NPR News: 05-22-2025 9AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 22, 2025, 9 AM EDT – Detailed Summary

NPR News Now delivered a comprehensive update on May 22, 2025, covering critical developments in U.S. politics, international relations, security incidents, cultural events, and historical preservation. Below is an in-depth summary of the key topics discussed in the episode, complete with notable quotes and timestamps for context.

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1. Controversial Government Budget Bill Passes the House

Host: Korva Coleman
Timestamp: [00:17]

The House of Representatives narrowly approved a contentious government budget bill by a single vote, a decision that has stirred significant debate. President Donald Trump lauded the passage on social media and called on the Senate to follow suit. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed optimism about the bill's prospects in the Senate.

Quote:

Mike Johnson: "All the senators, every one of them have promised me they're not going to change anything in our bill... I encourage them to remember that we have a very delicate equilibrium that we've reached on here."
[00:31]

Despite the approval, concerns remain as several senators have voiced reservations. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that the bill will increase the national deficit by over $3 trillion. Democrats counter this by citing another CBO report, which warns that the bill could significantly inflate the national debt, necessitating mandatory spending cuts in Medicare amounting to half a trillion dollars.

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2. President Trump Accepts Qatari Government's Boeing 747 as a Gift

Host: Korva Coleman
Timestamp: [00:54]
Reporter: Kat Lonsdorf

In an unexpected move, the Trump administration has received a Boeing 747 luxury jet from the Qatari government. Valued at several hundred million dollars, the Air Force spokesperson disclosed that the aircraft is slated for upgrades to serve as a new Air Force One.

Quote:

Kat Lonsdorf: "Trump has suggested the plane could be converted quickly for use as a new Air Force One. But experts say it will likely require significant upgrades to meet the high security and communications requirements, work that could take several years and cost anywhere from several hundred million to a billion dollars."
[01:36]

The Department of Defense has kept specific details classified, asserting that the modifications will transform the aircraft into a suitable executive airlift vehicle. This gesture has raised questions about security enhancements and the timeline for the jet’s readiness.

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3. Tragic Shooting of Israeli Embassy Staff in Washington, D.C.

Host: Korva Coleman
Timestamp: [02:09]
Reporter: Becky Sullivan
Police Chief: Pamela Smith

A heartbreaking incident occurred in Washington, D.C., where two staff members from the Israeli embassy, Yaron Leshinsky and Sarah Milgram, were fatally shot. The suspect, identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, was apprehended at the scene.

Quote:

Pamela Smith: "The shooting took place shortly after 9 o'clock as an event hosted by a pro-Israel advocacy group, the American Jewish Committee, was coming to a close. Two people were killed."
[02:30]

Video footage captured Rodriguez pacing outside the museum before approaching a group of four individuals, drawing a handgun, and opening fire. Upon his arrest, he was heard chanting, "Free Free Palestine," leading authorities to investigate potential terrorist or hate crime motivations.

Quote:

Pamela Smith: "Police said they had tentatively identified the shooter as Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, said he was not previously known to police. American and Israeli officials alike condemned the shooting."
[02:54]

The FBI is conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact motives behind this act of violence.

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4. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Across the Southern U.S. Plains

Host: Korva Coleman
Timestamp: [03:12]

Severe weather alerts have been issued for the southern United States plains, with meteorologists emphasizing the threat of large hailstones. Hail with diameters reaching up to two inches or more poses a significant risk to property and safety in the affected regions.

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5. Tom Hanks to Star in New Off-Broadway Play

Host: Korva Coleman
Timestamp: [03:12]
Reporter: Jeff London

Beloved actor Tom Hanks is set to make his Off-Broadway debut in October as part of a new play he co-authored. Titled This World of Tomorrow, the time-traveling romance explores themes of love and scientific discovery.

Quote:

Jeff London: "Tom Hanks will appear in the center's 550-seat theater in a show adapted from his stories about a scientist in the future who travels back to the 1939 New York World's Fair to find love."
[03:47]

The production, taking place at The Shed in Hudson Yards, is a collaboration with writer James Glossman and will be directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon. The venue is renowned for hosting high-profile shows, including Kenneth Branagh's King Lear and Stephen Sondheim's final musical, Here We Are Now.

