NPR News: 05-13-2025 10PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 13, 2025, 10 PM EDT Summary

Released on May 14, 2025

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1. President Trump's Initiative to Normalize Ties with Syria

Host Introduction

NPR's Jack Spear opens the episode with significant foreign policy news, reporting that President Donald Trump is taking steps to normalize relations with Syria by easing sanctions. This announcement was made during his trip to Saudi Arabia and has received bipartisan approval from members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Detailed Coverage

Michelle Kellerman from NPR elaborates on the administration's move:

Michelle Kellerman (00:34): "President Trump says he's ordering the cessation of sanctions to give Syria a chance for greatness."

The initiative aims to create opportunities in Syria and Lebanon while ensuring that Iran and Russia remain excluded from exerting influence in the region.

Jean Shaheen, Senator (00:52): "And it's important for us to provide the opportunity to keep those countries moving in a way that continues to keep out Iran and Russia."

Kellerman further explains that Iran and Russia had previously supported Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted last year by Islamist insurgents now in control of Syria.

Michelle Kellerman (01:04): "Iran and Russia backed Bashar al Assad, who was ousted last year by Islamist insurgents now running Syria."

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2. Indictment of Judge Hannah Dugan Sparks Tension

Judiciary Conflict

Jack Spear transitions to domestic issues, highlighting the indictment of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan. Accused of assisting a man in evading immigration authorities, this case exemplifies the escalating tensions between the Trump administration's stringent immigration policies and local judicial authorities.

In-Depth Reporting

Ayan Silver from NPR provides further insights:

Ayan Silver (01:32): "The grand jury found the prosecution as probable cause to move forward in its charges against Judge Hannah Dugan."

Dugan is alleged to have concealed a defendant, a Mexican citizen, to prevent his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Her defense team maintains her innocence.

Judge Dugan's Statement (01:32): "She asserts her innocence and looks forward to being vindicated in court."

The case is set for a preliminary hearing and arraignment on Thursday, emphasizing the ongoing struggle between federal immigration enforcement and local judicial practices.

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3. Incoming Pardon Attorney to Review Biden's Pardons

Administration Developments

The episode shifts focus to the Justice Department, where the newly appointed pardon attorney, Ed Martin, intends to scrutinize pardons granted by former President Joe Biden during his last days in office. Martin's appointment follows his unsuccessful bid for confirmation as U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C.

Reporter Ryan Lucas Explains

Ed Martin (02:42): "And I do think that the Biden pardons need some scrutiny, and they need scrutiny because we want pardons to matter and, and to be accepted and to be something that's used correctly."

Ryan Lucas adds that it remains unclear what authority Martin holds to challenge presidential pardons:

Ryan Lucas (02:52): "It's unclear what, if anything, Martin can do to challenge a president's pardon power."

Notably, Biden had pardoned his son and other family members, along with individuals connected to the January 6th Capitol riot, raising questions about the extent and implications of these pardons.

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4. Pope Leo XIV and President Zelensky Discuss Ukrainian Peace Efforts

International Diplomacy

In a notable development, Pope Leo XIV and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky engaged in a phone conversation, signaling potential diplomatic strides towards peace in Ukraine. Zelensky has extended an invitation to the Pope to visit Ukraine, with plans for an in-person meeting in the pipeline.

Lauren Sommer Reports on Climate Trends

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5. April 2025: Second Warmest on Record Amid Ongoing Climate Change

Climate Update

Lauren Sommer from NPR discusses the latest climate data, revealing that April 2025 was the second warmest April on record globally, with temperatures averaging 2.2°F above historical norms since 1850. This trend underscores the persistent rise in global temperatures driven by greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion.

Lauren Sommer (03:50): "April was 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit, hotter than ever globally compared to records going back to 1850."

Additionally, snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere reached its smallest extent on record, matching last year's levels. Despite the ongoing warming trend, NOAA anticipates that 2025 might not be the hottest year due to the natural climatic shift away from El Niño patterns, which has a cooling effect.

Lauren Sommer (03:50): "But NOAA doesn't expect 2025 to come in as the hottest. That's because a shift away the natural climate pattern of El Nino has a slight cooling effect on the planet."

This marks a continuation of the alarming pattern where the past ten years constitute the hottest decade in modern records.

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6. Kim Kardashian Confronts Accused Robbers in Paris Trial

Celebrity News and Legal Proceedings

Concluding the episode, Jack Spear reports on a high-profile trial in Paris involving Kim Kardashian. Kardashian is testifying against a group of men accused of abducting her at gunpoint and stealing over $6 million in jewelry from her hotel suite in 2016. During her testimony, Kardashian expressed fears of sexual assault and death, marking a significant moment as she directly confronts her alleged assailants in court.

