NPR News: 05-27-2025 2AM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: May 27, 2025, 2AM EDT Summary

Hosted by NPR's Giles Snyder, this episode covers a range of urgent global and domestic issues, from a tragic incident in Liverpool to escalating geopolitical tensions and economic updates.

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1. Tragic Attack Disrupts Liverpool Victory Parade

Timestamp: [00:14]

Giles Snyder opens the episode with a distressing report from Liverpool, where a planned victory parade celebrating the soccer club’s Premier League triumph turned into chaos.

Witness Account: Matt Cole, a BBC spectator, vividly describes the incident:

“Suddenly there were screams ahead of us and looking up, the crowd began to part and there was this dark blue car just coming straight towards us and the rest of the crowd. So I grabbed my daughter and I jumped out of the way. My wife thankfully did the same with our son and the car missed us by a foot maybe.”
– Matt Cole, [00:37]

Aftermath: British police have detained a 53-year-old man, identified as the sole individual involved in the attack. The tragic event resulted in over 45 injuries, including at least four children.

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2. Escalating US-Russia Tensions Over Ukraine Conflict

Timestamp: [01:16]

Following three nights of intense Russian missile and drone assaults on Ukraine, President Donald Trump has denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions.

President Trump's Statement:

“Vladimir Putin has gone absolutely crazy.”
– President Donald Trump, [01:16]

Charles Mainz in Moscow Reports: Charles Mainz provides insight into the Kremlin's response:

“Trump threatened new sanctions against Moscow if it didn't stop these attacks. But that's a threat that he didn't back up when Putin said no to a ceasefire and promised more talks instead. So maybe the way to look at this is Russia's latest attempt of trying to not antagonize Trump, even praise him as Russia feigns progress towards a peace that just isn't there.”
– Charles Mainz, [01:41]

Kremlin's Reaction: In retaliation, the Kremlin suggested that Trump and his supporters might be experiencing “emotional overload,” further intensifying the rhetoric between the two nations.

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3. European Union Considers Sanctions Against Hungary

Timestamp: [02:00]

The European Union is deliberating serious consequences for Hungary due to perceived undemocratic actions by the Hungarian government.

EU's Potential Actions: Reporter Terry Schultz details the EU’s considerations:

“More than two dozen members of the European Parliament have written to the European Commission, the EU executive arm, to urge that pressure be increased on the Hungarian government through the immediate suspension of all funds coming from Brussels... A declaration is expected by more than a dozen governments Tuesday expressing deep concern about Hungary's ban on pride events and new legislation targeting LGBTQ people.”
– Terry Schultz, [02:27]

Potential Sanctions: Discussions include the possibility of suspending Hungary’s voting rights within the EU—a measure previously proposed but lacking sufficient support.

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4. FBI Initiates New Investigations into High-Profile Cases

Timestamp: [03:11]

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino announced the agency's commitment to reopening investigations into several high-profile unsolved cases.

Key Investigations:

“The FBI will look into the discovery of cocaine at the White House in 2023 during former President Joe Biden's term and the 20 leak of the Supreme Court's draft opinion overturning Roe vs. Wade.”
– Dan Bongino, [03:11]

Additional Focus: The FBI is also allocating more resources to examine the 2021 pipe bomb incidents targeting both the Democratic and Republican National Committees.

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5. Rising Homeowners Insurance Costs Amid Extreme Weather

Timestamp: [04:07]

NPR’s Michael Copley explores the surge in homeowners insurance premiums, driven by the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events.

Impact of Hail vs. Tornadoes:

“When tornadoes tear through communities, the destruction is staggering, but the damage is pretty confined. Hail storms hit much larger areas, breaking windows, tearing off siding and damaging roofs. Industry analysts say hail accounts for up to 80% of insurance claims from severe thunderstorms each year.”
– Michael Copley, [04:07]

Mitigation Strategies: Homeowners are advised to invest in fortified roofs to protect against hail. However, tornadoes present a greater challenge, as enhanced building codes offer limited protection against their destructive power.

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6. Global Financial Markets Mixed Ahead of Memorial Day

Timestamp: [04:44]

As Wall Street prepares to reopen after the Memorial Day holiday, global financial markets show mixed trends.

