NPR News Now: Episode Summary – May 22, 2025

Release Date: May 23, 2025
Host: Shea Stevens

1. Senate Faces Uphill Battle Over Massive Tax and Spending Plan

Timestamp: [00:34]

NPR's Claudia Grisales reports on the intense negotiations unfolding in the U.S. Senate regarding a substantial tax and spending package pivotal to President Trump's domestic agenda. The House-approved plan encompasses:

• Extension of Tax Cuts: Continuing the tax reductions initially passed during Trump's first term.

• Immigration Policy Reform: Significant changes aimed at reshaping the nation's immigration system.

• Medicaid Overhaul: Potential elimination of Medicaid coverage for millions, sparking fierce debate.

Senate Republicans are divided between fiscal conservatives concerned about adding $3 trillion to the deficit and moderate members who view Medicaid cuts as a non-negotiable "red line." Claudia cites, "Fiscal hawks blanch at adding $3 trillion in deficit spending, while moderate Republicans say cuts to Medicaid are a red line." [00:34]

Senate Majority Leader John Thune is tasked with reconciling these divergent viewpoints amid pressure from President Trump, who is pushing for swift approval. The GOP aims to present the final bill to Trump by the summer, incorporating a provision to raise the debt limit before an impending deadline.

2. Nonprofits Take Legal Action Against Justice Department’s Grant Freezes

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In a significant legal development, a coalition of five nonprofit organizations spanning from the West to the East Coast has filed a class action lawsuit against the Department of Justice (DOJ). NPR's Ryan Lucas details the situation:

• Scope of Termination: Over 370 federal grants totaling approximately $800 million were abruptly canceled without prior notice or explanation.

• Impact of Grants: These funds supported initiatives to reduce violence, assist crime victims, and address juvenile justice and child protection, among other critical services.

• Legal Grounds: The plaintiffs argue that the DOJ's actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act and the Constitution.

The organizations are seeking an injunction to halt the termination of these grants and compel the DOJ to honor the original funding arrangements. As Ryan summarizes, "The termination was provided with no prior notice, no reasoned explanation and in violation of the Administrative Procedure act and the Constitution." [01:34]

3. Trump Administration Appeals Deportation Order of Venezuelan National

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Houston Public Media's Sarah Grunow reports on the Trump administration's legal maneuver regarding the deportation of Widmer Ahelva Sanguino, a 24-year-old Venezuelan man:

• Court Proceedings: Following a Texas judge's three-pronged order to locate Sanguino, the administration has appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, known for its conservative stance.

• Compliance Issues: While the government has disclosed general deportation arrangements with El Salvador, they failed to locate Sanguino, who was initially flagged at a Houston airport last fall due to his tattoos.

• Legal Reaction: Sanguino's attorney, Javier Rivera, expressed surprise at the administration's decision to appeal, stating, "He was shocked by the appeal." [02:26]

The case highlights ongoing tensions between immigration enforcement and legal protections for individuals facing deportation.

4. Supreme Court Upholds Presidential Authority to Dismiss Independent Agency Board Members

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In a pivotal but temporary decision, the Supreme Court affirmed that the President holds broad authority to remove members from the boards of independent agencies. This ruling suspends a lower court's directive to reinstate officials from two such boards, signaling a significant interpretation of executive power.

a. Chicago Man Charged with Double Murder Outside Jewish Museum

• Incident Details: A Chicago resident, Elias Rodriguez, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder following a double shooting outside a Jewish museum in Washington. The victims, two Israeli embassy aides engaged to be married, were targeted in what federal investigators are classifying as a hate crime.

b. DHS Revokes Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students

• Allegations Against Harvard: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has rescinded Harvard University's authorization to enroll international students, alleging that the institution harbors hostility towards Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sentiments, and maintains racist policies.

• Impact: With approximately 68,000 foreign students constituting about 27% of Harvard's enrollment, this decision could have substantial repercussions on the university's international community.

5. Innovative DNA Sampling Reveals National Biodiversity Trends

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NPR's Ari Daniel explores a groundbreaking scientific advancement in biodiversity monitoring. Elizabeth Claire, a biodiversity scientist at York University, explains how researchers are leveraging existing pollution monitoring systems to capture airborne DNA:

• Methodology: Stations across the UK draw ambient air through filter paper discs intended for pollution tracking. Accidentally, these systems also collect DNA fragments shed by various organisms.

• Findings: Analysis of these filters has identified DNA from a wide array of life forms, including insects, spiders, plants, fungi, birds, and mammals. While individual filters capture minimal data, the aggregation of hundreds of samples forms a comprehensive picture of the nation's biodiversity and its changes over time.

Elizabeth Claire notes, "But when you have hundreds of them being collected, all those dots coalesce into a picture, the biodiversity of a nation and how it's changing." [04:25]

This innovative approach offers a non-invasive and expansive method to monitor ecological shifts, providing valuable insights for conservation efforts.

6. Market Update

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• U.S. Futures: Trading remains flat in after-hours markets.

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the May 22, 2025, episode of NPR News Now, providing listeners with a detailed overview of pressing national and international issues.