NPR News: 05-09-2025 5AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 9, 2025 – Comprehensive Episode Summary

Release Date: May 9, 2025
Host: Dave Mattingly
Duration: 5 Minutes
Title: NPR News: 05-09-2025 5AM EDT

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1. Historic Election: Pope Leo XIV, the First American Pope

Pope Leo XIV's First Mass and Significance

The episode opens with Dave Mattingly announcing a historic moment for the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV is celebrating his first Mass following his election yesterday, marking a significant milestone as he is the first American to ascend to the papacy. Cardinal Robert Prevost, the newly elected pope, holds the distinction of being the first American leader of the Catholic Church.

Sylvia Paggioli provides historical context, highlighting that the previous Pope Leo was Leo XIII. Leo XIII was known for his 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum, which addressed workers' rights, fair wages, safe working conditions, and the establishment of trade unions. This document positioned the Catholic Church against both socialism and laissez-faire capitalism, laying the foundation for the Church's social doctrine. Leo XIII earned the titles "the Social Pope" and "the Workers Pope" for his advocacy on these issues.

Celebrations in Chicago: Michael Puente's Report

Catholics in the Chicago area are particularly jubilant, celebrating Pope Leo XIV as a native of the Windy City. Michael Puente of member station WBEZ reports from Chicago, detailing the local reactions to the pope's election.

Mary Simons (01:51): "I found out that the pope was from here. This is his church. I said I better get over there because it's very exciting. It's a historical moment."

Many residents stopped by St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Dalton, the pope's former parish, to take pictures, pray, and express their emotions. The community hopes the church will reopen and be transformed into a basilica, honoring Pope Leo XIV's legacy.

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2. Presidential Appointment: Jeanine Pirro Named Interim U.S. Attorney for D.C.

Trump's Appointment of Pirro

In a significant political move, Dave Mattingly reports that President Donald Trump has appointed Fox News host and former judge and prosecutor Jeanine Pirro as the interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. This decision follows Trump's withdrawal of his initial nominee, Ed Martin.

Elena Moore elaborates on the appointment:

President Trump (02:28): In a social media post, Trump praised Pirro, stating she is "incredibly well qualified for this position."

Background on Pirro and Controversies

Jeanine Pirro previously served as the district attorney of Westchester County in New York but left the position two decades ago. Since then, she has become a prominent figure on Fox News and other conservative media outlets. Pirro is known for her strong support of President Trump and has been a vocal advocate for his policies. Notably, she promoted unfounded claims regarding the 2020 presidential election results, challenging their legitimacy.

As of the podcast's release, it remains unclear when the Senate will review Pirro's nomination to serve as the interim U.S. attorney for the nation's capital.

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3. Political Developments: Firing of Carla Hayden and Wisconsin's Congressional Map Lawsuit

Democrats' Reaction to Firing of Carla Hayden

The episode highlights Democratic backlash against President Trump's decision to dismiss Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. Hayden holds the distinction of being the first woman and first African American to serve in this prestigious role. Her termination has sparked outrage among Democratic lawmakers, who view it as a politically motivated move undermining a historic figure in the nation's library system.

Wisconsin Lawsuit for Redistricting: Mayan Silver's Report

A significant legal battle is unfolding in Wisconsin, where a group of Democratic voters is petitioning the state Supreme Court to declare the current congressional district maps unconstitutional. Mayan Silver from member station WUWM reports from Milwaukee:

Mayan Silver (03:34): "The lawsuit seeks to have the state's eight congressional district lines redrawn ahead of the 2026 midterms. Republicans currently hold six of eight congressional districts, even though Wisconsin is relatively evenly split in national and statewide elections."

The plaintiffs argue that following the state's 2023 decision to redraw legislative district maps, there is now an opportunity to revisit the boundaries for U.S. House districts. This challenge comes after a similar lawsuit was dismissed last year.

Perspectives from J.R. Ross

J.R. Ross, editor of WizPolitics.com, provides insight into the potential legal ramifications:

J.R. Ross (04:06): "State court, you could get the U.S. Supreme Court involved. And if that happened, it makes it really, really tough to see new lines in place for 2026."

This statement underscores the complexities and uncertainties surrounding the lawsuit, suggesting that the process could face significant judicial hurdles before any redistricting could take place.

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4. Legal Update: Charges Against Father in Madison School Shooting

Details of the Shooting and Charges Filed

The episode also covers a tragic incident from the previous year—a deadly shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. Dave Mattingly reports that prosecutors in Wisconsin are now filing charges against the father of the teenage girl who perpetrated the attack. During the mass shooting, a student and a teacher were killed in a study hall, and six others sustained injuries.

