NPR News: 05-21-2025 9PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 21, 2025, 9 PM EDT

Released on May 22, 2025

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Deportation Policies and Legal Proceedings

In a significant legal ruling, federal Judge Brian Murphy in Boston declared that the Trump administration had violated his order concerning the deportation of migrants. The judge's decision centers on the premature deportation of individuals to countries that are not their original home nations, without providing adequate time for them to challenge their removal.

At [00:37], Judge Murphy stated, "Officials unquestionably violated his order to ensure due process," emphasizing the importance of allowing migrants the necessary time to address safety concerns before deportation. Tina Realmuto, a lawyer representing the migrants, expressed skepticism about the administration's actions, highlighting the complexities involved in such legal processes.

The case involves eight migrants who were deported to South Sudan merely 17 hours after being informed of their removal. Government lawyers defended the swift action, arguing that the time provided was sufficient for the migrants to voice any safety concerns. However, the judge remains unsatisfied, urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reconsider and listen to any apprehensions from the affected individuals, whether they are still in the U.S. or have been relocated.

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Higher Education Challenges: Penn State’s Campus Closures

Penn State University is currently deliberating the potential closure of seven out of its 19 campuses, a move prompted by declining enrollment numbers among other financial challenges. This decision is part of a broader trend affecting higher education institutions nationwide, often referred to as the "enrollment cliff."

Janaki Mehta, reporting for NPR, elaborated at [01:36] on the factors contributing to this predicament. The university's governing board cites issues such as "declining enrollment, stagnant state funding, rising operational costs," and the decreasing number of high school graduates opting for higher education. These challenges are compounded by lower birth rates and a growing preference for alternatives to traditional college pathways.

Mehta highlighted that Penn State is not alone in facing these existential decisions, with many universities grappling with similar financial and demographic pressures. The governing board is scheduled to vote on the proposed closures on Thursday evening, determining the future landscape of the state school.

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Economic Update: Wall Street Slumps and Investor Sentiment

The financial markets experienced significant volatility amid ongoing uncertainties related to President Trump's tax and spending cut plan. NPR's Maria Aspen reported at [02:14] that the administration's proposed bill, touted as the "big, beautiful bill," is projected to exacerbate the national deficit, causing investor unease.

Stock markets reacted negatively with the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunging over 800 points and the Nasdaq dropping 270 points. Contributing factors include inflation concerns, fears of a recession, and the ramifications of Trump's tariff policies.

Winnie Caesar, Global Head of Strategy at CreditSights, provided insight at [02:37], stating, "The whole change in narrative around US Economic exceptionalism and just a general perception that the US is perhaps a riskier place to park your cash than it was six months ago," linking investor caution directly to the administration's tariff decisions.

As a result, investors are increasingly seeking alternative markets to safeguard their assets, leading to a cautious climate on Wall Street.

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Controversies: Book Purges and Emergency Management in St. Louis

Naval Academy Book Purge

A recent development involves the US Naval Academy, where nearly all books removed under the Trump administration's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) purge are being reinstated. Initially, about 400 books addressing anti-racism and gender issues were taken off the shelves. After a Pentagon order, all but a few have been returned, with approximately 20 books now earmarked for further review.

This reversal signals a shift in the administration's stance on DEI-related materials within military educational institutions, although the future handling of the remaining books remains uncertain.

St. Louis Emergency Management Failure

In St. Louis, significant repercussions followed the failure of outdoor warning sirens during a recent tornado. Mayor Kara Spencer announced at [03:58] that Emergency Management Commissioner Sarah Russell and her staff were attending an off-site meeting when the storm struck, rendering them unable to activate the sirens. Spencer expressed her dismay, stating, "I am shocked and horrified at the system's failure."

The oversight led to the tragic loss of five lives and caused damages exceeding one billion dollars. In response, Spencer is organizing a comprehensive external review to address the shortcomings and prevent future incidents. Additionally, Commissioner Russell has been placed on leave as the city navigates the aftermath of the disaster.

Winnie Caesar reassured the public at [04:16] by affirming improvements to the siren activation system: "But I also want to be clear that I am confident in what we have done over the last 48 hours to ensure that we can reliably activate the system should we need to."

Rachel Lipman provided further details on the situation, emphasizing the city's commitment to rectifying the failures in emergency management.

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Market Brief: Crypto and Oil Prices

Amid the turbulent economic landscape, crypto futures experienced a downturn, influenced by global uncertainties, including ongoing talks with Iran regarding its disputed nuclear program. Concurrently, oil prices saw a slight decrease, falling 47 cents per barrel to settle at $61.57.

