NPR News: 05-05-2025 12AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 5, 2025

Host: Dale Willman | Release Date: May 5, 2025

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1. President Trump's Stance on the Constitution and Tariff Policies

Dale Willman opens the episode by addressing President Donald Trump's recent comments regarding his commitment to upholding the Constitution. During an interview aired by NBC on Sunday, Trump expressed uncertainty about his constitutional obligations, stating, "I don't know" ([00:14]). However, he reaffirmed his respect for the judicial system by adding, "I would follow whatever the Supreme Court says."

NPR's Asma Khalid delves deeper into the economic implications of Trump's tariff strategies. She highlights rising economic anxiety reflected in recent polling and notes that the Commerce Department reported a contraction in the U.S. economy during the first quarter of the year ([00:36]). Khalid explains, "President Trump believes that economists were wrong about the negative consequences of tariffs in his first term," and emphasizes that the current tariffs are more severe than those implemented in 2018 ([01:06]). These policies continue to stir debate and concern among economists and policymakers.

2. Preparations for the Papal Conclave in Rome

Transitioning to global news, Scott Detrow reports on the Catholic Church's preparations for the upcoming papal conclave. The conclave, set to begin on Wednesday, involves Catholic cardinals gathering in Rome to elect the next pope. This marks Cardinal Timothy Dolan's second experience overseeing a conclave, the first being in 2013 when Pope Francis was elected ([01:06]).

During a Mass in a residential Roman neighborhood on Sunday, Cardinal Dolan shared his renewed confidence: "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." ([01:29]). Dolan also addressed recent social media controversies, specifically an AI-generated image depicting Trump as pope, stating it "wasn't good" and expressing hope that Trump was not directly involved ([01:37]). The Catholic bishops of New York State echoed these sentiments, releasing a statement titled "Do not mock us," criticizing Trump's social media post ([01:37]).

3. Foiled Bomb Plot at Lady Gaga’s Rio Concert

In international news, Julia Canaro reports that Brazilian authorities successfully thwarted a planned bomb attack targeting an open-air Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro held on Saturday night ([01:57]). The plot, orchestrated via social media, involved recruiting individuals to carry out attacks using improvised explosives aimed particularly at LGBTQ fans ([02:07]). Authorities labeled the recruitment as a "collective challenge to gain notoriety online."

Police operations led to the arrest of two individuals and the execution of 15 search warrants, effectively neutralizing the threat without causing public panic ([02:07]). The concert on Copacabana Beach attracted over 2 million attendees, making it Lady Gaga’s largest event to date. Gaga herself remarked on the overwhelming turnout, stating, "Seeing the crowd of more than 2 million people, my biggest ever, took my breath away." ([02:07]).

4. Natural Disasters in Puerto Rico and the Birth of Starbase Texas

Dale Willman updates listeners on severe weather conditions affecting Puerto Rico, where flash flood warnings persist across much of the island over the weekend. Heavy rains have led to submerged streets, stranded families, and at least one fatality—a 44-year-old man killed and a 43-year-old woman hospitalized after a tree fell on their vehicle ([02:51]). In response to the escalating situation, a state of emergency has been declared in a northern coastal city ([02:51]).

Shifting focus to Texas, Jerry Clayton reports on the official incorporation of Starbase Texas, a city closely tied to SpaceX’s operations in the region ([02:51]). The vote to incorporate passed overwhelmingly with 212 in favor and 6 against, reflecting strong support from the 283 eligible voters, many of whom are affiliated with SpaceX ([03:25]). Voters also elected a mayor and two commissioners, solidifying the new city's governance structure. This development follows Elon Musk’s long-standing efforts to establish a municipal framework around SpaceX’s rocket launch facility, a vision he first proposed in 2021. Additionally, the Texas legislature is reconsidering a measure that would permit SpaceX to restrict public beach access near the launch site during rocket tests and launches ([03:25]).

5. Tensions in the Middle East and a Golf Championship Highlight

Back to international affairs, Dale Willman reports that flights at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport experienced a temporary halt on Sunday after a missile launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen landed on an access road nearby ([04:09]). This attack occurred just hours before the Israeli cabinet was set to vote on potentially intensifying military operations in Gaza. In the wake of the missile strike, several U.S. and European airlines have temporarily suspended their flights to Tel Aviv as a precautionary measure ([04:09]).

