NPR News: 05-24-2025 8PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Detailed Summary of Episode Released on May 25, 2025

Host: Jeanine Herbst | Source: NPR

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Defense Department Imposes New Restrictions on Pentagon Journalists

Timestamp: [00:17]

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst

The U.S. Department of Defense has introduced stringent new limitations on journalists seeking access to the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced these changes via a memo, citing national security concerns. According to NPR's Kristen Wright, the restrictions prohibit reporters and media personnel from entering numerous areas within the Pentagon without an approved government escort.

Key Points:

• Restricted Areas: The memo targets key locations traditionally open to the press, including Hegseth's offices, those of his top aides, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters.
• Impact on Press Freedom: The Pentagon Press Association condemned the move as a "direct attack on the freedom of the press and America's right to know what its military is doing."
• Call for Reversal: The National Press Club is urging the Pentagon to retract these measures.
• Government Stance: Hegseth stated, "Additional security measures are coming," emphasizing the administration's ongoing efforts to limit journalistic access and prevent potential leaks.

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Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Attempt to Restrict Harvard's Enrollment of Foreign Students

Timestamp: [01:15]

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst, with insights from Kurt Carapezza (GBH)

A federal court has temporarily halted the Trump administration's directive to prevent Harvard University from enrolling international students. The Department of Homeland Security had mandated that Harvard provide disciplinary records related to campus protests, a request the university deemed "unlawful and retaliatory."

Key Points:

• Temporary Restraining Order: The judge's decision allows Harvard to continue sponsoring approximately 7,000 international students who contribute significantly through full tuition payments.
• Wider Implications: Geraldo Blanco, Director of the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College, remarked, "Universities in the United States... are under this cloud of uncertainty that their ability to enroll international students could be revoked just by a signature."
• Long-Term Effects: Blanco warned that such governmental actions against esteemed institutions could have "lasting effects on US higher education," potentially diminishing the country's appeal to global talent.

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Uvalde, Texas Remembers Three Years Since Robb Elementary School Shooting

Timestamp: [02:16]

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst, reporting with Celia Aranda (Texas Public Radio)

Uvalde commemorated the third anniversary of the tragic Robb Elementary School shooting, which resulted in the deaths of 19 students and two teachers. The community gathered for a candlelight vigil filled with crosses and tears, reflecting on the loss and the pursuit of accountability.

Key Points:

• Event Details: The vigil took place on May 24, 2022, marking the date when a gunman attacked Robb Elementary School. A notable point of contention was the delayed response by law enforcement, who waited over an hour before confronting the shooter.
• Community Sentiment: Sofia Samaripa, a resident and attendee of the vigil, expressed sorrow and resilience, stating, "Sorry that it ever had to happen this way and that hate's always going to divide us, but our light has to continue to shine."
• Legal Developments: Two former officers are now facing child endangerment charges as families of the victims continue to seek accountability for the handling of the incident.

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Iranian Filmmaker Jafar Panahi Wins Palme d'Or at Cannes Amidst Power Outage

Timestamp: [03:10]

Reporter: Jeanine Herbst

Dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi received the prestigious Palme d'Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival for his thriller "It Was Just an Accident." The film was lauded for its incisive critique of oppression in Iran, earning Panahi a standing ovation despite his history of arrests and imprisonment for opposing the Iranian regime.

Key Points:

• Festival Resilience: On the day of the award announcement, southeastern France experienced a significant power outage. Demonstrating adaptability, the Cannes organizers switched to an independent power supply, ensuring the ceremony proceeded without interruption.
• Box Office Trends: In related news, movie theaters are anticipating record-breaking weekends, bolstered by the "one-two punch" phenomenon. Bob Mondello from NPR explains that films with diverse target audiences, such as "Lilo and Stitch" and "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning," are expected to collectively generate nearly a quarter of a billion dollars at the U.S. box office by Monday.
• Industry Insights: Mondello notes, "Smart people on every side are close to panicking," highlighting the strategic planning behind releasing films that cater to different demographics simultaneously. The trend reflects a growing Hollywood strategy to maximize box office returns through varied and complementary film offerings.

