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

Released on May 22, 2025

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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