evers College.

[Jack Speier]

It allows us to, you know, in a way, wonder about the world in which we live and the patterns that inform our lives.

[Ari Daniel]

Today is extra special because the year is a perfect square that is 45 times 45 is 2025. R.A. daniel, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

This year's Pulitzer Prizes are out, the New York Times picking up four, while the New Yorker garnered three for its journalism. Prizes were awarded today for reporting, photography and commentary. They hit on issues including the war in Gaza, the fentanyl crisis and last summer's assassination attempt on President Trump. ProPublica won the prestigious Public service Medal for a second straight year. Also honored was Washington Post editorial cartoonist Antalnus, who quit her job because the paper would not run a cartoon criticizing tech leaders. That included her paper's owner. Crude oil futures prices moved lower, falling by more than a dollar a barrel today on concerns about OPEC output hikes oil down $1.16 a barrel to $5,713 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

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