NPR News: 05-09-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 9, 2025 – Comprehensive Summary

On the May 9, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, a range of significant national and international stories were covered, including the passing of a notable Supreme Court Justice, President Trump's pivotal Middle East visit, the historic election of the first American pope, developments in the pursuit of accountability for Russian aggression in Ukraine, updates on popular baby names in the U.S., and movements in global oil markets. Below is a detailed summary of each key topic discussed during the broadcast.

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Passing of Supreme Court Justice David Souter

Timestamp: [00:24]

NPR reported the death of retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter at the age of 85. Justice Souter, appointed by a Republican president, was initially viewed as a centrist on the Court. However, as the Supreme Court shifted towards a more conservative stance over his 19-year tenure, Justice Souter increasingly aligned with the Court's liberal justices. This ideological shift caused frustration among political conservatives, impacting future appointments and the Court's dynamics.

Notable Quote:

"Souter brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service." – Chief Justice Roberts [00:36]

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President Trump's Middle East Foreign Trip

Timestamp: [01:18]

President Donald Trump is set to embark on his first policy-focused foreign trip of his second term to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The White House emphasized that the trip aims to enhance regional cooperation, shifting the focus from extremism to commerce and cultural exchanges. A significant aspect of the visit includes engagements with U.S. troops stationed at the Al Uqoud airbase near Doha.

Key Objectives:

• Promote regional commerce and cultural exchanges.
• Address the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, in line with the Abraham Accords.
• Discuss stopping Iranian advancements toward nuclear capabilities.

Challenges: The ongoing war in Gaza has complicated Trump's peace initiatives, leading expectations that the trip may prioritize business deals over immediate peace efforts.

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Election of Pope Leo XIV: The First American Pope

Timestamp: [02:18]

In a historic moment, the Catholic Church has elected Pope Leo XIV, marking the first time an American has held the papacy. Pope Leo XIV, who earned a mathematics degree from Villanova University in the 1970s, brings a unique background to his role. Massimo Faggoli, a professor of theology and religious studies, highlighted the unprecedented nature of this election.

Notable Quote:

"The idea of a pope coming from the US was considered an impossible thing until a few days or weeks ago. The Trump effect on America on the international global order is one of the things that made the impossible possible with the American pope." – Massimo Faggoli [02:39]

During his first Mass, Pope Leo XIV described his election as both "a cross to bear and a blessing," signaling a complex start to his papacy.

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Formation of International Tribunal for Russian Aggression in Ukraine

Timestamp: [02:57]

An international court aimed at trying Russian leaders for crimes of aggression against Ukraine is nearing establishment. Foreign ministers from nearly 40 countries, predominantly European, concluded a legal framework for the tribunal during a meeting in Lviv, Ukraine. This development is crucial because Russia is not a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), necessitating a new judicial body to hold Russian decision-makers accountable for initiating the full-scale war against Ukraine.

Notable Quote:

"If there is no accountability, we will see this happening again." – Kaia Kallis, EU Foreign Policy Chief [04:10]

Former President Joe Biden supported the creation of this tribunal, while President Trump had previously withdrawn his support.

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Most Popular U.S. Baby Names Revealed

Timestamp: [04:22]

The Social Security Administration released its annual list of the most popular baby names in the United States for the sixth consecutive year. Liam remains the top choice for boys, and Olivia for girls. Additionally, Emma has secured the second spot for girls, while Noah ranks as the second most popular name for boys. Notably, Sophia has entered the top 10 list, replacing Luna.

Highlights:

• Boys: 1. Liam, 2. Noah
• Girls: 1. Olivia, 2. Emma, new entry: Sophia

The list, traditionally released around Mother's Day weekend, reflects enduring naming trends in the country.

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Crude Oil Prices Surge Amid US-China Trade Optimism

Timestamp: [04:22]

Crude oil futures saw an increase of over a dollar per barrel, buoyed by optimism surrounding forthcoming trade negotiations between the United States and China. This uptick in oil prices indicates a positive sentiment in global markets, anticipating potential improvements in trade relations between the two economic powerhouses.

