NPR News: 05-23-2025 8PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now Summary

Episode: NPR News: 05-23-2025 8PM EDT
Release Date: May 24, 2025
Host: NPR

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1. Administration's Trade Policy Threatens EU Imports and U.S. Smartphone Industry

Jack Speier opens the episode by highlighting President Donald Trump's latest threats to escalate trade tensions. The administration has proposed a 50% tax on all imports from the European Union and a 25% tariff on smartphones, contingent on their manufacture within the United States.

Scott Horsley provides further analysis, stating, “Up until now, smartphones have been largely spared from the president's trade war. So a 25% tax would be a big escalation if it actually happened, but probably not big enough to actually move iPhone manufacturing into the U.S.” (00:45). He elaborates that if Apple attempted to manufacture iPhones domestically, the cost per unit could soar to approximately $3,500, making them significantly more expensive than their imported counterparts despite the tariff.

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2. White House National Security Council Undergoes Major Restructure

In a significant development within the White House, Jack Speier reports that President Trump is implementing a major restructuring of the National Security Council (NSC). This move involves reducing both the size and scope of the NSC, thereby diminishing its influence during the Biden administration. Previously, the NSC, comprising over 300 staff members, managed critical geopolitical issues ranging from the situation in Ukraine to tensions in Kashmir.

“There are reports today dozens of staffers were sent termination notices,” Speier notes, emphasizing the rapid changes facing the NSC (01:11). The NSC has traditionally been the primary body for coordinating national security efforts among presidents, making this downsizing a pivotal shift in U.S. security policy management.

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3. Uncertainty for Harvard's International Students Amid Visa Issues

The episode shifts focus to the academic realm, where Emily Piper Villillo from WBUR discusses the turmoil faced by international students at Harvard University. The Trump administration initially decreed that international students could no longer attend the university. However, a judge intervened with a temporary restraining order, halting this mandate.

“"If you saw that letter issued by the Department of Homeland Security, it said that it's effective immediately so students would have to find other schools or transfer somewhere else or leave the country,"” shares an unnamed DHS official quoted by Villillo (02:19).

Matt, a graduate student at Harvard, expresses his anxieties: “I had just heard about the judge's temporary restraining order when I bumped into him and said the News was reassuring,” Villillo recounts (02:30). Despite the legal reprieve, the atmosphere on campus remains tense, with students uncertain about their futures.

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4. Boeing Reaches $1.1 Billion Settlement with Justice Department Over 737 Max

Jack Speier reports that aerospace giant Boeing has agreed to a settlement with the Justice Department to avoid criminal prosecution related to the 737 Max jetliner fiasco. The deal mandates Boeing to invest more than $1.1 billion in proportionate returns. In exchange, the Justice Department will dismiss the criminal case against the company.

However, this settlement faces opposition from the families of the two 737 Max crashes that resulted in 346 fatalities. The market reacted negatively to the news, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping by 256 points.

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5. Trump Administration Approves Nippon Steel's Stake in U.S. Steel

In international business news, the Trump administration has announced that a partnership between U.S. steel and Japan-based Nippon Steel will proceed. This decision marks a reversal from the previous stance under the Biden administration, which had blocked Nippon's $15 billion bid to acquire the iconic U.S. steelmaker.

A statement from President Trump indicated ambiguity regarding his approval of Nippon Steel's acquisition: "The administration says that what's under a partnership between U.S. steel and Japan based Nippon Steel will remain in place but will be allowed to move forward" (03:00). As of now, neither U.S. Steel nor Nippon Steel has provided immediate comments on the development.

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6. United Airlines and Flight Attendants Tentatively Agree on New Contract

Andrea Hsu from NPR covers the ongoing negotiations between United Airlines and its flight attendants. After four years of discussions, a tentative agreement has been reached concerning a new contract. The deal encompasses several key areas:

• Financial Gains: Flight attendants are projected to receive a 40% increase in the first year of the new contract.
• Signing Bonuses: The contract includes signing bonuses for cabin crews.
• Work-Life Improvements: Enhanced scheduling and quality of life provisions have been agreed upon.

Union leadership representing approximately 28,000 flight attendants will decide next week whether to present the agreement to their members for a final vote. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby praised the workforce, stating, “[They] have earned an industry leading contract,” emphasizing the company's commitment to its employees (03:50).

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7. Billy Joel Cancels Summer Tour Due to Health Concerns

In entertainment news, legendary singer Billy Joel has announced the cancellation of his planned summer tour. Following a decade-long residency at Madison Square Garden concluded last year, Joel faced health challenges that necessitated this decision.

In a social media post, the 76-year-old artist revealed his diagnosis of fluid buildup in the brain, which has adversely affected his hearing, vision, and balance. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this condition can also impair concentration and memory, further impacting his ability to perform and tour.

