NPR News: 05-21-2025 8AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 21, 2025, 8 AM EDT

Hosted by Korva Coleman

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1. House Republicans Scramble to Finalize Tax and Border Protection Bill

Washington D.C. – House Republican leaders continue their efforts to finalize a comprehensive tax and border protection bill, a day after President Donald Trump made a high-profile visit to Capitol Hill to garner support. Despite the President's assurances of party unity, significant dissent remains within the GOP.

President Trump emphasized unity and the stakes at hand:

"My party is unified, and those who don't back this package risk a major tax increase." ([00:34])

However, not all Republicans are on board without concessions. An unnamed Republican warned:

"What Republican could vote for that to happen because they wouldn't be a Republican much longer. They would get knocked out so fast." ([00:42])

House Speaker Mike Johnson is navigating between moderate demands for enhanced tax breaks for constituents in high state and local tax areas and conservative pressures to drastically reduce federal spending. The Speaker aims to secure the necessary votes by only risking a loss of three members, but with the committee still deliberating the rules for floor debate, the final details remain unresolved. Even if the House approves the bill this week, Senate GOP leaders anticipate further modifications.

NPR’s Deirdre Walsh reports from the Capitol on this unfolding political maneuvering. ([00:49])

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2. Strained US-South Africa Relations and Newark Airport Flight Limits

White House & Newark, New Jersey – In a move to mend diplomatic strains, President Trump welcomed South Africa's president to the White House today, signaling a potential thaw in recently tense relations between the two nations.

Concurrently, Newark Liberty International Airport has implemented new flight restrictions to address ongoing operational challenges. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced:

"We are limiting arrivals and departures to 56 per hour until runway construction is largely completed on June 15." ([01:42])

These measures follow a series of flight delays and technical issues, including outages that resulted in air traffic controllers taking trauma leave. The FAA assures that traffic will be normalized once the construction is nearing completion.

NPR’s Giles Snyder provides detailed coverage of these developments. ([01:21])

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3. DOJ Investigates Chicago's Hiring Practices Amid Diversity Efforts

Chicago, Illinois – The Department of Justice has initiated an investigation into whether the City of Chicago engaged in racial discrimination in its hiring processes. The inquiry focuses on allegations that the city may have preferentially hired individuals based on race.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson remains steadfast in his commitment to diversity, stating:

"When you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else." ([02:39])

Despite the investigation, Johnson insists that his administration's hiring practices are inclusive and representative of the city's diverse population:

"My administration reflects the country. It reflects the city. His administration reflects the country club." ([02:56])

The DOJ references the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in its concerns, labeling the investigation as a perceived attack on diversity initiatives by the Trump administration. According to a spokesperson, the city’s administrative composition is 34% Black, 30% White, and 24% Hispanic, underscoring its dedication to representing Chicago’s demographic landscape.

Mariah Woelfel of WBEZ reports on this sensitive issue. ([02:08])

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4. Retail Sector Earnings and Tribute to Late Actor George Wendt

Corporate Earnings Highlights – Two major retailers released their quarterly earnings reports this morning. Target reported a decline in first-quarter sales, attributing the downturn to consumer concerns over rising prices and boycotts linked to the company's reduction in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In contrast, Lowe’s experienced a smaller-than-expected sales drop, echoing trends seen in Home Depot’s reports where consumers are prioritizing home maintenance over significant purchases.

Tribute to George Wendt – The entertainment community mourns the loss of George Wendt, beloved for his role as Norm Peterson on the iconic NBC sitcom Cheers. Wendt, who passed away yesterday at age 76, was celebrated for his six Emmy nominations and his enduring presence on the show, which concluded exactly 32 years prior to his passing.