Market Impact:

• Wall Street: Experienced a mixed close with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling by 119 points, the S&P 500 decreasing by 4 points, and the NASDAQ barely inching upwards.

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Conclusion

The May 9, 2025, episode of NPR News Now provided listeners with a comprehensive overview of critical events shaping the political, social, and economic landscapes both in the United States and globally. From monumental shifts in the judiciary and religious leadership to geopolitical strategies and cultural trends, the broadcast encapsulated the multifaceted nature of current affairs.

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. Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter has died at the age of 85. NPR's Nina Totenberg has more.

[Nina Totenberg]

Souter, appointed to the Supreme Court by a Republican president, was an old fashioned conservative who was initially a centrist on the Supreme Court. But as the court grew more conservative, he voted more and more reliably with the court's liberal justices. Political conservatives were so infuriated by his drift to the center left that the next time there was an opening on the court, their rallying cry was no more suitors. The but over his 19 year tenure, Souter came to be widely admired by all of his colleagues. As Chief Justice Roberts put it in a statement on Friday, Souter brought uncommon wisdom and kindness to a lifetime of public service. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Spear]

President Trump leaves for the Middle East Monday. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports. Trump will travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates for his first policy focused foreign trip of his second term.

[Franco Ordonez]

The White House says the trip will highlight greater cooperation in the region, where it says extremism is being replaced with commerce and cultural exchanges. Trump also plans to visit with US Troops stationed at the Al Udid airbase outside of Doha. In Qatar, Trump strode into office promising to bring peace in the Middle east quickly and stop Iranian advances toward becoming a nuclear power. He also wants to persuade Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel, joining what's known as the Abraham Accords. But those efforts have been complicated by the ongoing war in Gaza. And with little progress to announce, Trump and the Gulf leaders are expected to focus less on the quest for peace and more on making business deals. Franco Ordonez, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

A day after the announcement of the election of a new pope, the first American to ever hold the position, the world is still getting to know him. Pope Leo XIV got his degree in mathematics at Villanova university in the 1970. Massimo Faggoli is a professor of theology and religious studies at the school and says until recently the prospect of an American pope had appeared unlikely.

[Massimo Faggoli]

The idea of a pope coming from the US Was considered an impossible thing until a few days or weeks ago. The Trump effect on America on the international global order is one of the things that made the impossible possible with the American pope.

[Jack Spear]

What kind of message, if any, the Vatican may be trying to send with the appointment is not clear. During his first Mass as pope today, Leo called his election both a cross to bear and a blessing. Stocks drifted to a mixed close on Wall street today in an unusually quiet week for financial markets. The dow was down 119 points. The S&P 500 fell 4 points. The NASDAQ closed up a fraction of a point. You're listening to npr. An international court to try Russian leaders for the crime of aggression against Ukrainians has moved one step closer to reality. Terry Schultz reports more than three do and countries have now signed on to a plan to create such a tribunal.

[Terry Schultz]

Meeting in Lviv, Ukraine, foreign ministers from almost 40 countries, more than half of them European, signed a document marking the conclusion of the legal framework for the new tribunal. It will pursue Russian decision makers for the crime of aggression in starting the full scale war against Ukraine. Because Russia does not belong to the International Criminal Court, the ICC cannot prosecute Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders, making a new body necessary. EU foreign policy chief Kaia Kallis is among its strongest backers and called for more countries to join because if there.

[Jack Spear]

Is no accountability, we will see this happening again.

[Terry Schultz]

Former President Joe Biden had backed the creation of the court, but President Trump withdrew that support. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels.

[Jack Spear]

The Social Security Administration is again out with its list of the most popular US Baby names. The agency announcing for the six year running, Liam remains the most popular name for boys, while Olivia is the number one choice for girls. Also for the same time span, Emma was the number two name choice for girls. Why Noah came in as the second most popular name for boys. Add one new name to this year's top 10 list, Sophia, bumping Luna from the number 10 slot for girls. The list has been released annually since 1997 in honor of Mother's Day weekend. Crude oil futures prices moved higher amid some optimism over upcoming US China trade talks. Oil up more than a dollar a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.

[Massimo Faggoli]

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