NPR News: 05-05-2025 8AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 5, 2025, 8 AM EDT

Hosted by Korva Coleman

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1. President Trump's Stance on Illegal Immigration and Alcatraz Prison

President Trump's Immigration Policies: In today's news, President Donald Trump addressed the issue of illegal immigration, emphasizing that his administration was elected to reduce the number of undocumented individuals entering the United States. However, during an NBC interview, Trump made a controversial statement regarding the Constitution. When questioned about whether individuals residing illegally in the U.S. deserve due process as outlined by the Constitution, Trump responded:

"I have lawyers who work for me, and I would follow the Supreme Court."
(00:15)

This statement has sparked discussions about the administration's commitment to constitutional principles.

Reopening Alcatraz Federal Prison: Adding to the immigration discourse, Trump announced plans to reopen Alcatraz Island as a federal prison. In a social media post, he lauded Alcatraz's historical role as a maximum-security facility, stating:

"In the past, the US didn't hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals and keep them far away from anyone they could harm."
(00:53)

Trump expressed his intention for Alcatraz to once again house some of the nation's most violent offenders. Rachel Vasquez from KQED reported that while the Bureau of Prisons acknowledged compliance with presidential orders and promised further details, Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the proposal as a distraction. Currently, Alcatraz remains a popular tourist destination and has not functioned as a prison for over six decades.

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2. Resumption of Federal Student Loan Collections

Federal Collection Efforts Restart: Effective today, the federal government has resumed the collection of student loans from borrowers who are in default—a process that had been on hold since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gillian Berman from MarketWatch provided guidance for affected individuals:

"The best thing to do is to check your account at studentaid.gov. It should be pretty clear to you whether or not you're in default. If you find out that that's the case, the best thing to do is contact the Default Resolution Group, and they will sort out your options to help you get out of default."
(01:49)

The Trump administration has warned that failure to repay student loans may lead to automatic deductions from borrowers' paychecks and eligibility benefits.

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3. Federal Sex Trafficking Trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs Begins Jury Selection

Case Overview: Jury selection has commenced in New York City for the federal trial against Sean "Diddy" Combs, the renowned rapper, producer, and entrepreneur. Prosecutors accuse Combs of orchestrating a decade-long sex trafficking operation. Isabela Gomez Sarmiento from NPR detailed the charges:

"Prosecutors allege that Diddy Combs used his businesses to facilitate and conceal sex crimes for more than a decade, including sex trafficking by force or coercion and transporting individuals across state lines to engage in prostitution."
(02:29)

Additionally, Combs faces a racketeering conspiracy charge, with claims that he directed employees to solicit victims, distribute illegal substances, and safeguard his reputation. The trial, expected to begin opening statements on May 12, will feature testimonies from several alleged victims.

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4. United Airlines Reduces Flights at Newark International Airport

Flight Cuts Due to Air Traffic Control Issues: United Airlines has announced a significant reduction in its flight operations at Newark Liberty International Airport, terminating approximately three dozen daily flights. The airline cited failures in the current U.S. air traffic control technology, which has been unable to manage the increasing volume of air traffic efficiently.

The reduction comes amid congressional discussions on securing funding to upgrade the nation's outdated air traffic control systems. This move by United Airlines underscores the broader challenges facing the aviation industry in maintaining and modernizing critical infrastructure.

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5. Reentry of Soviet Space Probe Kosmos 482

Spacecraft to Reenter Earth's Atmosphere: A Soviet-era space probe, Kosmos 482, launched in 1972 with the mission to reach Venus, is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere next weekend. Joe Hernandez from NPR reported that the spacecraft, which suffered an engine malfunction and remained in low Earth orbit, has been on a decaying elliptical path.

While NASA anticipates that the probe's lander, a robust component with a strong heat shield, might withstand reentry intact, the exact landing location remains uncertain. If portions of Kosmos 482 survive the atmospheric entry, their remnants could potentially reach the Earth's surface, raising questions about debris management and tracking of defunct space objects.

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6. Celebrations of Cinco de Mayo Across the United States

Cultural Festivities Mark Cinco de Mayo: Today marks Cinco de Mayo, a significant holiday in Mexico commemorating the country's military victory over French forces in 1862. Over the years, the celebration has transcended its historical roots to become a vibrant cultural event recognized widely in the United States.