In Boston, fans gathered at the Subground Tavern in Beacon Hill to honor Wendt's legacy. Suvon Lee reports:

"A large vase of flowers and a mug of Sam Adams stood at the corner of the bar, alongside a laminated printout of Wendt with a message: 'Thank you for all the laughs.'" ([04:10])

A regular patron shared their admiration:

"He was just absolutely hilarious, a typical bar regular who came in and, you know, he's part of the crew in a sense and part of the show." ([04:27])

Wendt’s portrayal of Norm Peterson left an indelible mark on Cheers, endearing him to audiences for decades. Suvon Lee recounts the heartfelt tributes from fans at the bar. ([03:11])

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NPR News Now provides a concise overview of the latest developments across politics, aviation, civil rights, retail, and entertainment. For comprehensive coverage, tune in to NPR’s full broadcasts.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. House Republican leaders are still working to finalize their massive tax and border protection bill. That's a day after President Trump visited Capitol Hill to rally support for it. NPR's Deirdre Walsh reports. GOP holdouts say they won't vote for the bill without changes.

[President Trump]

President Trump stressed that his party was unified and warned those who didn't back the package risked a major tax increase.

[Unnamed Republican]

I mean, what Republican could vote for that to happen because they wouldn't be a Republican much longer. They would get. They would be knocked out so fast.

[President Trump]

But House Speaker Mike Johnson is still balancing a push from moderates to increase a tax break for constituents who live in districts with high state and local taxes. With demands from conservatives to slash federal spending, he can only afford to lose three votes and get it through the chamber. The committee that sets rules for floor debate is still meeting and there are no details on a deal yet. Even if the House passes the bill this week, Senate GOP leaders say they expect to make changes to it. Deirdre Walsh, NPR News, the Capitol.

[Korva Coleman]

President Trump welcomes South Africa's president to the White House today. Relations between the two nations have been recently strained. New flight limits are now in effect at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport. NPR's Giles Snyder reports. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the limits after weeks of flight delays and tech issues.

[FAA Representative]

The FAA is imposing the flight limits after meeting with airlines last week. The order limits arrivals and departures to 56 per hour until Runway construction is largely completed on June 15. After that, the FAA says it will allow more traffic. Newark has experienced a string of that have led to congestion, including tech issues and outages that led a handful of air traffic controllers to take trauma leave.

[Korva Coleman]

NPR's Giles Snyder reporting. The Justice Department says it has opened an investigation into whether the city of Chicago had hired people solely on the basis of race. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says the investigation will not deter him from diversity efforts. From member station wbez, Mariah Woelfel has more.

[Mariah Woelfel]

The DOJ cites Johnson's comments over the weekend at a church in Woodlawn where he was asked about hiring for minorities and in response listed top black officials in his Cabinet.

[Brandon Johnson]

When you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else.

[Mariah Woelfel]

The DOJ cites the Civil Rights act of 1964, a landmark win in the fight against segregation of black Americans. Johnson called the investigation the latest hostile attack on diversity by the Trump administration.

[Brandon Johnson]

My administration reflects the country. It reflects the city. His administration reflects the country club.

[Mariah Woelfel]

Johnson's office is 34% black, 30% white and 24% Hispanic, a spokesperson says. For NPR News, I'm Mariah Woelfel in Chicago.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News from Washington. Two major retailers are out with earnings news this morning. Retailer Target says its first quarter sales dropped. It said that consumers were worried about prices and that consumer boycotts cut into the sales numbers. The boycotts are linked to Target's decision to drop many diversity, equity and inclusion efforts this year. Separately, Lowe's said it posted a smaller than expected drop in sales. Like Home Depot's recent report, Lowe's says consumers are spending on home maintenance and not on big ticket items. Actor George Wendt, who played the character Norm Peterson on the NBC sitcom Cheers, died yesterday. He was 76 years old. Wendt earned six Emmy nominations for his portrayal of the role. From member station wbur, Suvon Lee reports from the Boston bar that inspired the theme of the show.

[Suvon Lee]

In the Subground Tavern in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood. Staff had said a large vase of flowers and a mug of Sam Adams at the corner of the bar. A laminated printout showed a photo of Wendt with a message, thank you for all the laughs. Miles Hager says he came to the bar to pay tribute to the late actor.

[Unnamed Bar Patron]

He was just absolutely hilarious, a typical I wouldn't call him a bar fly, but a typical bar regular who came in and, you know, he's part of the crew in a sense and part of the show.

[Suvon Lee]

Wendt appeared in all episodes of the show from 1982 until its finale, which aired May 20, 1993, exactly 32 years prior to the day of his passing. For NPR News, I'm Suvon Lee in Boston.

[Korva Coleman]

This is npr.

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