NPR News: 05-05-2025 3AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 5, 2025 - 3AM EDT

Released on May 5, 2025

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1. Political Insights: President Trump's Stance on the Constitution and Tariffs

Host: Dale Wilman

NPR's Dale Wilman opens the episode by discussing recent statements by former President Donald Trump. During a Sunday interview aired by NBC, Trump was questioned about his commitment to upholding the Constitution. His response, “I don't know” ([00:17]), raised eyebrows among political analysts. However, he affirmed his respect for judicial authority by stating he would "follow whatever the Supreme Court says."

The conversation shifts to Trump's ongoing tariff policies. Asma Khalid from NPR provides an in-depth analysis, highlighting the economic anxiety reflected in recent polls and Commerce Department data indicating a contraction of the U.S. economy in the first quarter of the year ([00:40]). Khalid notes that Trump believes economists underestimated the positive impacts of tariffs during his presidency and is now implementing even steeper tariffs than those introduced in 2018. This strategy appears aimed at countering current economic forecasts that predict negative outcomes from these trade measures.

2. Security Alert: Foiled Bomb Plot at Lady Gaga Concert in Rio de Janeiro

Reporter: Julia Carneiro

Julia Carneiro reports on a significant security achievement in Brazil, where authorities successfully thwarted a planned bomb attack targeting an open-air Lady Gaga concert in Rio de Janeiro ([01:10]). The Brazilian police, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, uncovered a plot orchestrated via social media. A recruitment group was actively seeking participants to execute attacks using improvised explosives, specifically aiming at LGBTQ fans attending the event. The attackers had set a "collective challenge to gain notoriety online."

Law enforcement acted swiftly, arresting two individuals and executing 15 search warrants, thereby neutralizing the threat without causing public panic or disruption. The concert, held on Copacabana Beach, witnessed an unprecedented attendance of over 2 million people, making it a historic event for Lady Gaga and echoing the scale of Madonna's concerts from the previous year. Lady Gaga expressed her astonishment at the massive turnout, stating, “seeing the crowd of more than 2 million people, her biggest ever, took her breath away” ([01:20]). Carneiro concludes by commending the effective police work that ensured the safety of the attendees.

3. Aviation Crisis: United Airlines Cancels Flights Amid Air Traffic Control Issues

Reporter: Amy Held

Amy Held delivers an update on United Airlines' recent decision to cancel approximately 35 round-trip flights daily from Newark Airport ([02:04]). This move comes in the wake of significant air traffic control disruptions at one of the nation's busiest airports, compounded by longstanding staffing shortages.

United Airlines attributed the cancellations to "the technology air traffic controllers rely on has, quote, failed" ([02:26]). CEO Scott Kirby acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, “at Newark, it's really awful.” Affected passengers, like Odette Fortier, shared their frustrations, recounting how they were stranded on the tarmac while awaiting connections, with Fortier lamenting, “We can't go another day” ([02:48]).

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the urgent need for an overhaul of the air traffic control system, warning that without substantial upgrades—potentially including replacing outdated technology like floppy disks—there could be catastrophic consequences. Funding for such significant upgrades is currently under consideration by Congress. Held underscores the widespread impact of these cancellations, noting that the issue extends beyond Newark, affecting numerous travelers across the network.

4. Tragic Incident: Shooting at Glendale Restaurant Leaves Nine Injured

Reporter: Dale Wilman

In a somber report, Dale Wilman covers a violent incident that occurred in Glendale, Arizona. On Sunday night, at least nine individuals were injured when gunshots were fired inside the El Camron Gigante restaurant near Grand Avenue ([03:12]). Authorities believe multiple shooters were involved, though details remain sparse as investigations continue. While several suspects are being held for questioning, no arrests have been made at this time. The community remains shaken as police work diligently to uncover the motives and identities of those responsible for this tragic event.

5. Entertainment Spotlight: Marvel's "Thunderbolts" Surpasses Expectations at the Box Office

Reporter: Bob Mondello

Bob Mondello provides a positive outlook on Marvel's latest cinematic endeavor, "Thunderbolts," describing it as a successful venture for the studio despite featuring relatively minor characters within the Marvel Universe ([03:49]). By the end of its opening weekend, the film grossed approximately $76 million in North America and an additional $86 million overseas, totaling $162 million in just three days. While these numbers may seem modest compared to blockbuster standards, Mondello points out that "Thunderbolts" was produced on a relatively modest budget, making its financial performance commendable.