Market Highlights:

“Japan's benchmark Nikkei is up a tenth of a percent, reflecting cautious optimism among investors.”
– Giles Snyder, [04:44]

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This episode of NPR News Now provides a comprehensive overview of significant events impacting communities worldwide, geopolitical tensions, and economic shifts, ensuring listeners are well-informed on critical current affairs.

Transcript

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[Giles Snyder]

Live from NPR News, I'm Giles Snyder. Monday was supposed to be a day of celebration of victory parade through the streets of Liverpool so that hundreds of thousands of people could mark their soccer club's triumph in winning the Premier League. But joy turned to fear when a car ran into the crowds. Among the onlookers was the BBC's Matt Cole, who was there as a fan with his family.

[Matt Cole]

Suddenly there were screams ahead of us and looking up, the crowd began to part and there was this dark blue car just coming straight towards us and the rest of the crowd. So I grabbed my daughter and I jumped out of the way. My wife thankfully did the same with our son and the car missed us by a foot maybe. Now at that point, as the car flashed by, I could see the driver, a white man, but nothing more other than there were men chasing the car, trying to bang on it, throw things at it. The rear windscreen had been smashed in and at that point we grabbed our family and like many others, we ran.

[Giles Snyder]

The BBC's Matt Cole in Liverpool. British police say a 53 year old man is in custody and that he is the only one involved in the incident. More than 45 people were injured, at least four children. Following three consecutive nights of large scale Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. President Trump says Russian leader Vladimir Putin has gone Absolutely crazy. NPR's Charles Mainz is in Moscow.

[Charles Mainz]

I should note that today Trump threatened new sanctions against Moscow if it didn't stop these attacks. But that's a threat that he didn't back up when Putin said no to a ceasefire and promised more talks instead. So maybe the way to look at this is Russia's latest attempt of trying to not antagonize Trump, even praise him as Russia feigns progress towards a peace that just isn't there.

[Giles Snyder]

The Kremlin responded to Trump's remarks, suggesting that he and others might be experiencing emotional overload. Trump also had strong words for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. European Union countries are considering whether and how to punish Hungary for what many see as undemocratic behavior. Terry Schultz reports that EU ministers will discuss suspending Budapest voting rights and other possible sanctions during a Tuesday meeting in Brussels.

[Terry Schultz]

More than two dozen members of the European Parliament have written to the European Commission, the EU executive arm, to urge that pressure be increased on the Hungarian government through the immediate suspension of all funds coming from Brussels. 18 billion euros has already been held up over concerns about corruption and rule of law in Hungary. A declaration is expected to be released by more than a dozen governments Tuesday expressing deep concern about Hungary's ban on pride events and new legislation targeting LGBTQ people. European affairs ministers will discuss potential responses to Budapest's behavior, including the so called nuclear option suspending Hungary's voting rights. But that's been discussed several times without garnering sufficient support, and that's likely to be the case again. For NPR News, I'm Terry Schultz in Brussels.

[Giles Snyder]

This is NPR FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says the agency is launching new investigations into some unsolved cases in Washington, D.C. bongino says the FBI will look into the discovery of cocaine at the White House in 2023 during former President Joe Biden's term and the 20 leak of the Supreme Court's draft opinion overturning Roe vs. Wade. Both are popular talking points on the American right. Bongino also says the FBI is devoting more resources to the investigation of pipe bombs discovered at both the Democratic and Republican national committees in 2021. The cost of homeowners insurance has been shooting up in states where big tornado outbreaks are becoming more common. But NPR's Michael Copley reports that hail, not tornadoes, is a big concern for insurers in the middle of the Insurers.

[Michael Copley]

Have been raising prices as the cost of extreme weather disasters grows. When tornadoes tear through communities, the destruction is staggering, but the damage is pretty confined. Hail storms hit much larger areas, breaking windows, tearing off siding and damaging roofs. Industry analysts say hail accounts for up to 80% of insurance claims from severe thunderstorms each year. The good news is people can protect their homes from hail by investing in fortified roofs if they can afford it. Tornadoes are a different story. Insurance experts say there's only so much stronger roofs and tougher building codes can do in the face of big tornadoes. Michael Copley, NPR News.

[Giles Snyder]

Global financial markets are mixed ahead of Wall Street's return from the Memorial Day holiday, Japan's benchmark Nikkei, up a tenth of a percent. This is NPR News.

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