NPR News: 05-10-2025 2PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – May 10, 2025, 2 PM EDT

Hosted by NPR

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Federal Government Downsizing Temporarily Halted

Nora Ramm reports on a significant legal development concerning the Trump administration's attempts to reduce the federal government's size.

A federal judge in San Francisco has issued a 14-day pause on the Trump administration's initiatives to downsize approximately 20 federal agencies, including the Treasury Department, Health and Human Services, and the Environmental Protection Agency. This temporary restraining order was granted in response to a lawsuit filed by several labor unions, nonprofits, and major cities such as Baltimore, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Andrea Hsu explains, "The case was brought by multiple parties arguing that the administration's mass layoffs and agency closures require Congressional authorization." U.S. District Judge Susan Ilston concurred, stating that the measure was necessary to "protect the power of the legislative branch" (00:24).

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Concerns Over Nuclear Safety Amid Regulatory Changes

NPR's Jeff Brumfiel covers the Trump administration's increased oversight of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), raising alarms about potential safety compromises.

The administration is reviewing all new regulations pertaining to nuclear reactors, a move that marks a departure from the NRC's long-standing reputation for independence and stringent safety standards. Former NRC Chair Allison McFarland voiced her concerns, stating, "It's absolutely essential that the nuclear regulator be independent" (01:53).

Jeff Brumfiel adds, "A draft executive order suggests the NRC may be directed to rewrite nuclear safety rules and possibly loosen radiation standards for workers and the public," highlighting fears that these changes could undermine nuclear safety (01:59).

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Trump-Brokered Ceasefire Between India and Pakistan Faces Uncertainty

Betsy Joels reports on the fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan, facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif publicly thanked President Trump for mediating the ceasefire, describing it as "a new beginning" (02:37). This agreement follows a severe escalation initiated by India in retaliation for a militant attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals in late April.

However, the ceasefire's stability is in question as reports emerged of continued violence in Indian-held Kashmir, where residents reported hearing explosions and gunfire almost simultaneously with Sharif's announcement (02:37). Betsy Joels noted, "Even as Sharif posted his thanks, the situation on the ground remained volatile" (02:37).

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US-China Trade Dispute: Talks Begin in Geneva

Nora Ramm highlights the commencement of high-stakes negotiations between the United States and China aimed at de-escalating a heated trade conflict.

US and Chinese officials have initiated delegations in Geneva to address the soaring tariffs, which have exceeded 100% on each other's imports. These talks represent a critical effort to ease tensions and find a mutually agreeable path forward in one of the world's most significant economic disputes.

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Earthquake Shakes Tennessee and Felt in Atlanta

An update on a recent seismic event reported by NPR.

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.1 struck near Knoxville, Tennessee, early this morning (03:09). The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the quake, and reports indicate that it was felt approximately 160 miles away in Atlanta, marking the first significant tremor in the area in years.

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Jury Selection Delays in Sean Combs Trial

Isabella Gomez Sarmiento discusses the postponement of jury selection in the high-profile Sean Combs case.

The final steps of selecting jurors for the Sean Combs trial have been pushed to Monday, raising concerns about potential juror dropouts ahead of the trial's commencement. The case, which involves charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, has attracted intense media scrutiny.

Isabella Gomez Sarmiento reports, "Prosecutors are frustrated by the delays, emphasizing their effort to adhere to the trial timeline," while defense attorney Mark Agnifolo assured that the selection process would proceed smoothly (03:56).

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Historic Soviet Spacecraft Returns to Earth After Over 50 Years

Nora Ramm reports on the dramatic return of a Soviet-era spacecraft.

A spacecraft launched by the Soviet Union in 1972 on a mission to Venus has finally re-entered Earth's atmosphere, descending into the Indian Ocean west of Jakarta. The craft, which became stranded in low Earth orbit due to a rocket failure, began its slow descent decades ago and marks the first such incident in years to be felt by residents in affected areas (04:38).

Russian space officials confirmed the re-entry, highlighting the end of a half-century-long orbit around our planet.

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Closing Notes

This summary encapsulates the major stories covered in the NPR News Now episode from May 10, 2025. For more detailed coverage, please refer to the full NPR News Now broadcast.

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This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections as per the provided instructions.

