NPR News: 05-15-2025 10AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of May 15, 2025, Episode

Release Date: May 15, 2025 | Host: Korva Coleman

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1. National Politics: President Trump's Challenge to Birthright Citizenship

Korva Coleman opens the episode with a significant development in U.S. immigration policy. "President Trump takes his fight against birthright citizenship to the U.S. Supreme Court," she reports (00:25). On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order aimed at overturning the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of citizenship for every baby born in the United States.

Nina Totenberg provides an in-depth analysis of the situation (00:45). She explains, "Trump's contention that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional is widely considered a fringe view because the Supreme Court ruled to the contrary 127 years ago and that decision has never been disturbed." Totenberg highlights that every judge who has reviewed Trump's executive order has struck it down. Despite this, the Justice Department is not seeking a ruling on the merits but is instead asking the Supreme Court to address a technical legal question that could complicate future challenges to Trump's policies.

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2. International Relations: Ukraine-Russia Talks and Trump's Middle East Visit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is actively pursuing peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking from Turkey, Zelensky expressed his readiness for face-to-face negotiations to end the ongoing war in Ukraine (01:25). Despite Putin's initial call for talks last weekend, he has not attended personally, sending a lower-level delegation instead.

President Trump addressed the situation while aboard Air Force One, stating, "Nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together, okay?" (02:11). He emphasized that meaningful progress would only occur through direct engagement between him and Putin, adding, "We're going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying."

Trump is currently in the United Arab Emirates, concluding his Middle East tour. During his trip, he has been promoting multi-billion-dollar business agreements, including a significant deal where Qatar’s government will purchase $96 billion worth of planes and equipment from the US aircraft manufacturer Boeing (02:11).

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3. Economic Updates: Walmart's Price Hikes and Stock Market Fluctuations

The economic landscape saw turbulence as Walmart announced impending price hikes, leading to a decline in the stock market. Korva Coleman notes, "Stocks opened lower this morning as Walmart warned of price hikes ahead," with the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipping approximately 100 points in early trading (02:39).

Scott Horsley elaborates on the factors influencing the market:

• Walmart's Decision: Despite efforts to keep prices low, Walmart acknowledges that some price increases are unavoidable due to the scale of President Trump's tariffs. These tariffs remain the highest since the Great Depression, even after recent rollbacks.
• Federal Reserve Insights: Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve, indicated that the world might be experiencing more frequent supply shocks, potentially leading to more volatile inflation rates. Powell discussed these concerns at a conference focused on the Fed's long-term strategy for setting interest rates.
• Retail Sales Data: In April, retail sales saw only a slight increase following a significant jump the previous month. Spending patterns shifted, with consumers reducing expenditures on gas stations and grocery stores due to lower prices, while spending increased in restaurants, home and garden centers, and online stores.

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4. Religious Affairs: Vice President Vance to Attend Pope Leo XIV’s Inaugural Mass

In a notable religious event, the White House announced that Vice President J.D. Vance will attend Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass as the new pontiff this week (03:20). Pope Leo XIV, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is the first American-selected pope, chosen by Roman Catholic cardinals last week.

Vance is set to attend the Mass alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Vice President had a personal connection with Pope Francis, having met him the weekend before his passing last month, adding a layer of significance to his attendance.

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5. Legal News: Arraignment of Wisconsin County Judge Hannah Dugan

Turning to legal affairs, a county judge in Wisconsin, Hannah Dugan, is facing federal charges today in Milwaukee. Korva Coleman reports that Judge Dugan is expected to plead not guilty to two federal charges. She is accused of directing a migrant out of her courtroom to evade arrest, a serious breach of judicial conduct.

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6. Local Events: California's Annual Frog Jump Competition Kicks Off Fair Season

California has begun its fair season with a quirky and beloved tradition—the annual frog jump competition at the state Capitol. Megan Myskovski of Cap Radio covers the event, describing how participants are presented with frogs they must coach to achieve impressive jumps (03:20).

During the competition, individuals clap, kiss, and encourage their frogs to hop long distances, reminiscent of the famous Mark Twain short story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." Myskovski shares her personal experience, "I jumped into the competition last minute and won my frog Green Machine made it 14.3ft," highlighting the community spirit and local engagement fostered by such events.