In sports, amateur golfer Scotty Scheffler achieved a significant victory by winning the CJ Cup Byron Nelson Golf Tournament with an impressive eight-stroke lead ([04:09]). Scheffler completed the 72-hole event with a score of 253, tying the tournament record, and finishing at 31 under par. Notably, he narrowly missed breaking the record due to a bogey on the par-three 17th hole ([04:09]).

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This summary provides an overview of the key stories covered in the NPR News Now episode released on May 5, 2025, offering insight into political, religious, international, and sports developments both in the United States and around the world.

Transcript

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[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump, when asked during an interview Sunday whether he believes that he needs to uphold the Constitution, responded, I don't know. He made his comments in an interview aired by NBC. He did say, though, that he would follow whatever the Supreme Court says. Trump's tariff plan plans, meanwhile, continue to affect the nation's economy. As NPR's Asma Khalid tells us, there.

[Asma Khalid]

Is certainly economic anxiety. You see that in the polling. New figures from the Commerce Department last week also showed that the US Economy shrank during the first three months of this year. You know, broadly, I will say President Trump believes that economists were wrong about the negative consequences of tariffs in his first term. And so he's trying to sort of cast out. And I've heard this from the White House about some of the foreboding messages from economists now. But to be clear, Trump's tariffs now this time around are much steeper than what he put in place in 2018.

[Dale Willman]

NPR's Asma Khalid The Catholic cardinals who will elect the next pope are now meeting with each other and preparing for the conclave that begins on Wednesday. NPR's 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.

[Cardinal Timothy Dolan]

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.

[Dale Willman]

Police in Brazil say they foiled a bomb attack that had been planned for an open air Lady Gaga concert held Saturday night in Rio de Janeiro. Julia Canaro has our report.

[Julia Canaro]

According to Rios, police and the Ministry of Justice, the plan was being orchestrated on social media. A group was recruiting participants to carry out attacks at the concert with improvised explosives aimed especially at LGBTQ fans. They set, quote, a collective challenge to gain notoriety online. Police say they managed to neutralize the plot, avoiding any panic or impact. They arrested two people and carried out 15 search warrants. Rio's free open air concert on Copacabana beach was bigger than Madonna's last year and historic for Lady Gaga on social media. She said seeing the crowd of more than 2 million people, her biggest ever, took her breath away. For NPR News, I'm Julia Kahneiru. In Rio.

[Dale Willman]

Flash flood warnings remain across much of Puerto Rico this weekend. Heavy rains have submerged streets, stranded families and caused at least one death so far. Police say a 44 year old man was killed and a 43 year old woman was hospitalized after a tree fell in their car. A state of emergency, meanwhile, has been declared in a city on the island's northern coast. You're listening to NPR News. Texas has a new city Texas Texas Public Radio's Jerry Clayton reports. SpaceX head Elon Musk has been pushing to create the city in deep South Texas for several years.

[Jerry Clayton]

Starbase Texas came into being on Saturday with a vote to incorporate the SpaceX company town on the Gulf Co in deep south Texas. The final vote tally was 212 to 6, with most of the 283 eligible voters being connected to SpaceX. Voters also elected a mayor and two commissioners. The incorporation comes after several failed attempts by Elon Musk to rename and take control of the area where the rocket launch facility resides. Musk first floated the idea of creating a city that encompasses the facility in 2021. The Texas legislature has recently begun to reconsider a measure which would allow SpaceX to close to a public beach in the area during rocket tests and launches. I'm Jerry Clayton in San Antonio.

[Dale Willman]

Flights at Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport were briefly halted on Sunday after a missile launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen landed on an access road. The attack came just hours before Israeli cabinet members were set to vote on whether to intensify Israel's military operations in Gaza. Some US And European airlines, meanwhile, have temporarily suspended their flights to Tel Aviv because of that missile attack. Scotty Scheffler won big on Sunday, taking the CJ Cup Byron Nelson Golf Tournament by eight strokes. He finished the 72 hole event with a record tying 253, and he ended at 31 under par. He might have broken the record but carried a bogey on the card of the bogey in the par third 17th hole. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

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