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Notable Quotes

• Scott Horsley (00:45): “Up until now, smartphones have been largely spared from the president's trade war. So a 25% tax would be a big escalation if it actually happened, but probably not big enough to actually move iPhone manufacturing into the U.S.”

• Unnamed DHS Official (02:19): “If you saw that letter issued by the Department of Homeland Security, it said that it's effective immediately so students would have to find other schools or transfer somewhere else or leave the country.”

• United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby (03:50): “[They] have earned an industry leading contract.”

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the NPR News Now episode released on May 24, 2025. From trade policies and national security restructuring to significant corporate agreements and health-related cancellations in the entertainment industry, the episode provided a wide-ranging overview of pressing national and international issues.

Transcript

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[Jack Speier]

Washington, I'm Jack Speier. Investors who thought President Donald Trump's trade wars were over got a wake up call this morning and it came in the form of a threat from the administration about the imposition of a 50% tax on all imports from the European Union. Trump also threatened a 25% tariff on smartphones unless they're made in the U.S. but as we hear from NPR's Scott Horsley, in the case of Apple's popular iPhone, that's not likely to happen.

[Scott Horsley]

Up until now, smartphones have been largely spared from the president's trade war. So a 25% tax would be a big escalation if it actually happened, but probably not big enough to actually move iPhone manufacturing into the U.S. one analyst estimated that if Apple even tried to build iPhones here in this country, they would cost around $3,500, which is a lot more than the imported version, even with a 25% tariff.

[Jack Speier]

NPR's Scott Horsley reports. Tonight, a major restructuring is underway at the White House National Security Council. NPR is confirming President Trump is slashing both the size and scope of the body in a move also likely to further reduce the agency's influence under the Biden administration. The more 300 member National Security Council staff dealt with geopolitical issues ranging from Ukraine to Kashmir. There are reports today dozens of staffers were sent termination notices. The NSC traditionally is the main body used by presidents to coordinate national security. Harvard's international students were shaken Thursday when the Trump administration said they could no longer attend the university, then were leave today when a judge blocked that move. But the mood on campus remains uneasy. WBUR's Emily Piper Viejo has more.

[Emily Piper Villillo]

Harvard's campus thinned out after final exams, but those who lingered shared their disbelief. Matt's a graduate student. NPR agreed to only use his first name because of his concerns about being targeted as an international student. He hopes he'll be able to finish his degree in a few years, but on Thursday, he wasn't even looking that far ahead.

[Unnamed DHS Official]

If you saw that letter issued by the Department of Homeland Security, it said that it's effective immediately so students would have to find other schools or transfer somewhere else or leave the country.

[Emily Piper Villillo]

Matt had just heard about the judge's temporary restraining order when I bumped into him and said the News was reassuring. For NPR News, I'm Emily Piper Villillo in Boston.

[Jack Speier]

Airplane builder Boeing says it's reached a deal with the Justice Department to avoid criminal prosecution for allegedly misleading regulators about the 737 Max jetliner. Justice Department says the respective sides have reached an agreement in principle that would require Boeing to invest more than $1.1 billion in proportion return. The department will dismiss a criminal case against Boeing. Families of the victims have opposed dropping the case. Two 737 Max jet crashes claimed the lives of 346 people. Stocks lost ground today. The Dow down 256 points. This is NPR. The Trump administration says that what's under a partnership between U.S. steel and Japan based Nippon Steel will remain in place but will be allowed to move forward. A statement from the president, however, left in Vegas to whether he's approving Nippon's $15 billion bid to buy the iconic US steelmaker after vowing to block such a deal. Previously, an effort by Nippon to buy U.S. steel was blocked by the Biden administration. There was no immediate comment from the companies. After four years of negotiations, United Airlines and its flight attendants have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. As NPR's Andrea Schuhr reports, there are a few more steps before the deal is done.

[Andrea Hsu]

Though the Union representing some 28,000 flight attendants at United the first year of the new contract would bring 40% in financial gains. The airline notes the cabin crews would also receive a signing bonus and many scheduling and quality of life improvements. Flight attendants had been demanding a double digit base pay increase and higher pay for time spent on the ground. Union leadership will decide next week on whether to send the agreement to the membership for a final vote. In a statement, United CEO Scott Kirby praised the company's flight attendants and said they'd earned an industry leading contract. Andrea Hsu, NPR News.

[Jack Speier]

Singer Billy Joel had planned a summer tour after finishing up a decade long residency at Madison Square Garden last year, but those appearances have now been canceled. 76 year old Joel in a post on social media revealing he's been diagnosed with fluid buildup in the brain. He says that it's affected his hearing, vision and balance. According to the Cleveland Clinic, the brain disorder can also affect concentration and memory. This is npr.

[Amazon Business Representative]

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