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Conclusion

This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of pressing national and international issues, economic fluctuations, significant religious events, legal proceedings, and vibrant local traditions. From President Trump's legal battles over immigration to the start of California's fair season, the podcast encapsulates a diverse range of stories impacting various facets of society.

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Note: Notable quotes are attributed with their respective timestamps for reference.

Transcript

[Unknown Host]

Imagine, if you will, a show from NPR that's not like npr, a show that focuses not on the important but the stupid, which features stories about people smuggling animals in their pants, incompetent criminals and ridiculous science studies. And call it Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me because the good names were taken. Listen to NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Yes, that is what it is called, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Korva Coleman]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. President Trump takes his fight against birthright citizenship to the U.S. supreme Court. Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office. It overturns a right in the 14th amendment to the USTA constitution that guarantees citizenship to every baby born in the U.S. nPR's Nina Totenberg has more.

[Nina Totenberg]

Trump's contention that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional is widely considered a fringe view because the Supreme Court ruled to the contrary 127 years ago and that decision has never been disturbed. Moreover, his executive order changing the terms of the fourteenth Amendment citizenship guarantee has been struck down by every judge to have reviewed it. That said, Trump's Justice Department is not asking the Supreme Court to rule on the merits of the case. Rather, it's asking the court to resolve a technical legal question that could make the process for challenging Trump's policies much more difficult and lengthy. Nina Totenberg, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Turkey. He says he's ready for face to face talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end Russia's war in his country. Putin had called for the talks last weekend and Zelensky upped the tension when he said he would go. But Putin is not there. He sent a low level delegation instead. President Trump had hinted he might show up at the talks in Turkey. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump says now he's not surprised that Putin didn't show.

[Donald Trump]

Nothing's going to happen until Putin and I get together, okay? And obviously he wasn't going to go. He was going to go, but he thought I was going to go. He wasn't going if I wasn't there. And I don't believe anything's going to happen, whether you like it or not, until he and I get together. But we're going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying.

[Korva Coleman]

Trump is now in the United Arab Emirates, the last stop on his trip to the Middle East. This week he's been touting multi billion dollar business agreements that includes an announcement by Qatar's government that it will buy $96 billion worth of planes and equipment from US aircraft maker Boeing. Stocks opened lower this morning as Walmart warned of price hikes ahead. NPR Scott Horsley reports. The Dow Jones industrial average slipped about 100 points in early trading.

[Scott Horsley]

Walmart says it's working to keep prices down, but the retail giant says some increases are inevitable given the magnitude of President Trump's tariffs. Even after this week's rollback, the White House has imposed the highest import taxes since the Great Depression. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says the world may be entering a period of more frequent supply shocks, which could lead to more volatile inflation. But Powell spoke at a conference where the Fed is considering its long term approach to setting interest rates. Retail sales rose only slightly in April after a big jump the month before. Shoppers spent less money at gas stations and grocery stores thanks to lower prices, but spending was up at restaurants, home and garden centers and online stores. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

On Wall street, the dow's now down 86 points. This is NPR. The White House says Vice President J.D. vance will go to Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass as pontiff this week. Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost and an American, was selected by Roman Catholic cardinals last week for the papacy. Vance met with late Pope Francis the weekend before he died last month. Vance will be joined at the Mass by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. A county judge in Wisconsin is being arraigned in federal court today in Milwaukee. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan is expected to plead not guilty to two federal charges. She's accused of directing a migrant in the US Illegally out of her courtroom in order to evade arrest. State and county fair season is underway in California. And to kick it off, the state Capitol held its annual frog jump competition. That's where participants are presented with a frog they must then coach to victory. Cap Radio's Megan Myskovski was there.

[Donald Trump]

Go ahead and get a grip of that frog there.

[Megan Myskovski]

Every year, lawmakers, government workers and reporters compete in a tradition made famous by the Mark Twain short story, the celebrated jumping frog of Calaveras County. They clap, kiss and yell at frogs to get them to hop great lengths.

[Korva Coleman]

Kiss the frog, Senator.

[Megan Myskovski]

Frog participants included Hoffenheimer and amphibiance. Fairs like this help promote local food and agriculture across the state. I jumped into the competition last minute and won my frog Green machine made it 14.3ft. For NPR News, I'm Megan Myskovsky in Sacramento.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to npr.

[Scott Horsley]

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.