NPR News: 05-08-2025 2AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 8, 2025

Host: Shea Stevens
Release Date: May 8, 2025
Duration: 5 minutes

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President Trump to Announce Trade Deal

In today's top story, President Donald Trump has announced that he will reveal a new trade agreement on Thursday morning via his social media platform, Truth Social. While he has not specified which country is involved, this deal marks the first major agreement since Trump imposed significant tariffs on global imports. The announcement comes amid ongoing trade negotiations, as representatives from the United States and China are scheduled to hold talks this weekend in Switzerland.

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Federal Reserve Maintains Interest Rates Amid Trade Uncertainty

The Federal Reserve Board has decided to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged, a move that has bolstered Wall Street stocks. NPR's Scott Horsley reports that the central bank is adopting a "wait and see" approach in response to President Trump's escalating trade war.

Scott Horsley [00:53]: "The Federal Reserve says the worldwide tariffs President Trump ordered last month raised the risk of higher inflation, higher unemployment, or in the worst case scenario, both."

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell emphasized the uncertainty surrounding the tariffs' long-term impact on the economy. He stated,

Jerome Powell [01:14]: "Look at the state of the economy. The labor market is solid. Inflation is low. We can afford to be patient as things unfold. There's no real cost to our waiting at this point."

Despite Trump's repeated calls for lower interest rates, Powell reaffirmed that the Federal Reserve remains focused on economic performance rather than political pressures.

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Trump Appoints Dr. Casey Means as Surgeon General

President Trump has revised his appointment for the position of Surgeon General, selecting Dr. Casey Means after previously nominating Fox News contributor Dr. Jeanette Neshwat. NPR's Will Stone provides insight into the new nominee's background.

Dr. Means, a Stanford Medical School attendee, gained recognition through her bestselling book on metabolic health. Although she began a residency program in surgery, she left before completion, citing frustrations with mainstream medicine. She co-founded Levels, a biotech and wellness company that offers continuous glucose monitoring devices.

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Chief Justice Roberts Champions Judicial Independence

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts underscored the importance of an independent judiciary in a speech commemorating the 125th anniversary of the U.S. District Court for Western New York. Amidst increasing criticisms from President Trump towards federal judges, Roberts highlighted the judiciary's role in maintaining constitutional checks and balances.

John Roberts [02:36]: "In our Constitution, judges and the judiciary is a co-equal branch of government separate from the others, with the authority to interpret the Constitution as law and strike down obviously acts of Congress or acts of the president. And that innovation doesn't work if it's not the judiciary is not independent."

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Court Orders Transfer of Immigration Detention Case

A federal appeals court has mandated the Trump administration to transfer Tufts University doctoral student Ramesa Ozturk from Louisiana back to Vermont for the continuation of her immigration detention. Ozturk, who was apprehended near her Vermont residence last month, faces potential deportation to Turkey due to her pro-Palestinian activism.

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Xi Jinping Strengthens Ties with Russia in Moscow Visit

China's President Xi Jinping is currently in Moscow to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, as reported by NPR's Emily Fang. In an essay published in Russian media, Xi lauded the enduring friendship between China and Russia, describing it as a "friendship forged with blood."

Emily Fang [03:49]: "Xi praised China's relationship with Russia as, quote, a friendship forged with blood in an essay published in Russian media this week."

The visit aims to bolster the strategic partnership between China and Russia, especially as Russia faces international sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, China has expressed willingness to mediate a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, aligning with U.S. efforts to broker negotiations.

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Wall Street After-Hours Trading Steady

U.S. futures remain largely unchanged in after-hours trading following gains in Asian markets. Notably, shares in Hong Kong rose by 1%, reflecting a stable outlook on Wall Street.

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This summary captures the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode released on May 8, 2025. For more detailed information, please refer to the full podcast transcript.

Transcript

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[Shea Stevens]

Live from NPR News In Washington, I'm Shea Stevens. President Trump says he'll announce a trade deal on Thursday morning in an announcement on his platform True Social. Trump did not say which country is involved in the deal, but it would be the first agreement since the president imposed stiff tariffs on global imports. Representatives from the US And China, meanwhile, are set to hold trade talks this weekend in Switzerland. The Federal Reserve Board's decision to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged sent stocks higher on Wall Street. As NPR Scott Horsley reports, the central bank is taking a wait and see approach to President Trump's trade war.

[Scott Horsley]

The Federal Reserve says the worldwide tariffs President Trump ordered last month raised the risk of higher inflation, higher unemployment, or in the worst case scenario, both. But Fed Chairman Jerome Powell says it's not clear whether the tariffs will remain in place or just how they'll affect the economy. So he and his colleagues feel no great urgency to adjust interest rates just yet.

[Jerome Powell]

Look at the state of the economy. The labor market is solid. Inflation is low. We can afford to be patient as things unfold. There's no real cost to our waiting at this point.

[Scott Horsley]

President Trump has repeatedly urged the central bank to lower interest rates, but Powell says he and his colleagues are focused on the economy's performance, not social media. Media post from the White House Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Shea Stevens]

President Trump has changed his pick for surgeon general and now wants a physician and author in that post. NPR's Will Stone has more.

[Will Stone]

Trump had previously picked Fox News contributor Dr. Jeanette Neshwat, but has now pivoted after questions emerged about her medical credentials. His new pick, Dr. Casey Means, gained popularity after publishing a best seller on metabolic health. The co author of her book is her brother, Callie Means, who's an advisor to Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kasey Means attended Stanford Medical School and went on to train as a surgeon, but ultimately dropped out of her residency program before finishing it because of what she described as her frustrations with mainstream medicine. She went on to co found the biotech and wellness company Levels, which offers continuous glucose monitoring devices to consumers. Will stone, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is stressing the need for judicial independence. Roberts says the high court's job is to decide cases and to check the excesses of Congress or the executive branch.

[Jerome Powell]

In our Constitution, judges and the judiciary is a co equal branch of government separate from the others, with the authority to interpret the Constitution as law and strike down obviously acts of Congress or acts of the president. And that innovation doesn't work if it's not the judiciary is not independent.

[Shea Stevens]

Roberts was speaking at an event celebrating the 125th anniversary at the U.S. district Court for Western New York. His comments come amid increasing attacks on federal judges who defy President Trump. This is npr. A federal appeals court is giving the Trump administration seven days to transfer a Tufts University doctoral student to Vermont to continue her immigration detention. Ramesa Ozturk was flown to Louisiana last month after being arrested near her Vermont home. Osturk faces possible deportation to her native Turkey because of her pro Palestinian activism. China's President Xi Jinping is in Moscow partly to commemorate the anniversary of the end of World War II. As NPR's Emily Fang reports, she is also there to show support for Vladimir Putin.

[Emily Fang]

Xi praised China's relationship with Russia as, quote, a friendship forged with blood in an essay published in Russian media this week. China, the then Soviet Union and the US were all allies during World War II, a war remembered in China today as the anti fascist war. While relations with the US Are now tense, China and Russia are close collaborators once again. And China has been an important economic partner for Russia after it faced international sanctions for its full scale invasion of Ukraine. China's leader Xi is in Moscow on Vladimir Putin's invitation to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. The visit comes as the US Is trying to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, a deal that China has repeatedly offered to mediate as well. Emily Feng, NPR News.

[Shea Stevens]

U.S. futures are virtually unchanged in after hours trading on Wall street following Wednesday's gains on Asia Pacific markets. Shares are higher, up 1% in Hong Kong. This is NPR News.

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