Cities across the U.S. are hosting a variety of events, including parades, concerts, and cultural exhibitions, celebrating Mexican heritage and traditions. These festivities not only honor the historical victory but also promote cultural exchange and diversity within American communities.

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Note: This summary excludes non-content segments such as advertisements, intros, and outros to provide a focused overview of the day's key news topics.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump says Americans voted for him to cut down on illegal immigration. But in an interview with NBC, Trump said he didn't know if he needs to uphold the Constitution. This answer came when he was asked about whether people should receive due process under the Constitution, including people who are illegally in the U.S. trump replied he has lawyers who work for him and that he would follow the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, Trump says he is directing the Federal Bureau of Prisons to reopen and expand Alcatraz. The former federal prison is on an island in San Francisco Bay. From member station kqed, Rachel Vasquez has more.

[Rachel Vasquez]

In a social media post, Trump celebrated the island's history as a maximum security penitentiary, saying in the past the US didn't hesitate to, quote, lock up the most dangerous cribs criminals and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. He said he wants the island to once again house the nation's most violent offenders. A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons says they comply with all presidential orders and will share more information when they have it. Alcatraz hasn't been a working prison in more than 60 years, but remains a popular tourist destination. A spokesperson for Governor Gavin Newsom called the proposal a distraction. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Vasquez.

[Korva Coleman]

Starting today, the federal government is again collecting student loans from borrowers who are in default. This has been paused since the pandemic started. Gillian Berman is with the media outlet MarketWatch. She says if you're not sure about your student loan status, here's how to find out.

[Gillian Berman]

The best thing to do is to check your [e-mail] Sign in there and, you know, it should be pretty clear to you whether or not you're in default. If you find out that that's the case. For most people, the best thing to do is going to be to contact something that something called the Default Resolution Group, and they will sort of give you your options to help you get out of default.

[Korva Coleman]

The Trump administration says if borrowers don't pay back student loans, it will start collecting this from people's paychecks and benefits. Jury selection begins today in New York City for the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean Diddy Combs. The media mogul also faces charges for racketeering conspiracy, as NPR's Isabela Gomez Sarmiento.

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

Reports, Sean Diddy Combs has been in custody since his arrest last September. Prosecutors allege the rapper, producer and entrepreneur used his businesses to facilitate and conceal sex crimes for more than a decade. These include sex trafficking by force or coercion and transporting people across state lines to engage in prostitution. Combs also faces one charge of racketeering conspiracy. Prosecutors claim he directed his employees to solicit victims, solicit illegal substances and protect his reputation. Potential jurors will be questioned this week. Opening statements for the criminal trial are scheduled to begin on May 12. Several alleged victims are expected to testify throughout the trial. Isabela Gomez Sarmiento, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

This is npr. United Airlines says it's cutting flights at Newark's major international airport. The airline says it's ending some three dozen daily flights at the New Jersey airport. Officials at United say the technology that US Air traffic controllers use has, quote, failed and they cannot handle the volume of traffic. Congress is considering funding upgrades to the air traffic control system. A Soviet space probe launched over 50 years ago is expected to finally re enter Earth's atmosphere next weekend. As NPR's Joe Hernandez reports, it's unclear where the spacecraft will fall or whether it will burn up before it reaches the surface.

[Joe Hernandez]

Soviet scientists launched Kosmos 482 in 1972 with the goal of reaching Venus, but an apparent engine malfunction stranded the spacecraft in low Earth orbit. According to NASA, the craft's lander has been following an elliptical path that has finally decayed to the point that it will soon fall back to Earth. It could burn up as it reenters the atmosphere. But one astronomer told NPR that because because of its strong heat Shield, the Kosmos 482 Lander will probably stay in one piece through re entry. If the thousand pound meter wide spherical lander survives, scientists say they aren't yet sure where it will land. Joe Hernandez, NPR News.

[Korva Coleman]

Today is Cinco de Mayo. It's a holiday in Mexico celebrating the country's military victory over French forces in 1862. It's now evolved into a cultural celebration that is also recognized in the US Many cities in the U are hosting celebrations, parades and cultural events. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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