Jack Spear (04:31): "Testifying at a trial in Paris for a group of men who tied her up at gunpoint and stole more than $6 million in jewelry, Kim Kardashian said she feared she'd be sexually assaulted or killed."

If convicted, the accused could face life imprisonment, highlighting the gravity of the charges and the legal system's response to such severe crimes.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content segments have been excluded from this summary to focus solely on the key news topics discussed in the episode.

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. President Trump says he's taking steps to normalize ties with Syria and will ease sanctions. He announced the news on his trip to Saudi Arabia. Back home, members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved of both parties welcome the news as we hear from NPR's Michelle Kellerman.

[Michelle Kellerman]

President Trump says he's ordering the cessation of sanctions to give Syria a chance for greatness. While details are murky, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jean Shaheen, says she and her Republican counterpart have been calling for this to build on opportunities in Syria and in Lebanon.

[Jean Shaheen]

And it's important for us to provide the opportunity to keep those countries moving in a way that continues to keep out Iran and Russia.

[Michelle Kellerman]

Iran and Russia backed Bashar al Assad, who was ousted last year by Islamist insurgents now running Syria. Michelle Keleman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Jack Spear]

A federal grand jury has indicted a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities. Her case has escalated a clash between President Trump's administration and local authorities over his sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration. Mayan Silver from WWM reports.

[Ayan Silver]

The grand jury found the prosecution as probable cause to move forward in its charges against Judge Hannah Dugan. She's accused of concealing an individual to prevent arrest and obstructing a proceeding for allegedly directing a Mexican citizen defendant out of her courtroom as U.S. immigration and Customs Enforcement agents tried to arrest him. One of Dugan's lawyers issued a statement on her behalf that she, quote, asserts her innocence and looks forward to being vindicated in court. Dugan will have a preliminary hearing and arraignment Thursday amid growing tensions between President Trump and the judiciary. For NPR News, I'm Ayan Silver in Milwaukee.

[Jack Spear]

The incoming Justice Department pardon attorney says he plans to review the pardons President Biden granted at the end of his term in office. Ed Martin was tapped with the post last week after his bid to win confirmation as as U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C. fell through. Here's NPR's Ryan Lucas.

[Ryan Lucas]

Ed Martin has been serving as interim U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C. but Trump pulled his nomination after it became clear Martin couldn't win Senate confirmation. At a news conference, Martin said that in his new role as pardon attorney, he plans to review pardons that President Biden granted at the end of his term.

[Ed Martin]

And I do think that the Biden pardons need some scrutiny, and they need scrutiny because we want pardons to matter and, and to be accepted and to be something that's used correctly.

[Ryan Lucas]

It's unclear what, if anything, Martin can do to challenge a president's pardon power. In his last months in office, Biden pardoned his son and preemptively pardoned other members of his own family as well as members of Congress who investigated the January 6th Capitol riot. Ryan Lucas, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Spear]

On Wall street, the dow was down 269 points. This is NPR. Pope Leo the 14th and Ukraine's president Zelensky have spoken by phone. According to the Vatican, Ukrainian said he invited the new pope to visit Ukraine and the two men agreed to stay in contact and plan an in person meeting in the future. The phone call followed the pope's appeal for peace in Ukraine during a dress from St. Peter's Basilica Sunday, Zelenskyy posted on X about his first conversation with Pope Leo xiv, saying he thanked the pontiff for his support of Ukraine. Federal scientists are saying last month was the second warmest April on record. That continues a trend of near record temperatures. As we hear from NPR's Lauren Sommer.

[Lauren Sommer]

April was 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit, hotter than aver globally compared to records going back to 1850, according to the national oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That puts it second to April of last year, which remains the hottest ever recorded. Snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere was also the smallest recorded, tying with last year. As humans emit greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, the planet is steadily heating up. The hottest 10 years in modern record keeping have all been in the last 10 years. But NOAA doesn't expect 2025 to come in as the hottest. That's because a shift away the natural climate pattern of El Nino has a slight cooling effect on the planet. Lauren Sommer, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

Testifying at a trial in Paris for a group of men who tied her up at gunpoint and stole more than $6 million in jewelry, Kim Kardashian said she feared she'd be sexually assaulted or killed. Kardashian for the first time confronting the men accused of robbing her in her hotel suite in 2016. The alleged robbers, if convicted, could face life in prison. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

[Kim Kardashian]

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