NPR News Now: May 15, 2025, 5PM EDT Summary

NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on pivotal national and international issues in its latest episode. Below is an in-depth summary covering the key topics, complete with notable quotes and timestamps.

Supreme Court Debates Birthright Citizenship

The Supreme Court convened to hear arguments concerning President Trump's executive order aimed at revoking birthright citizenship—a right currently protected under the 14th Amendment. This case holds significant implications for immigration and citizenship laws in the United States.

• Jack Spear (00:25): "The Supreme Court heard arguments today on the issue of birthright citizenship and President Trump's executive order seeking to do away with the guarantee of citizenship for those born in the US."

During the proceedings, Justice Brett Kavanaugh posed critical questions to Solicitor General D. John Sauer regarding the implementation and verification processes of the executive order.

• Justice Brett Kavanaugh (00:49): "How are they going to know that… How this is going to work. What do hospitals do with a newborn? What do states do with a newborn?"

• Solicitor General D. John Sauer (01:02): "I don't think they do anything different. What the executive order says in Section two is that federal officials do not accept documents that have the wrong designation of citizenship from people who are subject to the executive order."

A final decision from the Justices is anticipated this summer.

Escalation of Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza

Recent days have seen intensified Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, leading to substantial casualties and heightened tensions in the region.

• Jack Spear (00:49): "Israel's military has intensified airstrikes in Gaza over the past 48 hours, with nearly 200 people killed, including dozens of children."

Medical infrastructure has been severely impacted, with multiple facilities struck in the latest assaults.

• Anas Bhabha (01:51): "Patients do not know where to go as the hospitals are threatened. Already out of service overnight."

Israeli military officials assert that their operations target Hamas while striving to minimize civilian harm.

• Kerry Khan (02:05): "Israeli military officials say they are targeting Hamas and that numerous steps are taken to mitigate civilian harm."

Housing Market Struggles Amid High Costs

Middle-class families continue to face challenges in achieving homeownership due to exorbitant housing prices and elevated mortgage rates.

• Scott Horsley (02:27): "A typical family with income of about $75,000 can only afford about one out of five homes on the market."

Despite a slight market improvement from the previous year, affordability remains a significant barrier, exacerbated by mortgage rates hovering around 6.75%.

• Scott Horsley (02:27): "That's actually a slight improvement from a year ago, but it's still a much tougher housing market than before the pandemic."

Consumer Spending Increases and Retail Acquisitions

Consumers have shown resilience with an uptick in retail spending, although the growth is modest compared to previous months.

• Jack Spear (02:58): "Consumers upped their spending last month at retail stores."

This increase follows a notable rise in car sales, driven by consumers attempting to circumvent new tariffs on autos.

In corporate developments, Dick's Sporting Goods announced a significant acquisition:

• Jack Spear (02:58): "Dick's Sporting Goods announced today it's buying rival Foot Locker in a roughly $2.4 billion deal."

This move marks the second major buyout in the athletic retail sector this year, amidst challenges posed by the Trump administration's tariffs.

Additionally, Skechers has agreed to a substantial deal to be taken private:

• Jack Spear (02:58): "Earlier this month, leisure shoemaker Skechers said it's agreed to be taken private in a deal worth more than $9 billion."

Heightened Awareness of Perimenopause

Perimenopause is gaining increased attention within the medical community and among the public, highlighting the complexity of its symptoms and diagnostic challenges.

• Katie Riddle (03:59): "Some clinicians caution women who are in their late 30s through early 50s don't assume all maladies are related to perimenopause."

Gynecologist Nanette Santoro emphasizes the importance of distinguishing perimenopause symptoms from other midlife health conditions.

• Nanette Santoro (04:13): "Maybe it isn't your hormones. Let's try these other things first, and that's a little tricky."

She advocates for proactive collaboration between doctors and patients to effectively address and diagnose symptoms.

Lewis Pugh's Ambitious Shark Awareness Swim

Athlete Lewis Pugh is set to undertake a historic 62-mile swim around Martha's Vineyard, aiming to coincide with the annual great white shark migration and the 50th anniversary of the iconic film Jaws.

• Jack Spear (04:33): "He says sharks were maligned in the 1975 movie, and he's calling for more protection for the animals."

Pugh's initiative seeks to combat negative perceptions of sharks and promote conservation efforts, highlighting the species' ecological importance.

This episode of NPR News Now encapsulates a broad spectrum of topics, providing listeners with essential updates and in-depth analysis on pressing matters both domestically and internationally.