NPR News: 05-05-2025 7PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – May 5, 2025, 7 PM EDT

On this episode of NPR News Now, listeners are presented with a comprehensive overview of the day's most pressing issues, ranging from federal funding decisions affecting renowned universities to high-stakes policy discussions in the entertainment and energy sectors. Below is a detailed summary of the key topics covered.

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1. Federal Funding Cuts to Harvard University

Host: Jack Spear

The Department of Education has announced significant federal funding cuts to Harvard University. According to Jack Spear, "US Secretary of Education Linda Mc will reportedly issue a letter to Harvard's president, Alan Garber announcing that Harvard is not eligible for any new research grants from the federal government until they demonstrate responsible management of the university" (00:20). This decision follows the federal government's freezing of $2.2 billion in grants after Harvard failed to comply with demands to overhaul campus policies, particularly those promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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2. President Trump's Tariff Proposal on Foreign-Made Films

Host: Jack Spear
Reporter: Franco Ordonez

President Trump is set to engage with leaders in the film industry to discuss his controversial proposal for imposing tariffs on foreign-made movies. As reported by Franco Ordonez, Trump emphasized his intent to support the domestic film sector:

“I'm not looking to hurt the industry. I want to help the industry, but they're given financing by other countries” (01:19).

The President has authorized U.S. Trade Representative Jameson Greer to begin the process of taxing all foreign-produced films, framing the issue as one of national security and job creation within Hollywood. Trump criticizes the current state of American manufacturing in the film industry, stating:

“Hollywood may have a nice sign, but it doesn't do very much of the business anymore. Like so much of American manufacturing, production has largely left the US to save money” (01:26).

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3. Legal Challenges to Trump Administration’s Wind Power Restrictions

Host: Jack Spear
Reporter: Brian Mann

A coalition of State Attorneys General, led by New York AG Letitia James, has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's recent executive orders halting wind power development. Brian Mann explains that:

“One of President Trump's first executive orders back in January halted wind power development in federal waters offshore and paused permitting and leasing for turbines on land” (02:09).

The lawsuit argues that these actions are unlawful and pose a threat to thousands of jobs in the wind power industry, labeling the administration's move as a "blockade against low carbon power." Letitia James criticized the administration's policies, stating:

“This administration is devastating one of our nation's fastest growing sources of clean, reliable and affordable energy” (02:09).

This legal action is part of a broader wave of challenges facing Trump's environmental policies.

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4. Federal Reserve's Upcoming Interest Rate Decision

Host: Jack Spear

The Federal Reserve is scheduled to meet in Washington this week to decide on the direction of short-term interest rates. Most economists anticipate that the Fed will maintain current rates unchanged after the two-day meeting concludes on Wednesday. Despite facing criticism from President Trump, the Federal Reserve has reiterated that its decisions will be based on "current and anticipated economic conditions as well as inflationary pressures." As of the latest reports, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has dipped by 98 points ahead of the announcement.

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5. Military Helicopter Flights Near Washington National Airport Suspended

Host: Jack Spear

In response to recent safety concerns, the Army has suspended helicopter flights near Washington National Airport. This decision comes after two commercial planes had to abort landings due to the presence of an Army Black Hawk helicopter in the vicinity. Jack Spear reports that the pause affects operations of the 12th Aviation Battalion in the Greater Washington Region. This move follows a tragic incident in January where 67 people lost their lives when a passenger jet collided with a Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Airport.

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6. Celebrating Square Root Day

Host: Ari Daniel
Guest: Ron Gordon

Today marks Square Root Day, a mathematical phenomenon that occurs when the day and month are both the square root of the last two digits of the year. Ron Gordon explains:

“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” (03:57).

President Trump humorously noted the occasion:

“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” (04:12).

Mathematics expert Terrence Blackman emphasizes the significance of such events in appreciating the role of math in everyday life.

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7. Decline in Crude Oil Futures Prices

Host: Jack Spear

Crude oil futures experienced a decline, dropping by over a dollar per barrel in response to concerns over potential output increases by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The price of oil fell by $1.16 a barrel, reflecting ongoing market uncertainties.