Prosecutors' Claims

Jeffrey Rupp, the father, faces two felony charges:

• Intentionally Giving a Dangerous Weapon to a Person Under the Age of 18
• Causing Death and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Child

Prosecutors allege that Rupp provided his daughter with access to semi-automatic pistols, facilitating the tragic events. These charges highlight the legal accountability being pursued in the aftermath of the shooting.

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This episode of NPR News Now presents a blend of global religious milestones, significant political appointments, contentious legal battles, and a sobering update on a local tragedy. By weaving together these diverse stories, the podcast offers listeners a comprehensive snapshot of the day's most pressing issues.

Transcript

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[Dave Mattingly]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dave Mattingley. Pope Leo XIV is celebrating his first Mass following yesterday's historic election. Cardinal Robert Prevost is the first American to lead the Catholic church as pope. NPR's Silvia Paggioli has more from Rome.

[Sylvia Paggioli]

The last Leo was Leo XIII, and he was known for his 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum of New Things. In it, he outlined the rights of workers to fair wages, safe working conditions and the creation of trade unions. The document also affirmed the right to own property, free enterprise and and it was opposed to both socialism and laissez faire capitalism. Leo XIII was called the social Pope or the workers pope, and he is really seen as the founder of the Catholic Church's social doctrine.

[Dave Mattingly]

That's NPR's Sylvia Paggioli. Catholics in the Chicago area are celebrating Pope Leo XIV as a native of the Windy City. Michael Puente with member station WBEZ reports.

[Michael Puente]

Cardinal Robert Prevos grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago, which have suffered economic decline over the decades. His home parish, St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Dalton, has been closed and abandoned for more than a decade. But within an hour of Prevost being named the first ever American pope, people began to stop to take pictures, pray and even weep. Mary Simons was among them.

[Mary Simons]

I found out that the pope was from here. This is his church. I said I better get over there because it's very exciting. It's a historical moment.

[Michael Puente]

Others who arrived said they hope the church can reopen and turned into a basilica. For NPR News, I'm Michael Puente in Chicago.

[Dave Mattingly]

President Trump is appointing Fox News host and former judge and prosecutor Jeanine Pirro to Serve as interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. as NPR's Elena Moore reports, the president announced the move after pulling the nomination of his first choice for the job, Ed Martin.

[Elena Moore]

In a post on social media, Trump praises Pirro and says she's, quote, incredibly well qualified for this position. Jeanine Pirro previously served as district attorney of Westchester county in New York, but she left that job 20 years ago. Since then, she's become a prominent face on Fox News and other conservative media. She has a record as a fierce defender of Trump, and notably, she promoted false claims about the 20 presidential election. It's unclear when the Senate will consider Pirro's nomination to be interim U.S. attorney for the nation's capital. Elena Moore, NPR News.

[Dave Mattingly]

Democratic lawmakers are denouncing President Trump's decision to fire the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden. She was the first woman and first African American to hold that job. This is NPR News. A group of Democratic voters in Wisconsin is asking the state Supreme Court to declare the state's current congressional to be unconstitutional. As Mayan Silver with member station WUWM reports from Milwaukee, a similar lawsuit was rejected last year.

[Mayan Silver]

The lawsuit seeks to have the state's eight congressional district lines redrawn ahead of the 2026 midterms. Republicans currently hold six of eight congressional districts, even though Wisconsin is relatively evenly split in national and statewide elections. The new petition argues that the court's decision to redraw maps for state legislative districts in 2023 has opened the door to revisiting maps for U.S. house districts. J.R. ross, editor of WizPolitics.com argues that even if Democrats were to win in.

[J.R. Ross]

State court, you could get the U.S. supreme Court involved. And if that happened, it makes it really, really tough to see new lines in place for 2026.

[Mayan Silver]

For NPR News, I'm Ayan Silver in Milwaukee.

[Dave Mattingly]

Prosecutors in Wisconsin are filing charges against the father of a teenage girl who carried out last year's deadly shooting at the Abundant Life Christian School in Madison. A student and a teacher at the school were killed in the attack in a study hall. Six others were injured. Jeffrey Rupp now faces two counts of intentionally giving a dangerous weapon to a person under the age of 18, causing death and contributing to the delinquency of a child. The the charges are felonies. Prosecutors say the father allowed his daughter access to semi automatic pistols. I'm Dave Mattingly, NPR News, in Washington.

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