These fluctuations reflect broader market sensitivities to international diplomacy and energy sector dynamics, contributing to the overall instability faced by investors navigating these volatile times.

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the NPR News Now episode, providing a clear and detailed overview for those who have not tuned in.

Transcript

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[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. A federal judge in Boston says the Trump administration violated his order requiring migrants being deported to countries that are not their own because be given enough time to challenge their removal. NPR's Toby Smith reports. Those responsible may face criminal penalties.

[Tovia Smith]

Eight migrants were flown out of the U.S. 17 hours after they were told they were being deported to South Sudan. Government lawyers argue that was enough time for them to raise concerns about their safety, but none did. In a stern rebuke, federal Judge Brian Murphy said officials unquestionably violated his order to ensure due process. And he wants DHS to hear any concerns from the men now either back in the US or where they are, which remains unclear. Tina Realmuto, a lawyer for the migrants, is skeptical.

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We think that will be a legal and logistical nightmare.

[Janaki Mehta]

We have concerns.

[Tovia Smith]

Government attorneys, meantime, raised concerns for the safety of the ICE agents holding what officials have described as criminal and barbaric monsters. Tovia Smith, NPR News, Boston.

[Jack Spear]

Penn State is weighing a plan to shut down seven of its 19 campuses. The decision comes as the university faces serious enrollment declines, which NPR's Jonki Mehra reports is part of a broader pattern in higher the Penn State governing board.

[Janaki Mehta]

Will soon decide the fate of the seven campuses and the future of the state school. The board's proposal to do so cited challenges including declining enrollment, stagnant state funding, rising operational costs. The proposal also says Penn State is not alone. The problem facing universities comes from what's called the enrollment cliff. There are fewer high school graduates heading to college, both because of lower birth rates and because more students are opting for alternatives to college in the coming years. Many higher education instit face similar existential decisions. Penn State's governing board will vote on the potential closures Thursday evening. Janaki Mehta, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

The ongoing uncertainty over President Trump's tax and spending cut plan, along with the fact that it appears his so called big beautiful bill will only add to the nation's deficit, rattled Wall street today. Stocks slumped as bond yields climbed. NPR's Maria Aspen says uncertainty over the budget, along with inflation worries, fears of recession and Trump's tariff war, is creating a climate for investors to look for other places to park their money.

[Winnie Caesar]

Investors are wor the United States is in trouble and so they're selling things that are tied to its economy. I talked to Winnie Caesar, who's the global head of strategy at credit sites, and this is how she put it. The whole change in narrative around US Economic exceptionalism and just a general perception that the US Is perhaps a riskier place to park your cash than it was six months ago. And this all does come back to these tariffs.

[Jack Spear]

NPR's Maria Aspen. The Dow plunged more than 800 points today. The Nasdaq was down 270 points. This is NPR. It now appears most of the book titles pulled from the US Naval Academy library and the Trump administration's DEI purge are back on the shelves. Officials say all but a few of the 400 books were moved because they dealt with anti racism or gender issues and have been returned after a Pentagon order. Defense officials say about 20 books from the account now earmarked for review. Administration officials had initially called for any books at military academies dealing with diversity, equity and inclusion to be removed. The mayor of St. Louis has placed the city's emergency management commissioner on leave after the outdoor warning sirens failed to sound before Friday's tornado. Rachel Lipman has more from St. Louis.

[Kara Spencer]

Mayor Kara Spencer says Commissioner Sarah Russell and their staff were at an off site meeting as the storm was moving into the area. That meant they were not in a position to activate the sirens, and a request to the St. Louis Fire Department to do the job instead was not clear. Spencer says she is shocked and horrified at the system's failure.

[Winnie Caesar]

But I also want to be clear that I am confident in what we have done over the last 48 hours to ensure that we can reliably activate the system should we need to.

[Kara Spencer]

Spencer says she is arranging for a full outside review. The storm killed five people in St. Louis and caused at least a billion dollars in damage. For NPR News, I'm Rachel Lippman in St. Louis.

[Jack Spear]

Crypto futures prices moved lower amid continued global uncertainties, including talks with Iran about its disputed nuclear program. Oil fell 47 cents a barrel to settle at 61,57 a barrel. In New York, I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

[Mint Mobile Ad]

This message comes from Mint Mobile. Mint Mobile took what's wrong with wireless and made it right. They offer premium wireless plans for less. And all plans include high speed data, unlimited talk and text and nationwide coverage. See for [e-mail] Switch.