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now encapsulates a range of critical issues impacting education, the economy, energy policy, and even cultural phenomena like Square Root Day. With insightful reporting and direct quotes from key figures, the summary provides listeners with a thorough understanding of the day's news landscape.

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Timestamps:

• 00:20 – Federal Funding Cuts to Harvard
• 01:19 – Trump's Tariff Proposal on Films
• 01:26 – Trump's Comments on Hollywood
• 02:09 – Legal Challenges to Wind Power Restrictions
• 03:57 – Square Root Day Explanation
• 04:12 – Trump's Square Root Day Remarks

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This summary was generated based on the transcript of NPR News Now's episode released on May 5, 2025.

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

In Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The Department of Education says it will be cutting futural federal funding to Harvard University. US Secretary of Education Linda Mc will reportedly issue a letter to Harvard's president, Alan Garber announcing that Harvard is not eligible for any new research grants from the federal government until they demonstrate responsible management of the university. The federal government has already frozen $2.2 billion in federal grants after Harvard refused to comply with a list of demands to overhaul many of its campus policies, including programs the administration considers to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. President Trump says he plans to meet with leaders in the film industry. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports. They will discuss Trump's proposal for tariffs on foreign made movies.

[NPR Sponsor]

President Trump announced on social media that he plans to impose a hundred percent tariff on foreign made films, painting the issue as a matter of national security. At the White House, Trump said the industry had been abandoned.

[Donald Trump]

I'm not looking to hurt the industry. I want to help the industry, but they're given financing by other countries.

[NPR Sponsor]

Trump says he authorized the US Trade representative Jameson Greer to begin the process of taxing any and all movies that are produced in foreign lands. Trump said the goal was to create jobs. He argued that Hollywood may have a nice sign, but it doesn't do very much of the business anymore. Like so much of American manufacturing, production has largely left the US to save money. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

The White House State attorneys general around the US Are suing the Trump administration over a White House effort to block new wind power projects. The suit filed today argues Trump's move is unlawful and threatens thousands of jobs in the wind power industry. Here's NPR's Brian Mann.

[Brian Mann]

One of President Trump's first executive orders back in January halted wind power development in federal waters offshore and paused permitting and leasing for turbines on land. The order cited concerns about the impact of turbines on ocean currents and wind patterns. This Lawsuit filed by 17 Democratic state attorneys general and the attorney general for Washington, D.C. claims the national pause on new wind projects is unlawful and represents what New York AG Letitia James described as a blockade against low carbon power. This administration is devastating one of our nation's fastest growing sources of clean, reliable and affordable energy, james said. This lawsuit comes as Trump's executive orders face a growing wave of legal challenges. Brian Mann, NPR News, New York.

[Jack Spear]

The interest rate setting Federal Reserve meets in Washington this week with the betting by most economists when it wraps up its two day meeting on Wednesday, central bank will opt to leave short term rates unchanged. That's despite some harsh criticisms from President Trump. The Fed has repeatedly said it will base any decision on rates on current and anticipated economic conditions as well as inflationary pressures. On Wall street, the dow is down 98 points. This is NPR. The army says it is putting helicopter flights near busy Washington National Airport on hold for now. That's after another couple of close calls. The latest pause reportedly coming after two commercial planes had to abort landings last week because of an Army Black Hawk helicopter which was in airspace near the airport. Two Arm army officials confirmed the pause. The 12th Aviation Battalion is continuing to fly in the Greater Washington Region. 67 people were killed in January when a passenger jet coming in for a landing collided with a Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan Airport. Today is square root day. Here's NPR's Ari Daniel. To explain what that means, Ron Gordon.

[Ron 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.

[Donald Trump]

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.

[Ron Gordon]

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 Spear]

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

[Ron Gordon]

Today is extra special because the year is a perfect square that is 45 times 45 is 2025. Ari Daniel, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

Crude oil futures prices moved lower, falling by more than a dollar a barrel today and continued worries about anticipated output hikes by OPEC. Oil was down $1.16 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

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