NPR News Now: May 23, 2025, 7 AM EDT

Host: Korva Coleman
Source: NPR News
Release Date: May 23, 2025

Harvard International Student Enrollment Halted by Trump Administration

[00:14] Korva Coleman: The Trump administration has imposed a ban on Harvard University enrolling new international students. Current international students are being instructed to transfer to other institutions or depart the United States. The administration cites an "unsafe environment" at Harvard as the reason for this unprecedented move. In response, Harvard alleges that these directives constitute threats against the university's operations.

[00:52] Emily Fang: A significant development occurred as Federal Judge Jeffrey S. White issued a nationwide injunction against the Trump administration's efforts to cancel international student visas. The ruling favors nearly 2,000 international students whose immigration statuses were abruptly terminated by their removal from a U.S. immigration database. Although the judge has reinstated their statuses, he cautioned that the administration might attempt to revoke them again, which justified the injunction. The administration maintains that visas could be revoked for students involved in activities beyond their visa scope, though NPR's review indicates that most affected students had no criminal convictions.

Federal Authorities Charge Suspect in Killing of Israeli Embassy Staffers

[01:29] Korva Coleman: In a tragic incident outside a Jewish museum in Washington, D.C., two Israeli embassy staff members, Jerome Leschinsky and Sarah Milgram, were fatally shot. Federal authorities have filed first-degree murder charges against the suspect responsible for their deaths.

[01:53] Salisa Kalakkal: Sarah Milgram, aged 26, hailed from Prairie Village, Kansas. Her father, Robert Milgram, emphasized the importance of education in combating such violence, stating, "I think education is important to stopping these acts of violence." A community member echoed sentiments of unity and resilience, saying, "Many different people living in the [area], there's no reason to hate one another. This hate cannot divide us. We need to overcome it."

[02:11] Salisa Kalakkal: The temple where Sarah worshiped released a heartfelt statement, highlighting her deep personal commitment to Judaism and describing her as a "radiant presence."

Trump Administration to Phase Out the Penny

[02:23] Korva Coleman: The Trump administration has announced plans to cease the production of the penny. NPR's Scott Horsley explains that the federal government faces financial losses on these one-cent coins, with each penny costing approximately $0.04 to produce.

[02:36] Scott Horsley: The discontinuation is projected to save the government around $56 million annually in material costs. While pennies will remain legal tender, their use in everyday transactions is minimal, with about 114 billion in circulation primarily accumulating in change jars and unused pockets. The phase-out may lead businesses to round prices to the nearest nickel, a change deemed manageable since cash transactions comprise less than 20% of all transactions today.

Innovative DNA Sampling Method Reveals National Biodiversity

[03:08] Korva Coleman: In financial news, Wall Street futures are down in premarket trading. Shifting to scientific advancements, NPR's Ari Daniel reports on a groundbreaking method developed by scientists to sample DNA across an entire country directly from the air.

[03:22] Ari Daniel: A network of monitoring stations in the UK has been inadvertently capturing airborne DNA through pollution level assessments. Elizabeth Clare, a biodiversity scientist at York University, explains that as air passes through filter discs, DNA from various organisms—ranging from insects and spiders to plants, fungi, birds, and mammals—settles onto the filters.

[03:56] Elizabeth Clare: "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."

[04:00] Ari Daniel: This innovative approach allows scientists to construct a comprehensive image of national biodiversity and track its changes over time, offering valuable insights into environmental health and ecosystem dynamics.

Kermit the Frog Delivers Commencement Address at University of Maryland

[04:06] Korva Coleman: In a delightful turn of events, Kermit the Frog, the beloved Sesame Street character, served as the commencement speaker at the University of Maryland, College Park's graduation ceremony. As one of the original Muppets, Kermit shared heartfelt life advice with the graduates.

[04:21] Kermit the Frog: "The show must go on, and if you're with your people, then you won't have to do it alone because life is not a solo act. No, it's not. It's a big, messy, delightful ensemble piece, especially when you're with your people."

[04:39] Korva Coleman: This appearance marked a homecoming of sorts for Kermit, whose creator, the late Jim Henson, was an alumnus of the University of Maryland, graduating in 1960. Henson's legacy continues to inspire, bringing joy and wisdom to new generations of graduates.

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