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6. Abraham Lincoln Artifacts Auctioned to Settle Foundation Debt

Host: Korva Coleman
Timestamp: [04:30]

Historical artifacts linked to President Abraham Lincoln have been sold at an auction in Chicago to address outstanding debts of the Lincoln Presidential Foundation. Among the items sold was a pair of blood-stained leather gloves that Lincoln wore on the night of his assassination.

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NPR News Now continues to provide timely and detailed updates on pressing national and international issues. For those seeking to stay informed, the episode from May 22, 2025, offers a succinct yet comprehensive overview of the day's most significant events.

Transcript

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[Korva Coleman]

In Washington, I'm Korva Coleman. The House of Representatives has passed the controversial government budget bill. It squeaked by with just one vote. Writing online, President Trump cheered the vote and urged the Senate to pass it. House Speaker Mike Johnson is hopeful.

[Mike Johnson]

All the senators, every one of them have promised me they're not going to change anything in our bill. No, no, I had, I was, I was honored to, to be at the Senate Republican luncheon on Tuesday. And, you know, I encourage them to remember that we have a very delicate equilibrium that we've reached on here. A lot of work went into this to find exactly the right balance, and you all saw how perilous that was over the last week as it developed.

[Korva Coleman]

But several senators have already signaled reservations about key elements of the plan. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office project bill will add well over $3 trillion to the national deficit. Democrats point to another CBO report that says the bill will balloon the national debt so much that mandatory spending cuts will be required in Medicare. They say the Medicare cuts could total half a trillion dollars. The Trump administration has accepted a gift from the Qatari government. The Boeing 747 luxury jet is worth several hundred million dollars. And NPR's Cat Lonsdorf reports. An Air Force spokesperson says the aircraft will be upgraded for use as Air Force One.

[Kat Lonsdorf]

The spokesperson told NPR that the Department of Defense had instructed the Air Force to, quote, award a contract to modify a Boeing 747 aircraft for an executive airlift, saying further details are classified. They spoke on the condition of anonymity as they weren't authorized to speak publicly. Trump has suggested the plane could be converted quickly for use as a new Air Force One. But experts say it will likely require significant upgrades to meet the high security and communications requirements, work that could take several years and cost anywhere from several hundred million to a billion dollars. Kat Lansdorf, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

Police in Washington, D.C. say two staff members from the Israeli embassy were shot and killed in the city last night. The Israeli government identified the staffers as Yaron Leshinsky and Sarah Milgram. A suspect is in custody. NPR's Becky Sullivan reports. D.C. police say the suspect said Free Free Palestine when he was arrested.

[Pamela Smith]

The shooting took place shortly after 9 o' clock as a event hosted by a pro Israel advocacy group the American Jewish Committee was coming to a close. Two people were killed, said Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith.

[Becky Sullivan]

The suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum. He approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire, striking both of our decedents.

[Pamela Smith]

Police said they had tentatively identified the shooter as 30 year old Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, said he was not previously known to police. American and Israeli officials alike condemned the shooting. An FBI official said it would be investigated for ties to terrorism or as a hate crime. Becky Sullivan, NPR News, Washington.

[Korva Coleman]

You're listening to NPR News. Weather forecasters are warning that severe thunderstorms are possible today in the southern U.S. plains. The main threat is hail. Forecasters warn some hail stones could be 2 inches in diameter or even larger. Two time Oscar winner Tom Hanks will appear Off Broadway next October in a new play that he co authored as Jeff London reports from New York. The play, this World of Tomorrow, is a time traveling romance based on some of Hank's short stories.

[Jeff London]

The Shed, an Off Broadway venue in Hudson Yards, the chic Far west side neighborhood, has hosted some high profile shows in recent years, among them Kenneth Branagh's adaptation of King Lear and Stephen Sondheim's final musical, here We Are Now. Tom Hanks will appear in the center's 550 seat theater in a show adapted from his stories about a scientist in the future who travels Back to the 1939 New York World's Fair to find love. Hanks is collaborating with writer James Glossman on the adaptation to be directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon. For NPR News, I'm Jeff London in New York.

[Korva Coleman]

Some artifacts associ with President Abraham Lincoln have been sold at auction in Chicago. These artifacts included the blood stained leather gloves that Lincoln was wearing the night that he was assassinated. The money from the sale is being used to pay off an old loan that the Lincoln Presidential foundation needed to settle. I'm Korva Coleman, NPR News.

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