NPR News: 05-05-2025 2AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 5, 2025 – Comprehensive Summary

Published on May 5, 2025

---

1. President Trump's Stance on Deportations and Constitutional Upholding

Host: Dale Willman
Reporter: Luke Garrett

In a recent interview on NBC's Meet the Press, President Donald Trump addressed the contentious issue of mass deportations and their alignment with the U.S. Constitution. When questioned about whether deporting millions without due process violates the Fifth Amendment, Trump responded ambiguously:

“I don't know. I have to respond by saying again, I have brilliant lawyers that work for me and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said.”
— President Donald Trump (00:49)

This statement came after Trump reiterated his campaign promise of mass deportation, emphasizing his administration's intent to deport millions. The discussion touched upon Trump's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act earlier in March—a wartime law permitting the deportation of invading enemies without court hearings. This move recently faced legal challenges, with courts partially blocking his efforts to deport Venezuelans.

2. Senator Raphael Warnock's Atlanta Town Hall: Critique of Republican Opposition

Host: Dale Willman
Reporter: Sam Greenglass

At a vibrant town hall meeting outside Atlanta, Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock expressed his disappointment with Republican colleagues' reluctance to oppose President Trump effectively. Addressing concerns ranging from tariffs to federal employment, Warnock stressed the importance of resilient political action:

“Why would you go through all of that and then hand your power over to a wannabe autocrat? We could stop a lot of this.”
— Senator Raphael Warnock (01:48)

Warnock called on voters to leverage their voices, highlighting the significance of collective action:

“Sometimes your voice is the only thing you've got.”
— Senator Raphael Warnock (02:02)

He emphasized his proactive approach in pressuring GOP senators to defend democratic principles, advocating for unity against authoritarian tendencies.

3. Global Prayers and the Upcoming Papal Conclave

Host: Dale Willman
Reporter: Sylvia Piggioli

Worldwide, Catholic masses were held to pray for guidance in the forthcoming conclave to elect Pope Francis's successor, following his passing last month. The conclave is scheduled to commence on Wednesday at the Vatican. Sylvia Piggioli provided an overview of the day's proceedings:

“A Mass will be celebrated in St Peter's in the morning and in the afternoon, the cardinals will be escorted by Vatican gendarme to the Sistine Chapel.”
— Sylvia Piggioli (02:25)

She detailed the solemn rituals preceding the conclave, including the invocation of all non-elector cardinal members to exit the Sistine Chapel, ensuring a secluded and focused environment for the election process.

4. Brazilian Authorities Thwart Bomb Plot at Lady Gaga Concert

Host: Dale Willman

In a significant security operation, Brazilian police intercepted a planned bombing at Lady Gaga's concert in Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach. The event, which attracted approximately two and a half million attendees, was targeted by a group known for disseminating hate speech against the LGBTQ community. Authorities arrested two individuals linked to the extremist faction, preventing a potential tragedy at the high-profile weekend concert.

5. Rise of a Hard-Right Politician in Romania's Presidential Race

Host: Dale Willman
Reporter: Terry Schultz

Romania witnessed a surge in hard-right sentiment as nationalist candidate George Simeon emerged as the frontrunner in the first round of the presidential elections. This election marks the second voting round following the annulment of the initial ballot due to irregularities and foreign interference concerns. Notably, Simeon aligns closely with President Trump, symbolizing his political stance by donning a MAGA cap during campaigns. He criticizes the European Union's influence, advocating for increased national sovereignty and pledging to end Romania's financial aid to Ukraine.

Reflecting on last year's election, Terry Schultz noted:

“...far right candidate Colin Giorgescu came out of nowhere to win the first round with a largely online campaign, Romanian intelligence has since concluded was propelled by Moscow.”
— Terry Schultz (03:29)

Simeon's victory underscores a broader trend of nationalist and populist movements gaining traction within Eastern Europe.

6. President Trump's Imposition of 100% Tariffs on Foreign Movies and Box Office Highlights

Host: Dale Willman

In a surprising economic move, President Trump announced a 100% tariff on films produced outside the United States. He stated that the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative would oversee the implementation of these tariffs. However, complexities arise as many films are international co-productions, making the enforcement of such tariffs challenging.

Despite these trade tensions, the North American box office saw robust performances over the weekend:

• "Thunderbolts" debuted in first place, earning a substantial $76 million.
• "Sinners," a horror film, secured the second spot.
• The "Minecraft" movie claimed third place, boasting impressive revenues of $398 million in just one month of distribution.
• "The Accountant 2" followed in fourth, with "Until Dawn" rounding out the top five.

These figures highlight the resilience of the U.S. film industry amidst geopolitical and economic shifts.

