NPR News: 05-27-2025 6PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now: Episode Summary – May 27, 2025

Release Date: May 27, 2025
Host: NPR

---

1. Immigration Policies: Trump Administration's Deportation Appeals

The Trump administration is actively appealing a recent decision related to immigration to the U.S. Supreme Court. The administration seeks permission to deport migrants to South Sudan, a move that has garnered significant attention.

• Amanda Bastille reported that the Department of Homeland Security had designated South Sudan, despite its political instability, as a destination for deportees. However, a Massachusetts federal judge intervened, ruling that deporting individuals to third countries—where they are not nationals of—requires additional scrutiny.

• Ximena Bustillo elaborated on the judicial ruling, stating:

  "Migrants should get an interview where they have a chance to say they may face violence, persecution if sent to a specific country." [00:45]

The Trump administration argues that the Supreme Court should overturn the Massachusetts ruling, contending that the decision hampers foreign policy, national security, and the executive branch’s authority over immigration policies.

---

2. Budget Cuts: House Republicans' Proposal to Reduce Anti-Hunger Programs

House Republicans have introduced a budget reconciliation bill aimed at significantly reducing funding for anti-hunger programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

• Paul Flav from Texas Public Radio highlighted the magnitude of the proposed cuts:

  "The nearly 300 billion in cuts being proposed pushed the cost of food benefits onto the states for the first time." [01:38]

Economist Diane Schanzenbach from Northwestern University warned of the potential repercussions:

"If the US sinks into a recession, states with shrinking revenues and must balance budgets won't be able to afford it." [01:38]

Further emphasizing the impact, Jack Spear noted:

"We'd be setting up a situation where just when people are most needing SNAP benefits, they're hardest to get." [01:54]

Paul Flav added that the proposal includes increased work requirements for the poor, which could disqualify many individuals from receiving assistance without significantly boosting labor participation. The Senate is expected to review the bill in the coming days. [02:00]

---

3. Public Health Updates: COVID-19 Vaccination Recommendations

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a significant shift in COVID-19 vaccination recommendations.

• In a social media video, Kennedy stated:

  "I'm removing COVID-19 shots from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women." [02:12]

Contrasting this, U.S. health officials continue to advocate for annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans aged six months and older, maintaining their stance on the importance of vaccination.

---

4. Trade and Economy: Tariffs on European Imports and Stock Market Rally

President Trump has decided to postpone the imposition of a steep 50% tariff on European Union goods, delaying the move until at least early July. This decision has positively influenced the stock market.

• Scott Horsley reported that the delay provides an opportunity for both parties to negotiate a trade deal, potentially avoiding retaliatory tariffs.

  "EU leaders have called to quickly set up meeting dates." [02:45]

Currently, imports from Europe are subject to a 10% tariff, a rate significantly higher than pre-Trump administration levels. The postponement led to a notable market response:

• Jack Spear shared the positive market movements:

  "The Dow rose 740 points today. The Nasdaq was up 461 points." [03:14]

Additionally, concerns persist in the markets regarding U.S. and Iranian nuclear negotiations and potential decisions by OPEC on oil production. Jack Spear noted:

"Oil dropped 64 cents a barrel, settled at $60.89 a barrel." [04:17]

---

5. Mental Health: Increasing Struggles Among Mothers

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reveals a troubling trend in maternal mental health.

• Ritu Chatterjee reported findings from internal research analyzing data from nearly 200,000 mothers participating in the National Survey of Children's Health:

  "Mothers reporting excellent mental health declined from 38% in 2016 to 26% in 2023." [03:32]

• Ann Marie Baldonado provided further insight:

  "In 2023, this means about 1 in 12 moms are saying they have fair or poor mental health, where back in 2016 it was about 1 in 20." [03:57]

The study's author, Jamie Dawe from Columbia University, highlighted that single mothers and those with children on Medicaid are particularly affected, reporting poorer mental and physical health outcomes. [04:10]

---

6. Cultural Events and Economic Indicators: Manhattanhenge and Oil Prices

Jack Spear introduced listeners to the phenomenon of Manhattanhenge, an event where the setting sun aligns perfectly with Manhattan's street grid, creating a stunning visual effect.

• He explained:

  "Manhattanhenge occurs about three weeks before and after the summer solstice. The first occurrence will be sunset tomorrow, with a slight variation the next day. It will occur again July 11th and 12th." [04:17]

The term was coined by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson in 1997, and while not as monumental as Stonehenge, it offers a picturesque spectacle for residents and visitors alike.

In addition to cultural highlights, Jack Spear touched upon economic indicators, noting that while oil prices experienced a slight drop, concerns remain over geopolitical tensions that could influence future market dynamics. [04:17]

---

Conclusion

Today's episode of NPR News Now covered a wide array of topics ranging from immigration policies and budgetary changes impacting anti-hunger programs to significant updates in public health recommendations and economic movements influenced by trade decisions. Additionally, the increasing mental health challenges faced by mothers were highlighted, alongside a glimpse into a unique cultural event, Manhattanhenge. For a more in-depth exploration of these stories, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episodes and reports.