Transcript

[Sarah Gonzalez]

Tariffs, recessions, how Colombian drug cartels gave us blueberries all year long. That's the kind of thing the Planet Money podcast explains. I'm Sarah Gonzalez. And on Planet Money, we help you understand the economy and how things all around you came to be the way they are, para que sepas. So you know, listen to the Planet Money podcast from npr.

[Nora Ramm]

Live from NPR News In Washington, I'm Nora Rammer. A federal judge in San Francisco last night ordered a 14 day pause in the Trump administration's efforts to shrink the scope and size of the federal government. The order applies to about 20 federal agencies, including the Treasury Department, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency. NPR's Andrea Hsu has more.

[Andrea Hsu]

This case was brought by several labor unions, a bunch of nonprofits and some local governments, including the cities of Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco. And they argued that the mass layoffs that Trump has called for, you know, the shuttering of entire agencies in some cases, can't happen without this authorization from Congress. And U.S. district Judge Susan Ilston agreed. She said a temporary restraining order was necessary to protect the power of the legislative branch.

[Nora Ramm]

NPR's Andrea Hsu reporting. NPR has learned the Trump administration is tightening its control of the agency responsible for regulating the country's nuclear reactors. NPR's Jeff Brumfiel reports that has sparked worries about safety.

[Jeff Brumfiel]

Two U.S. officials told NPR that the White House is now reviewing all new regulations for nuclear reactors. That's a big departure for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the famously tough and independent agency that's overseen nuclear safety in the US since the 1970s. Former NRC chair Allison McFarland says she's worried the changes could affect safety.

[Andrea Hsu]

It's absolutely essential that the nuclear regulator be independent.

[Jeff Brumfiel]

There may be more changes coming. NPR has seen a draft executive order that, if signed, would call on the NRC to rewrite nuclear safety rules and possibly loosen radiation standards for nuclear workers and the public. Jeff Brumfiel, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

Pakistan's prime minister thanked President Donald Trump for helping broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan today after the most severe escalation between the two sides in decades. But as Betsy Joel's reports, even as the prime minister posted that statement, it appeared the ceasefire might be facing challenges.

[Betsy Joels]

In a post on X, the Pakistani prime minister, Shabaz Sharif, acknowledged the United States role in the peace process and said it marked a new beginning. That was after Trump announced an immediate ceasefire between India and Pakistan. They'd been exchanging blows since Wednesday when India struck Pakistan, saying it was in retaliation for a militant attack that killed 26 people in late April. But even as Sharif posted his thanks, nearly simultaneously, residents in Indian held Kashmir reported hearing explosions and gunfire. For NPR News, I'm Betsy Joels in Lahore.

[Nora Ramm]

US And Chinese officials began talks in Geneva today in an effort to de escalate their trade dispute. Tariffs on each other's imports have soared above 100%. This is NPR News. An earthquake struck near Knoxville, Tennessee, this morning. The U.S. geological Survey put its preliminary magnitude at 4.1. Social media posts said the quake was felt about 160 miles away in Atlanta, Georgia. Officials say it was the first quake felt there in years. The final steps of jury selection for the Sean Combs trial have been pushed to Monday. There are fears that selected jurors may back out of serving on the highly publicized case. NPR's Isabella Gomez Sarmiento reports.

[Isabella Gomez Sarmiento]

On Monday, the prosecution and defense in the Sean Combs trial will select the 12 jurors who will serve on the trial, plus six alternates. Opening statements are expected to begin that same day. A judge finished questioning jurors earlier this week, but further winnowing of the pool was pushed twice to avoid having jurors drop out in the days leading up to the trial. Prosecutors protested the delay, saying they're working against the clock. Combs lead defense attorney Mark Agnifolo told the judge that finalizing jury selection should not take long. On Monday, he said the trial timeline should ultimately stay on track. The hip hop mogul faces charges that include sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR News.

[Nora Ramm]

A half ton spacecraft returned to Earth today, more than a half century after it was sent into space. It was launched by the Soviet Union in 1972 on a mission to Venus, but a rocket failure kept it in low Earth orbit and it's been slowly sinking since then. Russian space officials say it came down today in the Indian Ocean west of Jakarta. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington.

[Jeff Brumfiel]

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