NPR News: 05-05-2025 9PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 5, 2025, 9 PM EDT

Released May 6, 2025

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1. President Trump's Executive Order on Research Funding

Host: Jack Spear
Reporter: Rob Stein

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order that restricts federal funding for what he terms "dangerous" research. Specifically, the order targets gain of function research—studies that explore how viruses and other pathogens might be modified to spread more easily or cause more severe illness. This type of research has been a subject of ongoing controversy, which has intensified due to allegations that the COVID-19 pandemic originated from a virus engineered during gain of function experiments in China.

Rob Stein elaborates on the implications of this move:
"The so-called gain of function research involves studying how viral viruses and other pathogens could cause a pandemic by spreading more easily or causing more serious illness" [00:27].
However, many in the scientific community disagree with the accusations linking COVID-19 to such research and express concern that a funding moratorium could hinder efforts to prevent or respond to future pandemics. Stein concludes, "A moratorium on funding will block research that could help prevent or respond to the next pandemic" [00:27].

2. Former Palantir Employees Criticize Surveillance Practices

Host: Jack Spear
Reporter: Bobby Allen

A group of thirteen former employees from the tech firm Palantir have come forward to condemn the company's collaboration with the Trump administration. These ex-workers accuse Palantir of enabling the real-time tracking of illegal migrants in the United States through its advanced data mining and surveillance software.

Bobby Allen reports:
"Thirteen ex Palantir workers say the Trump administration is abusing the data mining tools they helped build" [01:17].
The former employees point out that Palantir’s own code of conduct prohibits the misuse of its software to infringe upon individuals' rights. They assert, "Early palletarians understood the ethical weight of building these technologies. These principles have now been violated and are rapidly being dismantled at Palantir Technologies and across Silicon Valley" [01:17]. Attempts to obtain comments from Palantir and the White House were unsuccessful.

3. Pope Francis Transforms Popemobile into a Mobile Health Clinic for Gaza

Host: Jack Spear
Reporter: Ruth Sherlock

In a heartfelt initiative, Pope Francis has requested that one of his iconic popemobiles be converted into a mobile health clinic to aid children in the Gaza Strip. This request fulfills one of the Pope’s last wishes and comes amid the devastation of health services in Gaza due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Ruth Sherlock provides details:
"The Pope Mobile... is being outfitted with diagnostic and emergency medical equipment to help young patients in Gaza" [02:03].
The mobile clinic will be equipped with essential medical supplies such as suture kits and vaccines and will be operated by trained medical staff. The Catholic aid organization Caritas Jerusalem is spearheading this project, navigating the complex restrictions on accessing Gaza to deliver much-needed healthcare to communities deprived of medical facilities. Sherlock adds, "Pope Francis called the Holy Family Church in Gaza almost every day throughout the war, including from his hospital bed as he was critically ill with double pneumonia" [02:03].

4. The Met Gala and the Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower

Host: Jack Spear
Reporters: Jacqueline Diaz

As the first Monday in May unfolds, attention turns to the annual Met Gala, renowned for its high-profile attendees from various sectors including technology, sports, art, and entertainment. This year's theme spotlights black designers and marks the first menswear-focused Met Gala in over two decades.

Simultaneously, astronomy enthusiasts are preparing for the Eta Aquarid meteor shower, expected to light up the predawn skies across the United States. Jacqueline Diaz shares insights on how to witness this celestial event:
"The Eta Aquarid meteor shower will streak across the predawn sky of May 6th... around 50 meteors per hour are expected at the peak of this shower" [03:25].
Diaz advises viewers to find a dark location away from city lights for the best viewing experience, particularly around 3 AM when the moon sets and the sky is darkest. She encourages, "It's time to roll out your picnic blanket and unfold those lawn chairs" [03:25].

5. Skechers Acquisition and Market Movements

Host: Jack Spear

In business news, Skechers, the footwear company known for its celebrity-endorsed no-tie shoes, has agreed to be acquired for $9 billion by the investment firm 3G Capital. The acquisition, priced at $63 per share, represents a 30% premium over Skechers’ 15-day volume-weighted stock price. This move to take Skechers private comes amid growing concerns over how President Trump's tariffs on foreign goods may impact companies with significant overseas production.

