NPR News: 05-25-2025 3AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 25, 2025, 3AM EDT

Host: Windsor Johnston
Description: The latest news in five minutes. Updated hourly.

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1. President Trump’s Commencement Address at West Point

Timestamp: [00:16] – [01:05]

NPR’s Windsor Johnston reports that President Donald Trump delivered the commencement address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Saturday. In his speech, Trump lauded the cadets for joining what he described as "the most elite and storied military academy in human history."

• Notable Quote:

  Donald Trump [00:37]: "Let me begin by saying congratulations to the West Point class of 2025. You are winners in every sense."

Trump also touched upon his personal connection to military education, mentioning his own high school experiences and expressing enthusiasm for the cadets' future roles.

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2. Criticism of Past Administrations and DEI Programs

Timestamp: [01:05] – [01:35]

During his address, President Trump criticized previous administrations for their involvement in military nation-building efforts and the implementation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs within the military.

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3. Bipartisan Visit to Canada Aims to Improve Relations

Timestamp: [01:35] – [02:11]

New Hampshire Senator Jean Shaheen led a bipartisan delegation, including Republican Kevin Kramer from North Dakota, on a visit to Canada to meet with the new Prime Minister, Mark Carney. The trip aimed to foster more positive relations between the two nations amidst tensions stemming from President Trump’s policies.

• Notable Quotes:

  Jean Shaheen [01:35]: "For Senator Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, relations with Canada are key."

  Kevin Kramer [01:41]: "Canada is an important market for New Hampshire businesses. We're important consumers of Canadian products as well, and so we want to see this relationship right itself."

Shaheen emphasized the importance of addressing Trump’s tariffs and fostering economic ties, noting the value of having a Republican representative like Kramer present to provide insight into the administration’s perspectives.

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4. Texas Lawmakers Push for Ten Commandments Display in Schools

Timestamp: [02:11] – [03:11]

Republican lawmakers in Texas are moving forward with legislation that would mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports that the bill, which specifies the use of the King James Bible version, is poised for a final vote on Sunday and is expected to be signed by Governor Greg Abbott.

• Notable Quotes:

  Democratic Representative John Bryant [02:27]: "The bill discriminates against the nearly one third of Texans who are neither Christian nor Jewish."

  Donald Trump [02:43]: "It's not fair and it's not American, and this bill is not fair and it's not American and it's not Christian and it's not Jewish."

Despite opposition citing discrimination concerns, Trump publicly denounced the bill as un-American. A similar law passed in Louisiana last year is currently on hold pending a review by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

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5. Iranian Filmmaker Wins Top Prize at Cannes

Timestamp: [03:11] – [04:12]

NPR’s Chloe Veltman reports that Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his thriller "It Was Just an Accident." The film, a critique of oppression in Iran, garnered a standing ovation from the audience.

• Notable Quote:

  Jafar Panahi [03:33]: "I dedicate this film to all the artists deported from Iran."

This victory comes amidst Panahi's ongoing struggles with the Iranian authorities, who have arrested and imprisoned him for his outspoken stance against the regime. The awards ceremony was nearly marred by a regional power outage, suspected to be deliberate sabotage, which disrupted the event's final day.

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6. Federal Judge Orders Return of Deported Gay Guatemalan Man

Timestamp: [04:12] – [04:55]

A federal judge in Boston has mandated that the Trump administration facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a gay Guatemalan man who was deported to Mexico. Attorneys argue that Garcia was denied due process, and the Justice Department has acknowledged an error in his deportation.

• Key Points:

  • Garcia fled Guatemala after receiving death threats due to his sexuality.
  • Upon being deported to Mexico, he is now in hiding, fearing for his safety.
  • Earlier in the year, the same judge ordered the return of another individual, Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly deported to El Salvador.

This decision underscores ongoing legal and humanitarian challenges related to immigration and the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals in deportation cases.

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For more updates and detailed coverage, visit NPR News Now or tune in to the latest episodes.

Transcript

[Jackson Financial]

This message comes from Jackson. Seek clarity in retirement [e-mail] Jackson is short for Jackson Financial, Inc. Jackson National Life Insurance Company, Lansing, Michigan and Jackson National Life Insurance Company of New York, Purchase, New York.

[Windsor Johnston]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. President Trump delivered the commencement address for the US Military Academy at West Point on Saturday. During his speech, the president congratulated the cadets for joining what he calls the most elite and storied military academy in human history.

[Donald Trump]

I've been here many times, going to high school, not so far away, a good place, also a military academy. Not quite of this distinction, but it was a lot of fun for me. And I just want to say hello, cadets. And on behalf of our entire nation, let me begin by saying congratulations to the west point class of 2025. You are winners every sing.

[Windsor Johnston]

Trump also criticized past administrations for involving the military in nation building crusades and for implementing diversity, equity and inclusion programs. New Hampshire Senator Jean Shaheen says she came away from a trip to Canada feeling that relations could turn in a more positive direction. NPR's Michelle Kellerman reports she led a bipartisan visit to meet Canada's new prime minister amid President Trump's.

[Jean Shaheen]

For Senator Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, relations with Canada are key.

[Kevin Kramer]

Canada is an important market for New Hampshire businesses. We're important consumers of Canadian products as well, and so we want to see this relationship right itself.

[Jean Shaheen]

Her delegation included a Republican from North Dakota, Kevin Kramer, and she says it was helpful because he could respond to questions about what the Trump administration might be thinking and also hear concerns about Trump's tariffs from Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney. Michelle Kellerman, NPR News, the State Department.

[Windsor Johnston]

Republican lawmakers in Texas are on the verge of passing a law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms. Houston Public Media's Andrew Schneider reports. The measure is expected to be challenged in court.

[Andrew Schneider]

The bill would require Texas public school classrooms to display the King James Bible version of the Ten Commandments. During debate over the measure, Democratic Representative John Bryant argued the bill discriminates against the nearly one third of Texans who are neither Christian nor Jewish.

[Donald Trump]

It's not fair and it's not American, and this bill is not fair and it's not American and it's not Christian and it's not Jewish.

[Andrew Schneider]

The bill is scheduled for a final vote Sunday. It's expected to pass and be signed by Governor Greg Abbott. A similar law passed by Louisiana last year is on hold pending a Review by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals for NPR, I'm Andrew Schneider in Houston.

[Windsor Johnston]

This is NPR News in Washington. An Iranian filmmaker has won the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival for his thriller It Was just an accident. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports. The annual French event drew to a close on Saturday after a dramatic opening.

[Chloe Veltman]

Jafar Panahy received a standing evasion after the jury, led by the French actress Juliette Binoche, announced he had won Cannes top prize for his movie, a strong critique of oppression in his home country. Panahi has been arrested and imprisoned in Iran for speaking out against the regime. In a brief speech in Persian, the director said he dedicates the film to all the artists deported from Iran. The awards ceremony came just hours after a regional power outage threatened the festival's final day. French authorities said the temporary outage, likely the result of deliberate sabotage, disrupted morning screenings and caused local businesses to shutter. An investigation is underway. Chloe Veltman, NPR News.

[Windsor Johnston]

A federal judge in Boston is ordering the Trump administration to facilitate the return of a gay Guatemalan man that the U.S. deported to Mexico. Attorneys for the man argue that he wasn't given due process. The Justice Department admitted an error had been made. The man fled Guatemala last year after getting death threats over his sexuality. Mexico has since returned him to Guatemala, where he is now in hiding. Earlier this year, a judge ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly deported to El Salvador. This is npr.

[Jackson Financial]

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