NPR News: 05-08-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now

Episode: NPR News: 05-08-2025 6PM EDT
Release Date: May 8, 2025
Host: NPR

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1. Global Reactions to the Election of Pope Leo XIV

Catholics worldwide are celebrating the election of the new Pope, Leo XIV, with particular enthusiasm in the United States. The newly elected pope, hailing from south suburban Chicago and with a background as a missionary, has resonated deeply with American Catholics.

Father Gregory Sakowitz, Director of the Holy Name Cathedral in downtown Chicago, shared his excitement: “Father Gregory Sakowitz is director of the Holy Name Cathedral in downtown Chicago, and he was given communion when he learned from the congregation that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope" [00:46]. Sakowitz emphasized that Pope Leo XIV's American nationality does not define him, stating, “he's a child of God" [01:13].

An unnamed Catholic commentator highlighted the pope’s commitment to social issues: “I think he's going to be very strong on the immigrant, human rights and the earth. They care for the earth" [01:01]. This sentiment was echoed in Lagos, Nigeria, where parishioners at Holy Cross Cathedral celebrated the new pope’s selection. Emmanuel Akonwodel, present at the cathedral, remarked, “What really matters to many of them is that the new pope embodies the humility and an example that Pope Francis set" [01:37].

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2. President Trump Withdraws Nomination of Ed Martin as U.S. Attorney

In a significant political development, President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of his nominee, Ed Martin, for the position of U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C. The decision comes amid growing controversy surrounding Martin's appointment.

Trump addressed reporters, stating, “It is clear that Ed Martin does not have the support in the US Senate to win confirmation and that he plans to nominate a new candidate soon" [02:13]. He also expressed hope that Martin could serve in another capacity within his administration.

Ed Martin's nomination has been contentious due to his lack of prosecutorial experience and his involvement in advancing false claims about the 2020 election fraud. As the interim U.S. Attorney, Martin has been criticized for defending Capitol rioters and for actions against prosecutorial staff handling January 6th cases, including firing prosecutors and threatening investigations into Trump's political opponents [02:13].

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3. European Union’s Trade Actions and Market Reaction

The European Union has announced a comprehensive list of U.S. imports totaling $107 billion that will be targeted for retaliatory tariffs should President Trump fail to resolve the ongoing tariff dispute. This move coincides with the U.S. and the U.K. reaching a broad trade agreement, intensifying the EU’s stance.

The EU Commission has also declared plans to initiate legal action at the World Trade Organization against the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the U.S. last month [02:59]. In response to these developments, Wall Street saw a positive reaction, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising by 254 points [02:59].

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4. Bill Gates’ Philanthropic Pledge and Health Concerns in Los Angeles

Bill Gates has made headlines by announcing his intention to donate 99% of his tech fortune to the Gates Foundation, marking one of the largest philanthropic gifts in history. Additionally, Gates revealed that the foundation will cease operations by 2045, an earlier date than previously planned [03:24].

In related news, Los Angeles health officials are raising alarms over a surge in hepatitis A cases, which have tripled in 2024. The outbreak does not follow the typical pattern, affecting individuals without the usual risk factors such as travelers, the homeless, or drug users. Dr. Sharon Balter of the LA County Department of Public Health explained, “Beginning this year, we're seeing that many, if not most of the people don't have the risk factors that we would expect" [04:17]. Authorities are encouraging the public to receive the hepatitis A vaccine, as most adults over 25 have not been vaccinated against the virus [04:24].

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5. First Violent Incident at Yellowstone National Park and Oil Price Surge

Yellowstone National Park officials reported the first violent incident of the year involving a visitor and a bison. A 47-year-old man from Florida was attacked by a bison at Lake Village, an area known for its cabin accommodations within the park. Park authorities have repeatedly warned visitors to maintain a safe distance from wildlife, which appears to have been a contributing factor in this unfortunate event. The man sustained minor injuries and is undergoing treatment [04:35–04:40].

In the energy sector, crude oil futures saw a significant increase, closing 3% higher at $59.91 per barrel. This surge was likely influenced by ongoing geopolitical tensions and economic responses to trade disputes [04:40–05:03].

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This episode of NPR News Now covered a wide array of topics, from significant religious developments and high-stakes political appointments to international trade tensions, major philanthropic commitments, public health crises, and noteworthy incidents in national parks, all underscored by notable economic movements in the oil market.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections as per NPR’s guidelines.

Transcript

[Malcolm Gladwell]

When Malcolm Gladwell presented NPR's Throughline podcast with a Peabody Award, he praised it for its historical and moral clarity. On Throughline, we take you back in time to the origins of what's in the news, like presidential power, aging and evangelicalism. Time travel with us every week on the Throughline podcast from npr.

[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Catholics around the world are rejoicing over.

