NPR News: 05-23-2025 5PM EDT

Summary

NPR News: May 23, 2025, 5 PM EDT

NPR News Now, hosted by NPR, delivers the latest news in five minutes, updated hourly. In this episode released on May 23, 2025, key stories span international trade tensions, significant legal victories, legislative developments, corporate updates, and a peculiar international incident.

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International Trade Tensions: U.S.-EU Tariff Threats

Timestamp: [00:24]

European officials have expressed deep concerns over President Trump's recent threats to impose a 50% tariff on goods from the European Union. Jack Spear reports that German Foreign Minister Johann Vaderpoel stated, "Germany will be counting on further negotiations with the Trump administration, as well as support from the European Commission in defending the European market from Trump's threatened 50% tariff" ([00:40]). Moreover, President Trump has also threatened a 25% tariff on Apple products unless iPhones are manufactured in America. The European Commission maintains that trade with the U.S. remains "roughly in balance" when considering both goods and services ([00:40]).

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Legal Victory for Harvard on International Student Admissions

Timestamp: [01:14]

In a landmark decision, a federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's effort to revoke Harvard University's ability to enroll international students. Jack Spear outlines that the judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from pulling Harvard's certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program ([01:14]). Harvard contends that this action "violates the First Amendment and would have a devastating effect on more than 7,000 students" ([01:14]). Additionally, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully withheld $5 billion allocated by Congress for electric vehicle charging stations, citing a breach of the Impoundment Control Act ([01:58]).

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House Republicans Pass Controversial Tax Legislation

Timestamp: [02:37]

House Republicans have successfully passed President Trump's "big beautiful bill," a legislative package that primarily benefits the wealthiest Americans. Jack Spear highlights that while Republicans celebrate their victory, millions of low-income and disabled individuals reliant on Medicaid, food aid recipients, student loan borrowers, and clean energy projects stand to lose out ([02:37]). Notably, the legislation introduces a new annual tax on electric and hybrid vehicle drivers, with EV owners facing a fee of $50 per year and hybrid drivers $100, intended to fund the Highway Trust Fund, which is currently supported by gas taxes ([02:37]).

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United Airlines Reaches Tentative Deal with Flight Attendants

Timestamp: [02:37]

In corporate news, United Airlines has announced a tentative agreement with the union representing 28,000 of its flight attendants. Jack Spear reports that while the final contract language is still under negotiation, the union anticipates a "financial gain of 40% in the first year of the agreement" ([02:37]). The deal includes a signing bonus and awaits approval from local union presidents and ratification by the flight attendants themselves ([02:37]).

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Toyota Recalls Over 400,000 Tundra Pickup Trucks

Timestamp: [03:58]

Automaker Toyota has initiated a recall of more than 400,000 Tundra pickup trucks due to a defect in the backup lights affecting models from the 2022 year onwards. Camila Dominowski explains that some vehicles are experiencing water damage and corrosion in the backup lights, which not only hinders the truck's reversing indicators but also impairs the driver's visibility while backing up ([04:01]). The issue originates from a specific type of glue used in certain reverse lamp assemblies. Toyota cannot determine the exact number of affected trucks and will therefore replace the lights on all units involved, with the fix being provided free of charge. Recall notifications are expected to be dispatched by mid-July ([04:01]).

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Unusual Incident: Cargo Ship Runs Aground on Norwegian Man’s Lawn

Timestamp: [04:34]

In an extraordinary incident, a Norwegian man, Johan Helberg, discovered that a massive 443-foot cargo ship had run aground on his front lawn overlooking a fjord. Jack Spear recounts that Helberg was asleep when the ship, missing his house by approximately 24 feet, made contact with his property. It was only after a neighbor alerted him that Helberg became aware of the towering vessel parked on his lawn ([04:34]).

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Additional Segments

Timestamp: [02:37] & [04:34]

The episode also touches on the fluctuations in the stock market, noting that the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 256 points, reflecting broader economic uncertainties and responses to the newly passed tax legislation.

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Featured Interview Highlight

Timestamp: [00:00]

Though not part of the main news segments, FRESH AIR contributor Ann Marie Baldonado shares insights from her interview with actor Cole Escola regarding the Broadway play "O Mary." In the interview, Cole portrays an "unhinged alcoholic Mary Todd Lincoln," who aspires to be a cabaret performer. Ann Marie mentions, "If that makes no sense, that's part of the point" ([00:00]). Listeners interested in this interview can find it on the FRESH AIR podcast.