Interwoven into the discussion, comments from Odette Fortier add a lighter note to the segment. When asked about her feelings on the film's success, Fortier responds with enthusiasm: “We gonna kill every last one of” ([04:21]), followed by a playful “You feel fulfilled?” ([04:53]) and a spirited agreement from Asma Khalid, saying, “Yeah, soulful soul, filled” ([04:23]). Mondello concludes by anticipating continued strong performance, noting that "Thunderbolts" is expected to maintain its box office presence throughout the summer. Additionally, he highlights the ongoing success of the vampire-themed film "Sinners," which has amassed nearly $180 million in North America alone ([04:23]).

6. International Conflict: Renewed Violence in Ukraine Amid Ceasefire Talks

Reporter: Dale Wilman

Dale Wilman returns to international affairs, reporting that despite ongoing efforts to negotiate a ceasefire, conflict persists in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials confirmed that an overnight drone attack by Russian forces targeted Kyiv, resulting in injuries to 11 individuals, including two children ([03:12]). Concurrently, Russia's defense ministry reported the interception and downing of 13 Ukrainian drones by its air defense systems. This exchange underscores the fragile state of peace negotiations and the continuing volatility in the region. Wilman emphasizes the human cost of these hostilities, highlighting the urgent need for diplomatic solutions to prevent further loss of life.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content segments from HomeTap and Carvana were omitted in accordance with the summary guidelines.

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on May 5, 2025. From political dynamics and international security to aviation challenges and entertainment successes, the episode offers listeners a broad spectrum of current events and analyses.

Transcript

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[Dale Wilman]

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 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. 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 Wilman]

That's NPR's Asma Khalid. 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 Carneiro reports.

[Julia Carneiro]

According to Rio's 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 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.

[Dale Wilman]

In Rio, flyers are filing a number of complaints after United Airlines announced over the weekend that it's getting rid of some three dozen daily flights at one of the busiest US Airports. The move follows major air traffic control problems there. And as NPR's Amy Held reports, it also comes because of a long time staffing shortage.

[Amy Held]

United announced the cancellation of 35 round trip flights every day from New York Airport because the technology air traffic controllers rely on has, quote, failed in a statement. CEO Scott Kirby says it's clear the airport cannot handle the planes scheduled to operate there this weekend. At Newark, it's really awful. Odette Fortier planned to join her tour group but got stuck on the tarmac.

[Odette Fortier]

We're going on a tour that we're meeting the group in Athens. We can't go another day.

[Amy Held]

It's not just Newark. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says unless unless a whole new air traffic control system is built, people will lose lives. The current system relies in part on floppy disks and World War II era radar upgrade funding is under consideration by Congress. Amy Held, NPR News.

[Dale Wilman]

And you're listening to NPR News. Police in Glendale, Arizona, say at least nine people were injured when shots were fired at a city restaurant Sunday night. A number of people are being held for questioning, but so far there have been no arrests. Police say there were likely multiple shooters involved, but little else is known about what happened. The incident took place at the El Camron Gigante, which is a steakhouse near Grand Avenue. Thunderbolts, Marvel's latest team building exercise, is off to a decent start at box offices worldwide. NPR's Bob Mondello has our details.

[Bob Mondello]

For a film about decidedly minor Marvel characters, Thunderbolts did just fine.

[Odette Fortier]

You feel fulfilled?

[Asma Khalid]

Yeah, soulful soul, filled.

[Bob Mondello]

By the end of the weekend, it will have taken in about $76 million in North America and another 86 million overseas, for a total of $162 million in three days. That's hardly huge for a Marvel movie, but Thunderbolts wasn't hugely expensive to produce. It's expected to play well for much of the summer. Also performing well the third weekend of the blues inflected vampire film Sinners.

[Odette Fortier]

We gonna kill every last one of.

[Bob Mondello]

You in three weeks. Sinners has now collected almost $180 million just in North America. Bob Mondello, NPR News.

[Dale Wilman]

Despite ongoing ceasefire discussions, the fighting is continuing in Ukraine. Officials in Ukraine say a drone attack by Russia overnight on the capital city of Kyiv injured 11 people, and that includes two children. In Russia, meanwhile, that country's defense ministry says its air defenses shot down 13 Ukrainian drones. I'm Dale Wilman, NPR News.

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