Transcript

[Ann Marie Baldonado]

This is FRESH AIR contributor Ann Marie Baldonado. I talked with actor Cole Escola about their hit Broadway play, O Mary. Cole plays an unhinged alcoholic Mary Todd Lincoln, who's an aspiring cabaret performer. If that makes no sense, that's part of the point. You can find my interview on the FRESH AIR podcast.

[Jack Spear]

Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jack Spear. The Trump administration is appealing another immigration, immigration related decision to the U.S. supreme Court. This time, they're hoping justices allow for the deportations of migrants to South Sudan. NPR's Amanda Bastille reports. The Homeland Security Department says some countries won't take the men back.

[Ximena Bustillo]

The administration arranged for South Sudan, a politically unstable country in Africa, to take them in. But a Massachusetts federal judge ruled anyone deported to anywhere that's not their country of origin needs more time to contest their deportation. Specifically, migrants should get an interview where they have a chance to say they may face violence, persecution if sent to a specific country. Trump officials hope the Supreme Court overrules this Massachusetts order, which applies nationwide. They argue the pause on these so called third party deportations hurts foreign policy and national security and intrudes on the executive branch's immigration policy powers. Ximena Bustillo, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Spear]

House Republicans have sent their budget reconciliation bill to the Senate. The spending bill would cut hundreds of billions of dollars from anti hunger programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, or SNAP. Texas Public Radio's Paul Flav reports.

[Paul Flav]

The nearly 300 billion in cuts being proposed pushed the cost of food benefits onto the states for the first time. Northwestern University economist Diane Schanzenbach says if the US Sinks into a recession, states with shrinking revenues and must balance budgets won't be able to afford it.

[Jack Spear]

We'd be setting up a situation where just when people are most needing SNAP.

[Ximena Bustillo]

Benefits, they're hardest to get.

[Paul Flav]

The proposal also increases work requirements on the poor, which Schanzenbach says will push people off the program but will do little to increase labor participation. The Senate will take up the bill in coming days. I'm Paul Flav in San Antonio.

[Jack Spear]

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says the Trump administration is no longer recommending COVID 19 vaccinations for healthy children and pregnant women. In a video posted on social media, Kennedy says he's removed COVID 19 shots from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommendations for those groups. U.S. health officials, meanwhile, continue to urge that all Americans aged 6 months or older than get an annual Covid booster. Stocks rallied today after President Trump decided to hold off slapping a steep tax on European imports for at least a month. Here's NPR's Scott Horsley.

[Scott Horsley]

Over the long weekend, Trump said he would wait until at least early July to impose a 50% tariff on goods from the European Union. That provides at least a little time for the two sides to negotiate a trade deal and possibly avoid a punishing tit for tat tariff battle. Trump took to social media, saying that EU leaders have called to quickly set up meeting dates. For now, imports from Europe are being taxed at a 10% rate, which is still much higher than before Trump returned to the White House. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.

[Jack Spear]

Taking a look at the numbers, The Dow rose 740 points today. The Nasdaq was up 461 points. This is NPR. The number of mothers with mental health struggles has increased in recent years. NPR's Ritu Chatterjee reports. That's according to a new study published in JAMA.

[Ritu Chatterjee]

Internal researchers looked at data from nearly 200,000 mothers of kids under 18 who participated in the National Survey of Children's Health. Mothers reporting excellent mental health declined from 38% in 2016 to 26% in 2023. And mothers who said their mental health was fair or poor increased during this time. Study author Jamie Dawe is at Columbia University.

[Ann Marie Baldonado]

In 2023, this means about 1 in 12 moms are saying they have fair or poor mental health, where back in 2016 it was about 1 in 20. It's a pretty large increase in a relatively short period of time.

[Ritu Chatterjee]

Daw says single mothers and those with children on Medicaid reported poorer mental and physical health. Ritu Chatterjee, NPR News.

[Jack Spear]

It's no Stonehenge, but twice a year, residents of Manhattan get their own version when the setting sun aligns perfectly with the Manhattan street grid and sinks below the horizon framed by skyscrapers cross referred to as Manhattanhenge. The first occurrence will be sunset tomorrow, with a slight variation the next day. It will occur again July 11th and 12th. Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson coined the term for the event in a 1997 article. Manhattanhenge occurs about three weeks before and after the summer solstice. Critical futures prices closed lowered today as investors continue to worry about US And Iranian nuclear talks and possible OPEC production decisions. Oil dropped 64 cents a barrel, settled at $60.89 a barrel. In New York talk. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News, in Washington.

[Paul Flav]

Listen to this podcast sponsor free on Amazon Music with a Prime Membership.