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This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of pressing international trade issues, significant legal decisions affecting educational institutions, controversial domestic legislation, corporate negotiations, automotive safety recalls, and an unusual maritime mishap, offering listeners a well-rounded update on current events.

Transcript

[Ann Marie Baldonado]

This is FRESH AIR contributor Ann Marie Baldonado. I talked with actor Cole Escola about their hit Broadway play O Mary. Cole plays an unhinged alcoholic Mary Todd Lincoln, who's an aspiring cabaret performer. If that makes no sense, that's part of the point. You can find my interview on the FRESH AIR podcast.

[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jack Spear. European officials say President Trump's threat to imp a 50% tariff on the European Union will cause suffering in both the U.S. and Europe. NPR's Rob Schmitz reports from Berlin.

[Rob Schmitz]

German Foreign Minister Johann Vaderpoel said Germany will be counting on further negotiations with the Trump administration, as well as support from the European Commission in defending the European market from Trump's threatened 50% tariff, which in a post on Truth Social he said the US Would impose starting in June. The president also threatened a 25% tariff on Apple products unless iPhones begin to be manufactured in America. The European Commission's stance on trade with the US Is that it's roughly in balance if both goods and services are calculated. Rob Schmitz, NPR News, Berlin.

[Jack Spear]

A federal judge blocked the Trump administration's attempt to revoke the ability of Harvard to enroll international students. A judge issuing a temporary restraining order stopping the federal government from pulling Harvard certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows the school to sponsor international students who obtain visas to study in the US Vision. The move came in a letter sent to the university by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem yesterday. In its suit, Harvard said the government's action violates the First Amendment and would have a devastating effect on more than 7,000 students. An independent watchdog has ruled the Trump administration is blocking funds Congress has already approved. The Government Accountability Office ruling yesterday was a violation of the Impoundment control Act. Here's NPR's Deepa Shivaram.

[Deepa Shivaram]

During the Biden administration, Congress doled out $5 billion in the bipartisan Infrastructure act to be used for electric vehicle charging, stat. But the Trump administration illegally withheld that money, the GAO report says. Russ Vogt, who leads Trump's budget office, says the report is of no consequence. He says the GAO is trying to get in the way of the Trump administration's work to, quote, manage taxpayer dollars effectively. The report says that if Trump wants to make changes to where the funding is appropriated, he needs to go through a process called rescission, where he asks Congress, which holds the power of the purse, to cancel the funds. Deepa Shivaram, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

House Republicans are jubilant about their success in Muscling through President Trump's so called big beautiful bill, which would primarily benefit the wealthiest Americans. But not everyone is cheering. Big losers under the legislation would be millions of low income and disabled people who rely on Medicaid as well as food aid recipients, student loan borrowers and clean energy projects. Even EV and hybrid drivers would take a hit under the House version. They'd face a new annual tax tied to registrations. EV owners would pay 250,000 doll $50 a year, while hybrid drivers would pay $100 a year to generate revenue for the Highway Trust Fund. It's currently funded by a gas tax paid at the pump. Stocks lost ground on Wall street today. The dow was down 256 points. This is NPR. United Airlines says it has reached a tentative deal with the union representing 28,000 of its flight attendants. The airline says final contract language is still being worked out with. However, the union says it would result in a financial gain of 40% in the first year of the agreement. The contract still needs to be approved by local presidents and would need to be ratified by the flight attendants. United says the deal would include a signing bonus. Toyota says it's recalling more than 400,000 Tundra pickup trucks because of a defect in backup lights. As NPR's Camila Dominowski explains, the problem affects vehicles produced in the model year 2022 and newer.

[Camila Dominowski]

Some Toyota Tundra pickups are getting water damage and corrosion in the backup lights, causing the lights fail. That's a problem both because other drivers can't tell a truck is reversing and because it reduces a driver's ability to see while backing up. The problem stems from a specific kind of glue used in only some reverse lamp assemblies. But the automaker can't even estimate how many of the trucks have this problem, so they're going to replace the lights on all of them, as always, for a safety recall. The fix will be free. Recall letters will be sent out by mid July. Camila Domonosky, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

Plenty of people have woken up in the morning to find a car crashed into the lawn in front of their house. But a Norwegian man has a bigger story to tell. Johan Helberg, whose house sits on a piece of land overlooking a fjord, says he woke up to find a 443foot cargo ship had run aground on his front lawn. Not only that, but Hellberg apparently slept through it, saying a neighbor woke him up to say if he'd noticed the giant ship. The cargo ship missed the house by about 24ft. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News. In Washington.

[Camila Dominowski]

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