[Annisavchenko]

The election of a new pope, but.

[Jack Spear]

Perhaps nowhere more than in the US that's because the newly chosen Pope, Leo xiv, has a background as a missionary and hails from south suburban Chicago.

[Annisavchenko]

Member station WBEZ's Annisavchenko has more.

[Father Gregory Sakowitz]

Father Gregory Sakowitz is director of the Holy Name Cathedral in downtown Chicago, and he was given communion when he learned from the congregation that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope. Since Sakowitz said Cardinal Prevost's earlier ministry in Peru shows that he will be.

[Unnamed Catholic Commentator]

A voice for the voiceless Pope Leo xiv. I'm going to say this. I think he's going to be very strong on the immigrant, human rights and the earth. They care for the earth.

[Father Gregory Sakowitz]

He also said his nationality as an American pope doesn't define him as he's a child of God. For NPR News, I'm Anna Savchinka in Chicago.

[Jack Spear]

Bells also ringing in Lagos, Nigeria, today at the Holy Cross Cathedral.

[Annisavchenko]

Lagos parishioners were celebrating the choice of Leo to be the next spiritual head.

[Jack Spear]

Of the 1.4 billion-member church.

[Annisavchenko]

Emperor's Emanuel Akonwodel was there.

[Emmanuel Akonwodel]

Mass has just ended at Holy Cross Catholic Cathedral in Lagos, and parishioners who've attended service are just leaving and reacting to the news of the new pope, Pope Leo. The new pope is not from Africa, but to many of the parishioners here, it's irrelevant. What really matters to many of them is that the new pope embodies the humility and an example that Pope Francis set.

[Annisavchenko]

NPR's Emmanuel Acaduotto President Trump says he is pulling his pick for U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. the nominee, Ed Martin, has been a source of controversy since he took over the U.S. attorney's office following Trump's inauguration. Here's NPR's Ryan Lucas.

[Ryan Lucas]

Speaking to reporters, Trump said it is clear that Ed Martin does not have the support in the US Senate to win confirmation and that he plans to nominate a new candidate soon. Trump added that he hopes to find a spot for Martin elsewhere in his administration. Martin's nomination has generated controversy from the start. He has no prosecutorial experience, but he did advance false claims about election fraud in 2020 and has defended Capitol rioters as interim U.S. attorney for D.C. one of the most important U.S. attorney's offices in the country. Martin fired prosecutors who worked January 6th cases and threatened to investigate Trump's perceived political opponents. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Spear]

The European Union says it's published a list of imports to target for retaliatory duties in the event no solution is.

[Annisavchenko]

Found to end President Trump's tariff battle. The announcement coming on the same day the US And UK Announced they've reached a broad agreement. European Union announced plans to begin legal action at the World Trade Organization over the so called reciprocal tariffs Trump put in place last month. The EU Commission's list includes U.S. imports totaling $107 billion. On Wall street, the Dow rose 254 points. This is NPR.

[Jack Spear]

Microsoft founder Bill Gates now says he will donate the bulk of his fortune, the remaining 99% of his tech fortune, to his Gates Foundation.

[Annisavchenko]

Gates also announced that his foundation will now shut down in 2045, earlier than previously planned. The Gates foundation is a supporter of npr. It's being called one of the largest philanthropic gifts ever. Health officials in Los Angeles are warning the public about a growing outbreak of hepatitis A. The number of cases there tripled in 2024, and it's unclear what's behind the NPR's Will Stone reports.

[Dr. Sharon Balter]

Hepatitis A is a viral illness that affects the liver. It's spread through person to person contact or contaminated food and water due to poor hygiene and sanitation. Usually those who are at high risk are travelers from abroad, people who are homeless or use drugs. But Dr. Sharon Balter with the LA County Department of Public Health says more recent cases in LA have not followed this pattern.

[Unnamed Health Official]

Beginning this year, we're seeing that many, if not most of the people don't have the risk factors that we would expect.

[Dr. Sharon Balter]

Bolter says they're encouraging people to consider getting the hepatitis A vaccine, which Most adults over 25 have never received. Will Stone, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

Officials at Yellowstone national park say they've.

[Annisavchenko]

Recorded the first violent incident of the.

[Jack Spear]

Year involving a visitor and a bison.

[Annisavchenko]

Animal gouging a 47 year old man from Florida on Sunday at Lake Village, an area of cabins inside the park. Park officials repeatedly warn visitors not to get too close to animals, which is what apparently led up to the attack. The man was treated for minor injuries. Crude oil futures prices closed higher oil up 3% today to 59.91 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.

[Unnamed Podcast Sponsor]

Listen to this podcast sponsor Free on Amazon Music with a Prime membership or any podcast app by subscribing to NPR News Now. [e-mail] that's plus.NPR.org.