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This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of significant national and international events, ranging from government policies affecting press freedom and higher education to poignant community remembrances and achievements in the arts. The discussions encapsulate ongoing debates about security, academic freedom, societal healing, and the resilience of the creative industries.

Transcript

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[Jeanine Herbst]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jeanine Herbst. The Defense Department is implementing new restrictions on journalists covering the pentagon. And as NPR's Kristen Wright reports, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the changes in a memo saying it's a matter of national security.

[Kristen Wright]

The restrictions ban reporters and other media from many areas of the Pentagon unless they're accompanied by an approved government escort. The newly restricted areas include the offices of Hegseth, his top aides, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other key locations of the complex, historically open to credentialed press during previous administrations. The Pentagon Press association says it's a direct attack on the freedom of the press and America's right to know what its military is doing. The National Press Club is urging the Pentagon to reverse course. Hegseth says additional security measures are coming. It's the latest step by the White House to limit access for journalists and prevent potential leaks. Kristen Wright, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

A federal judge has blocked for now the Trump administration's attempts to to revoke Harvard's ability to enroll foreign students. From member station gbh, Kirk Carapeza reports. This goes has an effect beyond Cambridge.

[Kurt Carapezza]

The Department of Homeland Security said Harvard couldn't enroll foreign students because it didn't provide disciplinary records from campus protests. Harvard called the move unlawful and retaliatory, and a judge agreed, issuing a temporary restraining order, letting the university sponsor 7,000 international students, most of whom pay full tuition. Geraldo Blanco directs the center for International Higher Education at Boston College, the top.

[Geraldo Blanco]

Universities in the United States. Now they all are under this cloud of uncertainty that their ability to enroll international students could be revoked just by a signature.

[Kurt Carapezza]

Blanco says these attacks on Harvard and other selective schools could have lasting effects on US Higher ed. For NPR News, I'm Kurt Carapezza in Boston.

[Jeanine Herbst]

Candlelight crosses and tears filled Uvalde, Texas, today as the community marked three years since the Robb Elementary School shooting that left students and teachers dead. From Texas Public Radio, Celi Aranda has more.

[Celia Aranda]

On May 24, 2022, a gunman stormed Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, killing 19 students and two teachers. Law enforcement waited more than an hour to confront the gunman.

[Sofia Samaripa]

There's people every day missing milestones.

[Celia Aranda]

Sofia Samaripa is one of the many residents who attended a vigil for the families of the victims and the survivors.

[Sofia Samaripa]

Sorry that it ever had to happen this way and that hate's always going to divide us, but our light has to continue to shine.

[Celia Aranda]

Two former officers faced child endangerment charges as victims families continue to push for accountability. Celia, Aranda and Uvalde.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And you're listening to NPR News from Washington. Dissident Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panani's thriller It Was Just an Accident won the Palm dwar at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. He received a standing ovation after the jury announced his movie won for the strong critique rather of oppression in his home country, but was repeatedly arrested and imprisoned in Iran for speaking out against the regime. Meanwhile, southeastern France was hit by a major power outage today. As the film festival was preparing to hand out its top prizes, the festival switched to an independent power supply and the show went on. Movie theaters will be setting records this weekend with a one, two punch that's becoming a Hollywood habit. NPR's Bob Mondello has more.

[Bob Mondello]

Two years ago, Barbenheimer showed that two films hi, Barbie, hi, Ken. If they had different audiences, this is the most important thing to ever happen could succeed. On the same weekend last year, it was glicked with Gladiator targeting guys.

[Celia Aranda]

This is about survival.

[Bob Mondello]

Wicked going for women and girls. Popular this weekend, it's Lilo and Stitch.

[Sofia Samaripa]

I'm gonna give you to the count.

[Bob Mondello]

Of three, Stitch and Mission Impossible, the final reckoning.

[Kurt Carapezza]

Smart people on every side are close to panicking.

[Bob Mondello]

As with the others, the feminine side of the the equation will make more money, but both films will do well. Not sure what to call the phenomenon. Stitchin, Impossilo, maybe. But together, by Monday, the two films are expected to take in close to a quarter of a billion dollars at American box offices. Bob Mondello, NPR News.

[Jeanine Herbst]

And I'm Jeanine Hurst. And you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

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