---

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and events covered in the NPR News Now episode released on May 5, 2025. For comprehensive details, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.

Transcript

[Capital One]

This message comes from Capital One Access comprehensive solutions from a top commercial bank that prioritizes your needs today and goals for tomorrow. Learn [e-mail] Commercial Member FDIC.

[Dale Willman]

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Wilman. President Trump was asked this weekend whether he should uphold the Constitution and responded by saying, I don't know. His comment came during a wide ranging interview on NBC's Meet the Press. NPR's Luke Garrett reports.

[Luke Garrett]

President Trump said he wants to deport millions and doesn't know of deep deportees deserve due process. When asked whether this violates the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution, Trump responded by saying he was elected on the promise of mass deportation. NBC's Kristen Welker then pressed the president on the issue.

[Kristen Welker]

Given those numbers that you're talking about, don't you need to uphold the Constitution of the United States as president?

[Donald Trump]

I don't know. I have to respond by saying again, I have brilliant lawyers that work for me and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said.

[Luke Garrett]

In March, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law that allows a president to deport invading enemies without a court hearing. Recently, a court partially blocked Trump's use of this act to deport Venezuelans. Luke Garrett, NPR News, Washington.

[Dale Willman]

At a town hall outside of Atlanta Sunday, Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock told voters he's disappointed in his Republican colleague's unwillingness to push back on President Donald Trump. For member station wabe, Sam Greenglass has more.

[Sam Greenglass]

For nearly two hours inside Zion Hill Baptist Church, attendees were called to the mic by raffle ticket unloading fears about Trump's tariffs and the mass firings of federal workers. But no matter the topic, most voters landed on a similar question. What are you doing about it? Warnock said one thing he's doing is pressuring GOP senators.

[Raphael Warnock]

What I'm saying to them is that they ought to be concerned about this because, like, I mean, it takes a lot of work to get to be a US Senator. Why would you go through all of that and then hand your power over to a wannabe autocrat? We could stop a lot of this.

[Sam Greenglass]

If we could just get four, warnock told voters. Sometimes your voice is the only thing you've got. For NPR News, I'm Sam Greenglass in Atlanta.

[Dale Willman]

At masses across Rome and around the world on Sunday, Catholics offered prayers for the next pope. The conclave that will elect the successor for Pope Francis, who died last month, begins on Wednesday at the Vatican. Emperor Silvia Piggioli says it will be a very busy day.

[Sylvia Piggioli]

A Mass will be celebrated in St Peter's in the morning and in the afternoon, the cardinals will be escorted by Vatican gendarme to the Sistine Chapel. Once inside, the master of liturgical celebrations will say the words extra omnis, meaning all who aren't cardinal electors get out. After that, the door is shut. Conclave, after all, means with key and the waiting begins.

[Dale Willman]

That's NPR's Sylvia Piggioli reporting from the Vatican. Police in Brazil say they stopped a plot to detonate a bomb at Lady Gaga's weekend concert in Rio de Janeiro. The Saturday event brought two and a half million people to Copacabana Beach. Police say the two people arrested were a part of a group that spreads hate speech against the LGBTQ community. You're listening to NPR News. A hard right nationalist politician has won the first round of Romania's presidential election. Terry Schultz reports that this is the second time Romanians cast their ballots for president because the first vote was annulled over concerns about irregularities and foreign interference.

[Terry Schultz]

With nearly all the votes counted, George Simeon is leading among the 11 candidates vying to be Romanian Next. President Simeon heads the Hard Right alliance for the Unity of Romanians Party and aligns himself with President Trump. Even wearing a MAGA cap, he's critical of the European Union, saying more power needs to remain with national governments, and he pledges to end Romania's aid to Ukraine. When the now annulled vote was held last year, far right candidate Colin Giorgescu came out of nowhere to win the first round with a largely online campaign, Romanian intelligence has since concluded was propelled by Moscow. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz.

[Dale Willman]

President Trump said Sunday night he's authorized a 100% tariff on any movies that were produced outside the U.S. he says the Department of Commerce and the U.S. trade Representative would be responsible for that tariff. Many movies, though, are shot in more than one country, so it's not clear just how any tariff would be implemented. The Marvel Studios flick Thunderbolts debuted in first place this weekend in North American box offices, bringing in a healthy $76 million in ticket. Sal, the horror film Sinners landed in second, while a Minecraft movie claimed third. Minecraft has brought in $398 million in one month of distribution. The accountant 2, meanwhile, was in fourth, followed by until dawn in fifth. I'm Dale Willman, NPR News.

[Capital One]

This message comes from Carvana. Carvana makes financing your next car easy. Buy 100% online with customizable terms good for 30 days. Buy your car the convenient way with Carvana, terms may apply.