Additionally, crude oil futures have seen a decline, dropping more than a dollar per barrel amid ongoing worries about potential output increases by OPEC and other producers. Specifically, oil prices fell by $1.16 per barrel, settling at $57.13 [04:04]. These market fluctuations reflect broader economic uncertainties influenced by international trade policies and energy production strategies.

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[End of Summary]

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Trump has signed an executive order restricting federal funding of research which he calls dangerous. More from NPR's Rob Stein.

[Rob Stein]

The so called gain of function research involves studying how viral viruses and other pathogens could cause a pandemic by spreading more easily or causing more serious illness. This research has long been controversial, but the controversy intensified because of accusations that the COVID 19 pandemic was caused by a virus that was created during gain of function research in China. Many other scientists dispute that and fear a moratorium on funding will block research that could help prevent or respond to the next pandemic. Rob Stein, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

More than a dozen former employees of the tech firm Palantir are speaking out against the company's work with the Trump administration. As NPR's Bobby Allen explains, Palantir technology is being used to identify real time movements of migrants in the US Illegally.

[Bobby Allen]

Thirteen ex Palantir workers say the Trump administration is abusing the data mining tools they helped build. The former employees note that Palantir's advanced surveillance software is helping Immigration and Customs Enforcement track migrants in real time. The letter, shared exclusively with npr, says Palantir's own code of conduct says its software should not be used to violate people's rights. The letter says, quote, early palletarians understood the ethical weight of building these technologies. These principles have now been violated and are rapidly being dismantled at Palantir Technologies and across Silicon Valley. Palantir and the White House did not return requests for comment. Bobby Allen, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

In one of the last wishes he made, Pope Francis requested one of his popemobiles be turned into a mobile health clinic for children in the Gaza Strip. NPR's Ruth Sherlock has this update.

[Ruth Sherlock]

The Vatican's official media says the Pope Mobile that Pope Francis used during his 2014 visit to the Holy Land is being outfitted with diagnostic and emergency medical equipment to help young patients in Gaza. Health services have been decimated during Israel's war against Hamas in the Palestinian enclave. The Pope mobile will carry things like suture kits and vaccines and be run by medical staff. The Catholic aid organization Caritas Jerusalem, which leads the initiative, has to navigate restrictions on access to Gaza, but ultimately plans to deploy the clinic to communities that now survive without health facilities. Pope Francis called the Holy Family Church in Gaza almost every day throughout the war, including from his hospital bed as he was critically ill with double pneumonia. Ruth Sherlock, NPR News, Rome.

[Jack Spear]

It's the first Monday in May, which means it's time for the annual Met Gala. This year's theme focuses on black designers, with about 450 high profile people from tech, sports, art, entertainment and more expected at the annual event. It's the first Met Gala in more than 20 years to have a menswear theme. Stocks gained ground on Wall street today. The Dow up 98 point or down 98 points. Across the US the predawn sky will be lit up with an annual meteor shower called the Eta Aquarid early this morning. NPR's Jacqueline Diaz has more on when and how to spot the meteor showers.

[Jacqueline Diaz]

It's time to roll out your picnic blanket and unfold those lawn chairs. Prepare for an early morning show. The Eta Aquarius meteor shower will streak across the Predawn sky of May 6th. And according to the US space agency NASA, there will be a lot of opportunities to spot the meteors, as around 50 meteors per hour are expected at the peak of this shower. The best time to see everything is around 3am that's when the moon will set and the sky will be at its darkest. And the Eta Aquarids meteor shower will be easiest to spot as long as you are a good distance away from city and streetlights. Jacqueline Diaz, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

Shoe company Skechers, which is famous for its ads touting celebrities stepping into its no tie shoes, is agreed to be acquired for $9 billion. The company will be taken private by the investment group 3G Capital. Moved to privatize the company comes amid mounting concerns over how the Trump administration's tariffs on foreign goods will affect companies that produce much of their products overseas. $63 per share offer for Skecher represents a 30% premium to the company's 15 day volume weighted stock price. Crude oil futures prices have moved lower today, falling by more than a dollar a barrel. That was on continued worries about anticipated output hikes by OPEC and other producers. Oil dropped $1.16 a barrel and settled at $57.13 a barrel. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

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